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Pretty Little Liars - The Melody Lingers On - Review: "How to Maybe Get Away With Murder"

11 Mar 2015

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5.23 - "The Melody Lingers On"
Directed by Roger Kumble
Written by Joseph Dougherty
Reviewed by Gavin Hetherington

Season Guide




Spencer finds out Alison was talking to somebody through personal ads. Jonny builds a whispering machine in The Brew. Tanner and Toby run into Hanna at the storage unit, leading Hanna to worry about Caleb. Jason sleeps with Ashley before Ted proposes to her. Aria and Andrew kiss, while Melissa tells Spencer that Alison had a plea bargain to name an accomplice and the Hastings were worried they'd name Spencer. Hanna is arrested when Tanner finds the clothes Mona wore the day she died - the same clothes A planted Hanna's blood on. Alison doesn't take the plea to name Hanna.


'The Melody Lingers On' Review

I have to say, this was a so-so episode really. The momentum kind of dropped after last week's final intense moments with Hanna getting arrested. I think this episode could have been a lot better if they focused more on the trial and on Hanna and Alison inside the jail too. Hanna was severely under-used in this episode. It really did allow the others to shine a little but even so, there wasn't much shining here. It was a good enough episode but after the building up of the past few episodes, it was a little bit of a let down. There were some good times to be had and some more progress on the A front. For example, now I definitely think Andrew is working against the Liars. I used to like Andrew, now I don't really think I do, especially with his implication that the world would be better without Mona. He didn't say that explicitally but we can read between the lines. I'm really, really thinking he's on the A-Team. We saw A slice up a business card with Varjak's name on it so I don't think Andrew is Varjak then, but we can't count him out just yet. Or maybe it's just been one huge red herring, the eight-hundred-and-ninety-second this season alone, since things are starting to become a little too obvious with Andrew.

The court scenes were good, though that lawyer was such an asshole I even made a new award for Biggest Asshole, just for him! God, I hate his smug little face. I always get reminded of How to Get Away With Murder now whenever we are shown the inside of a courtroom (even though I have watched countless shows involving lawyers in the past, including Drop Dead Diva) and I couldn't help but picture Annaliese Keating as Alison's lawyer. The one Alison has now is doing a fine job with what she's got though and I do like her, but Alison needs a miracle right now. Her kidnapping story has cost her any credibility with the judge and jury and now the girls are falling further into the grand scheme too with their involvement with Alison. It's just not a pretty time right now for the girls.

Focusing on the characters, Alison is becoming more human and it's getting a lot easier to sympathise with her. I do wish we had more Alison and Hanna scenes in this episode but I think we'll get some great scenes between them in the next episode judging by the promo. Spencer seems to be doing most of the work as usual when it comes to cracking the case though I liked how she, Aria and Emily all worked together. Aria was especially deserving of some respect when she questioned the note A left for them in Mona's room, seeing right through it and showing us that Spencer isn't the only smart one on the show. I just wish there was more for Emily to do, she only really tagged along and had an awkward phone conversation with Alison in this episode. What happened to Talia, I'm sure she's still around? I did like her scene with the whispering machine though, but please let Emily have more involvement in solving this mystery!

When it comes to A, we have to commend them for a job well done. Planting the icepick that will lead to the Ice Cream factory the girls were in (where A also moved the condemnable things from the storage unit into) was a very, very smart move. I do wish, because it has been so long, for the girls to upstage A and finally work one step ahead instead of fourteen steps behind. It's getting frustrating watching these girls just launch themselves into A's traps without thinking first. But seriously, have the examiners not noticed Hanna's blood on Mona's shirt was placed long, long after her death? Come on, Rosewood detectives, up your game! I'm starting to think there's just a fault in the legal system over there and they'll do anything to stir up some drama. Not that they need it. I do wonder where Tanner and Toby are though, you'd think they'd be present for Alison's court case, or at least involved in some way.


Episode Awards

Prettiest Little Liar: Spencer Hastings. The Liars didn't do an awful lot in this episode but Spencer did the most.

Most Macho Male: Caleb Rivers. Literally the last decent guy on this show (Him and Ted anyway).

Biggest Asshole: The lawyer who was against Alison. What a dick.

Favourite Episode Pairing: Hanna and Caleb, even if it was just for a brief moment.

Best Line: Veronica: "We're not talking about ethics." Spencer: "That's for sure." Burn.

Best Moment: Spencer, Aria and Emily going inside Mona's house.

Saddest Moment: Ashley telling Ted he can leave.

Creepiest Moment: The music playing through the whispering machine.

Biggest Question Mark Award: The message Spencer and the girls found in Mona's mirror.

Biggest Reveal: Not to us, but the exposure of the Jason and Ashley affair in the courtroom was a pretty good reveal to the characters.

