20 Shows To Watch If You Miss Pretty Little Liars

20 Shows To Watch If You Miss Pretty Little Liars

Summary

  • Fans seeking shows like Pretty Little Liars can explore teen dramas with dark mysteries, like Riverdale & Vampire Diaries.
  • While there’s nothing quite like PLL, other options such as Big Little Lies and Gossip Girl offer similar drama and intrigue.
  • Viewers craving the thrill of secrets and scandal can find solace in shows like You, Dexter, and How to Get Away with Murder.

Years after it ended its run, fans may still be looking for shows like Pretty Little Liars to fill the void. The dark teen drama is based on the novel of the same name by Sara Shepard and follows a group of young girls who find themselves targeted by an anonymous blackmailer known only as “A”. As the teens attempt to live their normal young lives, this unknown enemy threatens to expose their darkest secrets. It sets the stage for a compelling mystery with plenty of twists while also exploring typical teen drama storylines.

The show had such a dedicated fanbase that it has proven to be tough to replace, with people often just reliving the series and recommending it to more people. However, there are other shows out there that even the most diehard Pretty Little Liars fans will find some enjoyment in. From other teen mystery shows like Riverdale to more adult stories like Big Little Lies, there are a lot of great television shows out there that fans might even like more than Pretty Little Liars.

Related Why Pretty Little Liars Spin-Off The Perfectionists Was Canceled

Despite good reviews, the Pretty Little Liars spinoff The Perfectionists was ultimately canceled after only one season. Here’s what happened.

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022-)

A Pretty Little Liars Spinoff

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The dramatic slasher/horror mystery franchise returns with Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, created for HBO Max. Connecting to the original series, Original Sin follows a group of teen girls terrorized by a mysterious killer named “A.” Being held responsible for a terrible tragedy committed by their mothers over twenty years ago, the girls must uncover the truth of the incident to end the terror of Millwood, Pennsylvania – and to survive. Season 2 of the series was released in May 2024 and is subtitled Summer School.

Cast Bailee Madison , Chandler Kinney , Mallory Bechtel , Zaria , Maia Reficco , Malia Pyles Release Date July 28, 2022 Seasons 2 Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

If Pretty Little Liars fans want more of the original series, their best bet might be Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (or Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, as the second season is called). The spinoff series is set in another small Pennsylvania town just a few years after the events of the original show. There is a little bit of crossover between characters and even mentions of events from the original show, but the spinoff doesn’t rely on the previous series to tell a fun and fresh story.

The series works more like mini horror movies in every episode with a longer narrative arc for the season. Fans who loved the episodes of the original show that were more like thrillers, like the Liars finding themselves kidnapped and held in a dollhouse, for example, will enjoy the slasher-inspired series.

Cruel Summer (2021-2023)

Flashbacks Reveal The True Story

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Cruel Summer is set in Texas, where Kate Wallis, a popular teen in high school, is kidnapped. The series takes place over the summer of 1993, 1994, and 1995, showing Jeanette Turner becoming the new popular girl in her town to one of the most hated women in America. Cruel Summer stars Chiara Aurelia as Jeanette and Olivia Holt as Kate. 

Cast Michael Landes , Allius Barnes , Olivia Holt , Froy Gutierrez , Brooklyn Sudano , Chiara Aurelia , Harley Quinn Smith , Blake Lee Release Date April 20, 2021 Seasons 1 Showrunner Bert V. Royal

For Pretty Little Liars fans who enjoy the mystery aspects of the show – and determining just which characters are telling the truth – Cruel Summer will be a fun watch. The series only has two seasons, and Cruel Summer is an anthology series, so each season focuses on a different story, making it a quick binge watch as well. It might not have the long narrative that Pretty Little Liars fans are used to, but it does have a similar style in that the show makes good use of flashbacks.

