I love this show, I really do, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. To this day, I still consider this to be the worst episode of the entire series. I just recently watched it again before I wrote this review to make sure I didn't miss anything my first time watching it, but no, this episode was just plain bad, and this is coming from a big fan of the series.
First off, the biggest problem with the episode was the inclusion of supernatural elements. We get it Caleb, you're upset your show is cancelled, but please keep Ravenswood out of PLL, you can't just bring these things into a show that's at least somewhat realistic.
Second, the episode was so disappointing in many ways. This was the episode where we supposed to find out who really killed Bethany, but we didn't! We only found out that Melissa buried Bethany (which was already very predictable), and that she's been protecting Spencer, but we never found out who knocked her out, and the show really made us think we would. Also, we were promised a Montgomery family reunion, which I was actually really looking forward to, but even that couldn't happen.
Third, some moments were just...dumb. The intervention was probably the most awkward and unnecessary scene of the whole series. I wish the writers would stop trying to pair up Toby and Caleb, as they just feel really awkward together (Caleb and Paige being friends felt a lot more genuine). I remember at one point Spencer said "Don't look at me, I don't know how boys communicate" and I honestly think that's what the writers were thinking when writing that scene. So basically, the intervention was just plain useless and led to nothing (Caleb and Hanna ended up talking about it, but it really came down to something else). Meanwhile, Mona acts like a victim to Aria after she whispers something to her at the movie theater (of course they were watching a black and white movie), even after she's tortured her friends as A just a few seasons ago.
And lastly, the episode builds absolutely no hype for the midseason finale. Instead of the unnecessary moments like the intervention, they could've showed Alison persuading Mona's team to join her instead of just saying that she did in the next episode with no explanation.
Overall, this has to be the worst PLL episode in my opinion. So many missed opportunities, so many unnecessary moments, that I believe this episode deserves no more than a 4/10.
First off, the biggest problem with the episode was the inclusion of supernatural elements. We get it Caleb, you're upset your show is cancelled, but please keep Ravenswood out of PLL, you can't just bring these things into a show that's at least somewhat realistic.
Second, the episode was so disappointing in many ways. This was the episode where we supposed to find out who really killed Bethany, but we didn't! We only found out that Melissa buried Bethany (which was already very predictable), and that she's been protecting Spencer, but we never found out who knocked her out, and the show really made us think we would. Also, we were promised a Montgomery family reunion, which I was actually really looking forward to, but even that couldn't happen.
Third, some moments were just...dumb. The intervention was probably the most awkward and unnecessary scene of the whole series. I wish the writers would stop trying to pair up Toby and Caleb, as they just feel really awkward together (Caleb and Paige being friends felt a lot more genuine). I remember at one point Spencer said "Don't look at me, I don't know how boys communicate" and I honestly think that's what the writers were thinking when writing that scene. So basically, the intervention was just plain useless and led to nothing (Caleb and Hanna ended up talking about it, but it really came down to something else). Meanwhile, Mona acts like a victim to Aria after she whispers something to her at the movie theater (of course they were watching a black and white movie), even after she's tortured her friends as A just a few seasons ago.
And lastly, the episode builds absolutely no hype for the midseason finale. Instead of the unnecessary moments like the intervention, they could've showed Alison persuading Mona's team to join her instead of just saying that she did in the next episode with no explanation.
Overall, this has to be the worst PLL episode in my opinion. So many missed opportunities, so many unnecessary moments, that I believe this episode deserves no more than a 4/10.
