Spencer and Emily are returning to Spencer's house from school when MariskaMom arrives to deliver very bad news. The police have issued a warrant and will now be going through the entire Hastings house, including Spencer's room. She runs up there to stop them, but they're boxing up all of her shit - diaries, laptop, notebooks. Can someone with a criminal justice degree please tell me if this would EVER happen based on the evidence they have on Spencer? Which is, none.
Spencer wants her mom to make them stop, but MariskaMom says they're just doing their jobs. Ian shows up just in time to do a long, creepy stare into the room, while drinking a glass of milk. Wtf.
We open at Lindsey's apartment. His alarm clock goes off, and he stares at it for a minute before turning it off with his stump. He shaves and gets dressed before putting on his prosthetic hand. He opens the cupboard to get a pre-tied tie, and stares sadly at his guitar. I know Lindsey's the evil lawyer guy and all, but this is kind of giving me feels, you guys. Lindsey needs a hug or something. Although to be fair, it's possible that I'm being manipulated by the Oboe of Sad Times...
Lorraine: It's totally the Oboe. I mean, not having a hand is sympathy-inducing, but also, Lindsey lost it because he was being an evil douche nozzle, so, yeah.
Lorraine: It's totally the Oboe. I mean, not having a hand is sympathy-inducing, but also, Lindsey lost it because he was being an evil douche nozzle, so, yeah.
We open in the Summers' kitchen. Buffy's washing dishes while Giles and Dawn dry and put things away. Apparently the Best Surrogate Parent of Ever made dinner for the girls. Dawn goes to check her room for additional dishes, and Giles takes advantage of her absence to ask how they're both doing. "Some minutes are harder than others," Buffy replies.
Lorraine: Subtle but brilliant line. Grief happens minute by minute.
Sweeney: Agreed. I think that applies to most turbulent life times. Emotional stuff doesn't just hit you all at once and then go away. It ebbs and flows and I can't stop congratulating this show for how wonderfully it's portraying all of this.
Lorraine: Subtle but brilliant line. Grief happens minute by minute.
Sweeney: Agreed. I think that applies to most turbulent life times. Emotional stuff doesn't just hit you all at once and then go away. It ebbs and flows and I can't stop congratulating this show for how wonderfully it's portraying all of this.
Sweeney: Having dispensed with all that crazy business wherein Ana had to interact with other people, we begin this chapter in a familiar place: with everyone's least favorite couple in bed. Ana, "linger[s] on the edge of consciousness," afraid to wake her future murderer. A valid fear.
Lorraine: It's made a hilarious fear because Ana is being suffocated by Grey's body heat. So, she's not going to wake him because he doesn't get enough sleep and Grey needs to sleep regardless of if Ana is being robbed of her oxygen. Because it hasn't happened in a bit: AND THEN SHE DIES.
Sweeney: That game will never stop being wonderful.
Lorraine: It's made a hilarious fear because Ana is being suffocated by Grey's body heat. So, she's not going to wake him because he doesn't get enough sleep and Grey needs to sleep regardless of if Ana is being robbed of her oxygen. Because it hasn't happened in a bit: AND THEN SHE DIES.
Sweeney: That game will never stop being wonderful.
We begin the episode with shots of the girls being separately interrogated. They've told the cops about the Someone Wants To Kiss Ali - Extended Edition that they received, featuring special guest Creepy Ian. They all lie for Spencer when asked if they knew of Ian being with any other younger girls.
Lorraine: Aw. I mean, I'm not aw-ing lying to the police, but just that they all do it for their friend.
Sweeney: Also, rape culture rage break: the cop makes a point of pointing out that Ian was a star athlete as part of why this would never be a thing that would happen because men who are star athletes are inherently good men, OBVS.
Lorraine: Aw. I mean, I'm not aw-ing lying to the police, but just that they all do it for their friend.