Cruel Summer tells its story in multiple timelines, so the audience doesn’t get the whole story until the very end of each season. For the first season, the story is told over the course of three years, revealing the aftermath of a kidnapping, right before the kidnapping, and just what happened during the kidnapping. The second season uses a similar format over a more condensed time period to showcase how the relationship between three friends changes. Both series will appeal to those fans who want to see if they can unravel the truth before the last episode.

Yellowjackets (2021-)

A Group Of Friends Are Haunted By What They Did To Survive

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Yellowjackets is a thriller and drama television series created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson. The series stars Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, and Ella Purnell. The plot sees a high-school Soccer team from New Jersey returning home from a National Tournament in Seattle. As they make their way back by plane, there is an unfortunate crash that sees them stranded in the Canadian wilderness.

Cast Juliette Lewis , Sophie Thatcher , Warren Kole , Jasmin Savoy Brown , Tawny Cypress , Steven Krueger , Christina Ricci , Ella Purnell , Sammi Hanratty , Sophie Nélisse , Melanie Lynskey Release Date November 14, 2021 Seasons 2 Showrunner Ashley Lyle , Bart Nickerson , Jonathan Lisco

Yellowjackets is a story of survival, but also a story of the aftermath of that survival. The series follows a group of teenage girls who end up in a plane crash on the way to a soccer tournament while in high school, and the flashes forward to the survivors of the experience in the present day. Yellowjackets has a more supernatural aspect to it as there are visions, mysterious entities, and more while the soccer team is trying to survive in the wilderness.

Where the show will appear to Pretty Little Liars fans is in the camaraderie of the girls – and just how they turn on one another. Though the core group of Liars are loyal to one another and intent on protecting their secrets, those secrets can also drive them apart at times until they come back to one another. Yellowjackets sees a similar trajectory to the friendships between the teammates.

MTV’s Scream (2015-2019)

A Group Of Teens Are Stalked By Someone In A Mask

The new mask for Scream The Series on MTV

In 2015, MTV began airing a series inspired by the Scream movies. The show doesn’t fit within the continuity of the Scream movies but does feature a similar idea. Teenagers in a small town are stalked by someone in a mask and picked off one by one while they get menacing phone calls and messages.

The first two seasons of the MTV series (and a Halloween special) follow the same set of characters while the third season features a whole new cast and story. The episodes feature a lot of homages to classic slashers, just like Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, and each season features a mystery of just who the masked killer is, that doesn’t pay off until the end of the season. Fans who loved figuring out A’s identity in Pretty Little Liars, and wanted even higher stakes, will enjoy this series.

Only Murders In The Building (2021-)

Unlikely Friends Solve Murder Mysteries

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Starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building follows an unlikely trio of true crime fans living in an affluent New York apartment building, who attempt to solve the murder of one of the building’s residents and document it on their own true crime podcast. The three amateur sleuths soon find out that real crime solving isn’t as simple or as glamorous as their favorite podcasts make it seem, and that all of their lives are inextricably linked to the mysteries they are pursuing. 

Cast Michael Cyril Creighton , Aaron Dominguez , Ryan Broussard , Selena Gomez , Martin Short , Vanessa Aspillaga , Steve Martin , Amy Ryan , Jeena Yi Release Date August 31, 2021 Seasons 3 Showrunner Steve Martin , John Hoffman Creator(s) Steve Martin , John Hoffman

For fans who love the unexpected twists in Pretty Little Liars, another mystery series is certainly something that will interest them. Only Murders In The Building has a new mystery each season, and the murder mystery is always connected to one of the main characters – or at least, to the apartment building where they all live.

The series is certainly much lighter than Pretty Little Liars despite the show being about a murder mystery every season. It also features the core characters podcasting about their search for the truth, which probably would have appealed to the Liars if they weren’t so intent on keeping their own secrets. It’s not hard to imagine Aria or Spencer listening to true crime podcasts about their hometown, and fans of the show will find plenty of the same twists that threw the Liars for a loop here.

