Jun 21, 2016

“Pretty Little Liars” Premiere Recap: “Tick-Tock, Bitches”

On Tuesday’s “Pretty Little Liars” premiere, the Liars desperately tried to save Hanna after her kidnapping. Here are the most important things to know about “Tick-Tock, Bitches,” the first episode of season 7.
The show began with Aria, Spencer, and Emily tearfully digging a grave after “first-degree murder.” Then flashing back to four days prior to immediately after Hanna’s disappearance in the season 6 finale, the group went to the police precinct, only to see Mrs. DiLaurentis’ lookalike — her sister, Mary Drake — walking in first. Toby learned she was a twin, and now the owner of the Lost Woods Inn, who wanted to report a break-in.
Caleb was convinced she was A.D. and had kidnapped Hanna. A text from A.D. then sent them all running to the church, where they found Hanna hanging from the bell tower. But as everyone broke down, they realized it was a dummy with a lifelike mask of Hanna’s face. Pulling a string, the doll’s voice said, “You’ve got 24 hours to give me Charlotte’s real killer, or Hanna dies. Tick-tock, bitches!”
Spencer set up her home as “command central,” with everyone banding together to figure out who killed Charlotte, and with whom Mary was working. Most seemed to think Alison was the murderer, but Emily didn’t think she had a motive. Meanwhile, a bloodied Hanna was locked in a barn wearing nothing but a tank top and underwear, a photo of which was sent to the group.
Toby, Mona, Caleb, and Spencer went to the Lost Woods, where they spied Mary unloading some big bags. Spence was clearly annoyed when Caleb opted to break off with Mona to tail her, leaving Toby and Spencer to investigate the motel. They discovered the bags were filled with German and French textbooks, while Caleb and Mona spied Mary buying “everything you need to cover up murder.”
At the hospital, Elliott played dumb about Mary, and told Emily that Ali had suffered a “complete psychotic break… prompted by a traumatic event she feels responsible for.” Indeed, Em saw Ali have a violent outburst, before Elliott medicated her, and when she later mumbled about forgiveness, Emily thought that was a confession. At the same time, Aria and Ezra went to investigate at Ali’s home, looking for a red jacket they saw a blonde (either Ali or Charlotte) wearing the night of the murder. Elliott came home, and the two spied him taking out clothing from a locked chest.
Hanna was tortured with a water hose, before seemingly getting electrocuted. Caleb and Mona’s tailing of Mary led them to Spencer’s, and she actually invited Mary in for some awkward small talk with less than eight hours til the deadline. Mary said she didn’t get along with Mrs. D, who “poisoned” everyone against her, and only came back to town because her sister was dead. It was later revealed Mary had been institutionalized after a child died on her watch.
Later that night, Aria wondered to Ezra if they were a “we again,” while Emily cried to Sabrina that her friend may have done a very bad thing, with another friend paying the price. Caleb and Mona determined Mary kept phoning with a Brit who was at a bar, the same pub Aria and Ezra used to meet at. After a search there turned up nothing but old memories, Aria told Ezra, “I just need to be with you.”
Hanna had a vision of Spencer telling her, “You got this. You’re going to be okay.” Spence encouraged her to try to figure a way out, and not give up. Emily snuck into Ali’s house to do her own investigating, and flashed back to many things Alison said to her over the years, including their hookup. She eventually found the red coat, leading her to believe Ali, in fact, had committed the murder.
She brought the coat to the group, but as they all debated what to do next, Caleb ditched them and went to the Lost Woods himself, coat in hand, and texted A.D. that Ali was the murderer and this was the “proof.” The show then jumped to a masked figure opening the barn to discover Hanna gone. She was actually running through the woods, but when she got to a roadway, she was found by Mary.
Meanwhile, a person picked up the coat, as everyone waited at Spencer’s for some kind of news. At the end of the episode, Elliott went to drug Ali again, telling her, “I’m going to make sure you live a long life… rotting away in here. I know you killed Charlotte. Just like you, Alisan, karma can be such a bitch.”

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