So far The Lying Game has done a great job straddling the line between standalone and story driven episodes. It’s great to see because a lot of shows, Pretty Little Liars and Fringe, have had problems balancing the two.

“Over Exposed” adeptly weaves its tale by grabbing past issues and bringing them to light, while having the characters confront a new obstacle: prom. With Sutton still in Los Angeles and Emma having to take her place, things are about to get a little problematic.

Last week, I think most of us were a little unsure whether Alec knew Sutton and Emma had swapped places. But now it seems when he told Ted to “keep an eye on your kid,” it was more for his benefit than ours. Because this week we discover Alec knows exactly the location of the twins’ mother, at a hospital, and he’s determined to not let them get anywhere near her. He tells the hospital to not let a girl named Sutton in and even faxes them her photo.

We get a quick glimpse, and I’m not sure she’s in her right mind. Then again, maybe that’s just her look of concentration as she paints a beautiful picture of two girls holding hands. Who knows how long she’s been there. But after so many years, she’s still thinking about her daughters. It’s really quite sad. Even sadder is that both Alec and Ted knew this Annie a long time ago, as they’re seen in a photograph together.

Emma may have been the unlucky twin in being placed in a bad foster home, but she seems to have retained more from their mother than Sutton. She remembers her home and the stars on the ceiling. And this week she displays her ability to draw which she inherited from their mother. Of course, this ability only serves to further remind Ted about Abbie, who he wishes he could forget.

But Sutton has her own problems as Emma is slowly taking over her life and doing an even better job at it than she did. (Even winning Homecoming Queen.) Her parents and friends are happy about all the new changes in her personality. Laurel is excited to finally have a trustworthy sister. And Ethan is falling in love with this new girl with the same face. The one who isn’t afraid to be seen with him and lay a liplock at prom. Sutton isn’t going to be happy.

Notes:

Could Nisha be more annoying? She’s competing with Nikita‘s Jaden for bitch of the year. And Jaden is dead.

Was Sutton throwing herself at Thayer in an attempt to rebel after finding out about Emma and Ethan, or does she actually have feelings for him?

Next week:

Laurel’s asking, “Who’s Emma?” Is the truth about the twins about to come out? Was that Thayer back in town, and did he bring Sutton? Could the twins have found their mom so soon?