Spencer, Hanna, Emily, and Aria look down into a grave. Related 10 Harsh Realities Of Watching Pretty Little Liars 5 Years After The Show Ended

Though the series is still iconic, there are multiple harsh realities that come up when watching Pretty Little Liars five years after the show ended.

Riverdale (2017-2023)

Teens Contend With A Murder Mystery And Other Adventures In Their Small Town

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A darker take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends from the Archie Comics series, Riverdale is a CW supernatural mystery series that sees the group trying to illuminate the truth surrounding various strange occurrences and murders in the titular town. When a teenage girl is found dead in the once-quiet town, the event starts a series of ever-growing mysteries that ultimately lead to darker secrets in the town’s history. Led by Archie, the Riverdale gang will attempt to navigate their new normal while dealing with all of the drama that comes with being high school teenagers.

Cast Camila Mendes , Marisol Nichols , Ashleigh Murray , Cole Sprouse , Ross Butler , Madelaine Petsch , K.J. Apa , Luke Perry , Lili Reinhart , casey cott Release Date January 26, 2017 Seasons 7

A live-action series that brought the characters of Archie comics to the small screen doesn’t seem like it would be a dark teen show similar to Pretty Little Liars, but Riverdale surprised a lot of people. Set in the titular small town, Riverdale follows Archie and his friends as they struggle with typical teen problems, like romance and parents only to get swept up in some darker mysteries. Just like Pretty Little Liars,Riverdale is a teen drama with mysterious killers and lots of secret-keeping, all condensed in a small town.

Riverdale is much darker than
Pretty Little Liars
, both in the literal sense and in its subject matter.

That said, Riverdale is much darker than Pretty Little Liars, both in the literal sense and in its subject matter. It often veers well into the supernatural territory and has everything from cults to multiple serial killers. That said, it should be a great fit for anyone who misses the wilder storylines on Pretty Little Liars, after all, that was a show with its own fair share of nightmarish material.

The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

A Girl Is Torn Between Her Love For Two Vampires

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Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.

Cast Nina Dobrev , Ian Somerhalder , Steven R. McQueen , Paul Wesley , Kat Graham , Michael Trevino , Michael Malarkey , Zach Roerig , Candice King , Matthew Davis Seasons 8 Showrunner Julie Plec

Pretty Little Liars kept things grounded even in its intense and twisting storyline, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t share similarities with supernatural shows like The Vampire Diaries. This is another show that uses the small-town setting to explore teen romances getting intertwined with dark and dangerous threats. The story follows a young woman torn between her love for two vampire brothers.

Though the show’s vampire love triangle might seem close to the Twilight movies, The Vampire Diaries shares more in common with the thrills of Pretty Little Liars. While it is certainly a little bit darker due to the fact it is about vampires, that doesn’t stop this show from being incredibly gripping. There are secrets, there are characters to hate and to love, and it is just as easy to be sucked in and addicted to.

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

A Blogger Shares Secrets Of Rich Teens

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An anonymous blogger spills the secrets of teens on the Upper East Side.

Cast Blake Lively , Leighton Meester , Penn Badgley , Ed Westwick , Chace Crawford , Kelly Rutherford , Matthew Settle , Taylor Momsen Release Date September 19, 2007 Seasons 6 Creator(s) Stephanie Savage , Josh Schwartz

Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars share a lot of similarities thanks to both series centering around teens whose lives are dramatically altered by an unseen presence who seems to know everything. The series follows a group of privileged young socialites who find that they cannot hide any of their secrets as an anonymous blogger seems to know all and isn’t shy about sharing it with the world. The major difference is that Gossip Girl has substantially less murder and psychological torture.

The compelling presence of Gossip Girl gives the show a nice thriller and mystery vibe while also dealing with the typical romances and scandals, and is reminiscent of Pretty Little Liar‘s blackmailing A. Both are a guiding force for scandal and drama throughout the entirety of the show. That said, finding the identity of Gossip Girl isn’t as big of a deal on the Manhattan-based show as finding A is on Pretty Little Liars.