Sweeney: Also, rape culture rage break: the cop makes a point of pointing out that Ian was a star athlete as part of why this would never be a thing that would happen because men who are star athletes are inherently good men, OBVS.
We open at the Brooding Hotel, where Angel sits behind a desk, while Wesley lectures him about engaging with his co-workers and being sensitive to their feelings. Angel is wearing a gray shirt that might almost be described as light gray.
Wesley pauses the lecture and points out that this must be torture for Angel. Why, yes it is. "Good," Wesley answers. They are done for now, though. Angel says he'll sit around and absorb it, but not in the office, because it is now Wesley's office. Good thing, just outside the doors, Cordelia and Gunn are preparing a little bitch-work area for Angel. Also, they want coffee. Punny Angel (remember him?!) says, "Man. Atonement's a bitch," and that takes us into the credits.
Wesley pauses the lecture and points out that this must be torture for Angel. Why, yes it is. "Good," Wesley answers. They are done for now, though. Angel says he'll sit around and absorb it, but not in the office, because it is now Wesley's office. Good thing, just outside the doors, Cordelia and Gunn are preparing a little bitch-work area for Angel. Also, they want coffee. Punny Angel (remember him?!) says, "Man. Atonement's a bitch," and that takes us into the credits.
Buffy appraises a bunch of coffins. Spooky music plays while she opens one up, but it's all a bit of misdirection. There is nothing in the coffin. Buffy is here to pick one for Joyce.
Misdirection dictated that Buffy was doing all of this in the dark, in a room away from Giles, Dawn and the salesman. They enter the room now, and Buffy points out her selection. The salesman makes a skeevy comment about he can tell how much she care for the deceased based on her selection. It must be expensive. (S: Clearly. Such a skeevy and inappropriate comment and this guy needs a new line of work.) (K: Agreed. Creepy coffin salesman is creepy.)
Misdirection dictated that Buffy was doing all of this in the dark, in a room away from Giles, Dawn and the salesman. They enter the room now, and Buffy points out her selection. The salesman makes a skeevy comment about he can tell how much she care for the deceased based on her selection. It must be expensive. (S: Clearly. Such a skeevy and inappropriate comment and this guy needs a new line of work.) (K: Agreed. Creepy coffin salesman is creepy.)
We sometimes talk about people watching Buffy but not Angel, which I imagine is a lot more common than the other way around. HOW COULD YOU WATCH THIS SHOW AND NOT WATCH THE FIRST THREE SEASONS OF BUFFY? Granted, Buffy knowledge is occasionally troublesome for watching this show because this show contradicts that at turns, but seriously seriously, I don't understand those people. I bring this up now because this episode begins with Angel's sit-up-and-gasp from the previous episode and moves into him running out into the rain. This time, though, the potential Tragic Magic Vagina belongs to Darla, who follows him outside and tells him not to fight it. Roll electric cellos.
After the credits, Darla's talking about how getting rid of the soul leaves a bitterness.
After the credits, Darla's talking about how getting rid of the soul leaves a bitterness.
THIS EPISODE. Hush was a weird one to recap, but this is kind of on another level. This episode is also included with Hush on many best-of-the-series lists, with good reason. I'd also argue it's the single hardest episode to recap because of a combination of feels and simply the way the episode is done. I mentioned in a Segue Magic video that there was another episode, aside from Hush, that made brilliant use of sound. Obviously all of you who have seen the series knew what I meant, but I'm going to acknowledge it now for the sake of our first-time watcher. It's a brilliant device whose impact is greater on the whole of the episode than in any particular moment. Hush was the only Emmy nominee, but that seems a shame, because this episode certainly deserved one too.
Lorraine: We haven't written a Fifty Shades post in two weeks, but it really seems like ages since we last took rage to screen. No worries, though. This crap is like riding a bike. I already feel my fingers reaching for the capslock key.
