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"If you want a happy ending that depends, of course, on where you stop your story."
Pretty Little Liars is a teenage drama/mystery that explores the lives of four girls: Aria, Emily, Spencer and Hanna. Throughout the first season they are trying to unearth the mystery surrounding the disappearance and supposed murder of their close friend Alison DiLaurentis. One year after her disappearance the girls receive anonymous texts from a mysterious figure that calls itself 'A'. After binge watching the first three episodes, I was completely engrossed in the story and fell in love with the five main characters, despite their inherent flaws.
Every character can be related to in one way or another and are immensely likeable. Sure, the characters are flawed and have some less than endearing moments. My favourite character is Hanna Marin, but to be honest I love all the characters, even Alison. I love that each character has their own personality and likes and dislikes. Alison is the toxic friend, Emily is the good natured, rather introverted type, Aria is a rebel and prior to Alison's death a goth, Spencer is a book worm and the smart one of the bunch and Hanna is the fun, goofy and the not so innocent friend.
Season 2 Episode 25 will always be memorable and stand out the most for me. It is a well-crafted and a beautifully executed finale. 'A' was finally revealed, and it was truly a shocker. Mona Vanderwall is 'A.' She has tormented the girls since the very first episode. I definitely did not see it coming. Mona was never one of my top contenders of who 'A' could be.
The season 2 finale revealed that there are multiple 'A' characters lurking in the shadows. The fourth season revealed that Ezra Fitz is supposedly 'A' and had an intimate relationship with Alison. This was truly a shocker and made me look at the character in a whole new light. It later turned out that Ezra is not 'A' nor is affiliated with it. He took the teaching position at Rosewood High to work on his novel about the mystery surrounding Alison and how her friends cope with it. He literally stalked the girls just to get research for his book. Aria should have never forgiven him for this.
From season 3 onwards, I was actually rooting for the so-called 'A-Team' rather than Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily. Their behaviour in the second half of the third season felt a little off. Emily became more like a typical hormonal teenager, whilst the rest acted all whiny and toxic.
The season 3 finale revealed that Alison is alive and is the girl behind the red hood. I found this revelation to be completely bonkers and incredibly far-fetched. Nevertheless, I found a newfound respect for Alison and like her better as a character in season 4B, season 5 and beyond. She became a likeable character. Sasha Pieterse is the youngest actress in the series yet is immensely talented.
There are numerous red herrings in each season that will likely discombobulate the viewer. Each new reveal may result in confusion and the urge to revisit earlier episodes and see if there are any glaring plot holes.
Throughout its run, Pretty Little Liars was known for romanticising student-teacher relationships. Chief among them, is Ezra and Aria's relationship. I never shipped them and only accepted them as friends. Why are the PLL writers trying to romanticise this type of relationship?
Pretty Little Liars remained fairly consistent throughout its seven-season run. Although, no season wasn't necessarily bad or unwatchable, there were still some fewer appealing episodes. Season 5B, in particular, had the most disappointing episodes, in my opinion.
The season 5 finale "Welcome to the Dollhouse" probably took inspiration from Henrik Ibsen's play "A Doll's House." This episode was one of Pretty Little Liars finest episodes and top tier. It is right on par with the season 2 finale titled "Unmasked." The writing, acting, soundtrack and costumes are all phenomenal. The payoff is huge and unbelievable.
Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell and Sasha Pieterse have amazing chemistry, and this only becomes clearer throughout the seasons. All of them portray their respective characters flawlessly. The show also benefits from a great supporting cast. Keegan Allen as Toby, Ian Harding as Ezra, Chad Lowe as Byron, Holly Marie Combs as Ella, Laura Leighton as Ashley, Janel Parrish as Mona, Tammin Sursok as Jenna and Tyler Blackburn as Caleb are perfectly casted and bring something to the table.
Perhaps the only complaint I have with the series is that the writing feels at times off and a little clunky. It is surprisingly (for the most part) not cheesy and does not have some cringeworthy moments. It is a well-made teenage drama with suspense and intrigue that kept the momentum going and stayed fairly consistent.
The biggest issue I have with Pretty Little Liars is how time is handled on the show. When you think about it, the girls have been in senior year for three and a half seasons. In a short time span, a lot of things happen that might raise some eyelids.