American Vandal (2017-2018)

A Mockumentary Looking Into A High School Prank

Dylan Maxwell stands in front of a cork board with evidence from American Vandal

While the focus and topic of American Vandal are quite comical, the serious tone that the show takes makes this a lot of fun to watch. The series is presented like a true-crime documentary, however, the crime at the center of it all is juvenile, with the first season focusing on obscene pictures drawn at a high school and the second is a messy practical joke. It leans more to the comedy side but the high school environment and the secrets that take place within it are things that Pretty Little Liars fans will absolutely enjoy.

It’s so much fun to watch, and while there are only two seasons, it is easy to become sucked into this world of mystery poos and graffiti. While the stakes are much lower than in Pretty Little Liars, American Vandal is funnier because the characters approach it with the same serious determination.

You (2018-)

A Serial Killer Forces His Way Into The Lives Of Strangers

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You is a drama-thriller series based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes that follows an obsessive and dangerous bookstore owner known as Joe Goldberg. The show sees Joe meeting women that he becomes transfixed with and goes to terrifying lengths to insert himself into their lives. To accomplish his goal, Joe will remove each obstacle – and person- in his way.

Cast Elizabeth Lail , Michaela McManus , Ambyr Childers , Victoria Pedretti , Luca Padovan , Scott Speedman , Travis Van Winkle , Penn Badgley , Jenna Ortega , Shay Mitchell Release Date September 9, 2018 Seasons 4 Showrunner Sera Gamble , Greg Berlanti

You is a perfect show for fans of Pretty Little Liars because it gives an idea of what that series would be like if it was entirely made from A’s perspective. You stars Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, a seemingly nice man who has a hidden life as a serial killer, becoming obsessed with certain people and finding ways to insert himself into their lives.

Sometimes Pretty Little Liars veered close to horror territory but You definitely lives there. Living inside the mind of a sociopathic killer like Joe is a disturbing experience but a compelling one. The worst part is, most of the time, he truly believes he is a good guy and that the people he’s tormenting deserve what they get. You season 5 looks to continue on the dark and twisted saga of Joe.

Big Little Lies (2017-)

A Group Of Women Are Tied Together By A Crime

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In Monterey, California, five women meet through the elementary school while their children attend. Despite the friendships they form, each of them is harboring secrets, which have the potential to destroy the fragile balance of their lives.

Cast Reese Witherspoon , Nicole Kidman , Zoe Kravitz , Shailene Woodley , Laura Dern , Alexander Skarsgard , Adam Scott , James Tupper , Jeffrey Nordling , Iain Armitage , Kathryn Newton , Meryl Streep Release Date February 19, 2017 Seasons 2 Showrunner David E. Kelley

Big Little Lies
often gets jokingly compared to
Pretty Little Liars
since their titles are almost perfect parallels to each other.

Big Little Lies often gets jokingly compared to Pretty Little Liars since their titles are almost perfect parallels to each other. Big Little Lies is a much more adult show and is often considered one of the best on HBO. The series follows the lives of various women living in an affluent community who are bonded together and changed due to a violent incident. It has been nominated for numerous awards and even won some of them, including an Emmy Award for Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard.

As the premise suggests, Big Little Lies mirrors Pretty Little Liars in the concept of a group of women who each share the same secret that could destroy them. However, the HBO show is a much more grounded drama that also explores dark subject matter while commenting on the privileged lives of these people. It also features an incredible cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep.

13 Reasons Why (2017-2020)

A Loss Of A Classmate Sends A Teen Looking For Answers

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After Hannah Baker takes her own life, her classmate Clay Jensen, who had a crush on her, receives a set of tapes narrated by Hannah, stating that they were sent to each person behind the 13 reasons that she committed suicide.

