The WORST episodes of Pretty Little Liars
Every episode of Pretty Little Liars ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Pretty Little Liars!
Four friends band together against an anonymous follower who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets, while unraveling the mystery of the murder of their best friend.
#1 - How the 'A' Stole Christmas
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/9/2014
Christmas is quickly approaching, and all of Rosewood is full of merriment, except for Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer, who aren’t feeling much holiday cheer after the loss of Mona and Spencer’s murder charge looming over them. But when an opportunity presents itself with the chance to get evidence to clear Spencer’s name, the girls and their partners devise a plan to get justice for Mona and finally bring Alison down. If the plan is successful, it could be a very Merry Christmas after all. Meanwhile, Alison gets a glimpse at the past, present and future by a ghostly presence.
#2 - Shadow Play
Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/11/2014
Spencer’s numerous sleepless nights with the help of prescription pills start to take a toll on her as her hunt for Ali and much needed answers continues. As she pours over newly acquired information, her world view takes a black and white turn. Now teleported into the world of 1940’s Film Noir, Spencer tries to come up with the answers she and her friends have been desperately looking for. But in this world of fedora hats, switchboards and 15 cent coffee, can Spencer finally put all of the pieces together that lay in front of her?
#3 - Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Inferno
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/29/2013
Aria knows that she should tell Ezra about his son, but she isn't ready to face the idea of what it might do to her relationship. Hanna, on the other hand, is sure Caleb is keeping a secret from her and she is determined to find out what it is. Spencer is fed up with all of the secrets and decides she no longer wants to play the games. Will their secrets drive the girls to take desperate actions that could, in turn, make the situation worse? Meanwhile, Emily learns more about what Ali may have been hiding the summer before her murder.
#4 - Picture This
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/9/2011
Since Jason DiLaurentis came back to Rosewood, there have been a lot of questions about him. Some don't trust him and are suspicious of his motives for returning, while others see him in a different light. Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer are no different. Spencer is determined to find out what Jason is hiding at his house and decides to finally get some answers. With Emily in tow, Spencer makes her move — but are she and Emily ready to deal with what they find out? Aria, on the other hand, can't seem to get Jason off her mind for a different reason. With Jason continuing to pop up in Aria's life, will she be able to resist their undeniable chemistry? Meanwhile, Hanna helps Caleb with a difficult decision about his family, which in turn could help put her relationship with her father into perspective.
#5 - Je Suis une Amie
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/7/2011
A crucial swim meet for the Rosewood Sharks is the setting for Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer to experience a lot of turmoil. Emily and Paige go for round two, as they are pitted against each other to compete for the anchor leg of the big race. And Caleb calls in his favor with a guilty Hanna as she tries to deter Aria from asking too many questions about Ella’s ticket to the museum opening. As secrets start to be revealed and antagonists become less threatening, will this become a game changer for the girls? Meanwhile, Spencer takes on the task of tutoring a fellow student to try and get some answers.
#6 - Let the Water Hold Me Down
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/16/2012
With Lucas missing and questions surrounding what happened out on the lake, Hanna can barely catch her breath. With Caleb determined to find his friend, Hanna’s reluctance to help only causes more problems. Can Hanna really tell Caleb what happened in the boat without tipping him off to her larger “A” problem? And if she did tell him, would he be willing to stick around after hearing all the horrible things Hanna has done? Meanwhile, Spencer follows a lead about “A” which guides her to an unexpected place and revelation.
#7 - Save the Date
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/2/2011
Emily has been juggling a lot of secrets and lies lately, and with a surprise visit from her father before a big swim meet, the pressure gets to be too much for her — sending her to the hospital. But with the prospect of having to come clean to her father about Danby, Emily realizes she has bigger problems when "A" reveals his/her part in Emily's swim career. While visiting Emily, Spencer and Aria take the opportunity to try and do more digging around about the cause of Alison's death and how the broken field hockey stick may play a part in the last few moments of their friend's life. Meanwhile, Hanna struggles with the prospect of losing both men in her life when her father's wedding "Save the Date" arrives, and the possibility of Caleb running out of Rosewood before his past can come back to haunt him.
#8 - To Kill a Mocking Girl
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/22/2010
As the girls try to pay tribute to Alison's memory, the four friends are faced with unresolved issues. Aria has an unsettling encounter with her father's former mistress, Meredith. Emily is forced to see Toby Cavanaugh in a new light. Spencer is reeling in the wake of a vengeful Melissa. And Hanna is desperate to have her boyfriend, Sean, forget the "old" Hanna. Meanwhile, Detective Wilden uses his new connection to Hanna and Ashley to his benefit. But will he get the answers he's looking for by making himself at home in the Marin household?
