Pretty Little Liars 7×16 “The Glove that Rocks the Cradle” Top Moments

Spencer Finds Herself Needing the Liars’ Help, Hanna Takes Another Turn at the Game, Aria Does A.D.’s Dirty Work and Lucas Makes a Troubling Confession.

On this week’s episode of Pretty Little Liars entitled, “The Glove That Rocks the Cradle,” the police close in on one of the Liars, so the PLLs all work together to protect her. The episode picks up with Spencer (Troian Bellisario) being questioned at Rosewood P.D. as Detective Furey (Nicholas Gonzalez) comes closer to discovering what really happened to Archer Dunhill (Huw Collins). Meanwhile, Emily (Shay Mitchell) surprises Ali (Sasha Pieterse) with beginning a nursery with Ali’s childhood things. Then the Liars meet to figure out a way to protect Spencer and Hanna (Ashley Benson) to protect Spencer but needs Caleb’s (Tyler Blackburn) help. And the Liar’s Lament tasks Hanna to pick up a hard drive from a local computer repair shop and drop it off at the locker. And Ali and Em watch the locker to see who picks it up but come up short.

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While Aria (Lucy Hale) is forced to blow off wedding planning and miss an important moment for Ezra (Ian Harding) to complete a heartbreaking task for A.D. Meanwhile Spencer drops by to see Marco hoping to change his mind about the investigation. There, she finds a USB drive that reveals even more damning information on Lucas (Brendan Robinson). Elsewhere Hanna and Caleb go to the Radley to swipe the evidence against Spencer and discover Lucas roaming the halls. The Liars track him down at his loft. He confesses why he played a part in them being tortured and also gives them insight on how the game began. Whoa! A lot happened this week. Here are the top moments of the episode.

Marco’s USB drive reveals Lucas isn’t as loyal to the Liars as wants them to believe.

Spencer decides to try to appeal to Marco on a personal level instead of as a police officer. She goes to his apartment to plead her case but he is not at all happy to see her. Spence tries to make him see that Archer was awful and begs him to let this one slip through the cracks Marco isn’t having it and makes some comment about people taking justice into their own hands and the judicial system. He tells her to leave, but before she does she finds and snatches a USB drive with ‘Lucas’ on. Spencer shows it to the Liars and they watch it together, On it, is a police interview video of Lucas from the night of Charlotte’s (Vanessa Ray) death. The night he served as Hanna’s alibi, but he apparently went back and confessed he lied because she asked him. He really had no clue where she was that night. Lucas continues, stating he didn’t think Hanna had anything to do with her death, but when it comes to her friends? He reveals he’s seen too much they’re capable of and wouldn’t be surprised.

“Why wouldn’t he die the same disgusting way that he lived?” – Spencer.

“I guess you didn’t know me as well as you thought.” – Marco.

I have to admit I was kind of hoping Marco would help Spencer out. I know they haven’t been seeing each other for very long, but poor Spencer just needs a damn break. Especially, when it comes to men. And Marco’s frigid attitude towards Spencer reinforces my theory that he was purposely at the Radley that night and sought out her specifically. O.M.G.! What if he’s somehow connected to A.D.? Or Archer? As for Lucas, I’m not surprised he returned to the police to recant. How naive is he to believe the other Liars could be involved in Archer’s death and Hanna wouldn’t be? Do the Liars really ever do anything solo? Something about Lucas just bugs me.

Aria channels her inner A.D. complete with black hoodie and she does some nursery destruction.

We see presumably A.D. replacing Emily’s childhood baby mobile in the nursery with a super creepy one made of dolls. As the camera pans out from the black gloves swapping the mobiles, there’s a figure wearing a black ‘A’ hoodie. It’s Aria! She doesn’t just hang the new mobile, she wrecks havoc in the nursery. She tears things off the walls, breaks the stuff in the boxes from the attic and even splashes blood everywhere. Aria almost gets busted too. Twice! Em and Ali return home early and she’s still in the house. Luckily, or at least for Aria, she’s able to escape the room before Emily finds her armed with a candlestick as a weapon. And again when the Liars gather to comfort Em and Ali, who are completely sick over the nursery, Spencer finds an earring in the mess. It doesn’t take long for her realize it’s Aria’s and returns it to her but nothing more is said about it.

