We’re back, sorry for another unexpected break in updating! Today we cover Episodes 2.20, “CTRL A” and 2.21, “Breaking the Code”. We talk about how hard Mona is working, how chaotic and horny Peter is, and how Caleb is the only one who seems to know his rights. We are once again so sad and mad about Maya’s fate, the show’s anti-Blackness, more trauma for queer characters, and the show pushing the Paige agenda. Important questions: where is Peter’s office gun? Who kills Jessica DiLaurentis? And is MMA, in fact, the most masculine sport? 

Theme song by Ashok R. Chandran.

Chickpeas Oh My Gosh!
Deepa’s Literary Analysis
  • The file names on Caleb’s computer include such gems as “Mask Project” (or should it be…masc project??), “Ping-Pong”, and “Cool Downloads”
Sports Corner with Cameron
  • You can get a double black belt! But it’s not called that apparently
  • It’s always ableism and eugenics in sports
  • The End of Sport on concussions and risk in tackle football
  • Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates’s report on abuse in the NWSL
  • Pro women’s soccer players are significantly more prone to ACL tears than men’s soccer players
Things We Referenced Related to PLL
  • Toby’s eventual wife dies in a very Grey’s Anatomy-like episode
  • Cameron says Hastings Law School, but meant to say Hollis Law School (oops)
Things We Referenced Completely Unrelated to PLL
  • Hearts in One Tree Hill – Lucas’ heart condition and the scene where the dog eats a heart meant for Dan’s transplant! Someone wrote an in-depth oral history of that scene
  • School shooting episodes of high school shows like Degrassi 
  • “Trouty Mouth” from Glee (you don’t need context, just watch it)
  • The condom/quinoa thing is unfortunately not canon Marcel the Shell; it is an inside joke
Fashion Analysis

We both liked Hanna’s fashion in these episodes, but different ones: Cameron liked Hanna’s cute dress, while Deepa liked Hanna’s leather jacket and red coat (but not Red Coat) outfits

Hanna standing with a food tray next to where Mona is sitting in the cafeteria. Hanna is wearing a dark dress with a sparkly pattern of circles, long dangly earrings, and a cute up-do
Hanna standing with a food tray next to where Mona is sitting in the cafeteria. Hanna is wearing a dark dress with a sparkly pattern of circles, long dangly earrings, and a cute up-do
Hanna sitting next to Ashley in the principal's office; she is wearing a brown leather jacket with her hair down
Hanna sitting next to Ashley in the principal’s office; she is wearing a brown leather jacket with her hair down
Another shot of the brown leather jacket outfit; we can now see that Hanna is wearing a dark top underneath it, a long beaded necklace, and gold pants
Another shot of the brown leather jacket outfit; we can now see that Hanna is wearing a dark top underneath it, a long beaded necklace, and gold pants
Hanna laughing with Caleb in the hallway; she is wearing a maroon crimped jacket
Hanna laughing with Caleb in the hallway; she is wearing a maroon crimped jacket

And we both (even Cameron!) hated Aria’s leggings with ONE LEG LEOPARD PRINT AND ONE LEG BLACK

Aria and Spencer sitting on a park bench. Aria is wearing a black jacket, a necklace, a top that can't be seen very well, leggings with one leg leopard print and one leg black, and maroon boots

Listen to More Episodes

Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and Aria all pose on a fashion runway with a photo of Alison blown up on the screen behind them. Hanna is wearing a black ruffled strapless cocktail dress; Spencer is wearing a full-length sleeveless gown with an extra-deep vee neck and sparkles; Emily is wearing a full-length deep blue sleeveless gown that is bunched up in creases around the middle; and Aria is wearing a dark purple strapless cocktail dress with peplum and a yellow vertical strip down the middle of the cleavage, along with a chunky opal necklace

Episodes 2.06 & 2.07: “Don’t I Look Hot?”

ByChickpeas Podcast

We cover episodes 2.06, “Never Letting Go”, and 2.07, “Surface Tension”. This episode not only introduces Jessica DiLaurentis, but also gives us our first hint of Wine Moms! We discuss lack of butch representation, social constructions of criminality, and our dream guests on the podcast. Peter Hastings is probably so mad because his secret son…

Shot of the four Liars walking down the school hallways together. Hanna is wearing a pale green ruffly top with a blazer over it, black shorts, and black strappy platform heels

Episodes 1.02 & 1.03: “Sometimes the Truth Is Worse”

ByChickpeas Podcast

In this episode, we covered episodes 1.02, “The Jenna Thing”, and 1.03, “To Kill A Mocking Girl”, featuring a whole lot of ableism, a bunch of new characters showing up (and one immediately leaving), the first of many parties at Noel Kahn’s cabin, us being forever angry about abusers and the carceral nature of this…

Hanna sitting in the cafeteria. Her hair is in a very loose fishtail sidebraid and she has a black leather jacket on over a dark top.

Episodes 2.16 & 2.17: “Back Alleys and Backyards”

ByChickpeas Podcast

In today’s pod, we cover episodes 2.16, “Let the Water Hold me Down”, and 2.17, “The Blond Leading the Blind”. We discuss yet more fucked up ableism towards Jenna, Mona’s cashmere blend sweater sets, Emily misunderstanding beards, and worms in takeout boxes. Cameron might be getting paid by Big Chickpea, and Deepa read a play….

Aria on the steps of the school with Spencer and Hanna. Aria looks shocked and is wearing an all burgundy outfit: a dress that has three-quarter sleeves and is sheer at the top with a vertical striped slip underneath, while the skirt portion is pleated. She’s also wearing a burgundy headband with a bow and a long necklace with black and burgundy beads.

Episodes 2.10 & 2.11: “The Doctor Is Out”

ByChickpeas Podcast

This week we discuss episodes 2.10, “Touched By an ‘A’-ngel” and 2.11, “I Must Confess”. Our best friend Heather Hogan has a hot new job! We chat about Mona’s meticulousness, Maya’s return, bad bobbleheads that relate to your profession, and whether Garrett killed Ian. We share PLL entries from our wine notebook, Deepa sees a…

Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily are all standing looking shocked; Aria is wearing a brown leather-like pleated skirt, a white top with a pattern of skulls on it, and a short black leather jacket with large buttons

Episodes 2.22 & 2.23: “The Opposite of Safe”

ByChickpeas Podcast

Today we are joined by special guest peach to talk about episodes 2.22, “Father Knows Best”, and 2.23, “Eye of the Beholder”! We discuss copaganda and the military, anxiety-inducing TV, what true trust and safety look like, solidarity to shoplifters and looters, and how Ali would NEVER ride the bus. peach takes us for a…