#9 - Salt Meets Wound
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2011
Hanna's return home from the hospital should be a joyous event, but being stuck in a wheelchair and feeling haunted by "A" makes her return feel more like a Hitchcock nightmare than a proper homecoming. Even though the girls try to put on their best effort to support Hanna, they all have troubles they have to face as well: Spencer is still reeling from Melissa's surprise, when an unexpected roadblock is thrown up in her relationship with Alex; Emily, on the other hand, is hoping that an introduction to Maya during a tense family meal will smooth all apprehensions her parents may have. Meanwhile, blackmail is in the air when Aria and Fitz suspect a student is on to them.
#10 - Never Letting Go
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/19/2011
On the eve of the Rosewood Charity Fashion Show, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer are surprised with Jessica DiLaurentis' return to town and her request that they participate in the show on Alison's behalf. Aria takes up the opportunity to try and help jog Jason's memory of the night Ali disappeared, as Hanna starts to get her hopes up that her father's attendance may mean more than he's letting on. Spencer, on the other hand, quickly learns that, while she has been dealing with larger issues, Mona has stepped in and taken charge of running the event. As the charity event gets closer, walking down a runway in a fancy gown may not seem that hard, but nothing is ever easy for four pretty little liars. Meanwhile, Emily reevaluates her casual dating stance when it starts to look like Samara might be dating someone else.
#11 - Stolen Kisses
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/31/2012
Emily is struggling to deal not only with the loss of Maya, but the knowledge that someone drugged her "that night" and how that has now affected Paige. Going to make amends with Paige and try to explain the drugged flask ends up leading Emily to more insight of what she did "that night." Also trying to help Emily out, Spencer turns to Caleb to help crack into a website that might hold answers for them all. Meanwhile, Aria realizes she knows very little about Ezra after meeting his mother and Hanna makes a plea on Mona's behalf.
#12 - Surface Tension
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/26/2011
It's moving day for Emily, and with a new place to call home, she is feeling more like a guest than part of the family. Hanna is also feeling uneasy, but for her it is in regards to Caleb's continued shady "business" dealings and his nonchalant attitude about it. And when Toby makes a surprising discovery, Spencer is thrown for a loop by the find and her father's reaction to it. With the girls already on edge, could they be sitting targets for "A's" next move? Or does "A" have bigger plans for the four and is just making them wait? Meanwhile, Aria is put in a tricky position when both Ezra and Jason are invited to the Montgomery dinner party and vie for her attention when the soiree goes awry.
#13 - Pretty Isn't the Point
Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/17/2015
Determined to get college tuition money without the help of others, Hanna pushes forward with her quest to win the local beauty pageant and hires a pageant coach to ensure her win. Quickly learning that you have to be more than a pretty face to win the grand prize, Hanna turns to Emily for help. Also needing a little help, Aria asks Andrew to help keep tabs on Mike, whose increasingly suspicious behavior suggests a chilling connection to Mona’s death. What Aria ultimately discovers makes her blood run cold. Meanwhile, Spencer decides to help Jonny on a less than legal adventure.
#14 - Hot Water
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/19/2013
Shaken up after recent events and holding new information about Det. Wilden, Aria, Emily and Hanna are on the hunt for answers about the detective's past. Looking to Shana and Cece for more insight, the ladies seem to be making progress in their search. But they quickly start running out of time when they learn that Wilden is close on their heels and determined to stop them. Now with Det. Wilden on the war path, some residents of Rosewood will find out how far he is willing to go to keep his secrets from coming out. Meanwhile, after many pleas from her friends Spencer finally finds someone to lean on.
#15 - Where Somebody Waits for Me
Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/16/2016
While new discoveries are made in the investigation of Charlotte's murder, the truth begins to emerge about the Liars' personal lives. Spencer is concerned to learn her mother is keeping a secret of her own. Aria confesses to Liam how deeply she's involved with Ezra's book. Ali admits that she and Elliott are more than just friends. Mona reveals where her true allegiances lie. Caleb, Spencer and Hanna deal with the complications of new relationships. Meanwhile, Emily and Hanna each receive shocking threats that elevate the seriousness of the situation.
#16 - We've All Got Baggage
Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/23/2016
As romantic relationships move forward, the Liars investigate a new suspect in the murder case. With Ezra back in Rosewood, Aria must tell him the truth about her involvement with his book. Spencer and Caleb deal with a media leak that affects the campaign. Hanna takes a look at her life after an incident at work. Emily gets harassed by the stalker while she continues the search for Sara. Meanwhile, two lovers finally tie the knot with the help of a special officiant.
#17 - What Lies Beneath
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/14/2012
After learning that Noel and his family's cabin had something to do with "that night" and possibly Maya's disappearance, the girls work to try and put the pieces together. Hanna and Emily head out to the Kahn family cabin looking for clues linking Maya to the site, while Spencer does some snooping of her own on Noel. Could Noel have had a hand in this after all, or are he and Jenna just bluffing to send Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer down the wrong path? Meanwhile, Aria must deal with the aftermath of meeting Ezra's mom and the information about Ezra's past.