Cast Dylan Minnette , Devin Druid , Amy Hargreaves , Miles Heizer , Justin Prentice , Ross Butler , Brandon Flynn , Alisha Boe , Christian Navarro , Katherine Langford Release Date March 31, 2017 Seasons 4

13 Reasons Why is a very dark and unflinchingly realistic teen drama on Netflix. The series is set in the aftermath of a high school student taking her own life and follows the efforts of one of her classmates to uncover why she did it. The series courted quite a bit of controversy during its run due to the graphic nature of violence and accusations of glamorizing death by suicide.

It deals heavily with suicide, sexual abuse, rape, homophobia, and a wide range of tough topics. Some people found it to be a poignant and moving exploration of these ideas, while others feel that it glorifies some of its darker themes. However, it is a gripping story of secrets within the high school and young adult setting, and it presents a much different approach to the teen drama than most others on the air.

The Fosters (2013-2018)

A Family Of Foster Children Make A New Home Together

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Airing between 2013 and 2018, The Fosters is a family-style Drama that was created by Bradley Bredeweg and Peter Paige and lasted six seasons. The plot revolves around a multi-ethnic blended family and the daily struggles they go through.

Cast Jake T. Austin , Cierra Ramirez , Teri Polo , Sherri Saum Release Date June 3, 2013 Seasons 5

The Fosters is an entertaining family drama that follows a group of foster kids adopted by a lesbian couple named Lena and Stef. It is a much more light-hearted and uplifting series than Pretty Little Liars, but it also shows how secrets and mistrust work even in a household where there is love and affection. Seeing this new family struggling to overcome their differences and form a real bond is a delight to watch.

The series is known for its diversity and its intriguing storylines. Most people who watch the series can find something to relate to or a character they see themselves reflected in. Once viewers are done with The Fosters, they can even move on to its successful spin-off series, Good Trouble, which follows two of the siblings as they venture out into the adult world.

Dexter (2006-2013)

A Serial Killer Targets Other Murderers

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Based on the character created by author Jeff Lindsay, Showtime’s Dexter follows Miami Metro Police Department’s most skilled blood spatter analyst, Dexter Morgan, as he attempts to satisfy his Dark Passenger’s need to kill by hunting down criminals who have escaped justice. However, using the rules his adoptive father taught him to remain undiscovered, Dexter must walk the fine line of seemingly blending into society while continuously feeding his dark urges. Dexter faces several serial killers as his facade slowly crumbles around him; with every problem solved by his Dark Passenger, another one arises for his suburban fatherly life. When Dexter takes things personally or feels that the law is failing, he takes matters into his own hands and even compromises the investigations of his co-workers. Dexter aired on Showtime for eight seasons before receiving a mini-sequel series called Dexter: New Blood, which picked up ten years after the show’s events. You can buy each season for just $9.99 for Prime Day. 

Cast David Zayas , Michael C. Hall , Lauren Velez , C. S. Lee , James Remar , Jennifer Carpenter , Desmond Harrington , Julie Benz Release Date October 31, 2010 Seasons 8 Showrunner Clyde Phillips

While Dexter isn’t for the fainthearted as it is slightly more violent than most shows on this list, the overall story is one Pretty Little Liar fans would relish. Michael C. Hall stars as the titular character, a crime scene specialist who, from a young age, has been obsessed with death and decides to channel his dark feelings into becoming a serial killer who only targets other murderers.

The secrets that Dexter himself keeps and the moral compass he lives by mirroring the themes of Pretty Little Liars. There’s mystery, romance, violence, and plenty of secrets, all of which build up to a really strong show overall. The ending of the series was lambasted as one of the worst finales in TV history, but the revival series Dexter: New Blood improved on that tarnished legacy.

Dynasty (2017-2022)

A Wealthy Family Builds A Legacy Amid Drama

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A reboot of the 1980s soap opera, Dynasty is a modern soap/comedy series that follows two brothers who discover their father is set to marry one of their employees, and they attempt to sabotage it. Failing in their attempts, they create a new and more cunning rival that seeks to make it on her own – all the while, additional family members return to complicate life at Carrington Atlantic.

