The ninth episode of Pretty Little Liars Season One is entitled The Perfect Storm but as Yasemin points out it’s “the perfect storm that never ends… and that we never see”. Lacey concedes that it’s dark, at least, and both hosts admit the lighting choices made them both question the time of day throughout the show. This episode centres around the SATS, beginning with a study sesh in the Hastings house with Spencer, Hanna, and Aria. While Troian studies her lines – er, Spencer studies her cue cards, Hanna is relentlessly bugging Aria about her non-existent relationship with Noel Kahn which reminds your hosts of their own study sessions in university. To no one’s surprise they were just as on track as this one. But where is Emily, you may ask? Well, she’s in her room and it’s dark, and she’s dirty – except her fingernails, of course. Could Emily and those perfectly manicured hands have something to do with the smashing of Ali’s memorial? Wilden seems to think so. He corners her at school as the titular storm rages on and an interesting camera pan draws attention to Emily’s less-than-pristine shoes. “Who the hell wears white trainers in a storm?” Yasemin asks. Emily is a little on edge throughout the episode, snapping at her friends and sneaking off into the library’s Charles Dickens aisle to reminisce on what could have been with Alison. For a moment your hosts question her sanity when she spies the deceased blonde through the aisles, but as Lacey explains: “The lightning goes, and Ali’s gone – but she’s in a flashback!” Here we get a glimpse on Alison and Emily’s relationship before the former rudely went missing: sweet, innocent and perhaps not so one-sided as first thought. Alison isn’t the only guest cameo as we’re treated to Mrs Hastings and everyone’s favourite proctor, Ella Montgomery. Your hosts aren’t sure what that means, exactly. “I’m assuming like a – what’s the word we use?” Yasemin asks Lacey, who struggles with the word invigilator. More confusing is Ella’s economic situation – who cuts the hours of the employee that lives above your business? Unfortunately, “little Byron” is also in the episode and his presence at the Marin McMansion gives Lacey a chance to have yet another dig at the “Montgomery Shack”. Byron and Ashley’s joint scenes this episode leave your hosts wondering if the writers were trying to expand upon their relationship in a romantic way. Byron isn’t doing much to sell himself, whining away to Ashley who despite being unable to afford artisan cheese always has room in the cupboard for a bottle of chardonnay which she pours freely for her companion. “Stop talking,” Yasemin interprets while she and Lacey relentlessly mock Byron’s sad little life. Ashley doesn’t seem to mind, offering to act as menu translator for the man child at his next faculty dinner. But, like most men, Byron takes it a step too far and invites her. While she seems inclined to agree at first, by the end of the episode both characters agree it’s not for the best. Mrs Hastings’ is also put in an awkward situation when she’s introduced to Spencer’s beau, Alex, who it seems she’s met before and doesn’t appear to like. Yasemin puts herself in Spencer’s shoes when analysing the interaction, asking whether you’d wonder if she was having an affair with Alex or if you’d just think something went down at the club of the country variety. With all these extra characters you’d be forgiven if you missed the absence of other notable students, such as Sean and Maya, but Yasemin is quick to point it out. Your hosts wistfully ask after the characters that matter: Ben and Jenna’s guide dog. “I miss Ben,” Lacey sighs. “Remember when Ben was in the show?” Frustratingly there’s one character that couldn’t have the decency to piss off like he does in the books: Ezra Fitz. Lacey is jumpscared by his picture on the librarian’s desk: “Ezra couldn’t leave me alone for more than two episodes,” Lacey wails, affectionally referring to him as “the