Best Cat Fight: Spencer vs. Veronica Hastings. Two episodes in a row now Spencer has argued with a family member, and can we really blame her?


A's Mysteries

I'm Gonna Swing From the Chandelier!


So, the crazy ramblings on the piece of paper in Mona's mirror could actually be an anagram for Charles DiLaurentis. Look at them, they all spell that when you mix the words around. This may be a crazy theory (aren't all theories) but maybe this Charles DiLaurentis is A - and the writers are going the book route with the twin idea, but maybe the twin on the show will be a boy? So A is Alison's twin brother Charles?

What's Your Game Andrew?


Too obvious to be a bad guy at this point like countless red herrings we've had in the past, or is that what the writers want us to think? He trash-talked Mona while lurking outside her house not long after it was ransacked by A, who left a icepick at her home that has the Ice Cream Factory's name on it.

Honey, Boo Boo's Ice Cream, Child!


So, if Andrew planted the icepick in the house for the authorities to get their hands on, which will lead them to the Ice Cream Factory that has the girls' prints all over them, then there's no denying Andrew is working against the girls. It's possible it's just a coincidence he happened to be watching the house, but haven't we learned by now that there are no coincidents in Pretty Little Liars?


What did you guys think of 'The Melody Lingers On'? Let me know in the comments and be sure to watch the penultimate episode of Pretty Little Liars' fifth season on March 17th on ABC Family!

About the Author - Gavin Hetherington
Award-winning author of 'Abyssal Sanctuary: Remnants of the Damned'. Gavin joined SpoilerTV on August 9, 2014 and will be reviewing 2 Broke Girls, Mistresses, Orange is the New Black, Pretty Little Liars, Salem and Sleepy Hollow in the 2014-15 season. Gavin's favourite shows include Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Desperate Housewives, The Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Scandal and much more. You can contact him at gavin@spoilertv.com.
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21 comments:

  1. RickyTVD11 March 2015 at 21:12

    I thought this episode was oretty boring, expected more than that message from Mona´s house and probably the best scene was Alison and Hanna in jail where they advanced a little bit the plot. And I totally agree with u about Hanna´s blood on Mona´s shirt, I mean, can´t they run tests to see that the blood was implanted after? I hope the last 2 episodes are way more exciting than these last 2. I´m getting suspicious of Andrew, but I don´t think he´s A, bc they wouldn´t show us Andrew watching Mona´s house and all that, but he may be part of the A team as u said.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rabia Salvatore11 March 2015 at 21:26

    If Alison does have a twin brother, maybe it's Andrew and his real name is Charles? Episode was alright, I was annoyed that they cut off the court stuff so soon but I guess when they have 25 episodes in a season, things tend to get stretched out.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dosia V.11 March 2015 at 21:42

    Well, I liked the episode. Which is pretty strange considering not much actually happened, but for some reason it ...moved me?! Maybe it's because I cried during the Hanna - Ashley scene... boo hoo, it really made me emotional. I also liked Jason. Poor Jason, really regrets breaking Ali's alibi now and being the reason his changed testimony loses credibility because he slept with Ashley... Brave Ashley "You can leave Ted, it's all right" (boo hoo again)... enter heroic music and the three girls climb the stairs and go into Mona's room to find that anagram (is there really a Charles Di Laurentis or just a chandelier's ritual, and if so how long before the girls realize that?) This epi really got to me .. It really did... P.S.1 Could Andrew be Alison's brother or is it too obvious? P.S.2 Caleb is the best, he and Hanna are so good together..

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gavin Hetherington11 March 2015 at 21:47

    Oooh that's a good theory. They do kinda look alike. Yeah, they have do have to have a season-long plan and unfortunately 25 episodes is a lot to fill. 2 episodes to go though! Thanks for reading and commenting :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gavin Hetherington11 March 2015 at 21:51

    Thing is, they CAN run tests and they'd know straight away. I mean, when they discovered it was Hanna's blood, surely they would have discovered how long that blood was on the shirt for and see that it wouldn't match Mona's time of death, at all. Promo for the next episode looks like things are heating up again so I think the last 2 will be very good!


    Yes! You're so right, we have to care about who is A, totally. I wasn't fussed with Shana because I never really liked her character anyway, whereas yeah, Mona and Toby and Ezra (though they weren't team A it was still a shock moment when we thought they were) we care about. The sooner we find out, the sooner we can move on with our lives because the guessing and the waiting for answers is totally taking over my life! Thanks for reading and commenting :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gavin Hetherington11 March 2015 at 21:54

    You're right, I definitely see where you're coming from about being moved. I totally get that and I got that feeling too. I don't think this episode was filler though, while it was a little boring to me, it was pretty vital in moving forward so I like the episode for that. Poor Jason, and poor Ashley. I really want Ted and Ashley to be endgame. Notice how Ted was there for Hanna instead of Hanna's actual father who is a dick? He gets the Worst Parent Award.


