Television Drama.

 

 

Lately I have begun to watch an ongoing drama, which has been on for about two years in the United States of America for about two years and was introduced to the United Kingdom about a year and a half ago. It is called ‘Pretty Little Liars’. It is loosely based on the books by Sara Shepard. When the show first began ABC Family only ordered 10 episodes, but the ratings success were so large the show made the series of books be extended beyond the eight novels. This teen drama, mysterious thriller is about a group of five best friends, Alison DiLaurentis, Emily Fields, Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, and Spencer Hastings. One night they are all having a group sleepover, but when they wake up the leader of the group, Alison has gone missing. About a year later her body is found, we too Rosewood and begin to connect with the remaining girls. We them find out they all have mysterious secrets which they only told Alison. The days leading up to the funeral the girls all begin to receive texts from a mysterious ‘A’ who happens to know all the girls secrets, the game has begun. A uses the girls to do whatever she wants, manipulates scares and bribes them using the girls large and secretive social lives. The more the girls fight back, the worse it becomes for them.

 

·         Genre: Teen drama, Mystery, Thriller

·         Main Cast(Starring):

·          Troian Bellisario- Spencer Hastings.   Ashley Benson- Hanna Marin.   Tyler Blackburn- Caleb Rivers. Holly Marie Combs– Ella Montgomery.   Lucy Hale- Aria Montgomery.  Ian Harding- Ezra Fitz.
Bianca Lawson- Maya St. Germain.   Laura Leighton-Ashley Marin.Chad Lowe- Bryon Montgomery  . Shay Mitchell- Emily Fields. Janel Parrish-Mona Vanderwall. Sasha Pieterse-Alison DiLaurentis

·         Created by: I. Marlene King (TV) Sara Shepard (Books)

·         Developed by: I. Marlene King

·         Executive producers:Leslie Morgenstein, Bob Levy, I. Marlene King, Oliver Goldstick

·         Producer: Lisa Cochran-Neilan

·         Running time: 41–44 minutes

·         Production companys : Warner Horizon Television, Alloy Entertainment, Long Lake Productions (season 3) ,Russian Hill Productions (season 3)

·         Distributor: Warner Bros. Television

·         Broadcast; Original channel: ABC Family  Original run: June 8, 2010 – present

- On this link is a news paper review of the Hit American TV show, Pretty Little Liars - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/arts/television/08liars.html.

 

 

I watched the first episode out of the Pretty Little Liars Seasons for my written response, in this episode we learn a lot about the characters and how the four main girls have all been affected by the loss of their good friend, Ali. We also learn the secrets which they have hid from everyone except Alison, Emily being a secret lesbian, afraid to come out with thing happening with A. Aria watches her father cheat on her mother and agree to keep it a secret. Spencer has an affair with her sisters soon to be husband and Hanna eats when she is supposed to be on a diet. In this episode we really learn a lot about the characters and how they all look up too Ali. We also learn how easy they cn be manipulated. For a first episode it is very gripping with many story lines to get you hooked to the show as you want to learn more, it is one of the most interesting dramas out in ages and I advice anyone to watch it, its brilliant!

How are the characters represented?

Aria- A strong minded girl who knows what she wants and how to get it, she cares deeply about her family and keeping it together. She is very brainy and a easy individual who can be alone and not mind.

Alison – The leader of the group, all the girls look up too her and trust her. She is manipulative and clever, she knows what she wants and always gets it, she is the best at keeping secrets even if she does use knowing them to her advantages at points.

Hanna – She just wants to be ‘cool’ or ‘popular’ and thinks hanging around with Ali will help, she follows the group around but is so happy she has been let in. She is quiet, shy and reserved at the moment, just waiting to be accepted.

 Research page used - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Little_Liars_(TV_series)