Pretty Little Liars – Burn This

By starrymag | March 2, 2016

By: Alex Steele

 

In this week’s episode, Burn This the Liars were on a mission to mend burnt bridges, but to also weed out all the loose ends and move forward in their quest to uncover “Uber A.” And it wasn’t till the final minutes – after consistent theorizing – that they may finally have caught a break. Let’s not forget to mention the welcome return of the one and only Toby (Keegan Allen), oh how we’ve missed his broody self.

 

The episode opens on Aria (Lucy Hale), Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Emily (Shay Mitchell) discussing the recent nuptials of Alison and Elliot. Hanna isn’t buying it at all and neither is Emily, who seems to be a little jealous perhaps saying that Alison (Sasha Pieterse) has always been desperate for a family. In other news, they are trying to work out what will we their next move. Tell the police? Is it Melissa? But no sooner had they started the discussion when Aria came across a hidden “A” message in the photos from her parents wedding – “Give me the killer by election night or you lose.”

 

Welcome back, Mr. Hastings! With the revelation of Caleb (Tyler Blackburn) leaking the documents, the Hasting clan is on the defensive. Wanting her to put out a statement saying that she is no longer affiliated with Caleb obviously upsets Spencer (Troian Bellesario). She’s not going to do that. And to add insult to injury, Melissa has left for London before any of the Liars could really investigate her as a suspect – Uh, oh! Cut to a flashback of what we can only assume is Spencer’s college dorm room where we see a teary eyed Spencer and a broody Toby (Keegan Allen) sitting in silence and staring at a phone.

 

Ezra (Ian Harding) and Aria meet to discuss the plan for the book. Is she going to come forward to her boss or are they going to continue in secret? Well, Ezra has already made the choice. He’s pitched Aria as his co-writer and Aria’s boss is very much contemplating the idea.

 

Meanwhile, Emily this week is still hot on a mission, this time searching for any clues to who was driving the car that nearly killed her. Caleb is on a search as well, but not one that is as dangerous; he needs a place to stay. And with all the hotels booked out in Rosewood (really?), Hanna’s mother offers her guest room. Later on we learn just how adamant Hanna is about not wanting Caleb around. Ashley Benson is doing a beautiful job of portraying the deep seeded pain Hanna has over Caleb. The constant challenge of moving on, but being pulled back is perfectly displayed.

 

Speaking of Caleb, he’s not having the best week. When he arrives to pick up the rest of his stuff, Toby and Spencer are in a discussion about Yvonne (Kara Royster) and the repercussions of the leak. Caleb stands strong in his admission of guilt and even with Spencer encouraging him to tell the truth he’s stubborn. This stubbornness only leads to a punch to the face from his former friend.

 

In other news, Emily visits a local mechanic to search for answers and is met with resistance and a creepy old mechanic. He offers a little bit of help, but not before he ushers Emily away. The infamous Detective Tanner (Roma Mafia) is back this week, searching for answers (sometimes I think she is just trying to frame the girls) and this time it is Aria caught in crosshairs. She is required for a line up as she fits the description of the caller from the Two Crows.

 

As the bridal party starts up, the Liars are in no mood to celebrate. Elsewhere, Spencer and her dad have a heated argument about Melissa where we discover she has been blackmailed; someone has been threatening to go to the police about Bethany Young. With this news now in tow, Spencer heads over the bridal shower and let’s the other Liars in on it. Could it be the same person blackmailing them? With a knock at the door, Mona (Janel Parrish) is there bearing a gift. As Hanna’s mom, Ashley (Laura Leighton), extends the invitation to stay it is becoming the most awkward bridal party ever. And soon enough it will become one of the most dangerous. When the home network at Lucas’ loft fails and experiences a malfunction, a fire explodes and Aria is burnt. Was this “Uber A?” Maybe Lucas (Brendan Robinson) has something to do with it?

 

With the chaos of the episode somewhat simmering down, each Liar experiences a moment of clarity with a significant other. We are gifted with a flashback of Toby and Spencer; the most nuanced one of the episode. In a discussion that honestly portrays the growth of a long term relationship, and the moment both parties realize that maybe their futures won’t be together, our Spoby hearts feel for them. Cut with current day events, in which Spencer comes clean about “Uber A” and Caleb. Troian and Keegan beautifully portray the undying nature of their love. Regardless of where any of the original couples are at in their lives, the chemistry that still remains leaves the door open for so many twists and turns.

 

As Ezra arrives at the hospital to visit Aria (trashy mags and Gummy Bears in tow) she receives another threatening text from “A.” When we talk about the chemistry between the original couples, Ian Harding and Lucy Hale have perfected the Ezria relationship that makes newcomer Liam (Roberto Aguire) nothing but a third wheel. In the waiting room, Hanna apologizes to Ashley for being a bridezilla, but can we blame her? The former love of her life is now dating her best friend all the while she’s being tormented by a ghost figure. It’s ok Hanna, we got you. Hanna and Aria both have moments in these last scenes where they toy with whether to come clean, whether to tell their loved ones that the monster is back.

 

Mona and Emily are taking the last of the rubbish out from the party when Emily recognizes Mona’s keyring – it matches the description of the person who called Charlotte that night. “Was it you,” Emily asks and with that Mona answers, “I can’t talk about this here.” Meanwhile the mechanic from earlier is seen cleaning the 4WD and smiling evilly upon his payday. Theories? Is Mona involved?

 

Other key points:

 

– Ezra and Aria are very quickly rediscovering the reason why they fell in love

– Mona is fired