Pretty Little Liars Episode 415 Recap: Love Shackin’ Up

Welcome to the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of Pretty Little Liars, a show that’s all about hot lesbians mud wrestling.

Don't judge my fantasies

Don’t judge my fantasies

We open on our favorite shiny haired Liars just exactly where we left them: flipping through Alison’s journal. Everyone’s really pissed at Hanna because she held out on the journals for like… a week.

srsly

srsly

Anyways in classic Alison style all the names are made up and so are some of the stories. Like there might be a story about Emily kissing Alison, but instead of “Emily” the girl’s name might be “Girl Crush.” And there might also be a completely made up story about the time that Alison and Girl Crush went to Warped Tour together and totally met Good Charlotte backstage. If you didn’t know who Girl Crush was you might not know which story was real.

In other words, years after writing her gigantic memoir Alison would have to go back on Oprah and tell apologize for making up the details.

Holding out on this journal was a symbol of betrayal. What's next, holding out on the newest menstrual cup?

Holding out on this journal was a symbol of betrayal. What’s next, holding out on the newest menstrual cup?

So the Liars decide to each dig through the journal and parse out exactly who Girl Crush is and whether she kissed Alison or met Benji and Joel. Oh! But speaking of Emily, she’s the first to read through the journal and dig out the stories about herself!

The night the last Harry Potter Book came out.

The night the last Harry Potter Book came out.

It’s Emily so her stories are all about her being gaaaaaayyyyyyyyy. And, yes, she actually refers to Emily as “Girl Crush”

Submission to Best Lesbian Erotica 2015

Submission to Best Lesbian Erotica 2015

So in the middle of the night Emily is up reading Ali’s journal and then… Ali walks in? She comes in through the window and wants to talk all about how she’s sorry and that she never meant to hurt Emily. Plus she has no idea who’s after her and she’s scared etc. Except Emily is still pissed about basically everything that’s taken place since she was born and she’s having none of it.

Teach me your newfound lesbian ways

Teach me your newfound lesbian ways

Ali reaches out to touch Emily’s “Emily” bracelet and then, suddenly, Emily’s alarm clock goes off and she wakes up. Was it all a dream? Maybe. At this point I feel comfortable assuming that Ali carries around some sort of date rape drug that makes the girls forget everything abruptly after she’s given it to them.

I don't remember changing my alarm clock ringtone to TLC's "Creep"

I don’t remember changing my alarm clock ringtone to TLC’s “Creep”

Fortunately, the Journal is still there and Emily’s “Emily” bracelet is over in her jewelry box right where she left it. Curious.


Since it’s 4am in Rosewood it’s time for all the Liars to get up and start their three hour pre-school ritual of runway-style makeup and hair styling. Hanna’s up first!

Mother ready the carriage! I'm ready for my little bird friends to help me snag Prince Charming!

Mother ready the carriage! I’m ready for my little bird friends to help me snag Prince Charming!

Ashley pops in to talk to Hanna. While Ashley is super excited about her own first day working for Jessica DiLaurentis, Hanna is kind of bumming out about the whole Caleb’s gone thing. Me too. Don’t worry Hanna, you’ll meet a new lesbian soon. Maybe this one will have even more cats!

Faking Happiness: now available without a prescription.

Faking Happiness: now available without a prescription.


At 5am Spencer heads over to Toby’s cave. He’s been redecorating with some stuff from Anthropologie. No big deal.

LOL my career.

LOL my career.

Actually, Toby shouldn’t even be home because he was supposed to be helping Spencer’s dad shut down Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane AKA Radley. Unfortunately, Spencer’s dad canceled at the last minute.

Thanks for meeting me here Toby. I just got back from the cape shop but unfortunately they were all out of your size.

Thanks for meeting me here Toby. I just got back from the cape shop but unfortunately they were all out of your size.

Spencer’s actually wicked psyched her dad canceled though because, despite her longterm love affair with punctuality and reliability, she thinks that her dad’s up to no good. That he’s only helping Toby to get something out of it for himself. Personally I think he’s doing it because he thinks if he proves Radley is a corrupt mental hospital it will improve Spencer’s chances of getting into an Ivy League school. That sounds more like the Hastings Family I know!

