Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists
Sep. 4th, 2019 12:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rogueslayer452I finally watched the first season of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, the spin-off series to Pretty Little Liars, and I have to say I liked it a lot. I was very intrigued.
It's not really surprising, honestly, as it reminded me of why I initially got sucked into watching Pretty Little Liars in the first place all those years ago. The Perfectionists is both familiar since it is in that same territory and exploring the same themes, but also different with its tone and the way it approaches the subject matter. I know that eventually it'll probably go down that similar road of plot holes and continuity errors and inconsistencies its predecessor unfortunately did, but for now I liked what the first season, which consisted of ten episodes, had to offer. I was hooked.
Most of this is due to the strong cast of characters, which is always a good sign. Aside from Alison and Mona, this show has entirely new characters, and I really liked the way they were introduced. Our main three in particular, since I liked how it setup the fact that they're mostly just acquaintances who don't really know each other that well which creates some tension and friction between them initially, but due to circumstances beyond their control they start becoming friends with one another and grow closer and stronger because of it. It's one of my favorite aspects, that regardless of how weak the plot or writing is, if you have a found family dynamic despite all odds then I'm all in. And these three -- Caitlin, Dylan, and Ava -- basically all become a family with their growing friendship. They are the only ones that can truly rely on. And I liked that we got to see that develop over the course of the ten episodes of season one, because having the initial "we're strangers and kinda distrust each other" to "we are like family no matter what" is my weakness.
Also, my favorite new character is Ava Jalali. I just find her character so fascinating, and her story so tragic. Plus, her fashion is everything.
I love the addition of Alison and Mona. They're my favorite characters from the original series, so seeing them come over to The Perfectionists was a great way of incorporating familiar faces (for getting the audience to watch) and also giving their characters a sense of purpose. I also love how they are also having this kind of friendship blooming between them, as well. Alison and Mona were essentially frenemies before, but now are working together and helping out these university students, both academically and also with the shit that is going down. It's the perfect team-up, and I'm enjoying every moment of it.
With that being said, however, I hate what the show did to Emily and Alison.
If it wasn't bad enough that in the final season of Pretty Little Liars did they do that rape storyline with Emily's stolen eggs being fertilized and impregnated into Alison and then Emily wanting Alison to not terminate the pregnancy despite the violation, but also after Alison finally being able to admit her feelings to Emily and them becoming official and getting married by the final episode, here she and Emily are divorcing. For reasons that aren't really explained other than a brief discussion of how Emily cannot get over the past, which to me seems rather out-of-character? But then, this is a classic Marlene King move, and it irritates me so fucking me. Fans were waiting for so long for Emily/Alison to be canon which finally happened at the very end of the show, and now she's breaking them up. Also, to add salt on that wound Emily isn't even physically there when all this is revealed to us. We just have to accept it and that's just pure shit, since it makes her look like the asshole. All the straight couples from the previous show are all happily married, but not for the f/f couple that many fans were rooting for. Ugh, it just makes me bitter and mad. I know that it was probably done to show that not every relationships ends in a happily ever after, or even to explain why Alison was there while Emily wasn't, but it was still executed poorly in context of this being one of the biggest LGBT relationships people were wanting to succeed. And it doesn't work anyway if the other half isn't even there to defend herself or explain her side of the story of what happened, which feels very cheap imho. They could have had it be that Alison accepted this as a good career opportunity and Emily was being the supportive wife from the opposite side of the country, but no, they didn't think that through because obviously something tragic has to happen. Healthy LGBT relationships? What's that? Although to be honest, considering that Alison has been trying to hard to better herself as a person, to atone for her past by becoming a mentor and helping these kids, I think she deserves better. But that's just my bias, because I love Alison.
That's really my only tiff I have with the show so far, and it's just a minor thing that isn't brought up that much at all. Everything else has been fine.
(As an aside, the show is attempting to be more progressive and LGBT friendly, Dylan being gay, Caitlin having two moms, Nolan supposedly being bisexual/pansexual/not straight, and a professor who is in an open relationship, and while I applaud them for attempting this I'm not entirely trusting considering the shit they did in PLL, and here with what they did with Emily/Alison, and what I'm suspecting might be a repeat of what happened with Emily and Paige with Dylan and his former bully, which I'm not really here for if that go that direction. But we'll see.)
Overall: Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists has a good start. I know that nothing has been confirmed about it being renewed yet, but I hope that it will be because the plot does have me intrigued. It's more than just a murder mystery, it's about understanding who is doing this elaborate experiment and why, as well as dealing with the pressure of overachievers who are balancing all their academic hard work alongside being anonymously stalked by an ever-watchful individual who knows your every move. It is an interesting element to add to the watchfulness of technology, a fear many have that the more advanced technology becomes the more your privacy will be invaded and used against you. I know that the show is nothing like the books it is based on, and from what I can gather that's probably a good thing. So yeah, even though I'm not happy about one element the show has, it's minuscule in comparison to the rest of the show that is actually quite good. I really hope that it is renewed for a second season.