Cast Linda Evans , Joan Collins , John Forsythe Release Date January 12, 1981 Seasons 9 Showrunner Esther Shapiro

Dynasty is a family drama, unlike Pretty Little Liars, but the amount of scandal and wild plots are very similar to what many fans love about the show. Dynasty is a modern remake of the classic primetime soap opera from the 1980s. It follows the story of the Carrington family, one of the wealthiest families in the country as they contend with their legacy, their rivals, and their convoluted schemes.

Its twisting story and scandal-filled storyline are much more in line with
Pretty Little Liars.

While the premise of the show might sound more in line with something like Yellowstone or Succession, its twisting story and scandal-filled storyline are much more in line with Pretty Little Liars. A lot of the show focuses on Fallon Carrington, played excellently by Elizabeth Gillies, who is reminiscent of the old-school Alison DiLaurentis. It is classic soap opera storytelling on a grander scale.

The Returned (2012-2015)

A Community Contends With Dead People Suddenly Returning To Life

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The Returned is a French supernatural drama series centered on a small town where previously deceased individuals mysteriously return, causing emotional and societal upheaval. The show explores themes of life, death, and the unexplainable phenomena accompanying the returns.

Cast Kevin Alejandro , Agnes Bruckner , India Ennenga , Sandrine Holt , Sophie Lowe , Mark Pellegrino , Jeremy Sisto , Mat Vairo , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Tandi Wrigh Release Date May 11, 2015 Seasons 1 Creator(s) Carlton Cuse

The Returned is another fantastic series that Pretty Little Liars fans should jump on if they have the chance. Set in one small town, the characters are fantastically well-written, and much like Pretty Little Liars, people who are presumed dead end up making a grand reappearance. The series is set in a small French village where the dead inexplicably begin returning as if they were never dead, forcing the living to contend with the strange new reality.

The fact that this is an international series should not deter audiences as its taut story transcends language. This show is just as gripping with a real element of mystery running through the entire series, which is one of the reasons Pretty Little Liars was so popular. This show might not be quite as grand or polished, but it is certainly worthy of a watch.

How To Get Away With Murder (2014-2020)

A Law Professor And Her Students Are Involved In A Murder Plot

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A new part of the Shonda Rhimes Shondaland productions, How to Get Away With Murder is a crime drama series created for ABC and starring Viola Davis. When law professor Annalise Keating’s (Davis) interns become involved with a murder that shakes the university and firm, the group will find themselves in an ever-spiraling saga of lies, deceit, and intrigue. The show’s format focuses on slowly unearthing the truth behind murders, all while complicated clients and cases arrive for the law firm to handle.

Cast Viola Davis , Aja Naomi King , Billy Brown , Jack Falahee Release Date September 25, 2014 Seasons 6 Showrunner Shonda Rhimes

How to Get Away with Murdersets up a gripping mystery where any of the main characters could be the killer. Viola Davis is a powerhouse, and the show was created by Shonda Rhimes, who is known as the queen of creating captivating twists and turns. Davis plays the brilliant law professor and criminal defense attorney Annalise Keating. The show follows her and her selection of students who work closely with her on special cases as dark truths are slowly revealed.

The show kicks off with her students bonded when they have to cover up a crime, and only grows more scandalous from there. How to Get Away with Murder is filled with sinister and shocking twists that make it the kind of show that is easy to binge with the mystery building expertly. Davis is electric in the lead role, but there is a fine supporting cast backing her up that makes for an exciting ensemble.

