Much of Pretty Little Liars isn't very relatable, as most teenagers don't have to cope with a missing best friend or someone stalking them who knows all their secrets and is making daily life dangerous. But while the main premise and many plotlines on the popular teen drama are hard to imagine IRL, other moments seem very realistic.
Just like the main characters have proven themselves to be good friends, they also experience the ups and downs and highs and lows of life, and viewers can see themselves in these beloved characters. The liars and their love interests and relatives are easiest to relate to when they're struggling and admitting that they aren't perfect.
Mike Was Upset About Ella And Byron Getting Divorced
In the season 1 episode "The Homecoming Hangover," Mike got into trouble for causing fights at school. He hated that his parents were splitting up and couldn't cope with the emotions.
This was relatable as many young adults have to deal with their parents divorcing, and it's hard to know how to handle it, as there's no road map for this type of situation. Aria tried to be there for Mike and didn't like seeing him so upset.
The Liars Lost Touch And Became Friendly Again
When Pretty Little Liars opened, the liars had lost touch with each other and gone their separate ways. They dealt with the sadness of Ali's disappearance on their own, as Aria moved to Iceland with her family, Hanna became popular with Mona, Spencer kept trying hard in school, and Emily seemed to continue her love of swimming.
In the first episode, Ella wanted Aria to talk to her old pals, and they started talking to each other again. While they weren't close right away, they bonded over wondering if Ali was really dead and why someone was texting them. This was a relatable storyline, as many friends become closer and more distant over time, depending on what's going on in their lives.
Hanna Lost Her Virginity To Caleb
Hanna and Caleb slept together on a camping trip in season 1, which is one of the most relatable storylines on the teen drama. They weren't very serious up until this point, but they did have a connection and sparks were flying between them from the moment they met.
Hanna's virginity loss was handled well as she felt close to Caleb and he had proven what a kind person he was. The couple got very close after this scene and dated on and off for the whole series.
Emily Had Trouble With An English Test At School
In the season 3 episode "Blood is the New Black," Emily needed to take a make-up test for her English class. While she had trouble with it and didn't do well, Ella made sure that Emily did well enough to move forward in her grade.
Ella's actions aren't very relatable, as this could have gotten both of them into major hot water, but it's realistic that the characters would sometimes have a hard time at school. No one can be perfect all the time and it's normal to find one subject harder than others or to be having a tough time personally and receive a poor grade as a result.
Hanna's Mom Had Money Problems
Hanna learned that her mom Ashley stole money from the bank where she worked. This was a tough pill for Hanna to swallow, as she realized that they were having money problems, and she was scared that her mom would get in huge trouble.
Financial trouble and concern are definitely relatable, although of course Ashley was completely in the wrong and should have found another way to get some cash. Hanna also knew that her mom didn't have enough to cover her college tuition, a struggle that many teenagers unfortunately face.
Spencer And Melissa Hated Each Other, Then Finally Made Peace
Spencer changed from the first to the last episode of PLL and her relationship with her sister also evolved. When fans first saw these two siblings together, they seemed to really dislike each other. Spencer grew up in Melissa's perfect, intelligent, successful shadow, and she wanted to find her own identity and place in the family.
Later on in the series, Spencer had a storyline where Melissa explained a crucial secret, and this helped them make peace and be much kinder toward each other. Melissa said that she buried Bethany Young because she thought it was Ali. Spencer knew her sister meant well and this confession helped them both.
Aria Had Fertility Problems
Many fans have pointed out the problematic age gap that Aria and Ezra had, and once she was years out of high school, the long-term couple got married.
Aria had fertility problems, and she was scared that Ezra was going to break up with her as a result. He knew that he would never do that as he had loved her for so long. In the series finale, Hanna and Caleb were having their first baby, and Aria and Ezra were going to adopt. In real life, many people experience infertility, so viewers could sympathize with Aria's story.
Veronica Hastings Shared That She Had Been Diagnosed With Cancer
When the liars came back after the time jump in season 6, Spencer's mom Veronica was running for political office, and she also shared that she had a cancer diagnosis.
This is another relatable storyline on the teen drama. Many viewers have most likely had to deal with the health issues of loved ones. It's always heartbreaking to learn that someone close is sick, and the show did a good job showing how scared Spencer was.
The Liars Wanted To Attend Their High School Prom
Pretty Little Liars examined teenage life and that included milestones like dances and other school activities.
In the sixth season, the liars wanted to attend their high school prom, but they weren't allowed to go because the town of Rosewood saw them as trouble. In the episode "Last Dance," the main characters had their own prom in Spencer's family's barn, while Ali went to the actual prom.
Hanna Ended Her Engagement
In the last season of PLL, viewers learned of Hanna and Jordan's engagement, which was tough to see as many fans shipped Hanna and Caleb since their early days in season 1.
Hanna decided that she couldn't marry Jordan and the fact that she had doubts about going through with this big commitment is definitely a relatable storyline. Many people can understand canceling a wedding, whether something terrible happens within the relationship during the planning process, or it's just not meant to be. Hanna made a tough decision because she followed her heart and knew she loved Caleb.