HOLLYWOOD—It’s the ABC Family series that has not just teens buzzing, but adults as well. Since debuting back in 2010, “Pretty Little Liars” has continued to mesmerize audiences with its mystery induced drama about four teens harboring quite a few explosive secrets. On January 2, the series returns for part two of its second season where audiences will discover the ramifications of Spencer, Emily, Hanna and Aria being arrested on suspicion of being connected to their friend Alison’s murder.

The cast of "Pretty Little Liars."

If that wasn’t a surprise for audiences, we also discovered that Spencer’s father has been keeping a huge secret: Spencer has a half-brother she doesn’t even know about. To make matters worse, that brother happens to be connected to her worst enemy, Alison. Jenna and Garrett conspired an elaborate scheme against Hanna, Spencer, Aria and Emily (and no matter what inquiring minds are thinking, there’s no way these two killed Alison... it’s too obvious). 

What the series does well is not to try to mishandle too many characters at once. Yes, there are quite a few characters on the series, but each has an ample slice of screen time when it’s sufficient; nothing is force fed to the audience. The adult’s secrets are just as juicy as the teens'. While secrets are a driving force of the series, the elusive mystery behind “A” is more fascinating. Whoever this individual(s) is, he/she has it out for our main characters. Not only are they willing to blackmail, but even kill to get what they want, which means one thing: they’re dangerous!

This should be a tantalizing second season as audiences will finally have the answer to the question that we’ve all been dying to know since day 1: who is “A?” Of course, there are likely suspects like Mona (Janel Parrish), who seems to appear at instances which place the target directly on her.  There’s also Lucas (Brendan Robinson), Hanna’s friend and secret crush.  It’s no secret he had a dislike for Alison and her crew, but is he really capable of murder? 

Other notable suspects include Noel (Brant Daugherty), Aria’s crush, Jackie (Paloma Guzman), Ezra’s ex-fiance and many other residents of Rosewood.  If anything, when the big reveal occurs in the second season finale, I think audiences will be floored, as it’s likely someone we least expect will be revealed, making it that much more exciting.

Those viewers who have carefully paid attention to each episode since the beginning have probably noticed a trend. In the first part of season one, “A” focused his/her attention on terrorizing Hanna, in the second part of season one, “A” focused attention on menacing Spencer, and in the first part of season two “A” harassed Emily, so it only seems fitting that this season Aria may be “A’s” primary nemesis, but only time will tell. Rumor even has it that an arrest will take place for Alison’s murder and a beloved character will bid farewell for good. Don’t worry fans, our four protagonists are safe, but everyone else is expendable.

Mark your calendars, for Mondays for the next three months as “Pretty Little Liars” makes its triumphant return. The series airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC Family. Trust me: this is a show that is a must-see each week!

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