We start the chapter with everyone in the restaurant staring at Kate, because if you'll recall, Elliot just proposed to her. We're supposed to be freaking out about what Kate will answer, I guess, but let's be honest:
We start the chapter with everyone in the restaurant staring at Kate, because if you'll recall, Elliot just proposed to her. We're supposed to be freaking out about what Kate will answer, I guess, but let's be honest:
Lorraine: Rosewood High is holding auditions for a play, and our Pretty Little Liars are all gathered for the occasion. Can I tell you how hilarious these episode openings are? I know that all shows do a certain amount of rehashing, but PLL is almost shameless in its beginning of the episode, expository conversations.
Anyways, Spencer is explaining to her friends what the play, The Bad Seed, is all about. Hanna says she didn't read the whole thing because she just wants to be the drunk mom of the play. Spencer gives her, "MMMHMM." eyes, allowing Hanna to exposit that she once brought a flask to a dance. Oh, yeah and also, Caleb is still living in Hanna's basement and A found out and Hanna has decided to tell her mom about it before A does.
Anyways, Spencer is explaining to her friends what the play, The Bad Seed, is all about. Hanna says she didn't read the whole thing because she just wants to be the drunk mom of the play. Spencer gives her, "MMMHMM." eyes, allowing Hanna to exposit that she once brought a flask to a dance. Oh, yeah and also, Caleb is still living in Hanna's basement and A found out and Hanna has decided to tell her mom about it before A does.
Kirsti: We open in an abandoned looking place full of corridors and the camera promptly zooms in on a shopping trolley with a creepy doll sitting in it. But not a Drusilla creepy doll. More like a Chucky creepy doll. Thanks, Zoomy Cameraman, for weirding me out like 10 seconds into the episode.
Angel appears in the background. He heads past the creepy doll and opens a door. He heads into the room, closes the door behind him, then turns on the light. The room is filled with goats. Angel looks as confused as I do.
Sweeney: His confusion is excellent.
Angel appears in the background. He heads past the creepy doll and opens a door. He heads into the room, closes the door behind him, then turns on the light. The room is filled with goats. Angel looks as confused as I do.
Sweeney: His confusion is excellent.
Kirsti: Okay, I hate this episode SO FUCKING MUCH, YOU GUYS. Because of reasons. Not least of which is the introduction of quite possibly my least favourite character in the whole of the Buffy-verse. Oh Number Gods, why must you torment me like this? SIGH.
Sweeney: Robots + Warren? Yeah, this was pretty bad draw.
Lorraine: Let's just remember that you ended up third in the rotation because you HAD to cover School Hard.
K: Okay, fine. I have no one to blame but myself.
Sweeney: Robots + Warren? Yeah, this was pretty bad draw.
Lorraine: Let's just remember that you ended up third in the rotation because you HAD to cover School Hard.
K: Okay, fine. I have no one to blame but myself.
We open with all four PLLs in Spencer's room, with Aria sulking by the window. They're discussing how Melissa is pregnant and Emily wonders why she got pregnant. The girls are trying to decode Toby's message, which is in braille. Emily invites Aria to sit closer and Nancy Drew with them, but she just mean eyes Hanna and says she can see just fine, thank you very much.
They decode Toby's letter, and all it says is BAD. Womp womp.
SHH.
They decode Toby's letter, and all it says is BAD. Womp womp.
SHH.
Another instant round of the Feelsy Soundtrack starts us off this episode, as Angel broods around the empty and dark Brooding Hotel. Someone get this man a puppy.
K: Except that not, on account of Angelus likes to play with puppies a little too much...
Lor: Someone get this man a Tamagatchi.
We head over to the Fangless Gang headquarters, where things are decidedly less soul crushing, but also, business is slow.
K: Except that not, on account of Angelus likes to play with puppies a little too much...
Lor: Someone get this man a Tamagatchi.
We head over to the Fangless Gang headquarters, where things are decidedly less soul crushing, but also, business is slow.
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