Filming on the Pretty Little Liars series finale has wrapped, marking the end of an era for everyone involved.
After seven years of calling Rosewood (aka the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, California) home, it’s now time for the cast and crew of Pretty Little Liars to go their separate ways.
As fans of the show, we’ve been glued to their tweets, instagrams, livestreams and snapchats ever since the first text from A, so it feels like we’re losing something today, too! We still have a while to wait before we have to say goodbye to the show that we love so much (April can’t come soon enough), but it still feels strange knowing that the cast won’t be bringing these characters to life anymore.
If you can’t put your feelings into words, don’t fret! The stars of Pretty Little Liars have taken to social media, as they’ve always been known to do, to share their thoughts on this emotional day. We’ve put together some of the most heartbreaking tributes to the show, the world, and the characters that they’re leaving behind. Get your tissues ready!
Shay Mitchell coped in the only way she knew how — by eating cake
@shaym: Today we let Aria, Alison, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer go while the rest of us tried to cope by eating cake. Thank you everyone for this incredible ride. I’m trying to breathe and soak it all in and I’m just so full of gratitude that this was my life for so long. Rosewood Forever, xoxo Em. I mean Shay. #PLLForever
Lucy Hale had some final words for Aria Montgomery
@lucyhale: From the first episode (this photo) until now … goodbye Aria. You became a huge part of my life and a part of my identity in a way. I’ll miss you , your wacky wardrobe, your ability to do anything for love and your friends. Forever in my heart!!
@lucyhale: The day has come to say goodbye to my second home, a character that helped shaped me and so many people who mean the world to me. Bittersweet feelings today, but so proud of what we’ve done. ❤️
Troian Bellisario wrote a heartfelt goodbye to her dressing room
@sleepinthegardn: I have kept so little in this room over the years, by Patti and Lo have been here through all of it. I guess I had hopes it would make it easy to pack up when the end came. Well, It took very little time but nothing about the packing was felt easy. Goodbye room (and my home for 7 years). Be good to the next girl. Whoever she is.
Ashley Benson is excited to keep the fans with her on her journey
@itsashbenzo: Reflecting on these last seven years in my empty room I called home. I will never forget this experience. I was so lucky to work with such amazing people who have affected my life greatly. I am so happy to know they will be my family from here on out. To the fans…… what can I say other than I love you so much. Thank you for being on this journey with me and giving me so much support. I wouldn’t be here without all of you. I’m sad to say bye to Hanna….. but I’m excited to see what the future holds and I’m so happy to know that all of you will be by my side ❤️
Sasha Pieterse will be #forevergrateful
@sashapieterse27: I can’t believe that the day has come. In a couple of hours I’ll be going to work for the last time at my second home. Although this day will be filled with happy and sad tears, I’ll be forever grateful to share them with the ones I’ve come to call family. #pllfamily
Some of our favorite ships shared special goodbyes
@sleepinthegardn: There are not words that I can write (here) that could express the gratitude I have for walking next to this man for 7 years. @keeoone you know how I feel about you. You know what this part of my life means to me, you know all of the darkness and the light that we have shared over these years, the insane pants pissing laughter and now the heaving and hiccuping sobs that will live in my heart forever. Even if Spencer and Toby only exist in Rosewood you will always have me. Love you friend. Thank you.
@keeoone: In these last hours embodying our characters, I want to reflect on a great love I have for you. Last night, I was very present and took the time to really look at you as you are now. I have grown up with you and learned so much from you. I’m a better person because of you. I will continue to look up to you as an actor, because you care so deeply for our craft, and bring the greatest truth to everything you do. I absolutely love you Troian Bellisario. And as our characters drift off into space and away from our control, I remain grateful I could inhabit their existence with you right there to ground and protect me. I will miss these subtle moments and quick, brief glimpses of you and this whole surreal experience.
@lucyhale: This guy made my job and life so fun. Thank you @ianmharding for being you. Cherish you always.
@ianmharding: This one has made every day of work a total joy. Thank you for putting up with my dumb songs and my affinity for not shutting up. You’re a gem miss Hale. I’ll miss you tremendously. Much love and Happy wrap. @lucyhale
Ezra/Toby counts as a ship too
@ianmharding: This isn’t a good photo, but it’s an important one. I snapped it quickly from across a subway platform several years ago. Keegan and I were both working in the city, but managed to catch up one afternoon. We walked and talked for hours, waxing poetic and picking apart the little moments of our lives. It’s a habit he and I continue to this day. Of the many blessings this show has bestowed upon me, meeting and befriending this fellow counts as one of the most important. Much love and happy wrap my friend. @keeoone
Friends and enemies alike shared their final tributes
@tylerjblackburn: Repping Caleb Rivers forever. This is one of the most emotionally challenging days I’ve had in a long time. I’m in a fog. Feeling grateful nonetheless. I love my #PLL family!
@keeoone: As I reflect on these years together in my dressing room on stage 6 on the WB lot (apparently James Dean once climbed above it and hid in the rafters) it is silent. I am unable to find the words to equate how tremendously emotional I feel. It is unlike anything I could ever explain. I will think about this often, and look back fondly on what we all shared together. I can’t even believe it. So grateful for the support of our fans and friends. I will miss this family so very much.