“Hanna thinks it’s her turn, but you’re playing for me.” – A.D.

DAMN Aria! She’s really embracing her inner A.D. donning the black hoodie and even a black leather glove. It doesn’t make sense why she’d be so thorough destroying the nursery. Maybe A.D. was watching. Or maybe Aria just used this as a way to help her get out some of her own frustrations. Poor thing has to feel terrible watching how bad her actions hurt her friends. Obviously, the Liars are going to eventually figure out what she’s done, but I must wonder if there’s any going back for her. Could or would the others ever forgive her for what she’s done? It’ll be such a shame for the Liars to come out of all this (assuming they all do) and lose the friendships that got them through.

Ezra does a complete 180! He goes from ALL about Nicole and her rehab to all about Aria.

Ezra has a meeting with his publicist about the upcoming release of his latest book that he wrote with Aria. His publicist wants him to play up his reunion with Nicole (Rebecca Breeds) because it’s about her and thinks that’s what the readers would want. Surprisingly, Aria is ok with this because she thinks it’ll mean a happier life for her and Ezra, but obviously her decision has everything to do with A.D. Ezra attends a press event for the book with a question and answer session, When asked about Nicole or the possibility of a second book about Nicole and his life together, Ezra reveals to the entire audience he’s engaged to his co-author, Aria Montgomery.

“I am about to start a new journey. I am getting married to Aria Montgomery, my co-author and this story may be about Nicole but my inspiration in work, in life, and in every sense of the word is Aria.” – Ezra.

It’s quite interesting Ezra is to normal rather quickly. He’s in wedding planning mode and even suggests he and Aria sign up for dance lessons. Just a day ago Ezra was dropping everything and everyone in Rosewood and rushing to be with Nicole, The only thing that changed…this time he ran into Wren (Julian Morris) at the airport. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I don’t think it was the first time Ezra and Wren met. I think there’s something fishy there. After his encounter with Wren, Ezra is all the sudden back to being the perfect finance’? Hmm. No matter what kicked Ezra’s ass back to reality doesn’t matter. I was just happy he reveals he and Aria’s engagement and finally gives her the love and respect she deserves. Now Aria looks like the dick because she’s forced to pick A.D. over him. Yes, she’s trying to protect him, but still.

Lucas has some explaining to do and makes an enormous confession about the game.

After seeing Lucas on the security footage at the Radley, the Liars rush to his loft and find Lucas frantically looking for something. It’s not the comic book because he was shown reading it earlier. So what could he be looking for? Lucas has some explaining to do. He reveals he did stay in touch with Charles over the years but through email. He had no clue Charles transitioned to Charlotte. He feels really guilty for the Liars being tortured because his emails were mostly about mean girl, Ali, and her loyal followers. But that’s not all. Turns out the comic book was given back to Lucas with a note telling him to meet at the Radley if he wants to keep his friendship with Charles a secret, but no one showed. He confesses he was looking for the second comic in the loft when they found him, This one was written much later than the first and “turned the idea of vengeance into a game.” And Lucas has no idea how it ends because it was never finished.

“So my friends made your life miserable in high school. They almost broke your collarbone tonight and now you’re telling me…that I lost all your money? – Hanna.

“I’ll make it back again. Besides it was worth it.” – Lucas.

“How was it worth it? What’s worth losing everything?” – Hanna.

“You.” – Lucas.

Seriously, Lucas how do you not know your best friend transitioned into a woman? I’d love to know what Charlotte’s emails back to Lucas were about. Geesh. Lucas looks genuinely sorry for what Charlotte put the Liars through. He always comes across as easy going and confident, but here looks very vulnerable. He seems scared about whoever’s pulling the strings behind the game. I wonder if they’ll tell Lucas about the Liar’s Lament? Maybe since he and Charles were the masterminds behind the first comic, he can give the Liars an edge in the game. It hurt my heart when Lucas confesses the truth to Hanna about her fashion business. I feel a little bit bad for Lucas though. It’s obvious he still has feelings, Hanna, even though she’ll most likely never feel the same way.