The four girls were at their worst behaviour in season 5B. They honestly thought that Alison is 'A.' I just thought that their performance in that season was overtly negative and dramatic.
Pretty Little Liars had one of the best and worst reveals in television history. The season 6 mid-season finale revealed the identity of 'A' and it was incredibly disappointing and nonsensical. It turned out that CeCe Drake is Charles/Charlotte DiLaurentis. I honestly expected a much bigger payoff and thought that 'A' would be someone completely different. Charlotte's motive seemed unclear. After the episode, there were still burning questions that needed to be answered. The episode was poorly executed and felt rushed. They could have dedicated one more episode in present day to wrap up loose ends and to resolve any glaring plot holes. I agree with the general consensus that the reveal was disappointing and lacklustre.
I was kind of lukewarm when the show jumped 5 years ahead in time. I thought that the first couple episodes were quite lacklustre and uneventful. It took some time till the story moved forward. The seventh season handles the 5-year time jump much better than season 6B.
In season 7, Spencer's true lineage is revealed, and it is a shocker. It turns out that Mary Drake (aka Jessica DiLaurentis's twin) is Spencer's birth mother and gave her up for adoption moments after she was born. This revelation was surprising, to say the least.
Season 7 episode 14 had a bunch of reveals. For starters, it finally confirmed that Mary Drake killed her sister Jessica DiLaurentis. Also, Charles/Charlotte's father turned out to be Pastor Ted. Lukas was close friends with Charles before he switched his gender. The most shocking reveal, in my opinion, is Alison finding out that A. D. stole Emily's eggs from the donation bank, fertilised them and used them to impregnate Alison. Overall, season 7 episode 14 is such a nerve-racking episode of Pretty Little Liars.
It was so much fun theorising of who 'A' or 'A. D.' could be. One of the things I love about the show is that it keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing till the very end. My relationship with PLL will last for eternity. As the title of the series finale perfectly put it: "Til DeAth Do Us PArt."
The series finale revealed the identity of A. D., and it was profoundly confusing and insane. Alex Drake aka Spencer's long lost evil twin is A. D. Even though the reveal was surprising, it is not the best reveal of Pretty Little Liars. The Mona reveal in the season 2 finale will always stand out the most for me and is the most shocking and exhilarating. I would have preferred if the series dedicated some episodes to Alex Drake's backstory. It felt a little rushed and quite anticlimactic how her story ended. But I got to say it was truly fitting when it is revealed that Mona locked Mary and Alex in a dollhouse. I don't necessarily have a problem with the A. D. reveal, but it could have been better executed and hinted at.
I kind of suspected that Wren would be the father to Alison and Emily's twins. It would have been nice to see their reaction to this revelation.
Troian Bellisario absolutely nailed Alex Drake's British accent. It really showcased her acting range and proved that she is one of the most talented actors on Pretty Little Liars.
The series finale is perhaps the cheesiest episode of Pretty Little Liars. Although my feelings toward the finale is conflicted, I still think that it wrapped up the overarching story in a good way. It answered the most burning questions and did not make me crave for more. It also managed to make me want to revisit previous episodes and see what I missed. As a finale, it delivered and served as a satisfying conclusion to the series.
To conclude, Pretty Little Liars is a fun and addictive series with a great mystery that is stretched out throughout multiple seasons. The series creator does a great job at not making the mystery feel dragged out. Each episode entices the viewer to keep watching. The series has a well-rounded cast who have amazing chemistry. Each season offers something new and exciting with a bunch of twists and turns. It is one hundred percent bingeable and one of the best mystery television shows on Netflix.
One of the best lines: "A. D. stopped playing games and started playing God." 'A' has always been a God.
Side note: I love how the series finale introduced a new generation of Pretty Little Liars. This just makes the series as a whole come full circle.
Season 1A: 8.0/10 Season 1B: 8.2/10 Season 2A: 8.2/10 Season 2B: 8.2/10 Season 3A: 8.2/10 Season 3B: 7.9/10 Season 4A: 8.5/10 Season 4B: 8.5/10 Season 5A: 7.8/10 Season 5B: 7.8/10 Season 6A: 8.1/10 Season 6B: 6.8/10 Season 7A: 8.2/10 Season 7B: 8.6/10
Series finale (part 1): 9.3/10 Series finale (part 2): 6.5/10
Final verdict: 9.0/10
Kisses, -A.
