HOLLYWOOD – Since the pilot episode of “Pretty Little Liars” that debuted in 2010, fans have eagerly wanted to know just what happened the night Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse) disappeared. Well all those burning questions was answered in the season four finale “A is for Answers” which saw Spencer (Troian Bellisario), Hanna (Ashley Benson), Aria (Lucy Hale) and Emily (Shay Mitchell) finally get the truth from their supposedly dead BFF Ali.
To say this was one of the biggest jaw-dropping, twisted episodes of the series to this point would be an understatement; I don’t even know where to begin, but here we go. There were tons of surprises, but nothing bigger than the revelation that Ali’s MOM knows who tried to kill her and “A” was this close to being unveiled!
The episode was filled with juicy flashbacks as the audience was treated to all the events that happened on that shocking night that Ali disappeared. For starters the liars were not happy to see Noel (Brant Daugherty) at the secret location Ali asked her friends to meet her at. It appears Noel has been secretly helping Ali in her time of our need. “I wanna hug you and slap you at the same time,” said Hanna to Ali. It was indeed an emotional reunion for the ladies who were a bit skeptical but it appears Ali has a bit of coyness about hugging Spencer. Just exactly what is the beef between those two? That look she gave Spencer said it all; there is more to the story.
She indicated to the ladies if they didn’t discover “A’s” identity by the end of the night, she would be disappearing for good. Back in Rosewood, Cece (Vanessa Ray) was brought in for questioning by Detective Holbrook (Sean Faris), who went digging for answers. I must say Ms. Drake was not too concerned with the police questioning her about Wilden’s death, even willing to spill secrets in exchange for a deal. She admitted to knowing who killed that ‘girl’ and admitted that Ali is alive. Who is this mysterious party in Ali’s grave and how is she connected to the liars?
Ali revealed she had been threatened by “A” since Halloween, and a flashback revealed Ian (Ryan Merriman) and Ali at Hilton Head, with Melissa (Torrey Devitto) confronting her boyfriend about his tryst. Ali was seen reviewing a slew of videos on Ian’s computer. She downloaded the videos as leverage. She suspected Jenna was at the top of her list, but was wrong as she received a text from “A” threatening to kill her. Veronica (Lesley Fera) was none to happen to find her home being searched by the police. She alerted all the other ladies of the current situation involving their daughters. She was dumbfounded to discover that Alison was alive, just as Melissa decided to return back to Rosewood. Melissa always returns to the foray when bad things are about to happen.
Another flashback indicated that “A” was literally everywhere that Ali was, and we discovered that mama DiLaurentis was adamant about her daughter not going out for the night. She indicated secrets that she knew about the Hastings family, while she continued to receive phone calls from a mysterious person panicking about something that had her on edge. Just what was Mrs. D alluding to? Ali decided to steal a few of her mom’s sleeping pills, which she later used to drug all her friends, just before receiving a text from Toby.
While they lay sleeping Ali came face-to-face with Toby, but not before she met with Ezra (Ian Harding), who was a bit physical to halt Ali from leaving. Veronica made a call to her hubby while at the Rosewood police station, seems Spencer is a top priority, Melissa acknowledged she saw Toby in London and decided to return home, just as we discovered Mr. Hastings was already being questioned by the police, but was far ahead of the questioning. When questioned about the private investigator he hired to follow Spencer, it appeared Holbrook was onto the fact that Spencer may have done something heinous. Ali was planning to fly out of town, but the liars would not let her go.
Ali revealed she met Ezra while hanging out with Cece at a pub, and sparked a conversation with the aspiring writer. Jeez Ali is one helluva actress; she deserves an Oscar for her performance. He was furious about learning that Ali lied about her age to him; he admitted that he had feelings for her and didn’t want her to get hurt. Was that a threat? It sure seemed like it. She went to the kissing rock to see Ian, where she made threats to Ian about his home movies that she saw. She told him that someone was threatening her and she wanted answers that she would turn him into the authorities. He indicated the videos contained footage that could destroy everyone including her own family. So you know what this means, there are tons of secrets we have yet to uncover. Hanna decided to break the ice by grabbing a few cookies for the ladies. Ali admitted that Ezra was attempting to save Ali in an attempt to win Aria back.
Mrs. DiLaurentis was at the police station unnerved by the factoid that her daughter may be alive. It appears Mr. Hastings and Mrs. D have some sort of secret, just as Melissa was stunned to see her father at the police station. Whoa, looks like the Hastings family thinks Spencer killed that ‘girl.’ Just who is this person? Ali returned to the barn and was confronted by Spencer and a flashback revealed Spence ready to attack her BFF, but tripped and Ali spotted pills that Spencer had been taking. Spencer begged her friend not to reveal her secret, and Ali lent a hand to her ‘supposed’ enemy.
Ali admitted to Aria that she visited Bryon to confirm that he wasn’t “A.” It was then revealed that Ali returned home and her mom witnessed her daughter being whacked over the head with a rock. Ali confirmed that Spence was not guilty of hurting Alison or the other girl. The big question is that Mrs. D witnessed who clocked her daughter in the head, but has not revealed who to the authorities. It must be someone very close to her, to keep a whopper of a secret, Jason, another child or a sibling. The shocking moment was Alison being buried alive by her mother of all people! Who could do that to their child? Ali unleashed an emotional outburst that left all the ladies crying, when she attempted to tell her mother of what transpired. “What have you done, what have you done,” shouted Mrs. D. It was as if Ali was reliving that moment all over again.
Shocker, Alison came face-to-face with Mona (Janel Parrish) who took care of her nemesis at the Lost Woods Resort. Mona admitted that “A” frightened her, and Mona came up with the genius plan of Alison faking her death to force “A” to think that she is gone. While this episode is indeed crazy! Mona was perhaps planning this from day one. A mastermind outwitted by another mastermind. The flashback later revealed that Mona was in the next room over full of plenty of Ali memorabilia. Ali dyed her hair and went on the run, thanks to Mona’s help. To show her gratitude, she helped Mona transform to a new person, someone important. Ali took her red coat and was on her way, it was all apart of Mona’s plan, quite genius to say the least.
Melissa was a bit somber when revealing to her father a bombshell of a secret, which left him reeling. I can only imagine it was Melissa who killed that girl and framed her sister for it or perhaps it’s another Hastings we have yet to see on the big screen. Talk about sibling rivalry. The final 5 minutes of the episode had to be the most intense as the liars begged their BFF to come home, as she can’t understand why her mom did that to her. She admitted that it was Mona who hit Hanna and she did her best to save her friends. It was ALISON who threw Ian off the bell tower! She admitted that she assisted the ladies at the lodge fire, but was not aware who rescued them.
The intensity increased as a person dressed in all black shattered glass and began firing bullets at the liars! This is indeed tense as the ladies ran to the rooftop for safety. They thought about jumping, but halted, just as Ezra came to their defense. He knew “A’s” identity, but before he could reveal any secrets shots were fired. Hanna grabbed the gun and screamed for the mystery person to take off their mask, but they jumped off the roof escaping just in a nic of time. Of course, the writers of “PLL” won’t give that whopper of a secret to us. Aria was devastated after learning that Ezra had been shot and was close to death.
The final moments of the episode revealed Mrs. D. being dragged by someone in black. She looked pretty dead as she was being buried. Has she become the latest casualty of “A’s” nefarious plot. Who is “A?” This secret is driving me nuts, not to mention what Melissa whispered to Mr. Hastings? Who is Mrs. D covering for? Let’s just say after that jump its obvious “A” is a guy, but I keep forgetting about the lady in black. At this point we can rule out Spencer, Alison, Aria, Emily, Hanna, Jenna, Toby, Melissa, Mrs. D, Mona, Mr. and Mrs. Hastings and Byron as “A.”
So that means Noel, Shana, Mike, Ella, Ashley, Wren or Jason are at the top of the “A” list. I have a feeling it’s indeed a slender figure woman, but that rooftop jumps definitely screams male, but he could be working for the main culprit. Season 5 is quite some time away. Start speculating “PLL” fanatics, until June 10!
