Pretty Little Liars Is An Unrealistic Masterpiece | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Pretty Little Liars Is An Unrealistic Masterpiece

Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

372
Pretty Little Liars Is An Unrealistic Masterpiece
Freeform

"Got a secret, can you keep it?

Swear this one you'll save

Better lock it in your pocket

Taking this one to the grave

If I show you then I know you won't tell what I said

'Cause two can keep a secret if one of them is dead."

You would have to be deliberately ignorant of pop culture for the past six years if you haven't heard of ABC Family (turned Freeform)'s mega hit, "Pretty Little Liars."

The show, which has ran an hour once a week for seven mind-blowing seasons so far, was a fail proof formula for tween/teen obsession from the get-go. Four exceptionally pretty girls! Unthinkable sins! A presumably dead friend of theirs who had the intellect and manipulation of a comic book villain hidden under the ubiquitous charm and honey colored hair of the traditional high school popular girl!

The four girls were bound together by the most irrevocable of constraints: secrets and lies. They all had hidden parts of themselves that ensured thorough character development, that was arguably the most eloquently executed in teen-drama history (Even the show's closest rivalry, the phenomenon that was "Gossip Girl," couldn't compete with ensuring each main character was as dynamic as the PLL front runners were, *cough, Nate Archibald's character, cough*.)

In Season One, their personal secrets were clear: Aria was hooking up with her English teacher, Emily was a closeted lesbian, Spencer, the all star student, was a drug addict, and Hanna was a recovering bulimic and thief.

With each passing season, the show grew up, right along with its mass millions of audience members. I was eleven when the show first aired, captivated by it's haunting opening monologue and the girls' mysterious past. I'm almost nineteen now, and I'm glad that I've been watching since the very beginning.

The mastermind that was "A" was arguably dragged out, as season finales came and went with the empty promise that we'd finally determine who "A" really was, and then there was "Big A" and now, "Uber A." But through the confusion that was, at times, messy, fans kept tuning in every week because we were hooked; in love, even.

Which is saying a lot. Is any small detail of the show's plot realistic (besides, as mentioned, the girls' personal growth)? Jenna being blinded and hooking up with her step brother? Toby becoming a high ranking police officer directly after he graduated high school? Caleb being a hacker genius? Ali coming back to life after being in hiding with her brother turned sister that turns out to be her cousin CeCe Drake? The dollhouse shenanigans? All of the murders? (And these are only mere details that I can remember off the top of my head!)

Not to mention that Hanna miraculously got Ivy League worthy SAT scores equal to Spencer's, Aria's teacher boyfriend (who would be weird and predatory in real life) secretly writes a book about their lives and is completely forgiven, and the town where every near impossible scheme, murder, or plan gone wrong takes place is named something as dreamy and mysterious as "Rosewood."

The show is a bit of a dream, though. It's a teen soap-opera, and we don't get a lot of those. Shows aimed at a 13-19 demographic are generally overdone, cringe-worthy Disney ventures or raunchy MTV comedies like "Awkward." "Pretty Little Liars" is a smooth, much needed middle ground that stood well on its own two feet.

Like any note worthy show, it has influenced and inspired a generation since it's birth in 2010. Since then, millions of people have monitored the show obsessively, from crafting Halloween costumes, to producing YouTube videos, to dedicating in-depth Tumblr accounts to popular conspiracy theories.

In it's running, which is perhaps inching towards an inevitable end, (Realistically, how many "A"'s can there be before the show loses substance?) "Pretty Little Liars" was a forefront in leaving an impression on people, millennials, primarily, and they did a pretty damned good job.

The characters, fiercely loyal and career driven and impeccably dressed, are, for as unrealistic as their circumstances may be at times, raw. They're real. They have emotions and they make mistakes. They're empathetic, they get heartbroken, and, at times, they get furious at "A" or at each other.

"Pretty Little Liars" covers a lot of ground in terms of stirring conversations on social issues. Emily struggled with her sexuality before she came out, just as Spencer relapses periodically and Hanna would have flashbacks indicative of her eating disorder. While fearing for your life and running from "A" isn't something the average teenager can relate to, those things are 100% real issues.

I dread the show's eventual end, which I fear will be soon, as it will be a time where I won't look forward to one of the girls shushing the camera with wide eyes and perfect hair every week as I wait for a new episode to start. The notorious front runner, Marlene King, has promised twists and turns until the very end. I think it's safe to say she won't disappoint.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
legally blonde

College is filled with many things, and we're so often lectured to make the right decisions as we head out on our own into the college life. But sometimes it's necessary to indulge in some guilty pleasures as well as just doing things because you can. And honestly, a lot of the time it's inevitable. College is no piece of cake that's for sure, so it's okay to do some things you deep down know you shouldn't....once in a while anyways.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Things to avoid your freshman year of college

Having this list as you enter college will be extremely valuable and beneficial to experiencing the best year of your life!

1528
girl friends
Madison Morgan

Ahhh good ol' freshman year. The best times and the worst times. Going to college six hours from home was the best decision I had ever made for myself, but the transition would have been much smoother had I known the things I know now. You cannot take on this beast by yourself, so allow me to lend a hand and guide you through one of the most exciting and different years of your life thus far. I have compiled a list of 10 key things to avoid your freshman year of college in order to ensure a smooth, happy, and fun first year!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

13 Thoughts Everyone Has During Lecture

Chances are, they have nothing to do with what you're actually supposed to be learning.

96
student in class
Polish Magazine

Let's face it. We've all had those days when it's almost impossible to stay awake or focus during lecture. We often find ourselves dozing off or just staring out into space when we really should be paying attention to what's going on in class. Regardless of whether or not you admit this happens, here are 13 thoughts every student has during lecture:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s Albums: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Edition

I just know that the idea of releasing vault tracks came out of the moment Taylor remembered she wrote 'Is It Over Now?'

197
A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s Albums: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Edition
Edited by Hailey Hastings

I am fully emersed into diving deep into every single Taylor Swift album, which I do on my own all the time, but wanted to do it in a way where I am sharing what a special discography she has. I feel like 1989 is the perfect place to start, it's an era that changed everything, and will always be an album people automatically think of when you say "Taylor Swift."

Keep Reading...Show less
friends

Here you will find a list of many of the people you will come across in your life, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to give a name to all these characters that you hopefully see day to day. Don't take these friends for granted because they all add a little something to your life, and if you can't name all of them to your personal friends, chances are it might be you...

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments