Pretty Little Liars | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Lindsay Calhoon Bring |
Based on | Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard |
Showrunner | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa |
Creative director | Neil Patel |
Starring |
|
Music by |
|
Opening theme | "Secret" by the Pierces |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language |
|
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producers |
|
Cinematography |
|
Editors |
|
Running time | 47–53 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | HBO Max |
Release | July 28 – August 18, 2022 |
Network | Max |
Release | May 9, 2024 – present |
Related | |
Pretty Little Liars franchise |
Pretty Little Liars is an American slasher teen drama mystery television series created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring for Max. It is the fourth television series in the Pretty Little Liars franchise, which is based on the novel series written by Sara Shepard, and set within the same continuity as the previous series. [2] The series features an ensemble cast, headed by Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, and Maia Reficco.
Warner Bros. announced the series' development with Aguirre-Sacasa as showrunner in September 2020. It was given a straight-to-series order by HBO Max at the end of the same month. Filming took place in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first series in the franchise not to be broadcast on ABC Family/Freeform and to be carried on a streaming television service.
The first season, titled Original Sin, premiered on July 28, 2022. [3] In September 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, subtitled Summer School, premiered on May 9, 2024. [4] [5] [6]
Five teenage girls living in Millwood, Pennsylvania, team up after receiving cryptic messages from a mysterious person calling themselves "A", who holds their mothers responsible for a series of events that resulted in a classmate's death on New Year's Eve 1999. [7]
Season | Title | Episodes | Originally released | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First released | Last released | Network | ||||
1 | Original Sin | 10 | July 28, 2022 | August 18, 2022 | HBO Max | |
2 [6] | Summer School | 8 | May 9, 2024 | June 20, 2024 | Max |
No. overall | No. in season | Title [13] | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [3] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Chapter One: Spirit Week" | Lisa Soper | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Lindsay Calhoon Bring | July 28, 2022 | |
In 1999, distressed teen Angela Waters commits suicide at a Y2K party in a warehouse after her pleas for help are ignored by everyone, including friends Davie Adams, Sidney Haworthe, Corey Bryant, Elodie Honrada, and Marjorie Olivar. 22 years later, Davie receives an envelope with the flyer from the Y2K party and an ominous message written on the back. Her teenage pregnant daughter, Imogen, and Imogen's ex-best friend, Karen Beasley, soon find Davie dead in the bathtub with an 'A' scrawled in blood nearby. Imogen moves in with Sidney and Sidney's daughter, Tabby, and a month later returns to school. After panicking about her future of raising the baby with no support, Imogen, after a verbal altercation with Karen, declares her intent to run against Karen for Spirit Week Queen. Meanwhile, Tabby argues with her film teacher about the curriculum and later promotes a double feature screening at her workplace, the Orpheum; she soon receives a strange text. Fellow students Noa Olivar (who is on probation, has to wear an ankle monitor and does daily community service), Minnie Honrada (a quiet student often found in the computer lab) and Faran Bryant (an outstanding ballet student who was just rewarded the role of The Black Swan) also receive strange messages and they all begin to see a strange masked figure watching them. The masked figure later murders a school janitor after he finds the figure's secret lair. Imogen, Tabby, Noa, Mouse, and Faran all end up in detention for multiple incidents around the school against Karen; they become convinced Karen framed them after discussing the situation and agree to revenge against her. | ||||||
2 | 2 | "Chapter Two: The Spirit Queen" | Lisa Soper | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Lindsay Calhoon Bring | July 28, 2022 | |
The Little Liars devise a plan to humiliate Karen after Imogen shows them an embarrassing video of Karen. Tabby suggests to play it during the double feature at the Orpheum, so no one can record it. Students gather at the Orpheum for the movies; the embarrassing video of Karen is played before the movie and an humiliated Karen ran away, followed by her twin, Kelly. Kelly, impersonating Karen, confesses to Principal Clanton that she was the one that committed the crimes The Little Liars were punished for, but this was just the twins' plan to get back at Imogen for the video. Karen drops out of the spirit queen race. The girls arrive at the party and the principal announces Imogen as the spirit queen. Previously, Kelly proposed to get revenge at Imogen in the style of Carrie , by pouring a bucket of red paint on her while she receives her crown. Before the plan is executed, the girls see Karen hiding in the rafters and try to warn Imogen. Imogen heeds their warning and looks up to see the masked figure push Karen to her death. The girls all receive a text message from "A", who killed Karen for being a bully and orders them to keep their mouth shut. | ||||||
