Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin Story:-
For a certain group of TV viewers, the theme song of “Pretty Little Liars” hits just the right spot. The original series, which aired for seven seasons on ABC Family before the network became Freeform, kicked off each episode with the melodious tones of the Pierces’ “Secret” alongside captivating visuals of the main characters in their enigmatic ensembles, exchanging secretive glances with the camera. This set the stage for TV’s initial adaptation of Sara Shepard’s novels, which was slick but not particularly subtle.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 29 July 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Cast | Chandler Kinney, Maia Reficco, Bailee Madison, Zaria, Malia Pyles, Alex Aiono, Mallory Bechtel, Eric Johnson |
| Director | Lisa Soper |
| Writer | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Lindsay Calhoon Bring, Michael Grassi, Evelyn Yves, Eleanor Jean, Jenina Kibuka, Katie Avery, Alexis Scheer, Pamela G. Rooney, Danielle Iman, Daniel G. King, Neil McNeil, Stasia Demick |
| Producer | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Leslie Morgenstein, Gina Girolamo, I. Marlene King, Michael Grassi, Jimmy Gibbons |
| Production | Muckle Man Productions, Alloy Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television |
| Certificate | 16+ |
Now, after two previous attempts at spinoffs (“The Perfectionists” and “Ravenswood”) failed to gain traction, a new effort to revive the franchise has emerged with “Original Sin.” Developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring of “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” the drama follows in the footsteps of its predecessor by establishing its tone right from the start with an evocative opening credits sequence. Accompanied by an unsettling remix of “Secret” and featuring an anonymous figure destroying smiling photos of the main cast on what can only be described as a classic “murder board,” “Original Sin” immediately establishes itself as a visceral nightmare of a teen slasher. While the original “Pretty Little Liars” eventually leaned more heavily into horror, the 2022 spinoff fully embraces the genre from the outset, drawing comparisons to films like “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Halloween.”
“Original Sin,” debuting on HBO Max on July 28, initially takes viewers back to the end of 1999, when the public suicide of Angela Waters stunned five girls who had mistreated and ignored her throughout high school. Twenty-two years later, their daughters—pregnant Imogen, film enthusiast Tabby, ballerina Faran, introverted Mouse, and defiant Noa—come together to confront their former tormentor, a racist homophobe named Karen. It takes the first two episodes for the quintet to realize what seems obvious from the start: perhaps it’s not Karen and her slightly more subdued twin, Kelly, who are behind the unsettling occurrences, but rather a mysterious figure wearing a terrifying mask seeking justice for their mothers’ past sins.
While “Original Sin” may not have a direct connection to the original “Pretty Little Liars,” it shares several elements with it, including a mysterious antagonist known as “A,” a fluid sense of time and space, and adults who are either incredibly evil or remarkably clueless. However, the series distinguishes itself through its setting and tone, swapping Pennsylvania’s suburbs for a working-class Rust Belt town and embracing a dustier, sepia-toned aesthetic reminiscent of horror and teen films from the ’80s and ’90s.
Despite its occasional over-exposition and attempts at cultural relevance reminiscent of “Riverdale,” “Original Sin” remains as binge-worthy as the popcorn Tabby serves at the local movie theater. Bailee Madison, Zaria, and Maia Reficco deliver particularly captivating performances as their characters delve deeper into the mystery, while Mallory Bechtel shines in her portrayal of the dual roles of Karen and Kelly.
As long as viewers don’t dwell too much on the logistics of the mystery, “Original Sin” offers enough intrigue to keep them hooked for the next episode, making it a refreshing addition to the reboot landscape.
