Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares

Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares is the 14th episode in the Second Season of Pretty Little Liars. This episode marks the January premier of Pretty Little Liars and takes place over a month after "Over My Dead Body." It aired on January 2, 2012.

Synopsis
The episode begins with little girls playing jumprope on the side walk in front of the church. They chant "Pretty Little Liars" as they play. Nearby, on the Rosewood Camp Grounds, the four girls are picking up trash for community service. Two strangers also doing time make snarky comments in front of the girls about them, and when one says they killed someone, Emily snaps at her by saying they didn't do anything. Spencer tells Emily to stop talking to them, and a fight ensues. Aria and the sheriffs break it up, ending in both Spencer and Emily getting two extra weeks of community service. Meanwhile, Garrett takes in the whole scene giddily from his car, where he is calmly sipping coffee.

Later at school, Spencer hands in her extra credit assignment on Vonnegut to Mrs. Montgomery. Ella is cool to her. Then, Emily walks into the classroom and bumps into Spencer as she is turning away from the desk. Angered, she pushes Spencer's books in retaliation onto the floor, and the two girls pick up each other's copy of "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter." Later, Emily finds a note in the book while she puts it away in her locker telling her to meet at 10 PM. Emily seems unfazed or unaware that the name on the inside cover reads "Spencer Hastings."

Next, Aria is walking down Main Street with Mike, sporting a cup of coffee. Mike shares details about his psychiatrist with Aria and reveals his worries that the family regards him as pill popper now that he is taking antidepressants. Aria reassures him just before bumping into Ezra. Ezra openly mentions to Aria that he hasn't seen her in a while, and she lets him know that she intends to return his book on writing. After Ezra gives her a look, Aria gives Mike her coffee cup to dump a distance away so that she can quickly explain to Ezra why she has suspended their relationship. Mike looks on in wonder before returning to Aria.

Later, Aria goes to Ezra's empty office to leave a book on the desk. She considers leaving the note she has written for him atop it, but ultimately decides against it and takes it away. At that moment, Jackie makes her appearance known and threatens Aria that she will ruin their relationship. She grabs the letter and refuses to give it back to Aria. As they argue, Ezra enters and immediately deciphers the situation. Ezra and Aria later tell Aria's parents that they are dating, and Aria's dad flips while her mom reacts calmer, though disturbed. Mike comes downstairs and, seeing his dad upset, punches Ezra.

Caleb returns and Hanna is very happy to see him. Lucas and Caleb have an awkward conversation about how Lucas was the one to get Caleb to return. Lucas expresses how he doesn't want Hanna to get hurt, and Caleb assures him she won't. Hanna learns that her dad, step-mom, and step-sister Kate will be moving to Rosewood and doesn't hide her displeasure and Hanna's dad makes a comment about she isn't the only one whose angry with another person, hinting at his own frustration with Hanna. Ashley tries to comfort Hanna by telling her that the reason her dad's moving back because he wants to be with her, but when she waits for Hanna's dad to agree that the reason Ashley said is true, he says nothing.

Emily is let back onto the swim team. Because no one but the four girls know that the hate for Emily is pretend to trick "A," a lot of people notice and some make comments about it such as Ashley and Toby.

The four girls plot out their plan to trick "A." The plan is that Emily will go to the greenhouse and make it seem like she is alone, but in reality, Spencer, Aria, and Hanna will all be there as well in hiding and come to aid her when the time is right. Emily arrives first out of everybody, Aria is late because she has to sneak out of Mike's bedroom window (which he shows her and tells her that's the way he gets out, he also tells her how he punched Ezra so he wouldn't punch their dad) and Hanna is late because she's having the talk with her mom and dad about her dad moving to Rosewood with his new family. Aria is late because her and Ezra decide to tell her parents that they are dating and so she is late because, like mentioned before, her brother punched him in the face so her dad wouldn't.

Emily is alone in the greenhouse when Spencer texts her that she isn't there and not to go inside yet, but Emily is already inside and can't just walk out. She takes a box out of a trunk and eventually sees "A," who is hooded and in shadows so their looks and gender can't be revealed. Emily shows "A" the "evidence" they have against who "A" is, which is nothing, which she reveals when she opens the empty box, then she says how they tricked "A." "A" attacks Emily, first trying to stab her but failing and then beginning to choke her, but Spencer and Aria arrive just in time with weapons in hand to get "A" away from Emily.

The three chase "A" outside, where "A" gets hit by a car belonging to Hanna, who has just arrived. Also as "A" hits off the bonet off Hanna car, you catch a glimpse of his/her skin color which was white. "A" however shows to suffer no major damage and continues to run away, without noticing that they dropped their phone. Spencer, Aria, Hanna, and Emily chase "A" a bit more but "A" escapes and they lose track. They go back and Spencer says how there's no proof, then they find "A's" dropped phone.

The episode ends with "A" going back to their car, then realizing they lost their phone, and freaking out a bit, such as breaking the glass on the car.

Continuity

 * In "Keep Your Friends Close," "A" took credit for hitting Hanna with the front a car. Things are full circle here, as Hanna (accidentally) hits "A" with her car, as "A" is fleeing from the greenhouse.

Main Cast
Troian Bellisario as Spencer Hastings

Ashley Benson as Hanna Marin

Lucy Hale as Aria Montgomery

Shay Mitchell as Emily Fields

Sasha Pieterse as Alison DiLaurentis

Guest Stars
Ian Harding as Ezra Fitz

Keegan Allen as Toby Cavanaugh

Brendan Robinson as Lucas Gottesman

Yani Gellman as Garrett Reynolds

Chad Lowe as Byron Montgomery

Cody Allen Christian as Mike Montgomery

Holly Marie Combs as Ella Montgomery

Henree Alyse as Coach Slocomb