Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists review: Who’s in the circle now?

Dana Booker is skilled at setting traps, but not so great at recognizing when she’s fallen into one. Then again, is she the real concern anymore?

Pro tip: before you get into a relationship with someone who works for your fake boyfriend’s family – a family that’s been surrounded by drama for years – you should find out what exactly he does first.

It would seem Caitlin was a bit too enchanted by Jeremy to cover that base and now it’s coming back on her. In fairness to him, he’s a scientist at a  major technology company. Of course his computer would have mega-encrypted files on it.

The fact that Ava couldn’t hack them is a bit concerning, but then again, she was focused on a much different task. She likely didn’t try to get into those files. My question is, did she actually delete Dylan’s uploaded project?

It still made it to his professor, and though Dana Booker was the easy target for blame, the PLL writers have made a lot of subtle nods to Ava being the real danger. She wears quite a few red coats and she’s been referred to as “A” more than once.

The writers could just be trying to add easter eggs for fans of the original series. But we may want to keep our eye on her.

Meanwhile, Mona wants to keep an eye on Taylor. Just because she gave them her truth-detecting phone, and “let” Mona use her RV Beacon Gard, it doesn’t mean she’s on the inner circle. It’ll take a lot more than that.

Mona’s mistrust might be fairly placed though.

Taylor asking to be the one to turn Dana in to Claire seems… off. I can’t quite place my finger on why, but it just doesn’t feel right. Maybe because it means turning over everything the former Liars and current Perfectionists have gotten out of Booker – including an offer to manipulate evidence for Dylan.

Taylor is smart, and audio splicing is fairly simple. She could turn that encounter into something else entirely very easily.

Then of course, there’s Gabriel. The Perfectionists has a dreamy British scientist already, but why not toss in a flirty language studies professor from Buenos Aires too? He’s undeniably charming – enough to woo Alison, if only temporarily.

Though they only interacted briefly at the staff mixer, Taylor definitely seemed to know Gabriel. We don’t know yet how long he’s been at BHU; he could’ve known Taylor before she disappeared, and she does look an awful lot like Alison. Maybe he has a type. I don’t trust him yet.

Ava certainly does. It’s hard to see any similarities between Zach and Nolan off the bat, but the “Nice laugh, Jalali” certainly hit home. PLL: The Perfectionists has only really flashed back to Ava’s family up to this point; going back to the early days of her relationship with Nolan was heart-wrenching.

Particularly because he was so good to her. For the single episode we knew Nolan as viewers, he was vile. When Mason mirrored him, it was even worse. But Caitlin was right when she said that Ava got the best of Nolan.

He was sweet, and charming, and clearly cared for Ava. The saddest part was that it drove home how Ava has truly lost almost everyone she’s ever cared about.

Luckily, she has friends now. Real friends. Ava, Caitlin and Dylan makes a formidable team, and a solid acting trio. Booker clearly has no idea what she’s fallen into.

Even so, she’s smart, and a former FBI agent. She might have a few more tricks up her sleeve before the finale hits. Who knows, maybe Jeremy was/is her mole. (Doubtful, but not impossible).

Moral of the story this week: we trust no one.

Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Freeform.