Is The Toby We Know a Lie?
Episode 4.21 gave us our first look into Ezra's book. The book is based on the relationship between Alison and the four liars, but one of the things that stood out to me was the importance of one lie, and how that lie leads to others. From what we see of the book at the end of the episode, it mentions how Alison told lies to the girls and how over time the lies had become their truths. These false "truths" and secrets that they are holding on to is keeping them from finding out what really happened. I have been trying to figure out why this is so important. Why do the writers keep pushing the idea that one lie is such a defining theme? Then I thought about it, the girls are on the same journey we are on, but there is something we haven't figured out. There are lies keeping them from the truth, and there are lies that are keeping us from the truth as well. For me personally, I had to figure out why I couldn't piece together a complete story, and it all comes back to Toby.
I think the ultimate lie the writers have told us is that Toby is the most honest character. This may seem like a small thing, but it actually has changed the way we look at Toby. Toby’s character started out as someone we didn't (we weren't suppose to) trust. He was initially suspected of killing Ali by the police because of the green sweater with blood stains that was found in his house, and the liars suspected him because of the 9.01 Free At Last tattoo. During the Homecoming episode(1.6), Spencer gets her fortune read. During this scene the fortune teller tells Spencer that she has picked the card of the lovers, “which is usually a good card, but when paired with judgement, it means there is something wrong with this couple. It’s a bad match.” At the time the fortune teller is saying this, the camera pans to Ezra and Aria (who was dancing with Hanna’s ex), and then to Toby and Emily. At the time I assumed (like some others) that they were referring to Toby/Emily, and then later Aria/Ezra. In retrospect I have come to realize that this fortune must have been about Spencer and Toby. The fortune teller was reading SPENCER'S fortune, so why have we come to believe that it was about anyone else but her. The fortune teller then goes on to say “here, there is darkness in him, maybe violence.” The camera at this points pans to Toby once again. After this scene there is the whole attack of Emily and a few other “misunderstandings” during the season. Toby was later vindicated, but there was still some doubt about whether he was a “good guy” or not.
Sometime later, Marlene tells us that Toby is the most honest character. At this point every doubt that we had about Toby is cleared up. He is the perfect match for Spencer, who is also misunderstood. They form this great relationship that is withstanding all that A has to throw at them. Toby is willing to do anything to protect Spencer. He even joined the A team for her. There is one big thing that has been overlooked; while being a part of the A team, Toby did nothing that actually benefited Spencer. He wasn't even the one to push Ian off of the bell tower. Ali did. He also let Spencer think he was dead, and did nothing to help her while she was in Radley grieving over his "death" and betrayal. I also thought it was interesting that Ali told Spencer in the season 4 finale that she knows what Spencer sees in Toby; when he tells you the truth, you believe him. If Toby has been lying all along, then he obviously has Ali fooled as well. I also question Toby's visit to London to meet up with Melissa about Spencer's relapse. I wonder if he Wren was involved as well. Marlene King has even tweeted that “people change” when asked about Toby lying in the past, and yet we are still able to rationalize what he does. (https://twitter.com/imarleneking/status/180485381001711616)
There have also been other characters who have hinted that someone around Spencer isn't there for sincere reasons. Garrett told Spencer when she visited him in jail that, “Someone close to you has you completely fooled.” I'll admit that there is a chance that this doesn't apply to Toby being that Garrett went on to say that people lie, but medical records don't. Also, during the special Halloween episode for season 4, Mrs. Grunwald says that one of the girls has been touched by the person Ali fears the most, and the camera pans to Spencer and Aria. Big A is obviously the one Ali fears the most, and I believe A is also the person who killed the girl everyone thought was Ali. Mrs. Grunwald could have been referring to Toby or possibly even Aria if she has been touched with a personality disorder. Another theory that I have is that Aria is Big A & the killer and Toby is the helper. Who knows, they may have even had a secret relationship at one point back in Aria's emo days. In the Shadow Play episode, I thought it was odd that Aria mentioned to Paige that what made her change from being a tomboy was falling in love for the first time. The dialogue between them had to mean something, and I don't think she was referring to Ezra.
We've never had a scene where Toby interacts with Aria, and the first scene we got was in the Shadow Play episode where Toby grabs Aria and tells her "we don't have much time, I hit him hard but I only hit him once." I'm not sure what exactly to make of this scene, but I thought Toby's choice of words were interesting. Someone else posted (I can't remember the screen name) that maybe shadow play was a foreshadowing of what would happen. The girls in shadow play are running from someone, and then they encounter the voice of Ezra. He is calling for Aria. As they get close to the shadowed figure, they realize it is Toby and he had hit Ezra. In "A is For Answers" the girls again are running from someone. They then encounter Ezra (we can see him this time). Then there is a masked person who comes and tries to attack the girls, but fights with Ezra first. Was this a foreshadowing by the writers that the unknown person is Toby? If Toby didn't shoot Ezra on the roof top, then I highly suspect the shooter to be Jason or possibly Wren. I think Wren is involved in this saga as well. Note: Updated to add that we now know this was Shana, but this still does not clear Toby in my opinion on what happened the night Ali disappeared.
I will finish with a quote from Ezra’s book which of course has to have some clues, because this wouldn't be Pretty Little Liars if there weren't clues.
“Thats what’s remarkable about lies. How they can fool you, what they'll become. Where they can take you. It all starts with one. No matter how simple, no matter how grand, a truly great lie can live on long after you’re gone. Surprising even its architect with the places it can climb—deep into our hearts, twisting into our souls…Before ultimately crashing, the flames of the fire scorching anyone left in the way.” (http://pllcrazyness.tumblr.com/post/77894597326/ezras-book-the-red-critique-notes-changed-wtf)
Full credit for the picture to prettylittlesecrethints.tumblr.com
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