3 | 3 | "Chapter Three: Aftermath" | Maggie Kiley | Michael Grassi & Evelyn Yves | July 28, 2022 | |
Shortly after the bloody incident, Imogen informs the girls that a masked figure pushed Karen to death, and they reveal to have also seen the figure. Scared to tell the truth, Kelly suggests to Tom that Karen may have committed suicide due to the embarrassing video. An angered Tom is determined to punish the girls. Imogen discovers a news about Angela Waters, a teenager whose body was found days after her death in 1999, in an abandoned warehouse. She visits the warehouse, and soon the masked creeper arrives. While revisiting the warehouse with Tabby, Sidney arrives and explains what happened to Angela the night of the rave, but lies about other details. Noa tries to convince Faran and Mouse to blame Karen's death on Imogen and Tabby after the Sheriff harassed her, but eventually sides with them. Noa reveals to Shawn that she took the blame for her mother's drug use. After telling her father the truth, Kelly meets with Imogen and apologizes for her actions, blaming herself for Karen's death. The Little Liars visit Karen's grave with their own personal messages for her, as the masked creeper is watching them from his van. | ||||||
4 | 4 | "Chapter Four: The (Fe)male Gaze" | Lisa Soper | Eleanor Jean & Jenina Kibuka | August 4, 2022 | |
In 1999, Marjorie convinces Angela to smoke, but blames her when they got caught and later gives her a friendship doll. In 2022, Marjorie receives the same doll with taunting messages. Tabby and Chip partner for a film project, recreating the shower scene from Psycho and asked Faran & Greg to act. Greg's actions during filming triggered Tabby, who has blurry visions about a party in the woods. Faran begins to believe that Kelly is actually Karen and asked Henry to investigate, since Karen would have a scar on her foot due to the razor blade put on her shoes. During a visit by Sheriff Beasley to the Olivars' apartment, he finds drugs and Marjorie quickly blames it on Noa, who managed to swerve. Later, the masked creeper chases Noa on the building and forces her to "punish the guilty". She reluctantly called the hospital and told them Marjorie has been stealing drugs. | ||||||
5 | 5 | "Chapter Five: The Night He Came Home" | Lisa Soper | Katie Avery & Alexis Scheer | August 4, 2022 | |
In Halloween 1999, Davie and her friends convinces Angela to throw dog feces into a house, but they leave her. After hearing Noa's story, Imogen is more convinced that Angela is connected to "A" and her mother's death. Tabby is angered by Chip who finished their project without her, since she wants it to be taken from the female gaze; he apologizes and offers to reshoot the scene together. Henry tells Faran that Kelly indeed has the scar Karen would have, convincing her even more that Kelly is actually Karen. However, Madame Giry reveals that Kelly has self-harmed in the past and a regretful Faran tries to befriend her. Unwilling to sell her house due to unanswered questions, Imogen plans to throw a fundraising Halloween party. At work, Tabby is harassed by a jock and fellow student, Tyler, who later harasses Minnie at Imogen's party. The masked creeper, who's been lurking around Imogen's house, wears the mask Angela wore in 1999 and brutally kills Tyler. After witnessing Kelly making out with Greg, Faran confronts Kelly and again, accuses her of being Karen. Mouse meets with Steve whose daughter, Rachel is missing and roleplays as her. After the party, Tabby and Imogen reveal to each other that they both have been sexually assaulted. | ||||||
6 | 6 | "Chapter Six: Scars" | Cierra "Shooter" Glaudé | Pamela Garcia Rooney & Danielle Iman | August 11, 2022 | |
Tabby recounts the night she was drugged and raped but reveals to Imogen that she does not know the identify of the assailant. Imogen also confides that her pregnancy was a result of being raped the night of Karen's party but does not remember due to being heavily intoxicated. The two meet with Joseph England, a former classmate of their mothers, and learn that Angela's mother, Rose, was committed to Radley Sanitarium after Angela's suicide. After further investigating, they learn that Angela was raped and that Rose was visited by Sidney, Davie, Elodie, Marjorie, Corey, and a sixth unknown person. Meanwhile, Noa fails to convince Marjorie to attend rehab and Steve begins stalking Mouse. Faran and Corey's relationship is further strained after they both receive messages from "A" that reveal Faran's corrective scoliosis surgery was not necessary. | ||||||
7 | 7 | "Chapter Seven: Carnival of Souls" | Alex Sanjiv Pillai | Daniel G. King & Neil McNeil | August 11, 2022 | |
8 | 8 | "Chapter Eight: Bad Blood" | Megan Griffiths | Michael Grassi & Stasia Demick | August 18, 2022 | |
9 | 9 | "Chapter Nine: Dead and Buried" | Roxanne Benjamin | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring | August 18, 2022 | |
