Summers are often the time to catch up on dated episodes and dive into new shows that generally weren’t good enough for regular season, and even worse, midseason. However, then there are the shows that cable networks are banking on. And this summer ABC Family presented us with “Pretty Little Liars.”
From the catchy opening that is so stylized and doesn’t match the show to the utter perfection each episode has executed, this is my new show. Sort of a “Desperate Housewives” meets “Gossip Girl,” I hope it can sustain the heat it is currently garnering.
The pilot wasn’t completely captivating and I will admit I found myself wanting to like it more than I did. Dialogue and a majority of the scenes were so uncomfortable and reminiscent of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” that I began to fear it would follow in the footsteps. But the inclusion of everything high school was including shop lifting (which I never did!) to pot smoking (once again!) to kisses with teachers and secrets, I held out for one more week.
And thank God I did. Every complaint I had turned itself around. Each character has their flaws, but is genuinely likable and has a story arc I am genuinely interested in. Now I find myself tuning in each week dying to know what A will surprise us with next. If you enjoy teen dramas 25% as much as I do, then I highly recommend this one.
My heart still waits for the return of the raw teen drama that “Dawson’s Creek” once presented us with, but while I finish up on that script this will move towards the top of my list. Though I will admit, another Alloy project is still my current #1: ”The Vampire Diaries.”
