While she still went to school and dealt with typical teenage problems, Hanna Marin had to face many adult situations on Pretty Little Liars. Since she and her friends were constantly running from a stalker, they had to solve the mystery and stay alive, and that made them grow up fast. Hanna also loved fashion and often dressed like she was years older.
There are many reasons why Hanna is the show's protagonist, and when examining some of the choices that she made over PLL's seven seasons, she both acted maturely and seemed exactly her young age.
Typical Teenager: Let Caleb Stay In Her House Secretly
Hanna could have dated others, but Caleb was always her endgame, and it never seemed like she could love anyone else.
In season 1, Hanna gave Caleb a place to stay but didn't tell her mom about it. Of course, Ashley found out and wasn't pleased about the lying and sneaking around. This was a time when Hanna acted like a typical teenager, as she didn't think about the consequences of her decision. She just knew that she liked Caleb and wanted to help him out since he didn't have the same warm, loving home life that she did.
Wise: Knew Her Mom Was Struggling Financially
It didn't make sense that Ashley stole money from the bank where she was employed. When Hanna found money in a lasagna box, she wasn't happy with the choices that her mom had made, and she acted mature and wise.
Hanna worried about her mom and didn't want her to go to jail, and there were many moments when she wondered if she could help Ashley stay out of trouble. Hanna took on the burden of her family's financial trouble, especially when she learned her dad wouldn't pay for college, and she had to figure out another plan.
Typical Teenager: Felt Replaced By Her Dad's New Family
At the beginning of PLL, Hanna hated her dad's stepdaughter, Kate, and felt very competitive with her. Hanna felt that her dad had gotten a whole new family and that he had no reason to talk to her anymore.
While Hanna's feelings are totally valid and it can be awful to experience a parents' divorce, she did act very petty around Kate. Hanna never tried to get to know her dad's wife and stepdaughter, and she never assumed that they could have a positive relationship.
Wise: Saw Beyond Mona's Troubling Actions
When many people in Rosewood couldn't get past Mona's evil deeds, Hanna had been close friends with her before Alison's disappearance and all of the crazy events began.
Hanna acted wisely when she was kind to Mona. She treated her much more respectfully than everyone else, and she could see beyond the trouble that she caused. While of course, Hanna didn't love that Mona was trying to hurt her friends, she knew there was a good person hiding underneath.
Typical Teenager: Wanted To Be Popular After Alison Disappeared
Alison's disappearance changed everything for the four other main characters. While they all went their separate ways for a time, Hanna was the one who seemed to be doing the best, at least on the surface.
When Hanna and Mona got makeovers and became popular, they were definitely acting their age. They felt that looking good and winning praise from their peers was more important than anything else. It seems like later, Hanna would look back on that time in her life and realize that she cared about superficial and material things.
Wise: Convinced Caleb To Get To Know His Father
In season 3, Hanna met Jamie, Caleb's dad, and set it up so the two could meet and get to know each other.
This was wise and mature because Hanna could have been concerned about how things would change if Caleb knew his family, as that could mean his moving away from Rosewood. But Hanna loved Caleb and saw the big picture. She wanted the best for him all the time. This was a huge deal, as Caleb never fit into the Rosewood mold. He was different from the rich residents in the town, and it was important that he knew his roots and where he came from.
Typical Teenager: Shoplifted At The Beginning Of The Show
In season 1 of Pretty Little Liars, Hanna shoplifted from the Rosewood mall, and it seemed like this is something she did on a regular basis.
She didn't show much guilt or remorse about this, and she was upset that she got caught because her mom slept with Detective Wilden to help clear Hanna's name. Hanna sometimes had a rebellious attitude and she didn't think about consequences.
Wise: Didn't Make Fun Of Lucas Like Everyone Else Did
The teens in Rosewood didn't exactly welcome Lucas with open arms. Since he was intelligent, they thought of him as a nerd and didn't give him the time of day.
Hanna was different as she could see how sweet and smart Lucas was. She didn't make fun of him and, instead, became friendly with him. The two remained close and were still in touch after the show's time jump. This was very mature of Hanna, who could have just as easily ignored him like her peers.
Typical Teenager: Was Briefly Interested In Wren
In season 3, Hanna became romantically interested in Wren Kingston for a short period of time. She got to know him while visiting Mona at Radley, and they kissed and were constantly flirting.
This was a mistake on Hanna's part, especially since she didn't know anything about Wren and she had no idea if he was kind or dangerous. But she acted her age and figured she would go with the flow and not think about what could go wrong. Of course, fans found out in the last season that Spencer had an evil twin named Alex Drake who was in a relationship with Wren the whole time.
Wise: Told Aria That She Was Concerned About Ezra
Aria ran into problems after dating Ezra and one huge moment on the show was when everyone thought that Ezra was A.
Hanna got together with her friends and told Aria that it seemed like Ezra was actually a bad person. This was a time when Hanna was wise, as it's hard to tell a good friend something negative about their partner. Hanna had no idea if Aria would believe her or yell and get mad, but she knew it was the right thing to do.