Pretty Little Liars is a teenage drama/mystery that explores the lives of four girls: Aria, Emily, Spencer and Hanna. Throughout the first season they are trying to unearth the mystery surrounding the disappearance and supposed murder of their close friend Alison DiLaurentis. One year after her disappearance the girls receive anonymous texts from a mysterious figure that calls itself 'A'. After binge watching the first three episodes, I was completely engrossed in the story and fell in love with the five main characters, despite their inherent flaws.
Every character can be related to in one way or another and are immensely likeable. Sure, the characters are flawed and have some less than endearing moments. My favourite character is Hanna Marin, but to be honest I love all the characters, even Alison. I love that each character has their own personality and likes and dislikes. Alison is the toxic friend, Emily is the good natured, rather introverted type, Aria is a rebel and prior to Alison's death a goth, Spencer is a book worm and the smart one of the bunch and Hanna is the fun, goofy and the not so innocent friend.
Season 2 Episode 25 will always be memorable and stand out the most for me. It is a well-crafted and a beautifully executed finale. 'A' was finally revealed, and it was truly a shocker. Mona Vanderwall is 'A.' She has tormented the girls since the very first episode. I definitely did not see it coming. Mona was never one of my top contenders of who 'A' could be.
The season 2 finale revealed that there are multiple 'A' characters lurking in the shadows. The fourth season revealed that Ezra Fitz is supposedly 'A' and had an intimate relationship with Alison. This was truly a shocker and made me look at the character in a whole new light. It later turned out that Ezra is not 'A' nor is affiliated with it. He took the teaching position at Rosewood High to work on his novel about the mystery surrounding Alison and how her friends cope with it. He literally stalked the girls just to get research for his book. Aria should have never forgiven him for this.
From season 3 onwards, I was actually rooting for the so-called 'A-Team' rather than Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily. Their behaviour in the second half of the third season felt a little off. Emily became more like a typical hormonal teenager, whilst the rest acted all whiny and toxic.
The season 3 finale revealed that Alison is alive and is the girl behind the red hood. I found this revelation to be completely bonkers and incredibly far-fetched. Nevertheless, I found a newfound respect for Alison and like her better as a character in season 4B, season 5 and beyond. She became a likeable character. Sasha Pieterse is the youngest actress in the series yet is immensely talented.
There are numerous red herrings in each season that will likely discombobulate the viewer. Each new reveal may result in confusion and the urge to revisit earlier episodes and see if there are any glaring plot holes.
Throughout its run, Pretty Little Liars was known for romanticising student-teacher relationships. Chief among them, is Ezra and Aria's relationship. I never shipped them and only accepted them as friends. Why are the PLL writers trying to romanticise this type of relationship?
Pretty Little Liars remained fairly consistent throughout its seven-season run. Although, no season wasn't necessarily bad or unwatchable, there were still some fewer appealing episodes. Season 5B, in particular, had the most disappointing episodes, in my opinion.
The season 5 finale "Welcome to the Dollhouse" probably took inspiration from Henrik Ibsen's play "A Doll's House." This episode was one of Pretty Little Liars finest episodes and top tier. It is right on par with the season 2 finale titled "Unmasked." The writing, acting, soundtrack and costumes are all phenomenal. The payoff is huge and unbelievable.
Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell and Sasha Pieterse have amazing chemistry, and this only becomes clearer throughout the seasons. All of them portray their respective characters flawlessly. The show also benefits from a great supporting cast. Keegan Allen as Toby, Ian Harding as Ezra, Chad Lowe as Byron, Holly Marie Combs as Ella, Laura Leighton as Ashley, Janel Parrish as Mona, Tammin Sursok as Jenna and Tyler Blackburn as Caleb are perfectly casted and bring something to the table.
Perhaps the only complaint I have with the series is that the writing feels at times off and a little clunky. It is surprisingly (for the most part) not cheesy and does not have some cringeworthy moments. It is a well-made teenage drama with suspense and intrigue that kept the momentum going and stayed fairly consistent.
The biggest issue I have with Pretty Little Liars is how time is handled on the show. When you think about it, the girls have been in senior year for three and a half seasons. In a short time span, a lot of things happen that might raise some eyelids.
The four girls were at their worst behaviour in season 5B. They honestly thought that Alison is 'A.' I just thought that their performance in that season was overtly negative and dramatic.
