“Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” puts a new group of teens in the crosshairs of an unseen tormentor, and it mostly earns its keep. The HBO Max drama, created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring, follows a cast of girls in Millwood who find themselves paying for sins their parents committed twenty years earlier. It’s a tight, moody mystery that knows exactly what it wants to be.
Trailer, via Warner Bros. TV.
The Premise
The setup is simple: a series of tragic events nearly destroyed Millwood two decades ago. Now, a group of girls are being tormented by an unknown Assailant. They’re forced to confront the secret sin their parents committed, along with their own mistakes. Bailee Madison plays Imogen Adams, Chandler Kinney plays Tabitha “Tabby” Haworthe, and Maia Reficco plays Noa Olivar. Zaria appears as Faran Bryant, Malia Pyles as Minnie “Mouse” Honrada, Mallory Bechtel as Karen / Kelly Beasley, and Alex Aiono as Shawn Noble.
The Cast Carries It
The ensemble sells the tension. Each girl brings her own fear and her own secret to the table, and the writing leans on those individual stakes rather than relying on the familiar group dynamic of the original series. Chandler Kinney’s Tabby stands out as the most compelling presence, her performance giving the show’s central threat a sharp edge.
What Works
- The pacing holds steady across 18 episodes.
- The mystery builds without rushing.
- The setting of Millwood feels lived-in and oppressive.
- The young cast delivers consistently strong work.
What Falls Short
The show occasionally leans too heavily on its source material’s rules, and some of the callbacks feel more like homework than storytelling. A few late twists strain credibility, though the overall tone remains consistent enough to carry them.
Key Facts
- Network: HBO Max, Max
- Creator: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Lindsay Calhoon Bring
- Seasons: 2, 18 episodes
- First aired: 2022-07-28
- Last aired: 2024-06-20
“Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It takes a familiar setup and makes it its own, with a cast that’s fully invested in the terror. The final stretch strains belief, but the journey there is worth the ride.
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