Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead. This particular death, however, is a little more complicated than most. Murder, suspense, drama and thrills; all words I use to describe the hit series Pretty Little Liars.
Actresses Lucy Hale as Aria, Ashley Benson as Hanna, Shay Mitchell as Emily & Troian Bellisario as Spencer all star in this breakthrough show. Loosely based off of the best selling books written by Sara Shepard these girls are put to the emotional and physical test when their simple high school lives are completely turned over when one of their own goes missing.
In the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four friends are devastated when one of their own, Ali played by actress Sasha Pieterse, goes missing. A year after her disappearance, her body mysteriously surfaces. While the best friends hoped this would bring them closure, what comes is a slew of unexpected anonymous text messages signed with an “A”, threatening the girls and revealing secrets from each of their pasts.
The end of one girl’s life was the beginning of a life of new relationships, heartbreaks, and obstacles that most people don’t face in a lifetime. Being stalked and threatened at every corner, these four young ladies fight to find out who really killed their friend, who is threatening them and most importantly, to stay alive. The only thing keeping these girls sane in the midst of all this chaos is the friendships they have with each other.
As a fan of this breakthrough series I have created high hopes for this show, and this season has yet to disappoint me. This being the third season, relationships have been set, and it brings a controversial topic to the table. One of the girls named Emily struggles because she’s a lesbian. Many fans don’t appreciate that ABC Family airs this type of relationship, however I think this is a smart decision.The reality is that some girls are going through this battle themselves. Appealing to all young people is the goal, right? Mass media plays a big role in how girls feel about themselves, magazines, television, even the radio tell us what’s “in” making it seem that if girls don’t portray themselves in a certain way they’re less acceptable. Showing that having this type of relationship is okay can help with some young girls’ self-esteem.
The writers make these girls so personable; every girl can relate to one of these young ladies in some way. We are living their struggles every day in the real world. Our lives may not be being threatened daily, but we hurt like Spencer did when she found out the love of her life turned out to be the reason for her suffering. We cry like Hannah did when her boyfriend Caleb was shot. We feel, like Aria does for her soul mate Ezra, and we go through loss just like Emily did when her girlfriend Mya was murdered. Hidden agendas and blackmail keep big fans like me on the edge of our seats. Every week I tune in and I’m thrown on an emotional roller coaster.
Their sanity is tested multiple times, when personal lives get involved. Protecting the loved ones of the girls is of the utmost importance, a trait I find respectable and try to apply in my own life. The safety of my daughter and family is always first priority. Learning to never back down is a lesson well taught on this show.
Pretty Little Liars is a five star hit in my book. I will be looking forward to the upcoming seasons with high expectations. This show is more than just entertaining, it’s a type of reality check for girls. Life is not easy, but when surrounded by loved ones, the impossible struggles we face become possible.