Listen Spencer I can't be any less of a caveman. I was born this way.

Listen Spencer I can’t be any less of a caveman. I was born this way.

The Spencer actually by choice touches Toby’s hideous caveman chin and they canoodle. Gross.

You have, like, the biggest zit between your eyebrows.

You have, like, the biggest zit between your eyebrows.


Starsweep to the hallowed halls of Rosewood High where EzrA skulks about like the bad guy on a particularly predictable episode of Law and Order: SVU. He cozies up to a particularly creepy window that faces the courtyard of the school.

God I love watching girls eat bagel sandwiches in the morning.

God I love watching girls eat bagel sandwiches in the morning.

Just then, Emily walks by with Ali’s journal. Now EzrA knows she has it and she’s probably next up to get fucked. Metaphorically, of course.

Speaking of which we check in with Aria who leaves something on EzrA’s desk while Spencer plays look out.

Fuck I don't think this is where the bathroom is!

Fuck I don’t think this is where the bathroom is!

All this seems slightly off to Spencer who asks Aria what the hell she was dropping off. When Aria claims it was just EzrA’s favorite pen, Spencer asks her just exactly what type of pen it was. Aria gives an epic longwinded description of said pen and Spencer points out that this means she’s totally still in love with him. FYI I love my girlfriend a lot but I’m not prepared to write a sonnet on her favorite writing utensil.

You seriously expect me to believe you know Ezra's favorite type of pen but not his favorite type of butt plug?

You seriously expect me to believe you know Ezra’s favorite type of pen but not his favorite type of butt plug?

Spencer and Aria head outside where they met up with Emily and Hanna. Emily’s finally finished reading through the journal and she’s even devised a post-it note system where each Liar has a color.

If Emily starts acting like Spencer does that mean that pretty soon Spencer will start acting like Emily? We can only hope.

If Emily starts acting like Spencer does that mean that pretty soon Spencer will start acting like Emily? We can only hope.

She asks who wants to go next and Hanna very quickly pushes the notebook off to Spencer. I’m guessing, among other things, Hanna is probably not ready to talk about her eating disorder with the other girls.

Hey Emily what's this story entitled "Two Girls One Mooncup?"

Hey Emily what’s this story entitled “Two Girls One Mooncup?”

Actually it’s really not Hanna’s day at all because now she has to tell her friends that Caleb went back to Ravenswood and they’re kind of really broken up now!

I'm dead inside.

I’m dead inside.

Instead of facing the sadness of her breakup Hanna has chosen to put all her energy towards figuring out all this Ali shit. She opens up the journal to a poem about a bee.

FYI bee is a metaphor for vulva.

FYI bee is a metaphor for vulva.

Aria immediately recognizes it as a poem about some nearby Busy Bee Inn situation. The Liars decide they should go there road trip style ASAP after Emily gets off work, if only to give Hanna something else to think about.

Emily is super enthusiastic about this road trip.

Emily is super enthusiastic about this road trip.

Oh did I mention that EzrA is watching the whole time from what is officially now EzrA’s Window? Shame really, Ezra’s Window would make such a good title for a children’s book about a boy with a chronic illness.

If only I could play with the other kids...

If only I could play with the other kids…


After school Emily piddles away at her usual lesbian job as a barista. Oddly, she finds a note in her backpack, probably from Ali. It’s says, “Yo let’s totally bone at our kissing rock spot gurrrl” or something along those lines.

The G spot.

The G spot.

Emily immediately rushes away from work because, well, even after all these years Ali say “Jump” and Emily say “Okay but then you have to go so I can watch your boobs bounce.”

Meanwhile Aria sneaks into EzrA’s classroom. Apparently she left him a note earlier about wanting to try this month’s Cosmo’s 50 Hot Sex Moves To Try With Your Much Much Much Much Much Older Boyfriend. Unfortunately she has to cancel on him because of the whole Hanna Is A Wreck thing.

Wait you have TLC's "Creep" stuck in your head too?

Wait you have TLC’s “Creep” stuck in your head too?

Aria and EzrA have some heartfelt words that I officially don’t have any words for anymore and eventually she takes her cute butt and perfectly manicured nails on her way. EzrA then proceeds to sit down at his laptop and watch a video, of which we only hear the audio, of Alison asking for a way to not be Alison anymore.

