Season 5, Episode 3
Air Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 8/7c on ABC Family.
Rating: ★★★★★

“Blood is thicker than water. It can also be very slippery.” — Melissa Hastings

Given the events of “Whirly Girly,” Alison (Sasha Pieterse) locks herself in her room for days. What a way for PLL to welcome Alison back after disappearing for two years. In the background, we hear the girls ask whether they can see Alison but her father (Jim Adele) tells them it’s not a good time.

Although we are only three episodes into the new season, “Surfing the Aftershocks” moves slowly for me. As in almost every episode, the audience expects something shocking or jaw dropping to occur and “Surfing the Aftershocks” is no different. But unfortunately, it is more of a “let’s take it slow” kind of episode. Although, we do get a sense of what’s going through the girls’ minds about Alison’s return to Rosewood.

Sydney asking Emily for advice on becoming a better swimmer.

Wait — there’s a new character in town! Her name is Sydney Driscoll (Chloe Bridges) and it looks like we’ve found Emily’s (Shay Mitchell) number one swim fan. Sydney comes off creepy as she stares at Emily in the hallways of their high school and it’s not for the obvious reason. Sydney shows her admiration to Emily by asking her all sorts of questions, especially looking for advice on becoming a great swimmer. Not quite sure what Sydney has in store for us, but I’d like to know whether she’s good or bad. Or, is she as sketchy as everyone else in this town? Hmm.

“Surfing the Aftershocks” provides more of an individual perspective of how each of the girls — Hanna (Ashley Benson), Aria (Lucy Hale), Spencer (Troian Bellisario), and Emily (Shay Mitchell) — feel now that Alison is back. Let’s begin with Hanna.

Hanna has sudden flashbacks about how her life gradually changed after Alison disappeared. Hanna started to become someone else, with the help of her old, somewhat sneaky BFF Mona (Janel Parrish). Mona turns Hanna into the center of attention, with what Mona calls an “Alison upgrade.” These flashbacks make it appear as though Hanna may be having some type of an identity crisis. Perhaps, Hanna secretly wishes to be the newer version of Alison, taking her place in some way to regain the confidence she once lost.

Aria at Ezra’s apartment talking for the first after his return home from the hospital.

Aria heads over to Ezra’s (Ian Harding) apartment to have a conversation with him after his return home from the hospital. Poor thing has a walking stick now as he recovers from his gunshot wounds. But that doesn’t keep him from looking as gorgeous as ever, don’t you think? Ezra, why must you look so dashing even with your wounds? Contemplating telling Ezra about Shana’s (Aeriél Miranda) death, Aria finally comes to her senses, telling him she will no longer be a danger to him or the rest of the girls. His reaction? He still wants to help. Even though Aria feels guilty about the Shana incident, I’m glad to see she trusts Ezra enough to tell him the truth.

Spencer tries to get more out of Jason.

Spencer tries to find answers about who killed Alison’s mother by getting more out of Jason (Drew Van Acker), who also happens to be Spencer’s half brother. Yet, as he pleads his innocence, he gives Spencer more reasons to be suspicious about the one person they share the same blood with— their father, Peter Hastings (Nolan North). As if Spencer doesn’t already have enough on her plate dealing with Melissa’s (Torrey DeVitto) unpredictability, now she has to be on the lookout for her own father? There is no such thing as a perfect family, right? Speaking of Melissa, we aren’t getting anything out of her or so it seems. Spencer’s father and Melissa are hiding a secret together but no one is talking about what it really is. It’s pretty agitating to me; somebody spill the beans, please.

“Surfing the Aftershocks’” doesn’t revolve around Alison, “A,” and everything that’s been ruining the girls from the start. However, of all the girls, Emily’s part is more focused on her relationship problems with Paige (Lindsey Shaw). Even after Paige initially ruins everything, she attempts to win Emily back after she professes her love once again. Upon Sydney’s arrival, it seems like wherever Emily and Sydney are, Paige just suddenly pops up. It’s official, Paige is in the ‘friend zone’ now. Ouch.

Overall, I would say “Surfing the Aftershocks” is a mediocre episode. I do miss the sneak peeks of “A” in the black hoodie that we have been getting at the end of every episode. Bring back the thrills, PLL!

What did you think about “Surfing the Aftershocks?” Leave me a comment below or chat with me on Twitter @shadiawashere so we can discuss! I’d love to hear from you!

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