It feels like a lifetime ago since Pretty Little Liars gave screen time to Rosewood’s lesbian lady killer Emily’s love life, although, in PLL time it’s really only been about a week. But never fear because, this week, Emily (Shay Mitchell) got all kinds of lucky (take that as you will).
The last time PLL’s producers paid attention to Em’s love life she and Maya (Bianca Lawson) were on a date and Maya had revealed that she had a fling while locked away at juvie rehab boot camp. The big reveal there was that the affair was with a dude.
Fast forward to PLL ep. 2.18 – “A Kiss Before Lying”
While these recaps are dedicated to Emily’s storyline, it’s worth mentioning that Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Spencer (Troian Bellisario) had particularly gut wrenching story arcs this week in terms of teen angst drama. I mean, it was no Terms of Endearment but it was still very good.
So on to Emily – she and Maya are in bed draped over one another and stroking each other’s hair as Emily bemoans having to sit around and watch her lesser swim teammates compete while she literally drying out after that little matter of the arrest and community service.
The conversation turns to Em’s mama Pam, who’s coming back to Rosewood to visit her baby girl, but not before Em and Maya engage in a lingering lip lock (take note Gleeand writers and producers – this is how it’s done)!! Maya, however, is not too keen on Pam, since Pam was the one who found Maya’s stash and essentially had her hauled out of town to rehab. Maya says that Pam hated her.
“She never hated you. She hated me liking girls but she’s fine with that now,” Em says.
“The last time I saw our mom she was getting me hauled off to druggie boot camp,” Maya says. Emily tries to convince Maya that Pam has changed and that she had no idea Maya would end up in the kiddie clink for smoking the good stuff but Maya’s not buying it.
Emily, being the wily lady-killer that she is, lays off the conversation and opts to smooth it over with a little heavy petting – leg draped over Maya and all. Okay ABC Family!
Next up, mama Pam surprises Emily by hanging a mystery note on her locker that sends Em into a moment of paranoia. The note reads, “Did you miss me?”
“Well did you?” Pam asks sneaking up behind Em, who jumps out of her adorable skin likely thinking A’s behind her.
Just a side note here: Nia Peeples, the actress who plays Pam, looks like she’s aging in reverse like Merlyn or Benjamin Buttons. I dare say she looks nearly as young as Bianca Lawson!
Excited to spend time with her daughter Pam announces that she’s made an early reservation at The Grill, suggesting that Em invite the girls. When Em replies that the girls are busy Pam asks if Emily wants to invite “someone special” inspiring millions of “aws” emanating from couches around the nation.
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There’s no time like the present, so Emily drops the bomb that she’s back with weed-toking Maya – only Emily is a tad more delicate about it. And being the evolving mom that she is Pam has Em invite Maya to dinner.
Cut to Em and her mom arriving at dinner only for Em to spy Maya chatting with pretty boy troublemaker, and possibly A’s new best friend, Noel Khan, who’s been working on Maya’s phone. Emily gives Noel the side-eye and later grills Maya about him for a moment.
Doing her best to make amends Pam offers a heartfelt hello to a very tight-lipped and phony-ass Maya, who makes no attempt to woo Em’s mom.
“You look beautiful,” Pam says.
“Well, you know what they say about clean living,” Maya says, inducing cringes.
Later, during a conversation about Maya’s joining the jazz band at her school, Pam shares that she loves Miles Davis. Incredulous, Maya says, “Really?”
Pam wonders what sort of music Maya imagines her listening to and Maya replies, “classical.” Maya goes on to say she’s surprised because jazz musicians are notorious for – cue Maya pretending to smoke a joint. Arg is all I can say to this dinner. At this point I’m wishing Nia Peeples, who’s a martial artist, would do some Muay Thai on Maya’s sarcastic ass. Emily gives Maya the shank-eye and then plays it off with a laugh.
To add insult to injury Maya ignores a call from someone. “Sorry about that. It’s just my stalker,” she says, causing Pam to become genuinely concerned.
“I was just kidding,” Maya laughs. “I dated this guy at True North and he’s having trouble accepting that it’s over.” Emily looks wildly chagrinned at Maya’s admission to Pam. Emily rolls her eyes as if to say, “We are so f*cking over!”
Likely eager to get the mess of a meal over with Pam leaves the table to get the check and Emily goes to town dressing Maya down for essentially being an asshole.
“What the hell was that?” Emily demands. “You completely torpedoed dinner. You kept making jokes about weed. And every time I tried to change the subject you brought it back to True North.” Maya explains that she was trying to be honest with Pam but Emily won’t have it.
“You were trying to get a rise out of her. Why else would you bring up dating that guy?” Emily says. “I finally got my mom to get on board with me dating girls and you bring that up. It’s confusing for her.”
“Is the fact that I dated a guy confusing for your mom or for you?” Maya counters, but Pam returns before Emily can answer.
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Cue the morning after and Em is and early riser. She’s stopped by Maya’s house before school to clear the air.
“I do have a problem with you dating that guy. Not for the reasons you think,” Em says, clearly forgiving Maya for the night before. “And knowing you’re into guys and girls just doubles the amount of people I have to compete with.”
“Trust me, you have no competition,” Maya reassures. And then Maya offers her mea culpa. “You’re right. As much as I’d like to be Zen about it I’m still mad at your mom for busting me.”
While Em’s an early riser Maya’s been up and busy all night turning her room into a sort of aqua blue swimming pool for Emily.
“If the Sharks won’t let you in the water, I’ll bring the water to you,” Maya says, and Emily just melts.
“I’ll admit, I like to live life in the gray area (whatever the hell that means),” Maya says. “But the way I feel about you is crystal clear. I love you Emily.” Okay… cue the “awwwws!”
Emily takes a minute to make out with Maya before responding, “I love you too Maya.”
And then they head to the bed to make out and more… Talk about the early bird getting the worm!
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