God my boogers taste good.

God my boogers taste good.


Emily walks dramatically though The Woods Of Feelings to the most lesbian song ever.

All of them.

Feelings: A Lesbian Journey

It’s the piano version of “Surrender” by Digital Daggers. I encourage everyone to play this while reading the rest of the recap. It really sets the mood. Alternatively you could put it on the next time you decide to have some girlsex.

Emily sits down on the kissing rock and has even more silent feelings.

Feelings 2: Return of the Feels

Feelings 2: Return of the Feels

The camera pans over to the side where it reads, in a heart, “EF +AD.” You would literally have to be dumber than Toby not to immediately realize this is Ezra Fitz + Alison DiLaurentis.

There is literally no missing this.

There is literally no missing this.

Emily of course is too far into lesbian la la land waiting for Ali to notice. When Ali doesn’t show up for their scissoring session though, Emily leaves her “Emily” bracelet and heads back off into the woods.

Feelings 3: The Last Feel

Feelings 3: The Last Feel


At home Spencer walks in on her father and Jessica DiLaurentis chatting about something Jason doesn’t need to know. Spencer doesn’t fuck around so she asks them point blank what they’re talking about. Jessica tells her that she and her husband are getting a divorce, so obviously the lawyer she went to see was the man she cheated on her husband with. Classic.

Spencer this isn't what it looks like! She was just loaning me TLC's CrazySexyCool so I could finally get "Creep" out of my head!

Spencer this isn’t what it looks like! She was just loaning me TLC’s CrazySexyCool so I could finally get “Creep” out of my head!

Spencer jumps to the same conclusions I do and gives a good old fashioned “WTF are you doing with your former mistress all day, bro?” Papa Hastings doesn’t much like the accusations, but he sidesteps and interrupts them by explaining to Spencer why he canceled on Toby earlier. He dug up some info on Radley and while Toby’s mother’s death wasn’t a suicide, Radly is claiming it was just an accident and that they covered up the truth to protect another patient. I’m not really sure how that makes sense but okay whatever.

Regardless this news gives Spencer a whole range of emotions:

Confused

Confused

Fake happy

Fake happy

Just realized she pooped herself

Just realized she pooped herself

Operatic

Operatic

Either way Papa Hastings is no longer interested in sticking it to Radley. Probably this means the other patient was Alison.


At the Life Cafe Hanna runs into Buzzcut, a character so obscure I had to look up my own recap of his last appearance just to remember what nickname I’d been calling him. I guess now that Caleb’s gone he’s next in line.

Would you like to have sexual relations with me?

Would you like to have sexual relations with me?

We aren’t on the up and up on Rosewood news but Buzzcut informs Hanna, and us, that Cece was last spotted in Maryland and that the police think someone paid her to kill Wilden. I guess there’s security footage and everything.

Buzzcut wants to know how Hanna’s doing, how her mother is doing and, most importantly, how her boyfriend Caleb is doing and specifically whether or not he is still in the picture and are they doing the sex still or is there an opportunity for him to move in on that situation. Hanna’s like, “Lie lie lie, lie lie, yes Caleb’s still my boyfriend.”

I would pay so much money for the ability to do my eye makeup like Hanna's.

I would pay so much money for the ability to do my eye makeup like Hanna’s.

Some time after Hanna leaves the Life Cafe, Spencer enters. It seems like everyone’s been there today—maybe that sound stage was cheaper. Does Spencer want a double caramel latte? Nope! She wants to harass Jessica DiLaurentis!

Spencer I don't know why you're so upset. It is just not a big deal to drink coffee with cream and sugar. Plenty of people do it!

Spencer I don’t know why you’re so upset. It is just not a big deal to drink coffee with cream and sugar. Plenty of people do it!

I don’t know how Spencer tracked Jessica down but she want her to stay the hell away from Papa Hastings. Plus her commotion caught the attention of a nearby girl reading. I only point this out because the girl is hot and in Rosewood there’s only one rule: Lesbian Until Proven Straight.

Queer enough for Rosewood? I'd say so.

Queer enough for Rosewood? I’d say so.