#18 - The Devil You Know
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/12/2011
As the shocking news about Ian makes the rounds through Rosewood, Aria, Emily, Hanna, Spencer and their families all try to cope with the outcome and some much needed closure. With her home life particularly in turmoil, Spencer stays focused on her family and the surprising support she gets from her parents. Emily, on the other hand, can't seem to find the closure that others are relishing, but rather digs her heels in to find any shred of evidence they may have over looked. And Aria looks to find comfort in Ezra, but with their relationship still new to the outside world, the couple struggles to be so public so fast. With everyone looking for comfort and sharing a huge sigh of relief, could Emily be right and the devil they think has been put to rest is nowhere near the evil that still looms out there, just waiting for the Liars to get theirs? Meanwhile, Hanna gets a surprising look into Caleb's life after his shady foster mother surfaces.
#19 - Careful What U Wish 4
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/24/2011
As the school gets ready for the dance-a-thon, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer have more on their minds than raising money for the school trip to Washington, D.C. Hanna is having a hard time finding a job to help her family's financial situation, but when "A" has a job for her, will Hanna be able to refuse? Emily can only think of Maya and is desperate to speak to her — so much so that she enlists the help of Caleb, the new bad boy in the school. And as an important piece of property goes missing, Spencer finds being in close quarters with her new brother-in-law, Ian, more difficult than ever. Meanwhile, Aria's former babysitter, Simone, comes back to town for a surprise visit. But what should be a happy reunion quickly becomes a nightmare for Aria when Simone sets her sights on Ezra.
#20 - That Girl Is Poison
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/10/2012
Jenna's extravagant birthday party seems to be too good to be true and Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer think something else might be up — especially when it turns out that Garrett is getting a pass out of jail to visit his ailing mother on the same night. The timing can't just be a coincidence; the Liars are convinced it all has to do something with "A." With Emily getting an insiders' view working the party, Aria working the crowd as a party-goer and Spencer staked out at the hospital, what could go wrong? The answer is: everything. Meanwhile, Hanna's wallowing through heartbreak leads her to a shocking discovery.
#21 - The Goodbye Look
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/21/2011
With the girls being forced to go their separate ways for a bit, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer need each other now more than ever. Emily struggles with her family's impending move to Texas, but when a college athletic scout approaches her after a swim meet, she sees an opportunity that could keep her in Rosewood. Hanna's father returns to town; with her friends at arm's length, will she forgive Mona so she has someone to lean on? And Spencer tries to be supportive of Toby's new plans to free himself of his family and Rosewood. Meanwhile, on the eve of Ezra's last day at Rosewood High, he begs Aria to meet him so they can work things out. Aria, on the other hand, is not so sure there's anything left to say. But is she really ready to say goodbye to Mr. Fitz for good?
#22 - Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/26/2013
Spencer is finally ready to talk, but Emily is not so ready to accept what she has to say. Will she heed Spencer's warnings or will Emily go off to find her own answers down a path "A" has designed for her? Hanna, on the other hand, is preoccupied with helping her mother after Ashley is involved in a hit-n-run accident. Now having a new secret to hide, Hanna wonders if "A" had something to do with it after all. With Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer are now really afraid does "A" have them right where they want them? Meanwhile, Aria has to come to terms with Ezra's new life with Malcolm.
#23 - Burn This
Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/1/2016
After the stalker nearly killed Emily, the Liars begin to take the threats more seriously and attempt to keep their mouths shut to prevent any further harm. Caleb must deal with the collateral damage of taking the blame for the leak about Yvonne; Spencer tries to comfort him and get him to tell the truth. Emily goes on a mission to track down who came after her. Aria and Ezra move forward with the novel. Meanwhile, Hanna avoids dealing with her personal life.
#24 - Oh, What Hard Luck Stories They All Hand Me
Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/3/2015
Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer have been burned before by newcomers to Rosewood, so it's no surprise the four ladies are wary when someone new crosses their path. Spencer lets down her guard a bit as she spends more time with Jonny, and Emily continues to try and figure out Talia as she keeps getting mixed signals from her co-workers. When Mona's friend Lesli shows up in town, Hanna is tasked to get her back story and find out if Lesli is really who she says she is. Are the girls wise to keep an eye on everyone, or can they allow a bit of comfort room without worrying it is an "A" trap? Meanwhile, Aria becomes concerned about Mike's recent behavior and Holbrook returns to town.
#25 - Turn of the Shoe
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/18/2013
Mrs. DiLaurentis' presence in Rosewood continues to unnerve all those around her, especially when she gives Hanna a family parrot, whose gift for mimicry provides startling insight into Alison's last days. Tired of feeling defenseless against "A," Aria decides to learn self defense and is intrigued by her sexy instructor. Meanwhile, Toby shares a heartbreaking secret with Spencer, and Hanna makes an alarming discovery regarding her mom. And to complicate matters even further, "A" nearly kills the newest PLL — Mona.