Episode Report Card Jacob Clifton: A+ | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Lana Turner We Love You Get Up
By Jacob Clifton | Season 2 | Episode 21 | Aired on 02.20.2012
So but if we look at Vivian Darkbloom as Aria's new Thing, that leads into some really interesting territory. Number one, because whenever it's not about Ezra she admittedly fucking rocks, but also because I've always thought we should explore the dynamic between Aria and Alison more: That Aria would love Alison because of her obsession with her own sophistication, her precocity and the sort of cliffs that can lead you to jump off when you take it to the Alison Extreme. And so it makes sense that whoever Vivian was, that's totally Aria's territory. Becoming Alison, the way Alison became Vivian.
But I think the other thing I'm not getting is where Spencer's head is at, because she's the other one that lends herself to those kind of questions. Aria doesn't have a lock on precocity, or older guys -- she's just naturally romantic, in a way we've only seen Spencer be with Toby. Of all of them, she's the most tainted by the NAT, and the more we learn about Ian and Wren and whoever, the more we see the connections between Stalwart Spencer and Toxic Alison.
In fact, her relationship with Toby also connects her to Jenna, the third of the show's trinity of Dark Sisters, along with Ali and Melissa. And it was Jenna, the most troubled Liar of all, who first pointed out how "haunted" Spencer is, or is becoming. So I think it's Spencer's arc that we're not fully seeing yet, or I'm just not getting, and that is what will end up being the key to the end of the season:
What is Spencer becoming? What are the paces she's being put through, what is her next shape?
WELL. DRUNK, FOR STARTERS
Wren offers to drop her at home, and of course she doesn't want to go there because it's universally terrifying, but after a couple more shots I think she'll come up with a better idea. He sure is cute.
THE TE OF HANNA
While Ashley's picking up the homework clutter Hanna left behind, she comes across the police report and A's note. That is so like these girls, to just leave that pivotal shit lying around so they can go have adventures.
At the address Jonah gave them is a mansion law office like they have downtown here in Austin, which is pretty clearly abandoned. Emily and Aria focus on the chain and locks on the gate, but it's Hanna who easily opens the gate from the other side. It swings easily. It seems highly symbolic and correct that Hanna would be the one to just swing the gate open like that, doesn't it? The more you grow up and change, the more often the easy way is also the correct way, because you're not getting in your own way all the time.