Pretty Little Liars Season 1 - TV Series Review

Post

Subscribe

Pretty Little Liars is an American teen drama television series that aired on ABC Family (now Freeform) from 2010 to 2017. It is based on the book series of the same name by Sara Shepard. The show's first season premiered on June 8, 2010, and consisted of 22 episodes.

The series follows a group of four teenage girls: Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson), Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario), and Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell). They live in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where a year ago, their friend and leader of their group, Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse), disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

In the first season, the girls are reunited after a year apart, following Alison's disappearance. They begin to receive anonymous messages from someone calling themselves "A" who seems to know all their secrets, including things that only Alison could have known. The girls soon realize that they are being stalked by someone who is determined to reveal their darkest secrets and ruin their lives.

The first episode of the series, Pilot, begins with the girls attending Alison's funeral. It is here that we learn that the girls have all drifted apart since Alison's disappearance. After the funeral, they each receive a text message from "A" threatening to reveal their secrets. This sets off a chain of events that leads the girls to reunite and try to figure out who "A" is and what they want.

Throughout the season, the girls face numerous obstacles and challenges, including relationship issues, family problems, and trying to keep their secrets hidden from their loved ones. They also begin to suspect people around them, including Alison's brother, Jason (Drew Van Acker), and their own family members, such as Spencer's older sister, Melissa (Torrey DeVitto).

One of the main storylines of the first season is the relationship between Aria and her English teacher, Ezra Fitz (Ian Harding). They meet in a bar before Aria knows that he is her new teacher, and they begin a secret relationship. As the season progresses, their relationship becomes more complicated, and they struggle to keep it hidden from everyone around them.

Another significant storyline involves Hanna's struggles with her weight and her relationship with her mother. Her mother, Ashley (Laura Leighton), is divorced and struggling financially, which puts a strain on their relationship. Hanna becomes friends with a girl named Mona Vanderwaal (Janel Parrish), who is also struggling with her weight and bullying at school. However, Mona's true motives are not what they seem, and she ends up becoming a significant antagonist throughout the series.

Spencer's storyline revolves around her family, specifically her relationship with her sister, Melissa, and her parents' high expectations for her. She becomes increasingly suspicious of Melissa and her involvement in Alison's disappearance. Emily's storyline involves her struggle with her sexuality and her feelings for her new neighbour, Maya St Germain (Bianca Lawson).



As the season progresses, the girls become more and more convinced that "A" is someone they know, and they begin to investigate their friends and family members. They eventually discover that Alison had a secret twin sister named Courtney, who was locked up in a mental institution for years. Courtney had switched places with Alison the night she disappeared and was the one who was killed. "A" is eventually revealed to be Mona, who had been working with "A" the whole time.

The season ends with Mona being arrested, and the girls finally feeling like they can breathe a sigh of relief. However, as they leave Mona's house, they receive a text message from "A," reminding them that they are not safe and that their secrets are still not safe.

The first season of Pretty Little Liars was a huge success, and it introduced viewers to the world of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. The show's mix of mystery, drama, and romance kept audiences hooked, and the cliff-hangers at the end of each episode left viewers wanting more.

One of the strengths of the show is its cast. The four main actresses - Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario, and Shay Mitchell - all give strong performances and have great chemistry with each other. Their characters are well-developed, and viewers can't help but root for them as they try to uncover the truth about "A" and Alison's disappearance.

The show also has a strong supporting cast, including Ian Harding as Ezra Fitz, Laura Leighton as Hanna's mother, and Janel Parrish as Mona Vanderwaal. Each actor brings something unique to their character, and they help to flesh out the world of Rosewood.

The show's use of technology, specifically text messages and social media, is also notable. "A" uses these tools to harass the girls and manipulate their lives, which adds a modern twist to the show's mystery elements. The use of technology also allows for some visually interesting scenes, as we see the girls receiving messages and trying to decipher their meaning.

One of the criticisms of the show is its portrayal of mental illness. The reveal that Mona is "A" and has been working with someone else is problematic, as it perpetuates harmful stereotypes about mental illness. Additionally, the show's treatment of Mona's mental illness is often played for laughs, which can be insensitive to viewers who struggle with mental health issues.

Another criticism is the show's treatment of LGBTQ+ characters. Emily's storyline in the first season is a step in the right direction, as it explores her coming to terms with her sexuality. However, the show's handling of Maya's character is problematic, as she is often portrayed as a stereotype of a "bad girl" and her storyline is not given the same weight as the other characters.

Overall, the first season of Pretty Little Liars is a strong start to the series. It introduces viewers to the world of Rosewood and sets up the mystery of "A" and Alison's disappearance. The strong performances by the cast, the use of technology, and the show's mix of drama and mystery all make for a compelling watch. However, the show's treatment of mental illness and LGBTQ+ characters is problematic and something that should be addressed in future seasons.

#drama
#film_tv_reviews
#rainy_day
#television
#tv_series
#book_to_tv
#teen_drama
#suspense
#suspense_mystery
#teen_romance
#romance
#mystery
#thriller
%wneverywhere