You Turn Into Something Else: PLL Season 3B

The ABC Family hit has been the most talked-about show on television since its debut, and Jacob Clifton at Television Without Pity has been part of that conversation since it started. YOU TURN INTO SOMETHING ELSE is the fifth of seven volumes, collecting Jacob’s popular columns throughout the show’s Winter 2013 season.

With the new A in full force, commanding a team of friends and enemies, the question is really who will break first. Mona’s free to come and go at Radley Sanitarium, until she finally returns to school and a whole new relationship with the Liars. But with Mona challenging her at school, and severely traumatizing twists in her relationship with Toby, Spencer’s time is running out.

Hanna gets all up in Caleb’s business, reconnecting him with his birth father and possibly framing him for stealing churchbells. Meanwhile, she’s the Liar in charge when her mom finally runs the hell over corrupt Detective Wilden, leaving his body in the woods. But is he gone for good? And how much does CeCe Drake know about his possible past relationship with Alison?

Aria finds herself in the impossible position of staying quiet about her aged boyfriend’s secret child—awkward, but not as awkward as sending the kid to the ER the first time she babysits, and getting him kidnapped the second. Luckily, that one goes down without a hitch, since the newest member of the A-Team is none other than her best friend.

Emily’s love life is tumultuous as usual: This time around, we learn about Paige’s relationship with Jenna Thing’s new girlfriend—Halloween Store employee and star swimmer Shana—while they were on their break and Emily was in Haiti. While her dad’s in Texas, Emily’s mom gets a job at Rosewood PD, which is about as unhelpful as you’d expect.

Containing some of the most virtuoso acting to date, Season 3B is the season of Spencer in Radley and Spencer on the A-Team; CeCe Drake and the doings on Cape May; Caleb’s birth father drama that leads, circuitously, to Ravenswood; Emily getting things done as the new Spencer of the group; multiple sightings of Wren Kingston, the return of CeCe Drake, and the debut of Andrew Campbell. Hanna impersonating Redcoat to draw Spencer out of the shadows is another favorite—and of course, the entire Spoby breakup and death spiral is quite simply PLL at its dreamy, lush and fascinating best.

Over fifteen years writing and creating communities at Television Without Pity, Jacob Clifton was noted by industry and fans alike for his positive analytical approach and ebullient humor. His weekly columns—on shows ranging from to to to and more—set off a decade of conversations across the internet.

Now, with the former site defunct and a Gawker editorship in the rearview, Jacob is excited to release these definitive, heavily revised editions of those classic recaps at jacobclifton.com. Please remember to act normal, visit the site for more info and join the mailing list!