by Christine Cassis
I understand that this week's big mystery was what last week's Braille message read, but Aria totally took the dots theme to the next level. I mean, the girl was overdosing on polka dots! Did you see her all sulky and mad at Hanna sporting a a scowl and a whole lot of spots? But beyond the occasional offensive wardrobe choice, this episode was packed with juicy details.
Let's see, where should we start? Aria and Hanna aren't talking, still, and the girls take notice but decide not to investigate. But Hanna's real problems are at home, as always. Her mother, Ashley, has been approached by a distant relative of Mrs. Potter (the unauthorized loan's dead dealer). Ashley accept the man's advances and takes him up on a drink date, but Caleb, Hanna's bad-boy body guard and secret basement housemate, doesn't like the sound of that. Upon further investigation, Caleb discovers that the guy's a total phony. Hanna takes the news to Ashley who decides that going to the cops wouldn't solve her own personal crisis. Instead, she realizes that two can play that game. Luckily for her, it works out. She parts ways with the rest of Potter's cash sending it off with a true con artist. Looks like she and Hanna are off the hook, after all. (Or are they?)
Ezra and Ella are eating at the teacher's table in the school cafeteria (because Rosewood has mansions, pubs, and some really nice restaurants but no teacher's lounge?) when Paige's father bursts in causing a ruckus. He's furious that his daughter lost her No. 1 spot on the team to Emily. He suspects it is because Emily is getting preferential treatment as a lesbian but never considers maybe his daughter is only second best to Emily. Ezra diffuses the situation, naturally (as any charming, hot teacher would), but Ella is already smitten. She agrees to attend a book signing with him for an author Byron insists she loathes. Maybe Ella has stars in her eyes... for Ezra... her daughter's boyfriend...Umm...
Meanwhile, Ezra has a parent-teacher conference with Aria's dad. When Aria tries to get the skinny on what happened, Byron seems none-too-pleased with Mr. Fitz. Aria stands up for her man, thinking dad might suspect something, but really Byron is just jealous that his wife is blowing him off to spend time with the pretty, young thing. Eventually Byron comes to terms, realizing maybe he was too quick to judge a book by its cover. His solution? Call Ezra's home phone and leave a message to be played aloud, unbeknown to him, just in time to interrupt a steamy make out sesh between Fitz and his daughter! Awesome.
But back to Emily. She's a hot mess. She's been outed at school by her teammate's father who's looking for vengeance and blaming Emily's sexual orientation instead of her obvious talents. Putting aside her own personal beliefs, Emily's mom, Pam, sticks up for her daughter. She might not understand Emily's being gay, but she sure isn't about to let someone hurt her kid. You go girl!
But it's a fleeting kiss from Paige that makes this whole scenario go from zero to 60. DUH! Paige's bike ride in the rain last week wasn't malicious, it was... lesbionic? She has a crush on her competition and she just can't hold it in anymore. She gets in Emily's car looking like a complete wreck, ready to apologize? No. Ready to tell Emily she has it too easy. But Em is all "hell NO! My girlfriend is in rehab, my family hates me, blah blah blah..." and SMACK. Paige lays one on her just before jumping out of the car.
Uhh...Don't know how I feel about that one.
I don't know how I feel about Jenna trying on lacy lingerie to seduce step brother Toby, either. I guess now is as good of a time as ever to say that. The girls ran into her shopping for the outfit to impress Toby in the bedroom, we think? Even though we don't want to think... about that. G-ross.
Speaking of Toby: He and Spencer are working together, nearly flawlessly it seems. In fact, he suddenly trusts Spencer so much that when a call comes in from his lawyer that the charges have been cleared and all he needs is a ride to the court house to get his ankle monitor removed... Well, he opts for a ride from Spencer rather than riding in a cab with Jenna. And you can tell Jenna is SO P-O'ed.
So Spencer and Toby spend the afternoon roaming Rosewood. In a twisted but cute turn of events, the pair seem to bond over Toby's new freedom. Star-crossed lovers? Or just victims of the same frame? But really, wait a second...Is this about to happen? She goes all Nicholas Sparks novel on him by driving to the town's border and telling him to run freeeeeeee! He tells her he wants to stop running. She, in turn, tells him she love hims.
JUST KIDDING! She says she's cracked the Braille code. The note doesn't read "BAD" like we all suspected, but "214." Spencer isn't sure of the significance of those numbers just yet, but the cameraman sure is! As the pair drive by Rosewood's classiest motel, the shot pans to a room, #214...
Is this the room Spencer kissed Melissa's former fiancee in front of? Or is this the place Alison used to meet for a casual night out in secret with Melissa's husband, Ian? Or is this the headquarters of A? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!
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