PLL Episode 1x01 - Pilot
Some Background About the PilotThe Pilot is a very important episode with many A clues. Those affiliated with the show have confirmed this. Marlene King (the show's creator) has said that A first appears in the pilot episode. Keegan Allen (Toby Cavanaugh) has recently said in a January 2015 Interview, "I do know who A is, and what I love about who it is that everyone knows who it is... but it will be so shocking and surprising."
He went on to add, "Everyone will freak out because it’s so clearly in every episode,” he added, while laughing. “When it’s finally revealed, you could literally go back to season 1 and knowing who it is, you can be like, ‘Oh, wow. Whoa. This has been here all along, and I never noticed it,’ which is, I think, brilliant." This fits with Aria being A. The picture to the right shows all of the characters present in the Pilot episode. One of them is A! |
photo credit: http://killerariaisa.tumblr.com/
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Clues from this Episode that Aria is A |
Aria's character is shown as intelligent, worldly, dark and unexpected in the first episode. One obvious clue in the pilot episode that Aria could be A is that the A messages didn't start until right after Aria returns from a year away in Iceland. Ali's body coincidentally also is discovered shortly after Aria's return. In episode 1 we see that the girls are not really friends anymore and it isn't until Aria returns and the A messages begin that the group reforms.
Aria drives Mike to his first Lacrosse practice. After dropping him off, there is a 45 minute gap in time between Aria dropping Mike at practice and arriving at that bar. During this time, Aria is seen in her car using her phone. Purposely showing the time in the car and again in the bar is a clue. With Aria busy on her phone during this time, it is highly suspicious A behavior. When she gets to the bar, Ezra just happens to be there. It is an interesting meeting, as they just start talking to each other and get very close very fast in the bathroom. We also learn that Ezra has also spent some time in Iceland. Hmmm... doesn't it seem like maybe they knew each other before this "chance" meeting, or at least that being at the bar at the same time was not a coincidence?
Later after Aria and Ezra are surprised to meet in class, Aria goes to his classroom and pursues him even though he is concerned about her age and being his student. It is clear that Aria is not the innocent little teenager she appears to be at first glance.
And notice the incriminating A behind AriA on the blackboard!! |
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We also see in this episode that Aria lives in a house with secrets and deception, and she participates in this by keeping her father's secret affair from her mother. Aria tells her father, “I’m still keeping your secret.” At some point Byron tries to explain that he loves her mom and made one mistake and is not going to repeat it.
In a flashback in this episode, we see both Aria and Ali being cruel to Mona, and the two of them together see Byron kissing Meredith in the car. Ali is pressuring Aria to tell her mother about the affair. This is suspicious b/c Ali only does things to help Ali. Ali wanted Spencer to tell Melissa that she kissed Ian, but not to help Melissa, but for herself because she was seeing Ian at the same time. Ali wanting Byron's affair with Meredith revealed and stopped is just one clue throughout the series that a possiblity exists that Ali could also have been having an affair with Byron.
In a flashback in this episode, we see both Aria and Ali being cruel to Mona, and the two of them together see Byron kissing Meredith in the car. Ali is pressuring Aria to tell her mother about the affair. This is suspicious b/c Ali only does things to help Ali. Ali wanted Spencer to tell Melissa that she kissed Ian, but not to help Melissa, but for herself because she was seeing Ian at the same time. Ali wanting Byron's affair with Meredith revealed and stopped is just one clue throughout the series that a possiblity exists that Ali could also have been having an affair with Byron.
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Marlene King tweeted that A would first appear in the Pilot 1x1 and return in Episode 3x1. This scene was shown in both of those episodes. "Nothing is a coincidence in Rosewood" so why would they duplicate this scene, even down to the outfit. It must mean something, and we think it is a clue that Aria is A. |
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All of the girls receive an A message in this episode. The first A message is received by Aria in class. If you look closely, you will notice that the message Aria receives is different from the other girls. Before the message text, it says "Aria:". Messages typically appear this way on non-smart phones showing the sender's name before the text of the message - just like the message Aria "receives". This is a clue that Aria sent this message to herself.
Aria's parents also reference her stuffed pig in this episode saying that she never goes anywhere without it.
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The 1st message from A looks like Aria sent it to herself.
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There is a flashback scene to the night that Ali disappeared. In this scene, we see the Pigtunia is present at the sleepover and can be seen on screen while the girls are awake during the sleepover. When Ali disappears from the barn, Pigtunia disappears too. Perhaps Ali took Pigtunia with her, or maybe Aria followed Ali out of the barn that night. Aria was already awake when Hanna and Emily awoke, and Spencer was just coming in from outside. Aria being awake and pigtunia disappearing are big clues that she left the barn that night too. A red cup exactly like the one she was drinking from was also found on the DeLaurentis porch. Aria also seemed to know that Ali was missing as soon as she "woke up" in the barn too. It is pretty clear that the evidence shows that Aria did leave the barn the night of the sleepover and Ali's disappearance.