    Andrew could definitely be Alison's brother as they do kinda look alike. Could be twins since they're both in the same year at school and be the Charles in the anagrams. And yes haha Caleb and Hanna are totally the best couple, they've stood the test of time and are still going strong. Long Live Haleb!


    Thanks for reading and commenting :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dosia V.11 March 2015 at 22:16

    Exactly!!!! Thanks for bringing that up. That is a major point! Where was Hanna's father??? He is a total dick! He definitely has his priorities mixed up. Yes you are divorced but she is your daughter and she needs you now. This was so wrong! So, yes can Ted and Ashley be endgame please show?


    You know what those sweet Haleb scenes reminded me? In 4x14 when they say goodbye and he leaves Rosewood they have this big fight on the door of her house and later she is waiting for him outside his car because "she doesn't want their fight to be the last memory" so she gives him his coffee and they say goodbye. The way they write them, emphasizing that deep care they have for one another that goes above everything, it' s what makes them so special

    ReplyDelete
  8. Christopher DeBono11 March 2015 at 23:18

    I liked the theory on reddit that Charles could actually be Alison's child.

    She was late the summer she met Beach Hottie and Board Shorts (one of which was Ezra). She also told Cece that if 'He' found out then he would kill her. 'He' most likely being 'A'. Thus when it was confirmed that she was pregnant, Alison went into hiding to protect herself and the baby (which she must have had and named Charles).

    'A' eventually found out and went after the liars to flush Alison out. Now 'A' wants to torture them so Alison will talk and reveal where Charles is (probably France somewhere due to all the french references in the show). The whole dollhouse concept in the season final sounds like it'll have a lot of baby references which could hint at the theory (baby blocks that spell Charles for example).

    Mona suggested previously that it was a false alarm based on Alison's diary, however Alison could have been lying in her diaries.

    The liars previously suspected that Beach Hottie was Detective Wilden after finding an image Melissa took however it was never confirmed. We know she spent time with Wilden, Cece and Melissa during the summer she had her pregnancy scare (she also spent time with Ezra in secret during that summer). However what if there was another and he was Beach Hottie? What if Wren was there (either dating Melissa or when he first met Melissa) and he just wasn't in the the image the liars found?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gavin Hetherington11 March 2015 at 23:48

    Team Tashley. Haha that sounds funny actually.


    Oh my God yes! I almost forgot but with you mentioning them, I remember Haleb in that episode perfectly. Amazing. Reminds me of that now too. The writers haven't messed up this couple which is amazing, they continue to deliver great Haleb scenes and Caleb continues to be a major asset to Team Liars. They are definitely special :)

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  10. Gavin Hetherington11 March 2015 at 23:50

    Oooh that is a great theory. I never would have thought Charles to be Alison's son but it makes sense with how you explained it there. Wren totally could have been there. Could he be the father since Charles is a common British name?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Christopher DeBono12 March 2015 at 00:05

    Yeah I think Wren is the father and he wants Alison to talk. But Alison's smarter then she lets on, if he went after her then she wouldn't talk.

    He believes however that her friends (the liars) are her weak link. So Alison is now in a box (jail) where she can't help them. And Wren is going to torture them in his own twisted way until she talks.

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  12. Gavin Hetherington12 March 2015 at 00:38

    That is so cool, I actually really want to see this happen even though I'd now see it coming. It makes sense and I think it would be so interesting to watch unfold on screen. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Guga12 March 2015 at 03:26

    And there is this theory about Ezra's book timeline that shows pictures where we can see he wrote Aria spent three years in Iceland after Alison disappearance - that would make finally perfect since with her possible child storyline.

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  14. RickyTVD12 March 2015 at 15:40

    My pleasure, love your reviews :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. RickyTVD12 March 2015 at 15:46

    OMG how do u people come up with those theories? :P

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  16. Gavin Hetherington12 March 2015 at 16:22

    I never would have come up with any of this myself haha.

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  17. Gavin Hetherington12 March 2015 at 16:22

    That is such a good theory too! Ahh, I'm loving these, I need to get out more in the PLL community. Somebody has probably already guessed all the answers.

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  18. Christopher DeBono13 March 2015 at 02:03

    I suggest looking into the PLL subreddit:
    http://www.reddit.com/r/PrettyLittleLiars/

    Some of my favorite discussions and theories come from there.

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  19. Gavin Hetherington13 March 2015 at 10:53

    Thanks so much for that, gonna have fun with that!

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  20. Elliot16 March 2015 at 23:24

    The card is actually an anagram for "Nerd Lucas is a Liar"

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gavin Hetherington17 March 2015 at 13:16

    Oh my God, my mind is blown haha thanks for sharing that, that makes so much sense too!

    ReplyDelete

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