Ep 7. Surface Tension

As the second season of "Pretty Little Liars" heats up, tensions are mounting among the core group of friends. In "Surface Tension," the seventh episode of the season, audiences are treated to more twists and turns in the complicated plotline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

At the start of the episode, the four main characters - Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer - are all dealing with their own personal dramas. Emily is struggling to come out to her parents, who are pressuring her to conform to their traditional values. Hanna is still dealing with the aftermath of her breakup with Caleb and grappling with her father's sudden reappearance in her life. Aria is trying to navigate her complicated relationship with her English teacher, Ezra, while keeping their romance a secret from her family and friends. And Spencer is trying to keep her family together after the revelation that her sister might have been involved in the death of their neighbor.

As if those individual challenges weren't enough, the girls are also dealing with the ever-present threat of "A," the mysterious stalker who seems to know all their secrets and delights in tormenting them. In "Surface Tension," "A" ups the ante, sending the girls a cryptic message that seems to hint at even darker secrets hidden in their pasts.

The episode also introduces some new characters who add to the intrigue. One of them is Lucas, the dorky guy from school who has a crush on Hanna but always seems to be getting in her way. Lucas is now working at a photography studio and offers to take some glamour shots of Hanna, leading to an awkward encounter between the two of them.

Meanwhile, Spencer's sister Melissa is back in town, and Spencer is convinced that there's more to her sister's sudden homecoming than meets the eye. Melissa is cagey about her reasons for returning, and Spencer grows increasingly suspicious as she starts uncovering more clues.

As always, the show makes great use of its setting, the leafy, picturesque town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. The camera lingers on the idyllic houses and perfectly manicured lawns, which serve as a startling contrast to the dark secrets that lurk behind closed doors.

Audiences will also appreciate the show's expert use of tension and suspense. "Surface Tension" builds gradually, with each scene ratcheting up the stakes and raising more questions than it answers. The final moments of the episode are hard to forget, with a jaw-dropping reveal that will leave viewers gasping.

Overall, "Surface Tension" is a strong addition to the second season of "Pretty Little Liars." It showcases the show's strengths - compelling characters, well-drawn relationships, and a twisting plotline that keeps viewers guessing - while also pushing the story forward to new heights. Fans of the show won't want to miss this one.