Product Details

• Actors: Holly Marie Combs, Lucy Hale, Chad Lowe, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: June 7, 2011
• Run Time: 963 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (168 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003R4ZMJU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #774 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #54 in Movies & TV > DVD > Mystery & Thrillers
  • #97 in Movies & TV > DVD > Drama
• Learn more about "Pretty Little Liars: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A kind of a Desperate Housewives for teens, Pretty Little Liars follows four high-school girls as they struggle to deal with the unthinkable tragedy of the disappearance and probable murder of their best friend Alison. There's also the usual angst that comes with stress over school exams and getting into a good college, teen romance and sexuality, navigating the high-school rumor mill and popularity chain, small-town nosiness, and rocky parent and adult relationships. Rosewood is a little town in Pennsylvania with a troublemaker on the loose and a bunch of buried secrets. A year after Alison's death, BFFs Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily have grown apart, but are forced back together by the discovery of Alison's body, her funeral, and threatening texts and notes that start appearing from a mysterious person who signs the notes "A" and seems to know things that only Alison could possibly know. Each of the girls is desperately hiding something from the others, their parents, and the police, and A seems to know exactly how to manipulate them and stir up trouble. The road to unraveling just what happened to Alison is full of twists, turns, and plenty of suspense. The girls' journey reveals a lot about just what kind of person each of them really is, and about their own sense of self-worth--and how one powerful person can control the lives of many. Based on the bestselling book series by Sara Shepard, the TV show initially views kind of like a horror film mashed together with a chick-clique flick. But as the mystery unfolds and the characters are fleshed out, teen viewers will find themselves hooked not only by the suspense and the mystery, but also by the sense that in some essential way, these girls are just like them or someone they know. Like most teenagers, the characters in Pretty Little Liars are often vain, immature, and maddeningly illogical, but they're also vulnerable, complex, and deceptively captivating. (Ages 13 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Product Description

When their best friend Alison mysteriously vanishes, four girls believe their secrets are safe forever. But when they begin to receive threatening messages from someone named "A," the truth may be only one text away. Filled with mystery, scandal, intrigue and nail-biting suspense, Pretty Little Liars is based on the best-selling book series for young adults from Alloy. Set one year after the disappearance of Alison, the manipulative and vindictive queen bee, the one-hour drama revolves around four 16-year-old girlfriends --Aria, Hanna, Spencer and Emily -- who have lost touch with one another until each begins to receive mysterious messages suggesting that Alison is watching them and knows their most private details they are desperate to keep hidden. Suddenly, living in their picturesque suburban community is far from perfect as secrets, lies and betrayals threaten everything they hold dear. Even after Alison's body is discovered, the messages don't stop....

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 79 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Amazing April 24, 2011

By alisonc

Format:DVD

I'll admit that my first reaction to hearing about this show was mild distaste. It sounded like just another trashy teen show. My roommate watched it, though, and I saw bits and pieces now and then, but not enough to understand what was happening. After only a few weeks of just watching a minute or two of each episode, I was hooked.

Sure, when you try to explain the premise to someone, it sounds a bit idiotic: four girls trying to solve a friend's murder while being stalked. What's almost impossible to describe is the utterly addictive quality this show has.

The four girls grow on you quickly. They all have their secrets, their faults, their moments of stupidity, their moments of brilliance. Most importantly is that eventually these girls become beloved to the audience. Hanna, who has to deal with her father's departure, but she's also the most badass of the girls. Aria, whose student/teacher relationship is the center of the romantic tension, but her love for literature and her maturity will grow on you. Emily, whose struggles with her sexuality never seem cheap or overdone, but true and beautiful. Spencer, by far my favorite, who is intelligent and snarky and has to deal with an increasingly hellish home life. Though perhaps described this way, they might not seem too fascinating or deep, but their friendships always feel true-to-life and I've never had any complaints against their acting or characterization.

As with any show of this type, each girl has many romances. This is another way the show excels. Sure, I get tired of Aria and Ezra after a while, but the fact that these are 16-year-old girls who are just trying to figure out their emotions makes this aspect seem very real.... Some of them are absolute gems -- any time Emily has to work through her problems, Hannah's relationships with Caleb and especially Lucas, and my personal favorite: Spencer's romance at the end of the season, which is my absolute favorite aspect of the show in general.

The show is witty and fast-paced, with equally fascinating side characters -- to me, this show would be nothing without Toby Cavanaugh, for example. A, their nemesis who stalks and blackmails the girls, is a great villain and will have you guessing his/her identity and not trusting anyone in this show. Of course, the main mystery of the season is trying to figure out who killed Alison, their best friend, but the more you hear about Alison, the more confused you'll become. Very little is answered in this season, but that just adds to its charm.