The Little Liars meet up with the moms explaining the recent death of their old classmate Joseph, who was also in love with Angela and revealing his possible identity as "A." The conversation forces the moms to reveal the truth about their connection to Angela Waters. It is revealed that Sidney, Davie, Elodie, Marjorie, and Corey were horrible "mean girl bullies" to Angela in high school. Each of the moms recount what they specifically did to Angela. Tabby and Imogen start to believe that "A" killed Crazy Joe and is still at large. During breakfast at the Beasleys', it's revealed that Kelly isn't supported by her parents and the Sheriff reveals that it should've been Kelly who slipped and not Karen. Imogen contacts her dad in order to get written permission to exhume Davie's body in order to prove she was murdered. The girls hear from Marjorie's clinic that there is a match for the DNA from the blood drive. Faran confronts Sheriff Tom and tells him that he needs to stop verbally and emotionally abusing Kelly and that he needs to resign as a Community Service leader due to Noa's allegations. Imogen learns from her dad that her mom Davie used to date Tom Beasley in high school. After Faran's dad is arrested, she goes to the Beasleys', revealing Tom's obsession with young boys. Mrs. Beasley reveals that Sheriff Tom was the one who raped Angela Waters. | ||||||
10 | 10 | "Chapter Ten: Final Girls" | Lisa Soper | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Lindsay Calhoon Bring & Michael Grassi | August 18, 2022 | |
Tabby begins to suspect Chip as her and Imogen's rapist and both confront him. "A" listens as Chip admits his actions and chases after him. While investigating the Waters' house, the Liars find clues that lead them to suspect that "A" might be Angela's secret brother. The five receive a text from "A" who is revealed to be holding their mothers captive at school; Imogen asks Kelly for help. Martha stabs Tom after he reveals his plan to murder-suicide the family and Kelly rushes to help the girls. The Liars find their mothers tied up in a makeshift courtroom at the school gym. Principal Clanton reveals himself as Angela's father and the mastermind behind "A"; the masked figure is Angela's twin brother, Archie. It's revealed that after Tom raped Angela, Davie made the whole school ignore her and pretend she didn't exist, eventually leading to her suicide. Clanton plans to kill the mothers, but with Davie dead, decides to punish Imogen; she gets chased by Archie. Kelly arrives with Greg, who's shot by Clanton. Tabby manages to take him down and the girls rescue their mothers. After a fight, Imogen defeats Archie and her water breaks. Her baby is born healthy and is to be adopted by writers from Rosewood, Aria and Ezra. Tabby reveals Archie and Tom survived the stabbing, while Clanton and Chip are arrested. Archie later escapes, killing Tom and the guard, and attacks Chip whose fate is left unknown. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title [14] | Directed by | Written by [15] | Original release date [6] | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 1 | "Chapter Eleven: Spookyspaghetti.com" | Maggie Kiley | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Lindsay Calhoon Bring | May 9, 2024 | T72.10201 |
12 | 2 | "Chapter Twelve: Summer Lovin" | Maggie Kiley | Michael Grassi | May 9, 2024 | T72.10202 |
13 | 3 | "Chapter Thirteen: Sweet Sixteen" | TBA | Sara Saedi | May 16, 2024 | TBA |
14 | 4 | "Chapter Fourteen: When a Stranger Calls Back" | TBA | Danielle Iman | May 23, 2024 | TBA |
15 | 5 | "Chapter Fifteen: Friday the 13th" | TBA | Katie Avery | May 30, 2024 | TBA |
16 | 6 | "Chapter Sixteen: Hell House" | TBA | Delondra Mesa | June 6, 2024 | TBA |
17 | 7 | "Chapter Seventeen: The Bogeyman" | TBA | Jenina Kibuka | June 13, 2024 | TBA |
18 | 8 | "Chapter Eighteen: Final Exam" | TBA | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Lindsay Calhoon Bring | June 20, 2024 | TBA |
On September 2, 2020, it was announced that a new Pretty Little Liars series was in development at Warner Bros., with Riverdale creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa taking over as showrunner from I. Marlene King. [16] Original Sin takes place within the same continuity as the previous television series, but follows new characters and storylines in a new setting. [17] [2]
On September 24, 2020, HBO Max gave the series a direct-to-series order of 10-episodes and was named Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, with Aguirre-Sacasa teaming up with Lindsay Calhoon Bring to develop the series. [18] Aguirre-Sacasa also executive produces the series alongside King, Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo. Production companies involved with the series are Muckle Man Productions, Alloy Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television. [19] [20]
On September 7, 2022, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season, retitled as Pretty Little Liars: Summer School. [4] [5]