@janelparrish: Today, we all series wrap on @prettylittleliars. This picture was my first ever episode as Mona, 7 years ago. I am so blown away by what an impact this show has had on my life since. We owe it all to you, #pllarmy. Don’t ever stop watching and loving us. And I owe it to you @imarleneking. Thanks for trusting me and believing in me and giving me a family and role to love for 7 years. Let’s do this.
@brendanrobinson: As filming on #PLL comes to a close today, I’m left reflecting on how much this show has changed my life. It’s been an incredible experience that I will hold close to my heart forever. And none of it would have been possible without all of YOU, the fans, the #pllarmy! The cast & crew and I are eternally grateful for your love, support and loyalty for the past 7 seasons!! Also, a special thank you to our fearless captain @imarleneking and all of our writers/producers, everyone at @freeform & @warnerbrostv, and of course @itsashbenzo for being an amazing scene partner for so many #HannaandLucas scenes!! Cheers!! @prettylittleliars #bestfans #prettylittleliars
@torreydevitto: And now, it’s time to say my final goodbye … In the wee hours of this morning I did my final scenes as Melissa Hastings. I don’t think it’s quite hit me that this show that so quickly became like a home base for me, or that this character whom I have learned so much from and grew SO much with is now over. So much has happened over these last 7 years, but through all these changes, ‘pretty little liars’ stood as a constant space to go back to. Thank you to everyone involved and thank you to all who love and watch this show. It’s been such an honor to play this character and work with such an amazing cast and crew. And a special thank you to @imarleneking for creating this world for us all to get lost in. Feeling so grateful for you and these last 7 years. #byebyePLL #ByebyeMelissa
@vrayskull: Dear little sister (#prettylittleliars) ,
I didn’t know what I was getting when you came into my life. I knew you were special when I got my audition to potentially be a part of your world. When I walked into mama @iamarleneking ‘s office and made a joke about tequila and it landed I should have realized that I was home. People talk about LA and the dream of being on a studio lot and being on a TV show, but the reality blows the dream out of the water. You have been my favorite thing I’ve looked forward to for the past 4 years. As a girl who was homeschooled and never knew what it was to “fit in” you have made me feel cool and excepted. Unbeknownst to you you got me through the heart ache of being dumped by what I thought was my dream job, loved me when I left to lick my wounds on the east coast, then welcomed me home and gave me a break from the grind and let me be a girly girl; painted my nails gave me lashes and a green juice and told me to try my hand at creating CeCe or Charles or my sweet Charlotte. @sashapieterse27 you helped me through what could have been the most stressful week of my life: simultaneously planning my wedding and playing the iconic role of A. Pll army pat yourself on the back for giving us loyalty and kindness and devotion, you are each a part of the love and respect I experienced every second I’ve been a part of this. Little sister, you have quite simply changed my life. I am a more creative person because of your fierce strong female embodiment. Thank you @iamarleneking for including me in this world. I will forever be grateful. I love you. Vaness-A
And an honorable mention goes to Patrick Adams aka Harvey aka Troian Bellisario’s fiance, because he is #boyfriendgoals and we all know what it’s like to have a tumultuous relationship with this show
@halfadams:
Dear Pretty Little Liars,
Let’s be honest, we’ve had a complicated and pretty long relationship. I’ve known you almost as long as I’ve known @sleepinthegardn (I got the pleasure a few months earlier than you). In that time we’ve definitely had some laughs. you’ve afforded us opportunities I could never have imagined, introduced me to some of the finest cast and crew I’ve ever met and you let me play darts with @ianmharding for an episode while discussing the nuances of the word “statutory”. All good memories. But sometimes we didn’t see eye to eye. Like the countless mornings that @sleepinthegardn had to slink away before sunrise or the painful Sunday nights when she’d have to board a plane and cross the 2516 miles back to your loving arms. We’ve had to share her for so long and the arrangement has been pretty painful because, let’s face it, who would ever want to let her go?
But here we are. The last day. She’s still yours for 13 more hours (maybe more…probably more) and she’s still 2516 miles away from me but today…today I’m not angry. Today I’m not jealous. Today I’m pretty grateful. Because in the last 8 years I’ve watched Troian live and learn and grow more than most people get the chance to in a lifetime. You’ve challenged her, pushed her, asked more of her than she even knew she had and then gave us the gift of being able to celebrate her.
So after a lot of years of swearing at you under my breath I realize now I should be thanking you. Thanking and congratulating you. Because after 7 seasons, 160 episodes and a number of tweets that mathematicians have yet to discover a number to express – you are breathing the rarest of air. You’ve been a best friend and shared experience for millions of young people (and more than a few older ones) and entertained and inspired and terrified a generation with every buried body and surprise text message. @imarleneking you built something that changed countless lives, employed hundreds and will live on long after we’re all gone. You win. Everything.
So #PLL I wish you well and I’m sorry for any disagreements – we both meant well. But now I’m gonna take Troian’s hand back and follow wherever it leads.
pjA
Are you crying yet? If you can still see through the tears, leave your own tribute to the Pretty Little Liars cast and crew in the comments.