Also, as a sidenote, I absolutely love the music choices used for this show. Not only do we get a reimagined cover version of the theme song, which is much creepier than the original tbh, but also the show has a signature kind of sound where they use Vitamin String Quartet songs, setting the mood and atmosphere. The first minute of the pilot episode (no spoilers) does a great job with using the cover of "Poker Face" while giving a nice introduction to the show and our main three characters. It fits so perfectly, and tells you what you're in for. I approve.
It's not really surprising, honestly, as it reminded me of why I initially got sucked into watching Pretty Little Liars in the first place all those years ago. The Perfectionists is both familiar since it is in that same territory and exploring the same themes, but also different with its tone and the way it approaches the subject matter. I know that eventually it'll probably go down that similar road of plot holes and continuity errors and inconsistencies its predecessor unfortunately did, but for now I liked what the first season, which consisted of ten episodes, had to offer. I was hooked.
Most of this is due to the strong cast of characters, which is always a good sign. Aside from Alison and Mona, this show has entirely new characters, and I really liked the way they were introduced. Our main three in particular, since I liked how it setup the fact that they're mostly just acquaintances who don't really know each other that well which creates some tension and friction between them initially, but due to circumstances beyond their control they start becoming friends with one another and grow closer and stronger because of it. It's one of my favorite aspects, that regardless of how weak the plot or writing is, if you have a found family dynamic despite all odds then I'm all in. And these three -- Caitlin, Dylan, and Ava -- basically all become a family with their growing friendship. They are the only ones that can truly rely on. And I liked that we got to see that develop over the course of the ten episodes of season one, because having the initial "we're strangers and kinda distrust each other" to "we are like family no matter what" is my weakness.
Also, my favorite new character is Ava Jalali. I just find her character so fascinating, and her story so tragic. Plus, her fashion is everything.
I love the addition of Alison and Mona. They're my favorite characters from the original series, so seeing them come over to The Perfectionists was a great way of incorporating familiar faces (for getting the audience to watch) and also giving their characters a sense of purpose. I also love how they are also having this kind of friendship blooming between them, as well. Alison and Mona were essentially frenemies before, but now are working together and helping out these university students, both academically and also with the shit that is going down. It's the perfect team-up, and I'm enjoying every moment of it.
With that being said, however, I hate what the show did to Emily and Alison.
If it wasn't bad enough that in the final season of Pretty Little Liars did they do that rape storyline with Emily's stolen eggs being fertilized and impregnated into Alison and then Emily wanting Alison to not terminate the pregnancy despite the violation, but also after Alison finally being able to admit her feelings to Emily and them becoming official and getting married by the final episode, here she and Emily are divorcing. For reasons that aren't really explained other than a brief discussion of how Emily cannot get over the past, which to me seems rather out-of-character? But then, this is a classic Marlene King move, and it irritates me so fucking me. Fans were waiting for so long for Emily/Alison to be canon which finally happened at the very end of the show, and now she's breaking them up. Also, to add salt on that wound Emily isn't even physically there when all this is revealed to us. We just have to accept it and that's just pure shit, since it makes her look like the asshole. All the straight couples from the previous show are all happily married, but not for the f/f couple that many fans were rooting for. Ugh, it just makes me bitter and mad. I know that it was probably done to show that not every relationships ends in a happily ever after, or even to explain why Alison was there while Emily wasn't, but it was still executed poorly in context of this being one of the biggest LGBT relationships people were wanting to succeed. And it doesn't work anyway if the other half isn't even there to defend herself or explain her side of the story of what happened, which feels very cheap imho. They could have had it be that Alison accepted this as a good career opportunity and Emily was being the supportive wife from the opposite side of the country, but no, they didn't think that through because obviously something tragic has to happen. Healthy LGBT relationships? What's that? Although to be honest, considering that Alison has been trying to hard to better herself as a person, to atone for her past by becoming a mentor and helping these kids, I think she deserves better. But that's just my bias, because I love Alison.
That's really my only tiff I have with the show so far, and it's just a minor thing that isn't brought up that much at all. Everything else has been fine.
(As an aside, the show is attempting to be more progressive and LGBT friendly, Dylan being gay, Caitlin having two moms, Nolan supposedly being bisexual/pansexual/not straight, and a professor who is in an open relationship, and while I applaud them for attempting this I'm not entirely trusting considering the shit they did in PLL, and here with what they did with Emily/Alison, and what I'm suspecting might be a repeat of what happened with Emily and Paige with Dylan and his former bully, which I'm not really here for if that go that direction. But we'll see.)
