S01:E14 - Making ’Spence’ of it all
In this week’s episode, Season One Episode 14 ‘Careful What U Wish 4’, opens on that video of Alison which Lacey by now is tired of seeing. The girls are studying it with varying reactions ranging from questioning (Hanna) to downright devastated (Emily). Although they all seem to want to take it to the police, they can’t help but bicker.
Enter Ian in his first of many creepy appearances. Despite his face being RIGHT THERE on the laptop the whole time, he either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care about the incriminating video. Still the girls, and Lacey, are tense as they try in almost slapstick comedy style to hide it from them.
After the intro, it’s the girls setting up for a dance that initially sparked confusion amongst your hosts. Having read the episode description, Lacey knows it’s a danceathon but that’s as far as her understanding goes. Yasemin is perplexed by the idea of raising money for the trip, which Lacey notes most of the students – bar Aria, Emily, and now Hanna – seem to be quite rich. Why do they need to raise money at all?
Despite Hanna being head of decorating, she’s got her friends doing all of the grunt work. Lacey thinks the decorating budget could have gone towards funding the trip, but without the dance there’d be no plotline for this episode. Sean returns, much to your hosts’ excitement but Hanna’s disdain. She’s called away to deal with an abundance of Barack Obama’s while we learn Spencer has brought the laptop to school so they can drop it off with the police in the afternoon. “They cannot wait a second longer knowing Ian is out there,” Yasemin says.
Hanna is stuck with her excessive Barack Obama cut-outs but is more concerned with finding a job. She dodges Sean’s questions about the danceathon by asking if she can reprise her role of world’s worst dental assistant. Sean isn’t so sure, and he brushes her off further when Hanna lies to say it’s to save for a pair of expensive earrings.
Inside, Aria is greeted by her mum and former babysitter Simone in a scene that offers more questions then answers. Lacey asks why Aria appeared to have a babysitter at the grand old age of 15. Laughing, Yasemin adds: “She was an underdeveloped child.” Simone is here to talk to Ella’s English class – she teaches now, apparently – and Aria begs her to speak to Ezra’s. Ella ensures this happens, but riles Aria up when she insists Simone meet Ezra ‘after hours’ for a date.
The character roster continues to grow with the addition of Rosewood’s new bad boy, Caleb Rivers. “I always forget how early he comes in,” says Yasemin, while Lacey sings his name to the tune of Conga. He’s vital to ensuring Emily can talk to Maya because he’s in the business of upgrading phones. Though on-screen it comes across more like drug dealing. Hanna chases after him to seal the deal, only to be caught in an awkward confrontation with Lucas instead.
At lunch, Hanna’s job search is interrupted by her friends ready to go to the police. Spencer is as ready to say goodbye to the video as Lacey is but Hanna’s realisation that it’s still online leads the girls to discover it gone. Naturally, they suspect Ian Thomas. Their new frenemy A isn’t too keen to leave Hanna unemployed, offering her a job via text.
Saturday morning brings Aria to Ezra’s front door with coffee and the hope of some quality time, only for her to discover her beau is running “latte” to meet Simone. “Aria, get some self-respect and leave this man,” Lacey says. Aria’s ire is easily soothed by a kiss from the walking red flag before she’s left standing on the other side of his apartment while he counts to 50 to avoid suspicion.
Ezra isn’t the only loser in Rosewood to prefer the company of 16-year-olds, as Ian ditches dinner with his wife’s friends to bump and grind with her underage sister at the dance. Spencer asks after her laptop and Ian denies knowing of its whereabouts. As with all those the liars suspect of nefarious activities, Ian becomes increasingly more sinister and suspicious throughout the episode.
Lacey declares the danceathon her favourite part of the episode because of the fact from here on out most of the transitions are done through the medium of dance. “We get to see a lot of really horrible, awkward dancing and it’s great,” she says. “Every time I was giggling because they are just, it’s so bad.” Emily witnesses Ian place his briefcase in a locked drawer, where they suspect Spencer’s laptop is being held, and the girls conspire to retrieve it through a good ol’ fashion break in.