In later episodes, we find out that Spencer had a drug problem and was very confused about the events of that evening. And in Shadow play, Toby gets angry with Spencer and yells at her "Spencer doesn't get confused. Spencer's the smart one. Maybe smart enough to get away with murder. Or smart enough to help her fake the whole thing. Or maybe she tricked you into helping. You ever consider that?" This could be a clue that A used Spencer to help orchestrate the events of Ali's disappearance.
In later episodes, we find out that Spencer had a drug problem and was very confused about the events of that evening. And in Shadow play, Toby gets angry with Spencer and yells at her "Spencer doesn't get confused. Spencer's the smart one. Maybe smart enough to get away with murder. Or smart enough to help her fake the whole thing. Or maybe she tricked you into helping. You ever consider that?" This could be a clue that A used Spencer to help orchestrate the events of Ali's disappearance.
4x19 Shadow Play
Marlene King tweeted on the season 4 finale "I will promise a #pigtuna appearance in the March 18 finale" The only character that we know that loves pigs is Aria, and throughout the series there are many pig references made by A,
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There flashback has several other clues that point to Aria too. Ali has spiked the drinks and Spencer tells Aria to slow down with hers or she will spill all her secrets. Ali says that secrets keep friends close and encourages Aria to drink up. Ali is trying to find out who is texting and terrorizing her, and she wants to learn Aria's secrets.
Aria is drinking from a red plastic cup at the sleepover. The red cup Aria was drinking from is also seen on the DiLaurentis' back porch in a flashback scene in another episode. In the scene, a drunk Jason sees the cup and with anger throws it on the ground.
Aria is drinking from a red plastic cup at the sleepover. The red cup Aria was drinking from is also seen on the DiLaurentis' back porch in a flashback scene in another episode. In the scene, a drunk Jason sees the cup and with anger throws it on the ground.
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When Ali's body is discovered, the girls rush over except for Hannah who was at the police station after shoplifting sunglasses earlier. None of the girls knew about this, but Aria says "I heard Hannah got arrested”. How did Aria already know Hanna got arrested? Hanna didn't even tell her, only -A knew... |
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Ali's body is discovered and her funeral is held. This is one of this biggest clues that point to Aria being -A. When Aria walks down the isle to go sit with the other three girls, she takes a look around. We see what Aria see's in her point of view. She looks at the coffin and the big picture of Ali. When we see Aria's face, it looks a little guilty. Why would Aria look guilty at her best friend's funeral? Maybe because she had something to do with the murder? At the end of each episode, we see the point of view of -A and what they're(s)he is doing. The point of view of Aria and the point of view of -A at the end of the episode, looks basically identical. They were the only two shown that looked at the same thing...usually two people cannot have the same point of view unless they are they same person. Basically these two scenes alone are telling us that Aria is -A.
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What Aria see's at the funeral (above)
The perspective of none of the other characters was shown. This would not have been included if it wasn't important. The final A scene in every episode reveals telling clues about A's identity as we see throughout the series.
A's perspective entering the funeral home. (below)
The perspective of none of the other characters was shown. This would not have been included if it wasn't important. The final A scene in every episode reveals telling clues about A's identity as we see throughout the series.
A's perspective entering the funeral home. (below)
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Outside the funeral, A sends all the girls a message "I'm still here bitches, and I know everything."
This text message points to one of the girls being A. No one else except the 5 girls know EVERYTHING. The song playing in the background of the sleepover flashback scene is "Don't Trust Me" which clearly indicates that one of the 5 girls present cannot be trusted and is most likely A. |
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Song played throughout the episode:
- Secret by The Pierces PLL Theme Song
- Don't Trust Me by 3OH!3 Aria and the girls at the sleepover before Ali disappears
- I Won't by Colbie Caillat Aria and family unpacking and Aria driving Mike to practice
- Beauty Queen by Ben's Brother Aria is at the Bar and Grill when Ezra first talks to her.
- Happiness by The Fray At the bar when Aria says 'Love this song'
- More of You by MoZella Aria and Ezra hooking up at the Bar
- When Love Goes Well by Michael Rossback Aria’s parents unpacking
- I Got Up by Overnight Lows girls are hanging out in the kitchen
- Suggestions by Orelia Has Orchestra Emily walks to Delaurentis house when Ali body found
- Hands of Time by Rachel Diggs When the girls walk out of the funeral, and get text from -A
- Begin Again by Measure At funeral when Aria and Ezra kiss in the church.
- It Girl by Twirl Hanna is looking in the mirror at herself as she is wearing sunglasses
- Flaunt by Girls Love Shoes Emily helps Maya with boxes & unpacking,
