ABC FamilyCancel Thanksgiving, we're already stuffed.
Excuse us while we go put on our stretchy pants hella early this holiday season because we are so full of Pretty Little Liars scoop after watching the Nov. 24 special, "Flash-Forward," that we almost physically ill. (JK, pass the pumpkin pie, you monsters.)
In the jampacked one-hour special, we got an update on just what has happened to all of Rosewood's residents in the five years since "A" was unmasked and stopped (Charlotte [Vanessa Ray] is still around though).
Here, we've broken down all the information given to us by showrunner Marlene King, stars Lucy Hale, Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell and Sasha Pieterse, as well as the bed buddies (Ian Harding, Tyler Blackburn and Keegan Allen), by each PLL.
Warning, prepare for information overload in 3...2...1...
Aria (Lucy Hale)
After deciding to end things with Ezra (Ian Harding), Aria went to Georgia before transferring to Boston after deciding to switch her major from photography to writing. There, she "finds a love of publishing," which is how she and Ezra reconnect. "They start working together," Hale said. But Ezria fans shouldn't get too excited just yet.
"She's in a good spot, she's in a new relationship," Hale previewed. "She's fallen in love again." The lucky guy? Liam, her co-worker.
Still, Aria might be "in denial that she's fully over" everything that happened to her in the past.
Hanna (Ashley Benson)
After the finale, Hanna and Caleb (Tyler Blackburn) did move to New York City together, living in Tribeca. While Caleb continued his work in the tech world, Hanna went to FIT, studying fashion and interning for Zac Posen before heading off to Europe, where she met her current boss.
"Things didn't really quite work out with her and Caleb she was always one a lot traveling, she didn't really make time for her relationship," Benson said, leading to a split. "While she was in Europe she met her fiancée." That's right, Hanna is not engaged to Caleb, something that upset Benson about the time-jump: "That was the saddest part I ever read, that I was away from Caleb."
Blackburn said fans will see Caleb experience "anxiety" over seeing Hanna again.
Spencer (Troian Bellisario)
Spencer was off the Georgetown after the "A" debacle, with Bellisario saying she "really finally got to focus on her academics." But the distance was too much for her and Toby (Keegan Allen), who stayed in Rosewood and on the police force. "They really just grew apart…you get to take a romance that's been working for six year and watch the moment where it all crumbles."
Now, Spencer works on Capitol Hill and is a lobbyist/"glorified coffee-gofer" with "high political aspirations."
As for Toby, he's inherited "a lot of money" from his house that was blown up by "A," and decided to buy three acres of land outside of Rosewood "to start building his dream home," Allen revealed (And the countdown for a storyline a la The Notebook begins!) Oh, and he ends up saving a woman named Yvonne who will be "an important person in the story and his life," Allen teased.
Emily (Shay Mitchell)
Wanting to get as far away from Rosewood as possible, Emily went to California as it "always held a special place in her heart," Mitchell said. But after the tragic death of her father, she dropped out of school. "It was too much for her," Mitchell explained. "She starts bartending in California."
The most damaged by the past, Emily will return to Rosewood with the biggest secret. "[Aria, Spencer and Hanna] create secrets in our episode back, but Emily come back with a secret, the biggest baggage," Marlene King said.
However, there is one bright spot for fans: In a sneak peek (more on this later), Alison revealed that Emily has at least visited Paige (Lindsey Shaw) at Stanford. Hope for Paily?!
Alison (Sasha Pieterse)
Alison is now a teacher at Rosewood High School and is happily married…to her sister Charlotte's doctor, Dr. Owen. "He treats her really well," Pieterse dished, adding that the relationship needed to be a secret at first.
Alison and Charlotte have also done a lot of bonding throughout the five year time-jump, which leads to Alison asking the four girls to come back and testify that they no longer feel threatened by Charlotte.
"The girls don't want to do it, but they feel an allegiance to their friend, to each other," Bellisario said.
Ezra
Arguably the most damaged of the entire group? Ezra, who has had an eventual five years, Harding said.
Why? Ezra followed Nicole down to South America and he truly loves what he is doing there. But "that is taken away from him very quickly and violently," Harding warned. Forced to return to Rosewood, Harding said Ezra is "completely rudderless" and has "no sense of who he is and what he's supposed to be doing with his life." This leads Ezra to "fall down a really deep well into a sea of alcohol."
King added, "He's broken."
Other Teases
New BFF alert? Toby and Caleb! Apparently, they are "best best friends" and go fishing each weekend. Caloby 4eva!
Radley Sanitarium is now a boutique hotel. (What is this, American Horror Story?!)
Spencer is now living in the barn from the pilot, the one she originally redecorated before Melissa took it over. Sadly, all of the girls' old bedroom sets were taken down.
Spencer's mom is running for Senate! (We're so glad the Pretty Little Moms were able to escape that basement.)
Two scenes from the Jan. 12 premiere were shown, including one in which Alison and Jason visit Charlotte (with an appearance by Dr. Anne Sullivan [Annabeth Gish]), and another, far more juicy one, in which Alison and Mona have a not-so-sweet reunion after Mona (who we learn went to Duke and majored in political science) makes a surprise appearance at Rosewood High. We soon learn she tried to sneak in and get close to Charlotte. Why? She's nervous about the secrets and info Charlotte has on each of the girls, and if she will reveal it once she's released.
There was need for a heart-shaped bed for a scene. Speculate away!
As for the new big bad? The girls begin to receive messages again after they all return to Rosewood, but it feels very different—and far more lethal—this time. "It's no longer about 'I'm going to expose some secret that you have,' it's paranoia, it's blackmail, it's a life-threatening situation," Bellisario teased, adding that they know it's not Charlotte behind the creepy messages this time. "It's life or death," King warned.
Phew, enough info for ya? What are you most excited to see when PLL returns? Sound off in the comments!
Pretty Little Liars returns Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. on Freeform, the new name of ABC Family.