There comes a time for every show, even the most mystery driven among them, when they need to take a step back and focus on the characters. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Just as The Killing this past season had an episode focused on Sarah searching for her missing son Jack, this week the girls of Pretty Little Liars get roped into helping out with the annual charity fashion show. Yet, it’s what happens after the fashion show that has everyone talking.

Pretty Little Liars (s02e06): Never Letting Go

For the most part I found this episode boring, and there wasn’t much keeping my attention. Except:

Aria: I’m enjoying the shades of gray in Jason and his pseudo-friendship with Aria, but he and his family are just creepy. There’s been way too many flashback scenes and suggestions something more is going on with that family for me to welcome him in. I’d like to think Jason is just a lost soul trying to find his way, but at this point I’m only just beginning to warm up to him. Besides,

Spencer: Spencer’s dad is all kinds of suspicious this week as he yells at Alison’s mom over the phone about ‘taking care of Jason’. Hm, seems like her dad isn’t too keen on having him around. I’m going to guess for right now it has something to do with his family trying to move on from Ian and now Jason is in the mix.

Hanna: I don’t understand Hanna. A few weeks ago she seemed to be interested in getting her parents back together, and now she’s wondering when her dad is going to leave and accusing him of sticking around for her mother. Her father divulges it’s partly true, but that he also misses his daughter. Aaw. Still, I’m sensing there’s a home back with his fiance he’s avoiding.

Emily: Emily’s finally getting what she’s wanted, to stay in Rosewood until at least the summer while her mom moves to join her dad in Texas. And even though she’s going to be staying with Hanna’s family, I’m thinking Samara and Emily will be getting a lot closer while she’s parentless. Did you see that long look Samara gave Emily while she was changing? And what’s with this season and ramping up the nudity? First Spencer, now Emily, and don’t these girls wear bras?

Then, there’s the tribute video Aria put together ending with Alison’s picture going up in digital flames along with the words ‘evil’ and ‘monster’. Was ‘A’ just trying to make an entrance, or is he or she really bitter about something Alison did? Or was the final confrontation between Aria and Noel implying he was behind the CD and up to his usual no good?

More importantly, who’s ‘A’ buying boots for?