The Bold Type (2017-2021)

Three Young Women Work At A Magazine

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Cast Aisha Dee , Stephen Conrad Moore , Melora Hardin , Katie Stevens , matt ward , Sam Page , Meghann Fahy , Nikohl Boosheri Release Date June 20, 2017 Seasons 5 Expand

The Bold Type is another series on Freeform that has a similar vibe to Pretty Little Liars although it leans more into the drama, it doesn’t have the thriller elements found in Pretty Little Liars. The Bold Type focuses on a group of women who work at a global women’s magazine called Scarlet. Throughout the series, they each strive for their own professional goals within the organization while also dealing with personal struggles as well.

It features several LGBTQ+ characters and has a strong core focusing on female friendship as the characters try to find their voices, identities, and even love. It was inspired by the real-life magazine editor Joanna Coles, who also works on the show. The show was a smart, funny, and touching ride with these likable characters who could be complex but were always endearing.

Veronica Mars (2004-2007)

A Young Detective Investigates Local Mysteries

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Veronica Mars is a drama mystery series that stars Kristen Bell as the titular teen detective who learns the ropes from her father, a California police sheriff. Following a “crime-of-the-week” episode format, each episode sees Veronica tackling new cases while carrying on her High School life, with a more significant, overarching plot carrying between episodes. Veronica’s side career begins following the death of her best friend, which sets off a chain of events leading to several smaller cases.

Cast Kristen Bell , Jason Dohring , Enrico Colantoni , Percy Daggs III , Francis Capra , Ryan Hansen , Teddy Dunn , Sydney Tamiia Poitier , Tessa Thompson , Kyle Gallner , Christopher Lowell , Tina Majorino Release Date September 22, 2004 Seasons 4 Showrunner Rob Thomas

Much like Pretty Little Liars, Veronica Mars has a true cult following who pushed hard to keep the show alive. With Kristen Bell bringing her absolute best to the role, the show is gripping right from the start. With Veronica trying to deal with as many mysteries as possible in her town, the number of secrets is high as she works through different issues. As she puts her sleuthing to the test, she also explores a past crime committed against her that has left her with trauma.

The show has some amazing characters who are all written fantastically well. With a lot of things happening that are slightly over the top, there are elements that aren’t to be taken seriously, but it is a fantastic series. Bell is a loveable hero and the show helped to modernize the detective mystery series long before the more recent boom of similar type shows.

Desperate Housewives (2004-2012)

Scandals And Secrets Unfold On A Suburban Street

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Desperate Housewives was a rom-com drama that aired on ABC for eight seasons between 2004 and 2012. The award-winning series follows Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), and Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), who discover dark secrets hidden in their quiet town of Fairview.

Cast marcia cross , Felicity Huffman , Eva Longoria Release Date October 3, 2004 Seasons 8 Showrunner Marc Cherry

Desperate Housewives is extremely similar to Pretty Little Liars in a lot of ways, except that it follows an adult cast that lives in a quintessential American suburb behind white picket fences on Wisteria Lane. Even though the show doesn’t have an ‘A’ figure, it has plenty of dark secrets, murder plots, and sordid tales and affairs, with the show narrated by one of the past housewives on the lane who dies at the beginning of the series. Her death kicks off the series just as Ali’s disappearance kicks off PLL.

It’s just as soapy and addicting as Pretty Little Liars, and it was extremely popular when it aired on ABC. It became an international success, and it remained one of the most popular shows on television for its eight-season run, earning several Emmy Awards and helping to bring back the primetime soap opera genre.

Pretty Little Liars Poster Pretty Little Liars TV-14DramaMystery Where to Watch

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Pretty Little Liars is a Teen Drama and Mystery series based on the novel by Sara Shepard. The show was created by Marlene King and stars Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, and Holly Marie Combs. The series revolves around four friends who meet back up with one another and begin to receive strange threats from an unknown source simply labeled “A.”

Cast Troian Bellisario , Ashley Benson , Holly Marie Combs , Lucy Hale , Bianca Lawson , Laura Leighton , Chad Lowe , Shay Mitchell , Nia Peeples , Ian Harding Release Date June 8, 2010 Seasons 7 Showrunner Ina Marlene King

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