Failing to translate the faculty dinner menu without Ella, Byron stalks her to the danceathon and offers to lend a hand. “Oh my god, he’s such an ick,” says Yasemin, although she thanks him for finally helping her understand what the dance was about.
Caleb delivers the phone to Emily, who wastes no time calling Maya. He and Hanna are left to talk and your hosts point our their obvious chemistry. It turns out A’s job for Hanna includes breaking Lucas’ heart via dance, $200 for everyone. Unfortunately, Emily’s call with Maya isn’t as wonderful as she’d hoped. She admits to Spencer that Maya seems a bit checked out of the relationship and is clearly devastated.
Inside the dance, Lacey suspects Ezra and Simone have been doing more than just catching up in the cloakroom. “Totally flirting,” adds Yasemin. “He is smiling and enjoying this conversation.” So does Aria, apparently, who seems ready to murder them both on the spot as she steals Ian’s keys. Ella notices Aria’s obvious jealousy but whom she thinks she’s jealous of is a little misplaced.
Meanwhile, Yasemin points out that “Sean is witnessing homecoming 2.0.” Abandoned by Hanna for Lucas, he seethes on the sidelines while the odd couple goes on 5 dances. Lacey does the math on Hanna’s earnings, concluding she’s earned $1,000 so far. A text from A offering more money gives Hanna further incentive to tarnish her relationship. Eventually, Sean has enough and breaks up with her in a particularly sad scene. Hanna runs into the arms of Lucas who seems to think of the break-up as an opportunity.
Spencer’s attempt to break into Ian’s drawer fails. Caleb witnesses it all and, despite being offered money to keep it hush hush, leaves Spencer baffled when he walks away without cash in hand. She relays this to Aria, but her friend is seeing red. Willing to risk it all to slap Simone, Aria almost outs her relationship with Ezra before Spencer does something unexpected to save her.
Emily shines in this episode once she steals Hanna’s flask from the cloakroom. From comparing Hanna to Alison to off-the-cuff drunken lines, she cements herself as your hosts’ favourite liar. Ian, however, is not so thrilled when Emily confronts him on the dancefloor. Although Spencer tries to diffuse by pretending Emily’s ire is due to their brief fling, Ian threatens her to keep quiet. Yasemin praises Ryan Merriman for his ability to act so creepy, a feat faux Ian would never have pulled off. “I’m glad that they recasted,” she adds.
With the dance over, Hanna refuses to drive Emily home and Emily refuses to go home. Spencer asks them to stay with her, glad to have some company. Hanna is held back by Lucas who tries to shoot his shot but is saved by a drunken outburst from Emily. Meanwhile, your hosts are laughing at how petty Aria is being with Ezra. Only it all gets ruined when she caves at a half-assed confession of love.
Back at Spencer’s Hanna confides in Emily until she realises she’s asleep, when she goes downstairs and discovers Spencer’s laptop on the coffee table. Unfortunately, the video is gone but A has left another clue for the girls…
Finally, the A scene gives an insight into their identity. As A picks up their iconic black gloves and hoodie from Ella the cloakroom attendant after the dance, it’s clear she’s familiar with them and by her tone your hosts suspect a student. But who?
Quotes
“They’re so bad at lying, considering this is called pretty little liars, it’s insane.” – Yasemin [05m12s-05m17s]
“[Sean’s] holding Barack Obama under his arm – cardboard cutout, not the real person” – Lacey 08m25s-08m44s]
“Everyone knows that Caleb just wants money. The easiest way to get rid of him is just to offer him some money.” – Yasemin [54m27s-54m33s]
“I can’t imagine Melissa being like: oh yeah, sure babe. Go chaperone my 16-year-old sister’s school danceathon. Me and the girls don’t need you. They’re all there with their husbands, but you can stay here.” – Lacey [31m21s-31m31s]
“And [Ezria’s] stupid, f***ing song starts playing again. That song is everywhere. I’m sick of it.” – Yasemin [01h12m01s-01h12m01s]
“She clings to him as she cries. Lucas thinks he’s finally got somewhere. This is it. He’s going to be the rebound to end all rebounds.” – Lacey [01h04m41s-1h04m52s]
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