Ali finally admits her true feelings for Em and they make a life-changing decision about their future.

After confronting Lucas at the loft, Emily and Ali go back to Ali’s house and try to clean up the poor nursery. Ali confesses that from the moment she met Emily, she’s always known she could count her. Naturally, Emily questions why she always pushes her away. Ali can’t explain why but tells she’s ready to stop. Ali walks towards Em slowly and tells her she wants to raise the baby together. Emily isn’t sure what she means by together. Ali says ‘as a family’ and continues explaining she knows why she’s had so many failed relationships over the years. Now she’s ready for Emily, but Ali didn’t want to admit it to Paige (Lindsey Shaw). She finally tells Emily she loves her and they share a kiss.

“Over the years, I’ve been in so many failed relationships. And I’ve always made excuses why. But I know the reason. Paige tried to get me to say it but I didn’t want to say it to her. – Ali.

“What did Paige….” – Em,

“I love you.” – Ali.

It’s about damn time Ali! This moment between Ali and Em is so sweet. Sadly, I think Emily is always going to be skeptical of Ali’s feelings and commitment. Ali waited so long to admit her true feelings and has been so back and forth with Emily over the years. So Emily’s going to be constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Small things like Ali forgetting her prenatal vitamins and not eating a good breakfast had Em questioning her commitment to keeping the baby. Unfortunately, little things like that and their history is going to take a while for Emily to feel comfortable in her and Ali’s relationship. Honestly, I do hope things work out. Emily’s had bad luck in relationships and deserves happiness.

FINAL VERDICT: The PLLs scramble to help one of their own, a Liar takes another turn at the Liar’s Lament and new details emerge about the game’s origin in “The Glove That Rocks the Cradle.”

This week Pretty Little Liars dives deeper into the game as a PLL takes another turn, the origins of the Endgame is revealed and the Liars join forces to protect one of their own. Maya Goldsmith penned an episode that focuses on the Liars’ romantic relationships as well as shows a Liar continuing down a dark path and dives deeper into the game. Having Aria destroy the nursery is a great way from Goldsmith to illustrate just how far she’s willing to go to keep A.D.’s file on her a secret. Episode director, Paula Hunziker, does a great job building the intensity leading up to revealing Aria’s the one in the nursery. First, she focuses on the black gloves holding the strings of the Barbie-marionettes mobile and then slowly zooms out until we see Aria in that infamous black hoodie. Aria blowing off Ezra’s offer to do some wedding planning and book event is a clever notion by Goldsmith to also show just how deep Aria is in with A.D. She was all about wedding planning before. While her emotional breakdown at the end of the episode, reassures us the real Aria is still inside there, Lucy Hale is exceptional in this scene. Again Hunziker makes great use of camera angles to capture the raw emotion of the scene.

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Goldsmith putting Spencer in the hot seat with the Rosewood P.D. is a smart way to bring the Liars together again this week inside of each of them having separate stuff going on. It also allows for us as well as Spencer to see where Marco’s true loyalties are. Teasing us with Lucas shown in the car reading Arcturus, him recanting Hanna’s alibi, and again when he’s shown on the security footage at the Radley sets viewers up for a big let down. Or surprise depending on how you look at it when we discover Lucas has been brought into A.D.’s latest mind games. But no one saw it coming when Lucas reveals there’s a second comic and it sounds very much like the Liar’s Lament. We’re left with A.D. coming up their own ending to Arcturus Endgame and quite a bit to think about until the next episode. Like will Hanna finally let Mona in the inner circle with the others? Or who pushed Ali in the hallway if it wasn’t A.D.? Was it Mona? She was there too, but why? Or did Ali throw herself down?  And how much longer can Aria go before getting caught? She came hella close to it this week. Twice. I cannot wait to find out!!

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS 7×17 airs TUESDAY, JUNE 9 at 8|7c. on FREEFORM