7.2
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Pretty Little Liars (2010)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 7.2
Overview
Based on the Pretty Little Liars series of young adult novels by Sara Shepard, the series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their queen bee, Alison. One year later, they begin receiving messages from someone using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Trans: Negative
Race Swap: Yes
Overview
Based on the Pretty Little Liars series of young adult novels by Sara Shepard, the series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their queen bee, Alison. One year later, they begin receiving messages from someone using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
The series primarily focuses on apolitical themes of mystery, secrets, and friendship, with its core conflict revolving around an anonymous tormentor. While it includes progressive elements like LGBTQ+ representation and female solidarity, these do not constitute a central political thesis or dominant ideological alignment for the overall narrative.
The series features a predominantly white main cast but includes visible diversity through supporting characters and a significant LGBTQ+ storyline for one of its central protagonists. The narrative primarily focuses on mystery and personal drama, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities.
Secondary
Pretty Little Liars features a central LGBTQ+ character, Emily Fields, whose coming-out journey and relationships with women are depicted with dignity, complexity, and agency. Her romantic arcs are treated with the same depth as heterosexual ones, ultimately affirming queer identity and love through her character's development and eventual happy ending.
Pretty Little Liars features Charlotte DiLaurentis, a transgender character who is the primary antagonist, 'A.' Her trans identity is presented as a shocking twist, deeply intertwined with her villainy and mental health issues, which risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes by associating trans identity with deception and antagonism.
The show "Pretty Little Liars" features race swaps for key characters like Emily Fields and Mona Vanderwaal, who were depicted as white in the original book series but are portrayed by actresses of different racial backgrounds in the television adaptation.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The show is an adaptation of a book series. All major characters from the source material maintain their original gender in the series. While the identity of 'A' diverges from the books, the character of Charles/Charlotte is an original creation for the show's specific plot, not a gender-swapped version of a pre-existing character from the source material.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.3
8.0
Critic Ratings
8.1
5.5
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