Pretty Little Liars Review: Denial

This week’s Pretty Little Liars was probably my favorite of the season. A lot of things were upsetting and things I didn’t like, but the episode as a whole was great because all four of the girls had serious, solid plot lines. And so, so much happened! So let’s dive in.

Aria has a lot on her plate. Maggie is in Rosewood with Malcolm, and she’s looking for a job in town. Aria doesn’t seem thrilled at the prospect of Maggie staying in town, but Ezra seems to be happy about having her and Malcolm close by. Maggie also seems cool with Aria, not mad about Ezra finding out the truth about Malcolm at all.  So when Maggie and Ezra both have plans at the same time, Aria volunteers to babysit. What follows is a lesson in Bad Babysitting 101. She had friends over; she wasn’t paying attention, etc. This ultimately leads to disaster when Malcolm, while jumping on the bed, takes a tumble and cuts his chin. He ends up in the hospital and Ezra drills Aria about what happened. Then he admits he doesn’t know how to be a parent either.  Aria discusses the whole thing with her mom, who talks to her honestly and openly about it. Aria has some choices to make.

That’s nothing compared to what Hanna’s dealing with, though. Her mother wants to call a lawyer, but Hanna talks her out of it saying they should wait until they know what’s going on with Wilden. Where is he? Is he alive? For some reason, Ashley takes advice from her teenage daughter. Later Hanna hears a car honk in her garage. There is the police car, playing the video of what happened that night. Hanna enlists the help of Aria and the two of them push the car into the ravine. Okay, seriously? That video proved her mom was being threatened! That video is important! Why, Hanna? Why did you do something so stupid? You KNOW they’ll find the car later anyway! Hanna doesn’t even tell her mother about the incident, and her mom begins to hold out hope that Wilden is alive but just not pressing charges. Yeah, dream on.

After Spencer tells the girls about Toby being part of the “A” team, Emily is determined to prove her wrong. Remember, Emily and Toby were close friends, and she can’t stand to think that he’d want to hurt them. She’s in denial just like I am! She goes on a search for him, looking everywhere, even trying to get a hold of his parents, but it seems like Toby doesn’t want to be found. She ends up talking to a guy Toby worked with before he took off. Later, she gets a text, supposedly from Toby, asking her to meet him. She’s waiting outside the workplace of the guy from earlier, and he says he hasn’t seen Toby. He also calls Emily by name . . . except she never told him her name. Creepy.

Emily’s search has Spencer in a panic, certain Mona is going to go after her. Mona keeps dropping cryptic warnings about someone paying for Spencer’s loose lips and someone not making it through the night. Spencer is sure she means Emily, but later when she’s walking through the woods she comes across a body – a body with Toby’s tattoo. From the trees Mona shouts that he’s dead, and Spencer tries to go after her, sobbing.  Now, was this body really Toby? The motorcycle helmet never came off, so I’m firmly in the camp of No. But maybe I’m still in denial? Me and Emily can start a club.  Anyway, later we see Spencer has been found by police in the woods. Her stare is blank and empty, and it looks like she’s gone crazy. It’s off to Radley she goes.

So, so much happened tonight. I was not pleased with the idea that Toby might be dead. I’m still a firm believer in his goodness and I’d be crushed if he was dead! But it’s PLL, and nothing is ever what it seems. So what did you think of tonight? Is Toby dead? Who is the girl in the red coat? And seriously, how stupid was Hanna for pushing that car into the water?  Tell me your thoughts and predictions in the comments.

Season 3, Episode 21: Out of Sight, Out of Mind (originally aired February 26, 2013)

For more Pretty Little Liars, check out our other reviews.

Pretty Little Liars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC Family.

Images courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. and ABC Family.