Pretty Little Liars: 10 Most Overdone Storylines | ScreenRant
Cliffhangers, confusing storylines, and red herrings are all staples of popular teen drama Pretty Little Liars. But while fans don't expect to get all the answer that they're seeking in every episode, it's fair to say that there are many plotlines that feel like they have been repeated several times. As Ali's friends Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily wonder who is trying to kill them or at least make their lives miserable, fans see some of the same storylines frequently.
From love interests who seem to be betraying the main characters to all of the times that people blame the liars for death and destruction, there are many storylines on Pretty Little Liars that have been done too many times.
10 Pretending A Main Character Is Dead
Fans love the most unforgettable Pretty Little Liars plots, as they involve major relationships, reveals that move the story forward, and finding out who A and A.D. are. But the show will sometimes tell viewers that a main character is dead and then they will show up alive, which is frustrating to watch.
When fans are told that Ali is dead and then she comes back home, it's thrilling and interesting, but being told that Toby has died when he's actually fine doesn't feel as impactful.
9 A Love Interest Joining The A Team
Fans care about many of the couples on Pretty Little Liars, especially Spencer and Toby, and it's disappointing to think that Toby is part of the A Team and that he's an evil character.
By the time that viewers see that Ezra is on this team, too, it feels like too many of the major love interests are becoming part of this group so they can spy, learn what's going on, and protect their partners and their friends.
8 The Liars Are Thought To Have Committed Murder
Another tired storyline is when people think that the liars are murders. In season 2, A makes the police think that the liars have killed Ali. In season 5, Spencer is accused of killing Bethany and arrested.
While it's scary at first to see Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily getting in trouble for a crime that they haven't committed, this plotline loses its impact when people think that Spencer has done something terrible.
7 The Liars Are Kidnapped
Hanna's mature PLL moments stand out and she definitely has to act older than her age during many points on the show as she has dealt with so many life or death situations.
Since the liars are kidnapped by A and put in the dollhouse at the start of season 6, by the time that Hanna is kidnapped at the beginning of season 7, it feels like the show has featured a kidnapping storyline too many times. There are so many other terrifying things that could have happened to Hanna instead and they would have felt more unique.
6 Mona And Spencer Are Radley Patients
Fans know that Radley is a horrifying place where many big moments happen, and this place holds the key to the mystery at the core of the show, as Spencer was actually born here.
Still, Mona and Spencer are both staying at Radley in season 3, and fans could argue that they have seen too many main characters spending time here. Radley definitely becomes a duller place after a while.
5 There Are Big Family Secrets
While there are some heartwarming family scenes on PLL, there are also some big family secrets that the liars find out about as the show goes on.
Spencer has a lot of family baggage, from her older sister Melissa sharing that she buried Bethany Young alive to Spencer learning that Ali and Jason are her cousins. Hanna also sees her mom Ashley dating Ted, who has secrets of his own, and Aria's dad cheats on her mom. It seems like the liars can't catch a break and have a happy family life, which can get a bit tiring at times as it seems unrealistic.
4 Jason Keeps Coming Back To Rosewood
Ali's brother Jason has many storylines where he comes back to Rosewood, which happens in season 1, again in seasons 4 and 5, and finally in season 7, when he spends more time in his hometown.
At first, the liars seeing Jason again is thrilling and meaningful, as they wonder if he has changed and become more mature or if he has his own secrets. By the final season, Jason is no longer a very exciting character and it doesn't feel like such a big deal that he has come back.
3 The Main Characters Commit Murder By Accident
Between the liars killing Elliot Rollins without meaning to and Aria murdering Shana because she believes that she could be A, there are many moments on Pretty Little Liars when the main characters kill someone without meaning to.
If this only happened once, it would seem terrifying, horrible to imagine, and memorable. But since it seems like it happens on a fairly regular basis, it doesn't feel as powerful as it should.
2 Aria Keeps Getting Jealous Of Ezra's Exes
Ezra is bad for Aria on Pretty Little Liars, and fans often take note of the huge age difference between the two characters. Aria also has the frustrating tendency to become jealous of the people who Ezra has dated before her.
In season 4, Aria learns that Ezra once dated Maggie and that he might be the father of her son. In season 7, Aria is upset that Ezra might have been planning to marry Nicole while they were broken up. This makes Aria look immature and it doesn't seem right that she is always envious when she has dated others as well.
1 Ashley Is Always In Trouble
Hanna and Ashley are a strong team, which is why it's so disappointing for Hanna to constantly clean up her mom's messes and try to help her out of jams.
From Ashley stealing money from a client to being accused of Detective Wilden's murder, not to mention sleeping with Wilden to help Hanna out, Ashley makes a lot of mistakes on the teen drama. It seems unrealistic that Ashley would constantly do the wrong thing and not think about the consequences for her daughter.