Overall: Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists has a good start. I know that nothing has been confirmed about it being renewed yet, but I hope that it will be because the plot does have me intrigued. It's more than just a murder mystery, it's about understanding who is doing this elaborate experiment and why, as well as dealing with the pressure of overachievers who are balancing all their academic hard work alongside being anonymously stalked by an ever-watchful individual who knows your every move. It is an interesting element to add to the watchfulness of technology, a fear many have that the more advanced technology becomes the more your privacy will be invaded and used against you. I know that the show is nothing like the books it is based on, and from what I can gather that's probably a good thing. So yeah, even though I'm not happy about one element the show has, it's minuscule in comparison to the rest of the show that is actually quite good. I really hope that it is renewed for a second season.
Also, as a sidenote, I absolutely love the music choices used for this show. Not only do we get a reimagined cover version of the theme song, which is much creepier than the original tbh, but also the show has a signature kind of sound where they use Vitamin String Quartet songs, setting the mood and atmosphere. The first minute of the pilot episode (no spoilers) does a great job with using the cover of "Poker Face" while giving a nice introduction to the show and our main three characters. It fits so perfectly, and tells you what you're in for. I approve.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2019-09-05 03:40 pm (UTC)I had heard about the Emily/Alison divorce thing and got mad. Why not. They both basically went through the same things from beginning to end... and Emily felt like such a strong character in the original PLL. I don't get it.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-05 06:27 pm (UTC)And you're right, I don't really buy the whole "Emily can't get over the past" hand-wave explanation of the divorce after everything they'd gone through together. It makes no sense.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-05 08:14 pm (UTC)Hopefully for the divorce, they'll be able to explain better in the next season? I don't know. It's just weird.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-05 08:51 pm (UTC)I want to believe there will be further explanation for this, but I doubt it. :/
no subject
Date: 2019-09-06 03:31 pm (UTC)It's just weird when they do something like that. They need to explain why this character isn't there. By the preview for The perfectionists, I only thought it seemed mostly based on the school and the people there and events weren't coming to people's homes so Alison would go back to the kids and Emily like nothing... Well, not nothing but the show wouldn't focus on what's going on at home and stuff... I would have been fine with that.
Emily was affected, like Alison was but they were able to be happy in the last season anyway. Tehy were together, they had kids and they were to marry and everything. Through everything, you'd think this would be enough but to go and say they divorce because Emily can't move on... no...
I'm just glad Hanna and caleb go through and got back together in the end.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-06 06:05 pm (UTC)Same. That would have been perfect. It's really not hard to not do something tragic to a character just for them to wallow in more character angst. Alison going to BHU as a fantastic career opportunity, and wanting to help these kids in the process of everything that happens over the course of the season, while still having a healthy marriage just long distance is entirely plausible and would have been accepted by fans. But nothing can really be simple with these shows, can it?
I'm just glad Hanna and caleb go through and got back together in the end.
Yes, I was happy about that too. I adored Hanna/Caleb, and I wasn't happy when they had them break up and for Caleb and Spencer to become a thing. That was so unnecessary it actually put me off the show when that happened. But Hanna and Caleb found their way back to each other and are still together, from the sounds of things, so I'm happy for that at least.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-06 06:23 pm (UTC)I think the only happy ending in my shows concerning them is Malec. of the top of my, it's the only couple I can think of at least.
Caleb/Spencer... I never understood it.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-07 10:21 pm (UTC)(Besides, they can still have marital problems without them divorcing. That would be more realistic imho for there to be clashing but they can still be able to work it out. Like, there were so many other options that they could've gone with instead of the route they ultimately took.)
Caleb/Spencer... I never understood it.
Me neither. It had no build-up, it just came out of nowhere. I loved their friendship, but a romantic relationship? Nah. I'm glad that Caleb went back to Hanna eventually, but it was such a stupid thing imho.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-08 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-09-08 03:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-09-09 05:48 pm (UTC)I loved the friendship a lot. Turning it into more was definitely for nothing; only to put drama in caleb/Hanna before they were back. I mean, the fact Hanna was with someone else didn't bother me at all for some reason but caleb and Spencer? Nope.
One day we'll have a 200% working lgbt couple...
no subject
Date: 2019-09-09 06:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-09-10 03:03 pm (UTC)they never devolved into hooking up with the other friends
I loved the off-limits vibe even if they were broken up a while. Caleb/Spencer even after 5 years of caleb and Hanna being broken up made no sense at all.
That whole season was a mess anyway. I mean, Spencer's twin sister? And Allison's mom's twin sister? Really?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-10 05:27 pm (UTC)They really shot themselves in the foot with that, because it was really telling how all of it was a last minute addition. They had no plan of where the story was going to go or how it was to end. And here's the thing, many fans (myself included) initially wanted the twin storyline that happened in the books, because it would've been a neat little twist to reveal, and the show did tease us a bit with it in the earlier seasons but I think it was more homage to the books than an actual attempt of doing that storyline. But somewhere along the way they thought that this would appease fans of getting two twin storylines, but it really made no sense whatsoever and just over complicated things when it didn't need to be. Hence why everything that was revealed in the series finale was so haphazardly done.