In July 2021, Chandler Kinney, Maia Reficco, and Bailee Madison were cast on starring roles. [21] [22] In August 2021, Zaria, Malia Pyles, Alex Aiono, Mallory Bechtel, and Eric Johnson joined the main cast. [23] [24] In September 2021, Carson Rowland, Jordan Gonzalez, Ben Cook, Elias Kacavas, Benton Greene, Lea Salonga, Sharon Leal, Carly Pope, Elena Goode, and Zakiya Young were cast in recurring roles. [25] [26] In November 2021, Cristala Carter, Derek Klena, Kate Jennings Grant, Robert Stanton, Jennifer Ferrin, Lilla Crawford, Brian Altemus, Anthony Ordonez, and Jeffrey Bean joined the cast in recurring capacities. [27] In December 2021, Ava DeMary, Kristen Maxwell, and Gabriella Pizzolo were cast in recurring roles. [28] In November 2022, Gonzalez was promoted as a series regular for the second season. [5] In April 2023, Elias Kacavas had been promoted to a series regular for the second season. [11] In the same month, it was reported that Annabeth Gish would reprise her role as Dr. Anne Sullivan from the original series. [12]
The series was set to film at Upriver Studios in Saugerties, New York, in mid to late 2021. [29] Filming began on August 23, 2021, in the city of Hudson, New York, during the COVID-19 pandemic. [30] [31] Filming wrapped on May 2, 2022. [32]
The series' second season began filming in April 2023. [33] In May 2023, it was reported that filming for the second season has been delayed due to the writers strike. [34] However, after a deal was reached on September 27, along with the actors strike on November 9, filming for the second season resumed later that same month and wrapped on December 8, 2023. [35]
Film composer Joseph Bishara was hired to do the series' score. [36] He is known for his work in horror movies, including the Insidious film series and The Conjuring franchise. [36] A remix version of "Secret" by the Pierces appeared in the opening sequence. [37] [38] The original song was previously used as the opening theme in the original Pretty Little Liars, while Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists used a cover version by Denmark + Winter.
The series premiered on July 28, 2022, with the first three episodes available, followed by two more episodes each on August 4 and 11, and then the final three episodes on August 18. [3] The second season, subtitled Summer School was released on May 9, 2024, with two new episodes, followed by a new episode on a weekly basis until the season finale on June 20, 2024. [6]
The first season, Original Sin, was met with critical acclaim from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 90% approval rating with an average rating of 7.1/10, based on 20 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Boasting a tantalizing new mystery along with a refreshingly grounded crop of pretty little liars, Original Sin is a gossipy good time." [39] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 82 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [40]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season holds an approval rating of 83% with an average rating of 7.7/10, based on 6 critic reviews. [41] On Metacritic, the second season received a score of 78 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable". [42]
Joseph Morgan is an English actor. He is known for playing Niklaus "Klaus" Mikaelson on The CW's The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff The Originals in which he is the lead. He has portrayed CJack60/Elliot in the Peacock series Brave New World, and Brother Blood in the HBO Max series Titans. He currently stars as James Ackerson in the Paramount+ series Halo (2024).
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is an American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel Comics and for the television series Glee, Big Love, Riverdale, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. He is Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics.
Bailee Madison Riley is an American actress and singer. Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Madison began acting at just two weeks of age, appearing mostly in television commercials for the first few years. Her film debut, as May Belle Aarons in the fantasy drama Bridge to Terabithia (2007), brought her early praise. She gained wider acclaim for starring in the war drama film Brothers (2009), for which she was nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. Madison went on to star in a number of horror and thriller films, beginning with Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010), gaining a reputation as a scream queen. She had commercial success with starring roles in the comedies Just Go with It (2011) and Parental Guidance (2012), though the critical reception of these films was mostly negative.
Alloy Entertainment, LLC is a book packaging and television production unit of Warner Bros. Television Studios. It produces books, television series, and feature films.
Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery teen drama television series created by I. Marlene King, which aired on Freeform from June 8, 2010 to June 27, 2017, based on the novel series of the same name written by Sara Shepard, lasting 160 episodes over seven seasons. Set in the fictional Rosewood, Pennsylvania, the plot follows five best friends whose secrets are consistently threatened by the anonymous "A", who begins harassing them after the disappearance of their clique leader. Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse, and Janel Parrish lead the ensemble cast, alongside Holly Marie Combs, Ian Harding, Bianca Lawson, Laura Leighton, Chad Lowe, Nia Peeples, Tyler Blackburn, and Andrea Parker.