In our next scene, brought to you by Toyota, the girls drive out to the Busy Bee’s Inn. In the car, Spencer starts flipping through Ali’s diary. This would make normal humans such as myself really carsick but Spencer is a super human whose stomach knows no limits.

Oh my god I'm going to vomit.

Oh my god I’m going to vomit.

She flips to a story about a girl named “Suzy” who doesn’t even see “Mr. Clueless” kissing some blonde. In other words Aria is “Suzy” and her father is “Mr. Clueless.” Bummer that Aria didn’t get a better nickname.

Mr. Clueless is actually just the executive producer of the 1995 movie Clueless

Mr. Clueless is actually just the executive producer of the 1995 movie Clueless

Spencer mostly flips right by this story though in lieu of one entitled “Hot for Teacher.” I’m not positive but I’m pretty sure every entry in this journal is named after a Youtube video with more than a million hits. Spencer snaps a photo.

This story was originally written by Paige about her female french tutor.

This story was originally written by Paige about her female french tutor.

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Lizz

Lizz is a consumer, lover and writer of all things pop culture and the Fashion/Style Editor at Autostraddle.com. She is also full time medical student at Brown University in Providence, RI. You can find her on the twitter, the tumblr or even on the instagram.

Lizz has written 261 articles for us.

19 Comments

  1. I kind of wondered if the “EF” hald of “AD + EF” could be Emily Fields? And maybe that’s why Emily knew to look for it? I’m sure it’s not a coincidence that we can interpret it either way, at least.

    • I took it the same way as you. I think it adds an even more sinister layer to their relationship because it means Alison led Emily on way much more than it was originally portrayed.

    • Exactly. I think we were all supposed to assume it meant Ali and Emily, that’s what I first thought, but it’s awesome how it could also mean Ezra. I’m surprised Lizz thought of Ezra first and not Emily. lol

      • AHA! I was coming to point out that it seemed more obvious to be Emily Fields because that’s *their* spot, but I didn’t want to be accused of being dumber than Toby because wow that’s not a mantle I’m willing to take up.

  2. Ezra at the window was ridiculous. No one noticed Mr.Fitz lurking by the window for the entire duration of the conversation? The heavy-handedness of his new persona is simultaneously awesome and hilarious.

    I also felt the Hannah/Mike side story was a bit strange and didn’t add anything relevant to the plot other than it provided Ashley Benson another opportunity to wear a fat suit.

    Also also- how many study groups are these girls allegedly in? It’s their favorite go to excuse for their SOs…

    • I think what’s cool is that maybe he’s always been lurking and we just never knew it before. LOL

      • My girlfriend pointed out that he is behaving the exact same way as before, except only the music is different so we know he’s being sinister instead of just longingly-gazing after Aria and being paranoid about being caught with a minor. ~*~Spooky~*~

  3. The Ezra’s Window stuff was fantastic. It was just so ridiculous. Didn’t he and Aria both complain about being watched liked a hawk by the principal or something last week? And now he’s just creeping on them out in the open like it everybody’s business.

    I’m simultaneously amused and annoyed by it. I love that they made Ezra the bad guy, and seem to be sticking to it, for now at least. But, at the same time, I wish there wasn’t a reason to inject him into the narrative any further than he previously had been.

  4. I now need to see a PLL musical episode where Fitz wears the black turtleneck and villainously tap dances behind windows.

  5. ali had feelings for emily like seriously? ali wanted the kiss, ali WANTED it, not for emily but for herself. too many lesbos in this show dude.

  6. Before this half of the season started, all I could think was that much like Paige/Lindsey Shaw, I was too good for this show. Then I realised that unless I watched I couldn’t fully enjoy these recaps… and so I’m back.

    I can’t even handle these girls getting locked in places anymore, but at the same time I can’t help but love it. The Ezra night visit was also hilarious.

  7. I was so excited for PLL to come back. Not because I watch it but solely for these recaps. I tried actually viewing it this summer, but the recaps are even funnier when you don’t. My friends would always want to know what I was looking at on my phone when I was giggling like a crazy person.

  8. At least when the Liars go off into the woods looking for cell service or into small rooms, they’re now using the buddy system. That shows some learning curve, right?

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