“Emily and Maya’s relationship isn’t gratifying because it’s gay. Or because of whatever shipper thing. Emily and Maya’s relationship is gratifying because Emily lived through the winter, because we saw her falling down and getting up and dusting herself off and falling down some more and getting up some more and growing, growing, growing into this Emily. And so when Emily told Maya she loved her and kissed her like fifteen kinds of hungry, it wasn’t about winning a shipping war or placating a minority; it was about an authentic, well-rounded, complicated, lovable character doing the most natural thing in the world — with another woman.” - Heather Hogan, Afterellen.com (Pretty Little Liars Recap 2.18)
