From the pilot episode, it seems like Alison DiLaurentis is the main character on Pretty Little Liars. When she went missing, she was the leader of her friends, and everyone in Rosewood was obsessed with solving the mystery.
Hanna Marin was another major player on the teen show, as she was part of Ali's social circle and was targeted by A as soon as Ali went missing. Popular for her fashion sense, wit, and long-term relationship, Hanna can be viewed as the main character on PLL for several reasons, including some of the trouble that she often found herself in.
She Was Best Friends With Mona
Mona was behind a lot of mean things on the show and when Ali disappeared, Mona and Hanna became super close. They dreamed of being popular and with makeovers complete, they almost took over where Ali left off, although they didn't seem to be so cruel.
Since Hanna was best friends with Mona, who was the first A, that suggests Hanna can be viewed as the main character. She was the character who interacted with Mona the most, and this was very helpful, as the girls wanted to know as much about Mona as they could find out.
Hanna And Caleb Had A Classic Teen Drama Love Story
Hanna could have dated many characters, but she was pulled into Caleb's orbit and they never really left each other, even when they weren't together.
Hanna and Caleb have so many elements of a classic love story on a teen drama. They snuck around at first and Hanna even had Caleb secretly live with her because he didn't have a place to go. They were serious about each other even when they didn't know each other that well and while they did break up for a while, they never fell out of love. They dealt with everything from sex to Caleb moving away to the personal struggles that they both had.
Her Shoplifting Problem Made Wilden Suspicious Of The Girls
One of the major storylines in the early seasons of Pretty Little Liars was Hanna's shoplifting. This got her in hot water with Detective Wilden, and when her mom slept with him to save her from consequences, Wilden became even more suspicious of the liars.
Wilden wondered if Hanna and her friends were behind Ali's murder, and he seemed to dislike Hanna the most. The fact that Wilden considered her such an important piece of the puzzle points to her being the main character. She definitely always got a lot of attention.
She Almost Died Several Times, Amping Up The Action And Threats
From Hanna being hit by a car early on in the series to her kidnapping, she almost died a few times over the show's seven seasons.
These moments made Pretty Little Liars feel like a mix between a horror and action movie, as Hanna's very existence was always seemed to be under threat. While Ali was always a target, it felt like Hanna's life was on the line a lot more often, suggesting that she can be seen as the main character.
She Was In Pain From Her Parents' Divorce, Which Is Relatable
Hanna's parents got divorced and this was something that really upset her, as she learned that her dad couldn't give her any money for college. Since her mom was sometimes in danger of losing her job, this was really bad news.
This divorce makes Hanna a relatable character, which is another reason why she can be seen as the show's protagonist. While Hanna and Ashley were close, they struggled more than the other families in Rosewood, and anyone who has dealt with their parents splitting up can see themselves in Hanna's story.
She Tried To Move On From Rosewood
The Hanna and Jordan engagement wasn't very much fun to watch, as viewers knew Hanna's heart was always with Caleb.
But even though this relationship fell apart, Hanna tried to move on from Rosewood, as she worked in fashion in NYC and attempted a normal adult life. This proves that she's the main character of the series since it was always part of her character arc that she would move away and try to follow her dreams.
Her Mental Health Condition Gave The Series Some Weight
No one could move on from A's reign of terror with absolutely no problems at all, but it's safe to say that Hanna and Spencer had more trouble than Aria and Emily.
Hanna had PTSD and her living with it gave the series some weight and significance. While PLL is a fun mystery with a lot of intrigue and cliffhangers at the end of every episode, it was also this was also an important storyline as Hanna attempted to cope with everything that she had been through.
She Was A Hilarious Character, Brightening The Show's Tone
Hanna often had something funny to say, arguably making her the character on Pretty Little Liars with the best sense of humor.
Hanna brightened the tone of the series; without her clever remarks and quips, it's possible to view the show as too dark at times. The liars were often scared of dying at the hands of A and the A-Team, and Aria suffered a lot while dating Ezra. Spencer had some super low points, too. Hanna's statements elevated any scene and fans appreciated her.
She Interacted With Characters Outside The Main Group
Lucas wasn't a popular character but Hanna didn't care. She treated him well and didn't mind that he wasn't part of a cool social circle.
Hanna interacted with Lucas regularly, and she was even kind to Mona, even though Mona was definitely involved with some sinister actions against the liars. The other characters wanted to rebuild their friendship with each other, and while Hanna liked her friend group, she made sure to be nice to others, too.
She Truly Got A Happy And Peaceful Ending
After so much pain, it was satisfying to see the characters get happy endings on Pretty Little Liars.
It's fair to say that out of everyone, Hanna had the most peaceful conclusion. She and Caleb got married and she announced her pregnancy to her friends in the last few moments. This allowed the writers to finish Hanna's story and fans felt like they had all the information that they needed to say goodbye to this beloved character.