And reading some other things, it appears that they purposefully changed certain reveals because either fans guessed it or they wanted something to ~subvert expectations~ (which is always a bad sign). So, yeah. It was rather stupid and senseless.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-10 07:20 pm (UTC)I tried reading the first book but i couldn't get into it so I never kept on going.
They basically should have stopped after season 6, period.
Now that I think about it and I can't remember if it was explained or not but that season when the moms got stuck in the basement... was it ever explained how they got out of there?
no subject
Date: 2019-09-10 09:25 pm (UTC)Yeah, considering that's what happened in the books that's what people wanted. But apparently that was too predictable, or whatever. It just seemed like they kind of combined that storyline with the whole reveal with Charlotte as if that would make up for it, and then later trying to do a two twin storylines that were just so far-fetched and poorly executed.
(I tried reading the books too, but like you I couldn't get into them. They're written for more of a preteen/teen audience so I'm not really of that demographic anyway.)
They basically should have stopped after season 6, period.
They shouldn't have done the time jump, imho. It's nice in theory (because the girls spent like, what, three seasons as seniors in high school) but it just wasn't necessary. After the reveal about Charlotte (despite it not being well executed, imho) the show should have ended there. Or at least extended a bit of revealing more about Charlotte instead of one episode revealing her true nature and the next episode killing her off. But yeah, ITA that S6 should have been the last. The show was already convoluted as it was and yet doing the flash forward five years later just kept complicating things even more. Even hardcore fans of the show were just done with it at that point.
And no, I don't think we ever got any explanation of what happened with the mothers in the basement. The show just kinda forgot about that, lol. Which is kinda typical with PLL; they introduced something only to forget about its existence.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-11 06:36 pm (UTC)They did a number for Charlotte as well, didn't they?
I would have been fine with the twins storylines had it been made better I feel. We already knew that Spencer was adopted and she seemed related to Allison somehow but to have Alex be uber A, going after all of the girls when, really, she was just jealous of Spencer and her upbringing...
I need to do a full rewatch of the show but season 7 will always feel weak.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-11 07:15 pm (UTC)They did a number for Charlotte as well, didn't they?
They really did, and I'm still quite angry how it was all handled because, keep in mind, that Charlotte was basically their first and only transgender character in the show (revealed at the last second, but still), and yet they made her an evil character who died the episode after the reveal of her identity and her story. It was such a disservice to what could have been an interesting character. And no, I don't count the scenes she was in with previous seasons because they clearly didn't think of Cece being Charlotte until much later. And I'll never forget their transphobic tagline/promotional material with that reveal. It was not a good look then and it still isn't now.
but to have Alex be uber A, going after all of the girls when, really, she was just jealous of Spencer and her upbringing...
Yeah. I mean, I get that "A" kept changing depending on who stole the game and using it for their own ulterior motives and agenda, but the whole Alex Drake reveal was so weak in comparison to previous reveals. And it's hilarious because it was all explained in the series finale anyway, which is the biggest fault of the show for info dumping everything in one episode as if that explains everything that was done to the girls.
I need to do a full rewatch of the show but season 7 will always feel weak.
I did that before watching The Perfectionists, and while it's nice revisiting it, it can be frustrating just seeing the potential it had until it just went off the rails. It's why I always thought PLL should have been just cut in half because most of the subplots and storylines that were introduced were pointless and went nowhere.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 06:57 pm (UTC)I liked the changing "A". That Uber A was just a mess. After that many seasons, you don't just bring in a new character, like that, have a messy story for her/him and be the "be all, end all" of villains and suff. This sentence made more sense in my head but anyway... hope it comes across well enough lol
It's nice to revisit a world before checking out the spin off for sure.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-12 07:58 pm (UTC)Yeah, after five years she was released from a psychiatric hospital but Mona decided to confront her, believing that she was still dangerous, which she was because in the flashback Charlotte confirmed that she fooled everyone and was going to go back to playing the game again. Mona tried to scare her off, but after Charlotte tried to get the upper hand she was accidentally killed. Just, really, I think Charlotte would've been an interesting character had they just allowed us to see more of her after the initial reveal. There was so much potential, and yet they wasted it and did it in the most offensive way possible. Ugh. I'll never get over it.
And I agree with you, the whole Mary Drake and Alex Drake thing just came out of nowhere and had no lasting impression of the series as a whole. Having them, specifically Alex Drake, be the last Big Bad "A" of the show was incredibly weak. Amazing acting by Troian, but still weak from a writing and plot perspective.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-13 02:03 pm (UTC)I loved Troian's acting for sure!!