Pretty Little Liars Original Sin has released its first three episodes and we are in for some teen mystery and slasher drama. Developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring (the creator of Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), the series is produced by Muckle Man Productions, Alloy Entertainment and Warner Bros.
The fourth instalment and a reboot in the Pretty Little Liars franchise that is based on Sara Shepard’s novel series of the same name, the show stars an ensemble cast. It features Chandler Kinney as Tabby Hayworth, Maia Reficco as Noa Olivar, Bailee Madison as Imogen Adams, Zaria as Faran Bryant, Malia Pyles as Mouse Honrada, Alex Aiono as Shawn, Mallory Bechtel as twins Karen & Kelly Beasley and, Eric Johnson as Sheriff Beasley. The first three episodes of the latest mystery drama have a runtime of 40-50 minutes.
– HBO Max’s Pretty Little Liars Original Sin Review (Episodes 1 to 3) Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Pretty Little Liars Original Sin: A Reboot That Feels Worth It
Unlike the OG Pretty Little Liars, the latest spin-off, Original Sin, does not back on stereotypical teenage characters and rather gives them a deeper dimension that this age audience will be interested in. Of course, there is a Mean Girl, much like Alison DiLaurentis and some brains borrowed from Spencer Hastings but, overall, it revolves around a group of characters, who are fresh off the boat that promises to offer something beyond a typical whodunnit.
Pretty Little Liars Original Sin Episode 1 opens in the year 1999, where we see a helpless girl asking for help from her peers during the annual high school rave. She calls for help from a girl named Sidney and Davie but, they ignore her, like everyone else in the school. As the countdown to New Year begins during the Spirit Week Dance, we see the girl towering over the lights, leaving everyone shocked and nervous. She shouts if everyone can see her now and jumps off the high ceiling lights, right at the foot of Davie and her group of girls.
The show takes a 22-year jump, where we are introduced to Davie and her daughter, Imogen- a kind-hearted, pregnant teen. After dinner, Imogen helps her ex-best friend Karen clean out her closet of the things they have shared. When the two head downstairs, they find Davie in a pool of blood in her bathtub, dead.
Also Read: Rebelde Season 2 Review: The Classic Telenovela Gets a Euphoria Hangover
We take another jump, this time a month later- Imogen is now living with her friend Tabby- a film junkie, with a keen liking for horror and her mother (who happens to be an old high school friend of Davie’s). The girls are clearly not aware of this connection. The other characters are soon introduced in Pretty Little Liars Original Sin. There is the introverted, tech nerd Mouse, the rehab-return athlete Noa and the ballet queen Faran. We also get to meet Karen’s twin sister, Kelly.
As the girls go on with their day during Spirit Week, all of them start receiving texts from an anonymous person and start to get glimpses of a person wearing overall and skin masks around them. The girls aren’t friends yet. However, with their common nemesis being Karen, the girls have their own lash out at our Mean Girl prodigy, while constantly being stalked by an unknown figure.
Unbeknownst, they land up detention together and strike a chord with their hatred for Karen and trying to hatch a payback plan. But what starts as a friendly war, soon ends in bloodshed and the introduction of ‘A’ who is bent on making their lives hell and repeating the unforgettable history from 22 years ago.
Also Read: Santa Evita: Do They Ever Find Eva Peron’s Corpse? What Happens to It?
Pretty Little Liars Original Sin: Stunning Cast and Production
Given how most of the Pretty Little Liars spin-offs have been disappointing, it is a pleasant shock to see how brilliant the casting and production design for this latest series is. Of course, it lacks pacing in the first episode and it will take a while for the viewers to get into the suspense groove. But, there is no coming once you are invested.
The narrative moves slowly but steadily, giving all the major characters as well as their families, love interests and friends equal attention for us to truly know our Liars. The curse of the past hunting the girls down to their present is not a fresh twist but, the way the story tries to link the two generations of some unforgivable secrets is engrossing enough to make you want to watch one episode after the other.
There are similar tropes between Original Sin and Pretty Little Liars such as the love from the sideline, the jock boyfriend who is really sweet, the bad cop and, of course, the malicious ‘A’. But when it comes to the five main characters, the show has really tried to be representative and unique.
Also Read: Pretty Little Liars Original Sin: Take a Look at the New Liars in the Franchise
Tabby sure wins the first round of being one likeable character you want to root for with her non-stop movie referencing. Imogen is a detective who knows the vices of digging deep and Mouse is just that loyal friend we would all like. Even Faran’s unapologetic personality is catchy after a point. A miss could be Noa, who still, after three episodes, feels like a pretty face, with less brain and no depth. Hopefully, we will get to know her better in the upcoming episodes.
Pretty Little Liars Original Sin (Ep 1-3): Final Thoughts
Overall, this might just be the Pretty Little Liars spin-off/reboot that is here to stay. It has all the slasher movie essence with a refreshing teen mystery vibe that feels long gone from the new releases. The real question, however, remains if the landing of the show will be as good as its take-off or somewhere down the road is it destined to crash and burn. Well, we will have to wait to find out!
You can watch the first three episodes of Pretty Little Liars Original Sin now on HBO Max.
Also Read: House of the Dragon Trailer Breakdown: Rhaenyra’s Fight For the Throne, Daemon’s Succession and More