Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists ran for two seasons, and it never once felt like filler. It felt like a second show that deserved its own shelf. This is a review of the series as a whole, not a season-by-season rundown, and it holds to a score of 10 out of 10, matching the published critical verdict.
Trailer, via Freeform.
The Premise
The show follows five teenagers whose parents are wealthy and connected. Their lives look perfect from the outside, but the show spends its runtime showing the cracks beneath the polish. The core group is Eliza, Chloe, Bea, Jordan and Griffin, and the series moves between their private lives, their school, and the shadowy figures who watch them from the dark.
The tone is familiar to anyone who knows the original Pretty Little Liars. There are secrets, lies, and a central mystery that keeps pulling the audience forward. But the setting is new, and the stakes are higher. These are young people whose families hold real power, and that power comes with its own kind of danger.
The Cast
The cast is the engine of the show. Eliza, played by Lola Tung, carries the emotional weight of the story. She is the one who sees the truth about her father and fights to expose it. Chloe, played by Lexi Simons, brings a sharp intelligence to the group, and her scenes with Griffin, played by Eliot Stenström, are some of the best of the series. Bea, played by Snejana Onophriou, is the wildcard, full of ambition and a hunger for control. Jordan, played by Darcy Rose Byer, grounds the group with her warmth and her sense of justice. And Griffin, played by Eliot Stenström, is the romantic lead, a boy who carries his own scars and who becomes the center of the show’s central love story.
The adults are just as strong. Griffin’s mother, played by Jennifer Beals, is a force of nature, both loving and terrifying. Eliza’s father, played by Marc Blucas, is a man of power who is hiding something. The show also introduces a mysterious figure named Aria, played by Lucy Hale, who appears in Season 2 and adds a layer of history that ties back to the original Pretty Little Liars universe.
The Mystery
The central mystery revolves around a murder. In Season 1, the death of a student named Max sets the plot in motion. In Season 2, the investigation deepens, and the show reveals that the crime goes back further than anyone suspected. The show keeps the answers close, but it never feels unfair. The clues are there if you pay attention.
The pacing is what makes the mystery work. The show moves between flashbacks, present-day scenes, and dream sequences that blur the line between reality and memory. It is a show built on unreliable narration, and it trusts the audience to keep up. The final episode of Season 2, titled “Perfection,” wraps up the main arc with a twist that changes everything, and it does so without cheapening the journey that got it there.
The Writing
The writing is sharp and often funny. The dialogue has a rhythm that feels natural, and the show knows when to let a joke land and when to pull back. The humor is part of what makes the show accessible. It is a show about serious things—power, corruption, loss—but it never takes itself too seriously.
The show also handles its darker moments with care. There are scenes of violence and grief that land hard, but they are never gratuitous. The show respects the emotions it asks for, and it earns its heavy moments through character work rather than spectacle.
The show is also notable for its treatment of its female characters. The five leads are all smart, resourceful, and given room to make their own decisions. The show does not rely on a male gaze, and it rewards its audience for following the women’s stories.
The Production
The production values are high. The show is shot on location in New York, and the city becomes a character in its own right. The schools are glossy and intimidating, the homes are opulent, and the streets are cold and lonely. The show uses its setting to create a sense of isolation, even when the characters are surrounded by people.
The music is a strong element of the show. The opening titles feature a song that sets the tone for the entire series. The score is moody and atmospheric, and it knows when to swell and when to retreat. The show also uses licensed pop songs well, placing them in moments that let them breathe rather than drowning them out.
The Legacy
The show was cancelled after two seasons. That is a shame, because the ending feels like a cliffhanger rather than a conclusion. The show leaves threads untied, questions unanswered, and characters left hanging. For fans of the show, that ending is frustrating. For the show itself, it is a strength. It proves that the story was bigger than the platform it was on.
The show also connects to the wider Pretty Little Liars universe. Aria’s appearance in Season 2 hints at a larger world, and the show’s finale opens the door to a future that could have been explored. The show leaves behind a legacy that is both complete and open-ended.
“Perfection.”
A Note on the Final Season
Season 2 is where the show finds its footing. The first season is competent, but it is setting up the stage. The second season is where the show becomes something more. The central mystery deepens, the stakes rise, and the characters become more fully realized. The finale, “Perfection,” is a strong episode that closes the main arc while leaving the door open for more.
The show also benefits from the addition of Lucy Hale as Aria. Her presence brings a connection to the original series, and it adds a layer of history that makes the show feel part of a larger tapestry. The show uses her wisely, giving her a role that fits her background without leaning on nostalgia.
| Season | Episodes | Main Arc |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Murder investigation begins |
| 2 | 13 | Murder investigation concludes |
The Verdict
Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists is a strong entry in the Pretty Little Liars franchise. It takes the formula of the original show and applies it to a new setting, with new characters and a new mystery. The result is a show that stands on its own while still feeling connected to the larger world.
The show is worth watching for its performances, its writing, and its willingness to ask difficult questions about power and privilege. It is a show that rewards attention and pays off its promises.
The show is not perfect. Its cancellation means it never gets to finish telling its story, and that is a loss. But what it does tell is told well. The show earns its 10 out of 10.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
