One of the biggest mysteries in Millwood questioned the identity of the dangerous and masked “A.” A far different version of the black-hoodie antagonist in Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars, HBO Max’s new chapter comes across more as a dark vigilante wishing to avenge the late Angela Waters. With very different motives and desires, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin took on a different approach, not only to “A” but to the story as a whole. This is a different environment, leaning more on the horror genre and background of similar movies such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre rather than the mystery and teen drama elements surrounding its predecessor. But did that hurt the mystery element?
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin does put the microscope on “A” as its central mystery, and it is understood that whoever “A” is will also lead the truth back to the Liars’ mothers and whatever they did to Angela Waters that resulted in her suicide. But, did making the truth so profoundly connected to the parents remove the elements of mystery from the teenagers as they attempted to figure out the truth? Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin does not hide from discussing important topics, nor does it step away from leaning into the horror genre. But, did everything distract the series from emphasizing the mystery element, accidentally undermining it?
Lack Of Many Suspects
Warner Brothers Television Distribution
The truth about “A” is connected to Angela Waters and the Liars’ mothers since the beginning. The events of 1999 are key to understanding the entire story and the motives behind “A” stalking the teenage girls. But, because of that, the Liars’ ability to narrow down potential suspects is limited to searching through yearbooks and trying to understand what their mothers had done to Angela Waters years earlier.
They are not searching for their classmates as potential stalkers, but they are more than likely looking for an adult directly connected to the late Angela Waters. Due to that, Imogen, Tabby, Mouse, Noa, and Faran do not constantly have a new suspect in mind. Instead, they have a vague belief and potential names that could help them learn the truth about what had indeed occurred in 1999, but rarely have a narrowed down suggestion of who “A” could be. However, that does not mean the girls do not question their classmates. Not directly connected to “A,” the Liars question which of their male classmates had sexually assaulted Imogen and Tabby.
Season 1’s “A” Reveal
Had Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin been meant to be a limited series, revealing “A” at the season’s conclusion would have been perfect timing. Telling the truth at the end of the first season gives the audience closure and answers. At the end of the first season, fans can walk away knowing who “A” is and why the Liars and their mothers were being stalked. But was it too early in the show to reveal it with a second season coming next?
Now that the girls know who “A” is and why “A” is after them, doesn’t the show’s central mystery die? While there are certainly horror elements left for season two to show what “A” could be capable of, the questions surrounding the anonymous person’s motives and identity have mainly been dealt with. While there are several directions Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin could potentially dive into as the show moves forward, the show’s prominent mystery has seemingly been solved.
Does The Title Trap The Show
A series title can be difficult if the show evolves, as it may no longer match what the show grows to be about after a few years. Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin may end up in that category, given the title specifies the original sin, which was likely meant to reference the events of 1999. So, does every central mystery need to connect to the Liars’ mothers for the rest of the show’s run if it continues? Are the teenagers going to be able to have mysteries of their own that do not involve their mother’s sins being forced upon them?
While the show is not forced to match its title, the title runs the risk of no longer making sense if Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin wishes to broaden itself beyond the daughters dealing with the sins of their mothers, a storyline that may grow frustrating if the girls must constantly face the consequences of their mothers’ actions. Two of the biggest mysteries in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin were directly affiliated with the title, as they surrounded the mothers’ activities in 1999 as teenagers and “A’s” identity. As for the season one finale, “Final Girls,” both questions were answered, and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin did not leave many major cliffhangers or mysteries to dive into for the anticipated second season.
