Wednesday 16 January 2013

Pretty Little Liars: Mona-Mania! Recap/Review


Things got crazier on this week's episode of 'Pretty Little Liars', named 'Mona-Mania!' I actually thought that this week's episode was a lot better than last week's because it felt more fast paced and there were more fun moments. We start with Byron talking to Aria about last week's fire, he apologizes to her because he now knows that the girls had nothing to do with it. Byron may be sorry but I don't trust him and neither should Aria, Byron still gives me the creeps. While Aria and Byron talk, the other liars break into school after hours to get Alison's diary from the Harold's office. Unfortunately, 'A' got there first and is still there when the girls arrive. Although, 'A' gets away and Hanna gets a peek at their shoes. I can't believe they let 'A' get away again! When they find Alison's diary they discover that all the pages are now blank and 'A' has left a note that says "keep moving, ladies. Nothing to see here. -A."



The next day, all four liars meet at the Rear Window Brew for some coffee before school. Aria tells the other girls that she is majorly stressed about their hectic lives. Spencer has the same problem as she has been trying to become captain of her academic after school club but it looks like Spencer doesn't have to worry as her competition for captain got in a bike accident. So this is why 'A' was messing with that guy's bike at the end of last episode, is 'A' helping the girls now? Mona then spots the group so she goes over to chat. According to Mona, Harold was stalking her and he set fire to the school shed. Mona is totally playing them, I wouldn't trust her for a second. Later, Hanna talks to Lucas at school because he was the person in Harold's office the night prior. Does this mean Lucas is part of The 'A' Team? He then tells Hanna that he was actually the person that set fire to the shed because he wanted to scare Mona away. Do things seem a little foggy right now? That's okay because all will become clear later. Meanwhile, Emily talks to Paige after class. Apparently Paige has a curfew set by her parents too (honestly, why do people still live in Rosewood?) but Emily thinks it's a good idea if they go to a party and get back in time for curfew. In another classroom, Aria decides to talk to her mother (yay Ella!) about the night when Alison went missing. Ella says that she and Byron were at a party but they left early with a stolen bottle of wine. After a few glasses Ella was pretty tipsy so she fell asleep and she also tells Aria that when she has had some wine then she can sleep through anything. Meaning Byron could have sneaked out that night without Ella noticing because she was so wasted, Byron looks more and more guilty... Also, we see Meredith watching Aria and Ella discuss this.

After school Spencer looks pretty much like queen of the nerds at her academic meeting. However, this queen is about to be dethroned as Mona also joins the geek squad. She wants to run for captain too, so 'A' wasn't helping Spencer at all. It was just Mona trying to ruin their lives again. The club have a vote and it's a draw between Spencer and Mona being captain so they have to do a quiz off to determine who the captain will be. This scene is kinda comical but I feel like Spencer is about to fly across the table and start pulling Mona's hair. After the meeting Spencer gets a text from 'A' that says "quit while you're ahead Bitch. -A." So now Mona is outwardly being 'A'?

At school the next day, the girls have lunch while they discuss Mona's new reign of terror and torment. For some reason Mona thinks it's a good idea to talk to Spencer about the "tension". When Spencer brings up the text, Mona says that she isn't allowed cell phones or internet but Emily questions the video she released last episode. Mona says that the vice principal gives her access to the school's computer lab and she put it up with the help of Jason. Hanna then says that they know Mona has been sneaking out of Radley but Mona is still playing innocent, she should just give it up because I'm really not buying it. Inside, Meredith apologizes to Ella for accusing Aria. Well you know what they say when you assume, Meredith. After school, Hanna and Emily go to Aria's house, I would be scared to go into that house. They then look for Ali's diary entry and discover it's missing. Byron walks in on the girls frantically searching for the page which was hidden in Aria's boot. He then says out of nowhere that Aria used to hide her Halloween candy in her boots so Mike wouldn't eat it. Obviously Byron has found the page and he knows that Aria knows about that night.


Toby helps Spencer study for the quiz off but he has to leave when his "boss" calls. That boy has me emotionally raped right now because I have no idea who's side he's on. Meanwhile, Hanna goes to Lucas' house to get more information. He tells her that Mona has been blackmailing him and so he has basically been acting as her messenger by distracting Jenna at the masquerade ball and picking up envelopes from Jason and bringing them to Radley. Lucas then told Mona that he was done taking orders so that's why Toby tried to run him down last episode. He feels so threatened that he has come to the decision to drop out of Rosewood High. I feel a little bad for Lucas. Back at Aria's house, she witnesses a fight between Byron and Meredith in which he gets pretty violent like that night with Ali.

When Paige and Emily are driving to the party that night, Paige has a breakdown and tells Emily that she doesn't feel safe in Rosewood. If I lived in Rosewood then I would be scared too. At school, Spencer and Mona get ready for the quiz off and Spencer is going pretty good. While that's happening, Aria finds Meredith at the Rear Window Brew and they talk about what just went down. Meredith confesses all by telling Aria that Byron found papers in her room. She then says that she found the diary entry and has read it. Also, Meredith says that Byron came to see her that night because he thought she and Ali were trying to get money out of him. Afterwards, Byron went to see Alison and the next day she went missing. [Side note: Meredith says she found those papers when Byron went to leave Mike at a friend's house, wink, wink.] Quick cut to Spencer owning Mona at the quiz off, I thought Mona was supposed to be smart? In the woods, Emily and Paige return to the car after her breakdown only to discover that the tires have been slashed. Emily sees 'A' hiding in the shadows so she begins to run after them. 'A' gets away for the second time this episode (even though it was just Lucas the first time) but we see that it was Toby this time.

At the quiz off, Spencer is doing great until she gets too cocky and then Mona ends up winning. Over at Aria's house, she and Meredith return to find Byron waiting, it looks like his temper is gone now. The after party for the quiz off is being held at the Rear Window Brew and Hanna shows up to give Mona a piece of her mind. Although, Hanna loses it under false pretenses as Spencer kinda told her Mona cheated when she actually didn't but Hanna's words were very true anyway.


At Spencer's house, Hanna gets a text from 'A' that says "cut Mona off? Big mistake. You're not the only one who can slice and dice... -A." Spencer is scared of what Mona might do next so she scolds Hanna for yelling at Mona. Over at Emily's, she and Paige discuss how brave she is while Emily tells Paige that she needs help and then they have a sleepover. Additionally, Aria and Meredith are totes besties now when they share some girl time and Aria actually thanks Meredith. But things take a turn for the crazy when Mona is dressed as 'A' and stalking Byron after hours while another 'A' buries their Halloween costumes in the woods. Here's what I think: Meredith killed Ali and Byron is somehow trying to cover it up because Byron being Ali's killer is too obvious now, right? Anyway, I loved this episode and next week's looks amazing! I can't wait!

Overall episode score:-
'Mona-Mania!' = A+

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