Pretty Little Liars: Review

Amir Kattach

“Why enjoy today when you could be worrying about tomorrow?”
Spencer Hastings

Between the 2000s and early 2010s, an epidemic of numerous binge-worthy shows containing hundreds of episodes left a notable mark on modern TV,  such as “Gossip Girl", “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Vampire Diaries”. Similarly, “Pretty Little Liars” is no stranger to the teen drama, thriller genre that was prevalent in these series at the time. Spanning 7 seasons between 2010 and 2017, Pretty Little Liars details the investigation behind the sudden death of 14 year old Alison DiLaurentis (played by Sasha Pieterse) in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. The show is based on the 16-book series written by Sara Shepard, mirroring the narrative with some slight adjustments.. creating even more content for fans!

The general plot (with as few spoilers as possible!) surrounds Alison’s closest friends; Hanna Marin (played by Ashley Benson), Aria Montgomery (played by Lucy Hale), Spencer Hastings (played by Troian Bellisario) and Emily Fields (played by Shay Mitchell)  receive an anonymous text right after Alison’s funeral, from a mysterious figure called “A”, threatening and harassing the girls, claiming that Alison is not dead. The girls are also harassed by investigators and members of the police to aid in their investigation of the cause of death, but little progress is made. However, the girls quickly find out that Alison DiLaurentis’ death was not as straightforward as they had expected... especially after learning about Alison’s reputation as a problematic figure in Rosewood. The night of Alison’s death becomes a major point of interest throughout the show’s progression, as piecing together events proves to be important for all characters involved.

If you enjoy mysteries and watching shows that keep you on guard, Pretty Little Liars is the one to watch. One might be hesitant because of how long the show is, but thanks to, rather than in spite of, the show's length, I found myself thoroughly engaged with its various characters, plotlines and dynamics.. I especially liked how flashback scenes in the earlier seasons involving Alison prior to her death was how we got to know Alison’s character, making both her characterization and presentation quite multifaceted. In my opinion, seasons 1 and 2 are some of the best seasons of any TV show I have ever watched, with impressive acting and engaging scenes. 

My favorite character throughout was definitely Spencer Hastings due to her strong intuition, smart decision-making and funny one-liners. On a less positive note, I felt as though the more the show went on, the more its producers struggled with their screenwriting. Hence I heavily disliked both season 6 and 7, something that you will probably agree with while watching yourself.. My final verdict is that if you need a quick show to watch, or just want to get through a season or two, I highly recommend giving seasons 1 and 2 of Pretty Little Liars a watch. Let’s just say that they can be described with these four words: a rollercoaster of emotions.