Mona pops in on Hanna as she’s working on her fashion sketches at the cafe (per Caleb’s sweet instructions) and suddenly starts snapping pictures of Hanna’s designs, telling Hanna to trust her and not leave town. Trust Mona, that’s an oxymoron right? Meanwhile, Spencer is at the precinct talking to her smooching Detective partner, and he reveals that someone is in France, but probably not Archer/Elliott. He pulls out the gun that Spencer claims Jenna short her with, revealing that it’s not in fact the same gun and there were to on the scene.This plot is so thick I’m surprised A.D. is able to keep stirring it.
Aria and Hanna are scoping out wedding venues, and Holden shows up as the Chef of the place and decides to give Aria a tour. As he’s asking Aria questions about the plans, she realizes she and Ezra haven’t discussed any aspects of the wedding. As the pair are walking downtown together reminiscing, Ezra runs up to them and announces that Nicole’s parents have requested his presence in New York. We can all see where this is headed, right?
Emily finds out Paige has placed herself and Alison on the same committee for fundraising within the athletics department at the high school. Although they both assure Mrs. Horowitz that the past can be left in the past. However, once the they’re all together for the meeting Ali spends the entire time making digs at Paige since she isn’t capable of ever growing up.Emily confronts Alison about her behavior after the meeting, and Alison creates a sympathy part herself as usual, causing Emily to ask her about the kiss they shared. When Alison responds with a lack of certainty, Emily warns her to never kiss her again unless she’s sure of why she’s doing it.
After her chat with Ali, Emily approaches Paige to let her know she should expect an apology from Ali. Paige, although she has her faults, is nothing if not perceptive and direct. She tells Emily that as long as she keeps swooping in to save her, Ali will never stop playing the victim. Snaps for you Paige, but I still doubt Emily is going to be able to resist temptation, especially considering Ali is secretly carrying Elliott/Archer’s baby. Or is she? The more Ali sneaks off to doctor visits along, the more sketchy this whole pregnancy ordeal feels like your run of the mill Ali manipulation. I wonder if Paige will stick around to pick up the pieces once Ali betrays Emily’s trusting nature yet again.
Mona sets up a meeting with Hanna and a New York Senator’s daughters, who is willing to look at Hanna’s designs to wear for an upcoming fundraiser for her father. As Hanna is showing the Senator’s daughter dresses, she finds out Mona has presented herself as Hanna’s boss. When Mona shows up raving about their success, Hanna calls her out for misleading Catherine about her status, but Mona denies it. Won’t these two ever learn to stop trying to be BFFs when only one can be Queen B?
Spencer’s mother returns home and demands to know from Spencer what Mary Drake had told her. As it turns out, Jessica showed up at the Hastings home one day at informed Spencer’s mom that her sister, Mary Drake, who was at Radley, was pregnant with Spencer’s father’s baby. That’s right, Mr. Hastings made a baby with both Jessica and her mentally ill sister Mary Drake. Distraught to discover the truth, Spencer storms out of the house, and I’m still sitting here trying to figure out this game of musical children chairs the Hastings have been playing with the DeLaurentis family.
Back at the barn, Spencer receives a text from A.D. encouraging her to play the game in order to get closer to her mother. Of course Spencer takes the bait and fires up the game to start playing. After placing her phone on the game board, it prompts her to select Truth of Dare. On a side note, I love the gleeful cheese factor in this board game that comes alive a la ’90s era Jumanji. What do you think will happen if ones of them decides to cheat? Spencer selects Dare, and the screen prompts her to visit Toby to earn a reward. Complying with the instructions, Spencer shows up to visit Toby at the hospital, and Toby agonizes over being to blame for Yvonne’s injuries because of Rosewood. These two have so much depressing sexual tension it’s insane. Their awkward hand holding is sweet but not entirely innocent, and it feels a bit icky that so many of the Liars are coupling up under circumstances that are tragic for someone else involved.
Once she returns home, the board game lights up to reward Spencer for her participation. The game spits out an envelope from Radley addressed “to my child”. The envelope has a puzzle piece inside that Spencer inserts into the game, and a letter from Mary Drake expressing regrets and love for Spencer.
Spencer’s mother shows up to visit and sees the envelope tucked under Spencer’s pillow, but we don’t get to see whether or not she decides to open it. The Liars find out Spencer played the game when they all decided they wouldn’t, so obviously they’re all going to have to play together now. Hanna decides she’s going to smash the game board to see what else is inside, and right on cue it lights up warning them that they have to finish what they’ve started. Jumanji!
“Playtime” concludes with a peek at Jenna tucked away somewhere with A.D., who hands her a book in Braille after she asks about the game. She reads it and smiles in understanding, saying only, “endgame”.
So what do you think Liars fans? Who is A.D.? Will all of them get out the endgame alive? Are you Team Paige or Team Alison?