Pretty Little Liars had one of the best and worst reveals in television history. The season 6 mid-season finale revealed the identity of 'A' and it was incredibly disappointing and nonsensical. It turned out that CeCe Drake is Charles/Charlotte DiLaurentis. I honestly expected a much bigger payoff and thought that 'A' would be someone completely different. Charlotte's motive seemed unclear. After the episode, there were still burning questions that needed to be answered. The episode was poorly executed and felt rushed. They could have dedicated one more episode in present day to wrap up loose ends and to resolve any glaring plot holes. I agree with the general consensus that the reveal was disappointing and lacklustre.
I was kind of lukewarm when the show jumped 5 years ahead in time. I thought that the first couple episodes were quite lacklustre and uneventful. It took some time till the story moved forward. The seventh season handles the 5-year time jump much better than season 6B.
In season 7, Spencer's true lineage is revealed, and it is a shocker. It turns out that Mary Drake (aka Jessica DiLaurentis's twin) is Spencer's birth mother and gave her up for adoption moments after she was born. This revelation was surprising, to say the least.
Season 7 episode 14 had a bunch of reveals. For starters, it finally confirmed that Mary Drake killed her sister Jessica DiLaurentis. Also, Charles/Charlotte's father turned out to be Pastor Ted. Lukas was close friends with Charles before he switched his gender. The most shocking reveal, in my opinion, is Alison finding out that A. D. stole Emily's eggs from the donation bank, fertilised them and used them to impregnate Alison. Overall, season 7 episode 14 is such a nerve-racking episode of Pretty Little Liars.
It was so much fun theorising of who 'A' or 'A. D.' could be. One of the things I love about the show is that it keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing till the very end. My relationship with PLL will last for eternity. As the title of the series finale perfectly put it: "Til DeAth Do Us PArt."
The series finale revealed the identity of A. D., and it was profoundly confusing and insane. Alex Drake aka Spencer's long lost evil twin is A. D. Even though the reveal was surprising, it is not the best reveal of Pretty Little Liars. The Mona reveal in the season 2 finale will always stand out the most for me and is the most shocking and exhilarating. I would have preferred if the series dedicated some episodes to Alex Drake's backstory. It felt a little rushed and quite anticlimactic how her story ended. But I got to say it was truly fitting when it is revealed that Mona locked Mary and Alex in a dollhouse. I don't necessarily have a problem with the A. D. reveal, but it could have been better executed and hinted at.
I kind of suspected that Wren would be the father to Alison and Emily's twins. It would have been nice to see their reaction to this revelation.
Troian Bellisario absolutely nailed Alex Drake's British accent. It really showcased her acting range and proved that she is one of the most talented actors on Pretty Little Liars.
The series finale is perhaps the cheesiest episode of Pretty Little Liars. Although my feelings toward the finale is conflicted, I still think that it wrapped up the overarching story in a good way. It answered the most burning questions and did not make me crave for more. It also managed to make me want to revisit previous episodes and see what I missed. As a finale, it delivered and served as a satisfying conclusion to the series.
To conclude, Pretty Little Liars is a fun and addictive series with a great mystery that is stretched out throughout multiple seasons. The series creator does a great job at not making the mystery feel dragged out. Each episode entices the viewer to keep watching. The series has a well-rounded cast who have amazing chemistry. Each season offers something new and exciting with a bunch of twists and turns. It is one hundred percent bingeable and one of the best mystery television shows on Netflix.
One of the best lines: "A. D. stopped playing games and started playing God." 'A' has always been a God.
Side note: I love how the series finale introduced a new generation of Pretty Little Liars. This just makes the series as a whole come full circle.
Season 1A: 8.0/10 Season 1B: 8.2/10 Season 2A: 8.2/10 Season 2B: 8.2/10 Season 3A: 8.2/10 Season 3B: 7.9/10 Season 4A: 8.5/10 Season 4B: 8.5/10 Season 5A: 7.8/10 Season 5B: 7.8/10 Season 6A: 8.1/10 Season 6B: 6.8/10 Season 7A: 8.2/10 Season 7B: 8.6/10
Series finale (part 1): 9.3/10 Series finale (part 2): 6.5/10
Final verdict: 9.0/10
Kisses, -A.
9/10
