Pretty Little Liars: “She’s Better Now” recap

The August 28 summer finale of Pretty Little Liars left my jaw on the floor as the show revealed that Spencer’s boyfriend, Toby, is actually a member of the A-Team.  All of us completely forgot, or at least I did, about how he gave us the heebie jeebies during the first few episodes of the first season.  Over the course of the past three seasons, he was able to maneuver his way into the hearts of the little liars.  I cannot wait to see Spencer’s reaction when she discovers (and she will) that Toby has been playing A’s game this entire time.  Let’s see what the hotties of Rosewood have been up to since that mid-season cliffhAnger.

The episode opens up with Mona being released from the confines of the mental institution.  She sneaks into Hanna’s bedroom seeking reassurance.  Hanna has been the only friend Mona has had, but if Mona has at least one person in her corner, she will be in a good place again.  Hanna will be an idiot to go along with anything that Mona requests. 

Spencer has a completely different mindset about the situation.  She seems to think that Mona may be the best option they have regarding finding out what is actually going on.  Spencer thinks that the little liars need to gain Mona’s trust so they can learn all of the little lies that she and the A-Team have been hiding.

If there aren’t enough shady characters lurking in the shadows of Rosewood, we are re-introduced to Aria’s dad‘s past lover, Meredith.  It seems that Meredith will be substitute teaching at the school of the little liars, thus causing them even more distress than they need.

It doesn’t take long before Mona starts getting bullied at school.  She finds a cow’s brain in her locker with a note that reads, “It takes a mad cow to know one.”  Mona’s lack of an emotional response is not surprising.  She simply disposes of the cow’s brain and whispers something in Lucas’ ear.  The whisper was inaudible, of course.

Amidst a picnic lunch with Spencer and Toby, it is revealed that Jenna transferred to a different school after Garrett’s death.  In addition, Mona and Jason seem to be getting cozy after Mona’s release.  More shockingly, however, is the fact that the front desk agent from the “Lost Woods Resort” is now a janitor at the high school.  This is not a sheer coincidence.  I expect that the reason behind this will be revealed at the end of the season.

Caleb, being the superb hacker that he is, breaks into Radley’s computer system in search of information on Mona’s release.  He discovers that Mona’s parents didn’t actually force her to leave the mental institution.  In fact, she pleaded that they release her.  Caleb and the little liars suspect that Mona wanted out in order to finish what she and the other members of her illustrious stalker club have started.

Emily, Aria, Spencer, and Hanna decide to find out why there is a new janitor at their school.  They go down to the basement to discover that remnants of A’s “Lost Souls” lair was in the janitor’s office.  One item that may be incredibly important is Alison’s diary.  The girls finally find out that the money that Ali was receiving was actually from Aria’s dad.  He was giving Ali money in order for her to keep her mouth shut, although that is an unrealistic request, about his love affair with Meredith.  In true PLL fashion, the janitor stumbles upon the little liars in his dungeon and chases them out just as Toby conveniently saves the day.  A directs the foursome, as well as Meredith, to the school’s storage shed and sets it on fire in order to make it look like the little liars set Meredith up.  The episode ends with Aria’s dad listening to her telephone conversation about Mona, A, and the fire.

The winter premiere left us with more questions than what we originally had, if that’s even possible.  Why did Toby try to run Lucas over with a car at the beginning of the episode?  Why did Toby loosen the wheel of some random’s bicycle?  What does Mona have on Lucas? How long have Jason and Mona been in cahoots?  We learned that he was the one trying to help Mona push Aria off of the A-train in the Halloween episode, evident by the screwdriver wound in his side.   I’m sure we will have all of these questions Answered before the end of this season.

Twitter:  @the_timgilmore

Tags: A-team, ABC Family, Aria Montgomery, Caleb, Emily Fields, Ezra, Ezria, Garrett Reynolds, Hanna Marin, Jason Dilaurentis, Lucas, Lucy Hale, Mona, Paige, Pretty Little Liars, Radley, Spencer Hastings, Television News and Recaps, Toby, Winter Premiere