“I’ll trade you Mona for Jenna.”
When Hanna said this to Aria, I admit, I could see where the deal could sound tempting. But after tonight’s episode, I wouldn’t accept the offer, Aria. At least not right now.
Jenna figured prominently into this episode and rightfully so considering the Liars had just discovered she’d been keeping quite the secret herself – that whole not being blind thing, remember? But she strangely almost made us feel sympathetic for her. Almost.
Aria agreed to rehearse with Jenna as a way to get in her house and do some old fashioned spying where she discovered a sticky note that had Hanna and Aria following Jenna to an H. Cobb at 4:15 on Wednesday. It turned out to be a guns and ammo shop which wasn’t even the most shocking part. Jenna drove a car there, the same car Emily recognized being in from “that night.” Eventually, Hanna couldn’t take it anymore and showed their cards, standing in front of Jenna’s car and scaring Jenna with her stealth.
But the most fascinating was when the four girls stood there, listening to Jenna’s story. Why had she faked the surgery not working? Why did Emily remember being in her car? Jenna had answers – that almost sounded really convincing, the jury’s out – like pretending not to be able to see was the only protection she had against the people who tried to burn the house down with her inside, 
with the thinking it gives you the leg up because “you see what they think you can’t see.” As for the Emily thing, well, Jenna claims she found Emily in the dead of night on the edge of town, drunk and crying about Maya and couldn’t leave her there alone. But Emily freaked out and jumped out of the car a few minutes later.
If I didn’t know you to be such a scheming and devious individual, I’d almost buy those answers, Jenna. We’ll see how next week goes.
While we may not trust her, right now we’d rather have to hang out with her over Mona. Sorry, Mon, but whether you are faking it or really need to be in that sanitarium, tonight we saw the real crazy inside you.
After weeks of sitting silent, we see Mona back with her gab-tastic manners in full swing when Hanna visits her in the dayroom where she was interacting with other patients. She says they switched her medicine and as a result she’s snapped out of her silence, but she’s really, really thirsty and back to calling Han her “Hanna Banana.” Hanna doesn’t get sidetracked, though, and tells Mona that they thought her being in there was the end of it.
Mona feigned sincerity saying, “It’s like you can’t trust anybody, not even family.” (Is that playing at her family relations? Her mom? There were definitely some theories about Ms. Marin being the Black Swan last season.) But she also creepily asks, “tell me, did they ever find what’s left of Alison?”
But perhaps the best scene of the night came between Mona and Caleb. All episode long Caleb had been trying to convince Hanna to stop visiting Mona, but to no avail. To take a step further, Caleb went on a solo visit to Mona where they had an unforgettable conversation that ended with two sharp retorts: Caleb said “Well, here’s the real joke: I get to walk out of that door, but you aren’t going anywhere.” Mona leaned in, replying “you are a lousy kisser” (come on, Mon, now we now you ARE out of your mind), before starting to scream and freak out, needing to be restrained and showing us all just how well she can fake it.
Was she faking that creepy song about eyes at the end of the episode, though? And what was up with the Queen of Hearts card she was clutching? Just more clues to keep in mind.
But even with Mona in the sanitarium, she played a role in Rosewood, too, because she seems to be messing with Lucas’ 
head. Yes, Lucas is back in the episodes and even better, back in scenes with Hanna AND Caleb. But definitely not with the same dynamic as last year.
Lucas is in a bad way, looking ragged and sounding closer to the edge than ever. Hanna describes him as a “sour patch kid” and Caleb says he’s just “making up for lost time” with the bad behavior, but when Lucas and Caleb are alone in the classroom it’s pretty clear that Lucas is at his lowest and the bromance is definitely over. Han, he needs a friend! You’re willing to reach out to Mona, so… how about Lucas, too?
He may even be able to give you some information, Han. He seemed to hint at something big when he told Caleb that Mona being was “just the tip of the iceberg.” He continued to explain that “icebergs turn over… bringing up all of the buried junk. You don’t want to be too close when that happens.” And then there’s that whole visiting Mona in the sanitarium aspect!
