REVIEW: Pretty Little Liars' Fourth Episode- 'Can You Hear Me Now?'...

REVIEW: Pretty Little Liars' Fourth Episode- 'Can You Hear Me Now?'...

After one of the saving graces of last week was introduced (the stealing of Maya and Emily's photo booth shots), we were really looking forward to this ep being one of the best so far. And, for once, we weren't disappointed.

Honestly, aside from a few minor pickles, Can You Hear Me Now is PLL's best episode yet and has more than made up for To Kill A Mocking Girl.

This week's offering started off with Emily, Aria, Spencer and Hanna visiting the bench they'd had dedicated to Alison's memory. We were ecstatic when Spencer suggested what we've been crying for since the pilot - for them to block all of A's messages. Spencer starts the blockade against all unknown senders and the three follow suit, all using her laptop. We also got an insight into another storyline, when Mr Fitz rides past on his bike, and all the girls (with the exception of a visibly uncomfortable Aria) shout their appreciation. What just completed this scene to perfection, though, was the end when - after the four were celebrating being 'free' from A - a breeze blew a 'MISSING' poster with her A's photo into their laps. On it said ' Ding, dong, the bitch is dead'. A very nice touch - something that showed that the writers are finally getting their ish together.

This plot point was also summed up beautifully with the final scene of the episode, where the four girls found that someone had broken into Spencer's house and written on her mirror - in Jungle Red lipstick (A's colour) - 'It Won't Be That Easy, Bitches'.

We're not going to lie - A (or whoever this person is, because Spencer still hasn't told the other girls that she saw Jenna sending a text message. *rolls eyes*) - is fast becoming one of our favourite characters.

Another plot point that we really liked was the introduction of the relationship between Hanna and her previously absent father, Tom. After having called her during school hours (tut, tut) and organised a dinner under the pretence of wanting to spend some time with her, Hanna is surprised to learn that he knows all about THE CAR CRASH and assumes - rightly, in our opinion - that it's the only reason he wants to take her out. However, he manages to convince her that it's not, and the two head out, with Hanna later telling the girls that they really talked and that he really understood what she was going through (really, Hanna?).

Now, as you know, we can smell BS a mile off, so we could tell what happened next was coming and coming fast. The next night, the two are out again, and, just as Hanna thinks Tom is about to invite her to spend some time with him in Maryland, he introduces his new fiancé and her daughter. Hanna's screwface at this exact moment was the best we've seen since Kelly Rowland's in the Dilemma video. Absolute perfection. We noted what a great actress Ashley Benson is last week, and the following scene - where she freezes Tom out and makes a pointed dig at her soon-to-be stepsister's 'veneers' - was one of the best in the episode, and, in our opinion, the series so far.

Another noteworthy plot line is the Aria/Mr Fitz one, which is developing very nicely. This week, we got to see the two have their first serious argument (thanks to Aria bringing up her parents troubled relationsip and her mother's ignorance of her father's affair, with Mr Fitz rightly saying that it was their problem to sort out, not hers), Mr Fitz reduce another student to tears in the aftermath, and Aria coming to realise that he was, in fact, making some damn good points. What we love most about this storyline, is that the writers are taking their time with it, adding an air of realism. We genuinely care if these two get back together, regardless of what trouble could follow.

Also appreciated was the follow up to Spencer's essay stealing, with her teacher submitting it for a Golden Orchid ( a national competition for historical writing). We just know this is all going to blow up in her face within the next few weeks, with both her teacher and her family finding out - making an already bad situation worse (they've already ostracised her, this week taking Lois to NYC for some 'retail therapy' without her). Wren also showed up - drunk - and, after breaking into Spencer's house (scaring the hell out of her), demanded to see her father to tell him what really happened. We also saw that same mysterious black-gloved hand from last week recording a video of Spencer helping him get to his feet - something else that we can be sure is going to come back to haunt her in the next few weeks.

To be honest, the only problem we had with this episode, was the dreary continuation of the none-existent relationship between NEW BFF, Maya, and the sexually confused Emily. We could say that we're just not feeling their complete lack of chemistry, but, quite frankly, there just isn't anything we like about this storyline. Anything at all.

OK, we tell a lie. We're loving that it looks like it's at its end, with Emily asking for some space in order to 'think things through' and Maya saying that she'd 'wait for her' - like they're the teen-series equivalent of Edward and Bella or something. 

-_-

Something else we could really do without? Toby's deadpan tones, which bring NOTHING to any and every scene he's in. Well, that and Shay Mitchell's (Emily) complete lack of acting ability. Because that's the only thing that's worse.

And now the two look like they're heading at TGV-pace down Relationship Lane, what with them being designated what is the age-old fallback - 'lab partners' - and them having 'a moment' beside some trash cans outside her house.

-_-

We're not going to bore you by explaining everything we hate about this storyline. All we will say is that we are not checking for it.

Not. At. All.

Still, with the exception of any (and every) Emily-centric storyline, we loved this episode. We really did. The best of the season so far, and, if PLL continues on at this level of plot development and level of storywriting, it'll be one of the best shows this summer.


VERDICT: 8.12/10


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