Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery teen drama television series based on the novel series of the same name written by Sara Shepard. Developed by I. Marlene King, the series was broadcast on Freeform[b] between June 8, 2010, and June 27, 2017, comprising 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.
This article is about the original 2010 television series. For the following franchise, see Pretty Little Liars (franchise). For other uses, see Pretty Little Liars (disambiguation).Pretty Little Liars
"Secret" by the Pierces
United States
English
7
160 (list of episodes)
- I. Marlene King
- Lisa Cochran-Neilan
- Maya Goldsmith
- Leslie Morgenstein
- Joseph Dougherty
- Oliver Goldstick
- Bryan M. Holdman
- Charles Craig
- Bob Levy
- Lisa Cochran-Neilan
- Maya Goldsmith
- Joshua Bank
- Hynndie Wali
- Bryan M. Holdman
- Jonell Lennon
- Larry Reibman
- Dana Gonzales
- Buzz Feitshans IV
- Craig Fikse
- Robert LaBonge
- Geoffrey Haley
- Robert Lattanzio
- Lois Blumenthal
- Melissa Gearhart
- Susanne Malles
- Jill D'Agnenica
- Michael S. Murphy
- Kaja Fehr
- Jacqueline Cambas
40–45 minutes
- Warner Horizon Television
- Alloy Entertainment
- Long Lake Productions (seasons 3–7)
- Russian Hill Productions (seasons 3–7)
June 8, 2010 –
June 27, 2017
After an initial order of 10 episodes, ABC Family ordered an additional 12 episodes on June 28, 2010. The ratings success of the first 10 episodes prompted the book series to be extended beyond the initial eight novels.[3] Since its debut, the series has received mixed reviews from television critics, but remained a relative success for the network, garnering a large fandom. The series finale was viewed by an estimated 1.41 million viewers. It had the second-highest rating of any cable TV series that aired that night but received a lukewarm reception from both critics and audiences.[4]
It is the first series in the Pretty Little Liars franchise, with the series having two spin-offs: Ravenswood and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, both of which were cancelled after one season.[5][6] A fourth series titled Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin premiered on HBO Max in 2022, which focuses on a new cast of characters in a different setting.[7]
Premise[edit]
Aria Montgomery, Emily Fields, Hanna Marin and Spencer Hastings are four former best friends who reunite one year after the disappearance of their clique leader, Alison DiLaurentis, and begin receiving threatening messages from a mysterious person who identifies themself as "A" and is aware of the mistakes, lies and secrets they have collected before and after their clique fell apart. Throughout the series' course, several elements from the night Alison disappeared are revealed, which help the protagonists understand what happened to their friend and how "A" came up. Moving forward, after the original "A" is revealed five years later the identity is taken over by other antagonists, prompting new storylines and challenges.