While Hanna seems to be clinging to the Mona that at one time was her friend, Caleb finds out that Mona was the one who hit Hanna with a car and Lucas brings to their attention that maybe Mona is faking it. Ooh, well played, Lucas. We’ll keep it in mind. Hopefully Hanna will, too!
Something else we’ll continue to keep in mind? Melissa! She’s finally back in Rosewood and after several references to her non-pregnant state, it finally comes out that she lost the baby. Mrs. Hastings also came clean, announcing that she was taking on Garrett’s case. Spencer argues with her mom about why she’s doing it – and pro bono, too! – quickly coming to the realization that Melissa made her mom do it.
But… not so fast, Melissa. That baby story of yours isn’t adding up quite right. And Spencer knows it. Spencer wasn’t allowed to come and visit Melissa after her miscarriage and then Hanna presents a disturbing thought: what if Garrett was the baby’s father? What if those were the medical records he referenced last episode? But, then, that also goes along with the assumption that Melissa was pregnant to begin with…
Which Spencer is finally starting to question herself! Hallelujah! She did some investigating and impersonated her sister on the phone to try and get a copy of her hospital records only to find out there are no records… because Melissa didn’t go to the hospital… because Melissa wasn’t pregnant then. Melissa didn’t lose her baby in June and Mrs. Hastings was in on the secret, at least for a little while. This certainly didn’t sit well with Spence, who now has quite a lot to contemplate.
Emily also has a lot on her plate and some new secrets to deal with after tonight. Not only does she have to come to terms with the fact that Ella finished a test for her, but Ezra also came to both Ella and Emily’s defense and cleaned things up with another lie. Emily seems like she’s going to get to a breaking point soon where she just won’t be able to stand being called “poor Emily.” But on the bright side, Ezra had her take a different test on the same material and it was greeted 
by the biggest smile any test has ever received. Whatever floats your boat, Em!
But I will say it was really wonderful to see Ella and Ezra together and even more, back at Rosewood High. When someone sent an anonymous note to the office saying Ella was showing favoritism (hmm, that you, A?), Ezra was the one to step in and vouch for Ella, confessing to his non-existent role in the situation. But the best scene for the two was next to the soda machine where Ella whacked the soda machine to get Ezra his soda and he reminisced on when they used to be friends. It was nice to see him existing outside of Ezria, as much as we may all love that couple.
Tonight provided another quality episode that brought us a few answers, some great character dynamics and relationships and, as always, more questions! But, hey, we love it!
We’re not such fans of those creepy bead-and-teeth necklaces, though, or people who like to keep bodies on ice right next to them, so, A, if you could stick to just tormenting the Liars, that’d be great!
Memorable Quotes:
“I’m also pretty good at running” – Aria in response to Emily suggesting rehearsing with Jenna could be a trap.
“You’re not paranoid if someone’s really out to get you,” – Emily
“Hanna’s worried about you,” – Caleb
“Like you worry about a pet,” – Lucas
“I wish people would be more specific about their clues,” – Hanna
“Are we going to have a turf war?” – Ella to Ezra when they run into each other at the coffee shop
“He convinced me of his lack of guilt as pertained to the charges,” – Mrs. Hastings on taking Garrett’s case.
“It’s not easy to keep things separate,” – Ezra to Ella on how he understands the difficulty of keeping things in perspective in both personal and professional realms.
“Madhouse Mona… I call ‘em like I see ‘em.” – Caleb
“Maybe. I could have a lot of emotionally disturbed friends,” – Lucas, on whether he was at the sanitarium to visit Mona.
“It’s better for a lot of people if Mona stays crazy, right?” – Lucas
“Wow, Jenna, what a sight for sore eyes,” – Hanna when she stands in front of Jenna’s car and confronts her about hiding her sight
“Some role models we are,” – Ezra to Ella on both of them lying for Emily
“Melissa wouldn’t tell me if my hair was on fire,” – Spencer
Tune in for an all-new episode of Pretty Little Liars
next Tuesday at 8/7c on ABC Family.
