With the publication of this article, I have decided to come clean about my guilty pleasure. It’s not something I’m proud of, more so an itch I cannot scratch. I’m talking about watching “Pretty Little Liars,” the program I now love to hate. Sure, the exploits and adventures of girls that were (supposed) to be my age when the show came out in 2010 was fun to watch, a 45-minute fantasy each week, even. Now that I’m approaching 22 (which hurts to write a little, to be honest), I feel as if the trajectory of my life should have allowed me to grow out of the program…but it hasn’t, and I find myself tuning in each week to see who A is, even though I’m pretty sure the writers themselves don’t know where this show is going anymore.
Because the second half of season six (which premiered Jan. 12) is taking us #FiveYearsForward, I have decided to revisit the very first episode. Here’s what I noticed when I went back in time.
1. “Don’t Trust Me” by 3oh!3 is the first song played within the opening of the series.
In a world where everyone has a secret and everyone’s secrets are eventually unearthed, I feel like this late-2000s anthem with lyrics that proclaim issues with trust is almost too overt and makes it obvious that the Liars are going to run into trouble almost immediately. I know the program was just starting out, but really, learn the art of subtlety, "PLL" crew.
2. The Liars didn’t keep in touch, but WHY?
When we are reintroduced to Hanna and Spencer a year after that fateful night, it is abundantly clear that the Liars have chosen not to keep in touch. (Because, you know, they explicitly say it three times within the first 10 minutes.) Spencer says aloofly to Hannah that ultimately it was all of their secrets that drove them apart, but if that was so, why do they both make mention of keeping tabs on one another throughout the summer and why is Hanna so eager to help Spencer pick out an outfit to meet Wren, her sister's fiancé in? You girls clearly needed one another in your time apart! Why didn't you hold onto one another when you needed each other most?
3. Aria's family is clearly hiding something.
Coincidentally, Aria's family arrives back from Iceland a year (almost to the day -- imagine that!) after Alison's disappearance. It is quickly revealed that the Montgomery clan fled from Rosewood when things got too gritty with Byron’s affair. (Not that Ella Montgomery knew any of this. Byron is the worst.) Before we know all this though, we know something is off. Ella is too playful with her husband, their jokes are too sitcom-esque and Byron immediately pulls Aria to the side to make sure she’s keeping his secret. He has always been the worst and continues to be the worst.
4. Who is Mrs. D.?
The OG mother to Ali D. portrayed by Anne Marie DeLuise remained in Rosewood for only the pilot episode, and was replaced by Andrea Parker beginning in Season 2. Considering her tragic end, it was probably for the best.
5. Ditto for Toby.
Toby Cavanaugh is single-handedly keeping me hooked on this show. I didn't even remember that Keegan Allen was not present as such for the series premiere...and kind of forgot that he and Jenna were siblings. And that the whole Jenna thing happened.
In conclusion, this show is an intricate maze that develops more twists and turns with each passing second. I can barely keep up with what secret is out in the open and why Person X wants Person Y dead, and I have the ability to stop and re-watch each episode with ease. I can only imagine what I. Marlene King is like when developing the overarching plot lines.
