With perfect couples, a creepy but cute setting, and well-drawn characters, Pretty Little Liars brought together many elements of the perfect teen show. Now that a reboot is happening, fans are taking a moment to think about whether is really exciting news... or something that doesn't need to be part of the franchise.
There are tons of great teen shows that fans can become obsessed with, but for many, PLL is the be all and end all of young adult drama. There are many reasons why a reboot is a great idea, along with some reasons why fans are happy to just re-watch episodes of the original show.
Makes Sense: The Show Is Still Popular And Fans Miss It
It's definitely true that Pretty Little Liars is still an incredibly popular show and fans have missed it ever since the series finale aired.
Whenever people ask for teen show recommendations or reminiscence about their favorites, they always bring up PLL. For that reason, it seems only logical that a reboot would be on the horizon.
Will Ruin The Franchise: The Original Was Already Long And Trying To Watch At Times
The truth is that as much as fans love PLL, the original show was already seven seasons, which is fairly long as far as teen dramas go (or any TV show, really). It doesn't seem logical for the franchise to continue with even more episodes when each season could have already been streamlined.
Some plotlines went on too long and others needed to be granted more explanation and more airtime. The original series wasn't perfect, so it seems strange to continue it.
Makes Sense: So Many Mysteries Can Be Explored
When the show is rebooted, so many different mysteries could be explored.
There is no word yet on what the main plot or major mystery will be, but there is an endless amount of story that could work really well. If the reboot has new characters who are best friends investigating something, it would win new fans and please viewers who have been around since the PLL pilot.
Will Ruin The Franchise: Nothing Compares To The Story Of Ali And A
On the other hand, Ali grows up on PLL and her story is powerful. Even if sometimes it was a bit confusing, nothing will compare to the tale of a teenage girl escaping death and her small town and then being chased by a team of mysterious people while trying to let her friends know that she's actually alive.
Even if a new "A" is part of the reboot, will that really feel the same? Can it ever be as good? There are a lot of questions, and Ali DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse) is such a great main character that she would be tough to replace.
Makes Sense: Rosewood Is A Rich, Interesting Setting
Rosewood may be scary but it's still a setting for a teen drama that couldn't be better. The liars all live in beautiful houses, the high school is flawless looking, and the main street has adorable businesses and quaint buildings.
It makes a lot of sense to bring the show back and tell a new story in this rich and interesting location.
Will Ruin The Franchise: The Couples On PLL Are Perfect
Viewers love a lot of the PLL couples, and it's easy to argue that many of them are perfect.
It's very moving watching Toby Cavanaugh (Keegan Allen) and Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario) fall for each other, and Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell) and Paige McCullers (Lindsey Shaw) are beloved as well. Can new couples take their place? It doesn't seem like it.
Makes Sense: The Reboot Could Offer Diversity
Pretty Little Liars features a main character who is gay, and the reboot is an opportunity for the franchise to become even more diverse. As it stands, Rosewood is a place for wealthy people who all look the same, with the exceptions of a few characters.
This is definitely important, as historically, teen dramas haven't always been as diverse as they could be.
Will Ruin The Franchise: The Original Cast And Crew Don't Seem To Be Involved
But since the original cast and crew don't seem to have any involvement with it, as the creator of Riverdale is behind it, it seems unnecessary. Fans want to see the same beloved faces, not new people.
Makes Sense: There's Nothing Like It On TV Currently
Although teen drama fans love watching Riverdale, it's true that there is no show on TV right now that is anything like Pretty Little Liars.
Fans are always eager for teenage stories, and since it doesn't seem like other new shows are popping up and filling that void, why not watch a PLL reboot?
Will Ruin The Franchise: It's Too Soon After The Finale
Crazy things always went down in a PLL season finale episode, and the series finale aired in June 2017.
That was only three years (and a few months) ago. It feels like way too soon to have a reboot of PLL. When fans are excited about a favorite series coming back for more episodes, it's usually because the nostalgia factor is super high and the show has been gone for decades. That's just not the case here, and it seems like a reboot could definitely ruin the franchise.