Emily Alyn Lind is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress, when she was known for her recurring role as young Amanda Clarke on the ABC series Revenge, and for her role as Ariel on the CBS medical drama Code Black. Lind has also starred in the Netflix original films The Babysitter and The Babysitter: Killer Queen as Melanie, the theatrical film Doctor Sleep as Snakebite Andi, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as Melody. From 2021 to 2023, she starred as Audrey Hope in the HBO Max teen drama series Gossip Girl.
Leslie Morgenstein is the President and Founder of Alloy Entertainment, a creator and producer of books, television, and film. The Los Angeles and New York–based production company officially became part of Warner Bros. Television Group in 2012. Morgenstein previously served as President of the company's predecessor, 17th Street Productions, Inc. starting in 1999. He has been credited with facilitating the adaptation of a number of book titles into television series. Examples include Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, and The 100. Morgenstein has also been involved in feature film projects, credited as an executive producer on the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series and as a producer on Netflix's Purple Hearts.
Cody Allen Christian is an American actor. He is known for his recurring role as Mike Montgomery in the ABC Family/Freeform series Pretty Little Liars, and for his role as Theo Raeken from the fifth and sixth seasons of the MTV series Teen Wolf. His accolades include nominations for a Teen Choice Award and a BAFTA Game Award.
Miranda Rae Mayo is an American television actress. She starred as Lacey Briggs on Blood & Oil (2015) and has appeared on Chicago Fire as Lieutenant Stella Kidd since 2016.
Riverdale is an American television series based on the characters of Archie Comics. The series was adapted for the CW by Archie Comics' chief creative officer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and is produced by Warner Bros. Television and CBS Studios, in association with Berlanti Productions and Archie Comics. Conceived as a feature film adaptation for Warner Bros. Pictures, the idea was re-imagined as a television series for Fox. In 2015, development on the project moved to The CW, where the series was ordered for a pilot. Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Titans is an American superhero television series created by Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, and Greg Berlanti. Based on the DC Comics superhero team Teen Titans, the series depicts a group of young heroes who join forces in their fight against evil. Featured as members of the eponymous Titans are Dick Grayson, Kory Anders, Rachel Roth, Gar Logan, Jason Todd, Donna Troy, Hank Hall, Dawn Granger, Rose Wilson, Conner Kent, and Tim Drake.
The Flight Attendant is an American dark comedy drama mystery thriller television series developed by Steve Yockey based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian. It stars Kaley Cuoco in the title role and premiered on HBO Max on November 26, 2020. In December 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on April 21, 2022. In January 2024, the series was canceled after two seasons.
Pretty Little Liars is a multimedia franchise consisting of two book series, four television series and one web series. The initial novel of the same name was first published in 2006.
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series developed by Joshua Safran for HBO Max. Based on the original CW television series of the same name, itself based on the novel written by Cecily von Ziegesar, it serves as a standalone series in a shared universe. The series is executive produced by original series co-creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, along with Safran, who was an executive producer on the first series and who also serves as showrunner. The series is narrated by Kristen Bell, who reprised her role as the voice of Gossip Girl, an anonymous and omniscient blogger. It features an ensemble cast led by Jordan Alexander, Whitney Peak, Tavi Gevinson, Eli Brown, Thomas Doherty, Emily Alyn Lind, Evan Mock, Zión Moreno, Savannah Lee Smith, and Grace Duah.
Mallory Bechtel is an American musical theatre actress based in New York City. She has performed as lead and understudy in several musicals including the Tony Award-winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. She has also appeared in multiple television shows and films. In 2022, she starred as twins Karen and Kelly Beasley on Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
The Sex Lives of College Girls is an American teen comedy-drama television series created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble that premiered on HBO Max on November 18, 2021. In December 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on November 17, 2022. In December 2022, the series was renewed for a third season.
And Just Like That... is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Michael Patrick King for Max. It is a revival and a sequel of the HBO television series Sex and the City created by Darren Star, which is based on Candace Bushnell's newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the same name.
Elijah Brown is an American actor. He is known for his role as Dylan Walker on the Freeform series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists (2019). And also for playing Otto "Obie" Bergmann IV on the HBO Max series Gossip Girl (2021–2023).
Malia Leilani Pyles is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Sarah Baskets on FX's Baskets and Minnie "Mouse" Honrada in HBO Max's Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.