Movies News Talk
Paul Kelly and Linda Bull's "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 1 follows up where Original Sin's farewell left up with Archie Waters getting out of prison to tie off his loose ends. While "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" plays, Tabby, Faran, Mouse, and Noa celebrate Christmas and swap gifts before learning the terrible news. But the Music stops when Imogen answers a call from Kelly letting her know Archie has returned.
Geoffrey Gascoyne's "O Christmas Tree" -- Steve Bowers gets into his car, turns on the radio (which plays "O Christmas Tree"), and gets his throat sliced by Archie from the backseat, thereby sustaining the festive spirit—only about the Music.
Bananarama - Imogen, Tabby, Faran, Mouse, and Noa arrive for their first day of lessons at the beginning of episode 2. Bananarama's classic summer tune "Cruel Summer" plays as the Pretty Little Liars protagonists stroll up to the school carrying umbrellas to cover from the rain.
Child on Fire's "Enlil and Enki" sadly separates Imogen from her pals at summer school and sends her into the overflow classroom, where all the "bad" children seem to be housed. "Enlil and Enki" starts when Imogen enters the room.
"Ice Cream" by New Young Pony Club: While Imogen is clearing tables at the ice cream store in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 3, her colleague Johnny rides by on his bike and is conspicuously (at least, to Imogen) shirtless. She not-so subtly examines Johnny while the "Ice Cream" from New Young Pony Club fits the backdrop.
"Anything Goes" by Red Scare - Red Scare's "Anything Goes" plays on the jukebox over at Pinball Pizza, and Noa (after seeing her friends' private numbers leaked on Spooky Spaghetti) asks Jen whether she gave her number with anyone. Of course, Jen disputes handing Noa's number to anyone, and the identity of the information leak is still unresolved.
"Real Wild Child" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - The first music of Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 4 comes during the making of Tabby's short horror film montage at the Orpheum. Christian, Imogen, Mouse, Faran, Noa, and Ash assist Tabby create the short she wants to show the Pittsburgh International Festival of Terror (PIFT). Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
"Untouched" by The Veronicas - Noa and Jen skip work to have fun in Jen's affluent father's house, and while they are trying on pricey clothes, drinking at the bar, and playing pool, "Untouched" by The Veronicas aptly plays (as the sexual tension between the two teens continues to develop).
"Cleopatra" by Nova Twins - Faran keeps proving her strength in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 5 when Greg taunting her at the pool she dares him to an arm wrestling session. "Cleopatra" by Nova Twins may be heard as the two square off (and Faran finally wins, ripping the stitches on her arm from her fight with Bloody Rose in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 4).
While Gordi's "Way I Go" airs on the radio, Johnny comforts his new fiancée on the car trip home following the dinner disaster at Imogen's father's house.
Boyfriend - "Dance With the Devil (feat. Pussy Riot)" When Imogen, Tabby, Faran, Mouse, and Noa enter Our Mother of Holy Grace's "Redemption House," the first official music of Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 6 starts. Their first room they come upon is one where a little girl is chatting with a man wearing a devil mask online, clearly drawing on Mouse's interaction with Steve in Original Sin. "Dance With the Devil" is suitably playing meantime.
Robyn's legendary hit "Dancing On My Own" runs all through the Pride celebration at Millwood's community pool. Noa watches as Jen flirts with another girl, Imogen and Tabby create posters and talk about the prospect of going on a double date with Christian and Johnny, Greg apologizes to Faran about being involved with "Redemption House." Mouse and Ash ponder on the success of the celebration.
Little Miss Sunshine by Jimmy Rondel - Pretty Little Liars: Episode 7 of Summer School starts in a dream in an other future in which Davie Adams is still alive (and not killing her daughter). Together, Davie, Imogen, and Estelle are content; Jimmy Rondel's cheerful "Little Miss Sunshine" fits their joyful company. That doesn't last for long, of course, and the episode rapidly returns to a blood-soaked Imogen whirling from the prospect of her mother being Bloody Rose.
In episode 7 Samantha Tieger-Faran and Greg's "Playing With Fire" finally allow into the sexual tension that has been developing between them all season long. Greg visits Faran after Imogen's run-in with Bloody Rose, kisses (and later hooks) for the first time while "Playing With Fire" plays over the scene.
With warmer tones, cheery attitudes, and—of course—many pop singles ideal for summer break—or summer school—in Imogen, Tabby, Faran, Mouse, and Noa's case, Pretty Little Liars provides a sharp contrast to Original Sin. The unsettling instrumental enhancements to the show's score confirm that the slasher and horror aspects are still there as the five kids try to move on from their experience with "A," alias Archie Waters. But in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, a fresh adversary called "Bloody Rose" messes with the characters' intentions.
New Pretty Little Liars: Summer School drop on Thursdays on Max.
Bailee Madison is returning as Imogen, Chandler Kinney as Tabby, Zaria as Faran, Malia Pyles as Mouse, Maia Reficco as Noa, and Mallory Bechtel as Kelly in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School. Jordan Gonzalez's Ash and Elias Kacavas are elevated to series regular while Annabeth Gish as Dr. Sullivan, Ava Capri as Jen, and Noah Alexander Gerry as Christian provide fresh additions to the recurring roster. With Alice Cooper's "School's Out" playing in the background, hopefully all of (or more realistically some of) these characters escape the summer without dying.
Many viewers have found significant entertainment value in the show's excellent mix of suspense, horror, and adolescent drama. It is assured to be a great viewing for supporters of the previous season.