The addictive quality, as I said, cannot be properly described. I started watching this near the end of the series, and I went back and watched the first 18 or so episodes in two days. The show is riveting. You always want to know who killed Ali, who A is and what ridiculous tactic he/she will have next, and what will happen to the Pretty Little Liars.

This show is, simply, the best on ABC Family, and one of my all-time favorites in general. I never expected to enjoy it as much as I did, so if you aren't watching it because it sounds contrived... well, maybe the premise is, but I assure you that the result is an amazing show you'll want to watch over and over again. I certainly do. Read more ›

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars PG13 but great for ALL age groups April 18, 2011

By S. Yu

Format:DVD

I love this show, it is one of those shows that keeps me recording it on my DVR or rushing home just to watch it the night a new episode comes out. You may think that this is aimed towards the high school or younger generation, but really, I think it's appropriate for all age groups-- granted it's PG13, so maybe no one younger than middle school would get this show. But, I'm in college and it still kept me interested.

The plot is pretty different than what they have on TV now a days, you have definitely not watched another show like it. From the fashion, to the actors/actresses, you will find something to love-- which will definitely keep you flying through the whole season. And I'm even going to buy the complete first season even after watching the whole thing on TV.

I loved it so much that I even went out and bought the entire series of books because I wanted to find out what happens right away-- warning though, the TV version is a bit different on many aspects than the book series. Some characters were used for different purposes in the TV series to make it more drama compelling and drawn to the audience.

It's funny, scary at times, a good thriller for everyone! I definitely would recommend this TV show :)

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just pretty girls March 30, 2011

By Ashley L. Carter

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I originally started watching this show because I love Ashley Benson and was excited to see her working on another project. While that reason would keep me tuning in every week if nothing else did, that is hardly the case. There is suspense, romance, drama, and even some comedy. There were moments where you'd feel your eyes water or moments where you'd be stomping your feet in rage because you couldn't believe that character did that. This show is definitely a winner and I believe that if anyone, even if they weren't that interested, just sat down and watched a couple of episodes, they'd be hooked too. It's so good that I planned my school schedule so that it wouldn't conflict with the airings. Unlike other ABC Family shows, this is one that even adults could enjoy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars PLL GREATEST SHOW EVERRRRR June 8, 2011

By Amy

Format:DVD

This is not only my favorite show on tv, but always my favorite book series. Pretty Little Liars is the PERFECT combo of mystery and romance, and appeals to all ages. (I am a 22 year old college girl haha). I hate when people complain about the "drama" the show contains...ARE YOU CRAZY!?!?!? There best friend was murdered (or was she?!?!) of course there is going to be drama!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another TV show I always have to watch! July 16, 2010

A Kid's Review

I was really skeptical of all the TV shows my friends like to watch, especially Pretty Little Liars but then I watched the 5th episode on Hulu because I was bored and love it! Yay for TV!

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to your new addiction May 4, 2011

By Cecilia Faurie

Format:DVD

As the preview picture displays, a review on the back of the DVD box declares "Welcome to your new addiction".
They could not have been more right.

As a curious explorer of TV shows in general, I try to discover new shows that would speak to my heart, my soul, my sense of humor, or my brain. This one spoke to my sense of mystery.
"Pretty Little Liars", with all its intricate intrigues and fascinating characters, got me hooked in no time.

Every single episode leaves you on a cliffhanger, overwhelmed with suspense, and hungry for more.
Hanna, Aria, Emily and Spencer form a strong lead in this addictive show, and seem to unravel after the disappearance of their queen bee, Alison. When it seemed as if this tragedy would continue to drive them apart, an anonymous sender calling him/herself "A" begins to stalk the four highschool girls and to threaten them with secrets that only Alison knew about them. The plot doesn't seem very exciting when you read this, does it?
Wait until you watch the first episodes. The plot won't matter to you. The whole atmosphere will drive you on its own.

The only thing that prevents me from rating this show 5 stars is the acting, which is sometimes weak when it comes to some of the youngest characters.
However, I have a particular preference for the smart, determined and impressive Spencer who has an unconventional and classic beauty. Troian Bellisario does a great job interpreting this complex character, whose strong and proud façade seems to hide a sensitive and good-hearted young girl.

Some of the characters have such deep layers that you keep waiting for all of them to come peeling off during the season. And so they do, at a perfect pace, giving us more information, and also more substance....

Very similar to the early seasons of Desperate Housewives. Read more ›