Pretty Little Liars is known for its deaths and for keeping the killers a secret for as long as possible. In the June 20 episode, the latest killer, surrounding one of the most major deaths, was revealed — Charlotte DiLaurentis' (Vanessa Ray).
Charlotte, the “A” who tortured the liars for most of the series, was killed when she was pushed from the church’s bell tower — or so viewers thought. When Caleb (Tyler Blackburn), Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Spencer (Troian Bellisario) follow Mona (Janel Parrish) to a nearby diner, the former A-Team member escapes through a secret passage that leads to the bell tower.
Hanna, who had driven back to Rosewood, is there before Caleb and Spencer make it through the tunnel. She climbs the steps of the steeple and finds Mona in pigtails, a sweater and glasses — her staple look when Ali (Sasha Pieterse) bullied her. Mona confuses Hanna for Charlotte, which triggers a flashback.
The flashback shows Mona confronting Charlotte the night she died. Charlotte just left Radley Sanitarium, and Mona found out that Charlotte intended to hurt more people. Charlotte took over the game after Mona and rubbed that in her face. That pushed Mona over the edge. It looked like Mona was going to push Charlotte off the bell tower, but she didn’t. She threw her to the side and gave Charlotte a chance to do the right thing. Honestly, Mona is one of the best characters in the series. She has gone through so many transformations, and Parrish does a phenomenal job of balancing every aspect of Mona’s personality.
When Charlotte was cast to the side, she leapt at Mona, and the two started fighting. How they did that in a very tight space, no one will know. The death blow came when Mona pushed Charlotte against the wall and smashed her head against a piece of metal.
Mona killed Charlotte — but not on purpose. Mona really did want to change, but she got roped back into the game trying to help Hanna, her true best friend. Mona was probably the most loyal person in the entire series, and it’s sad that her character had to go through so much trauma to be thrown back in therapy.
Fans reacted to Mona’s confession on Twitter:
I knew it!! I knew Mona was trying to help the girls all along #PLLEndGame @JanelParrish
— Sophi ➰ (@Sophi_0454) June 21, 2017
All I'm gonna say is: poor Mona. She deserves better. #PLLEndGame
— Jordi Vanderwaal (@JordiVanderwaal) June 21, 2017
I told you!!!! I told you! Mona did it!! #PLLendgame #pllaywithshay pic.twitter.com/SudN0xHMXd
— My CheriAmour (@JustAGypsy_Soul) June 21, 2017
Mona always trying to protect the girls and putting her mental health at risk SHE DESERVES A HAPPY ENDING #PLL #PLLEndGame pic.twitter.com/Ggr8fz5Ix4
— C ♡ (@karlaxkordei) June 21, 2017
The Pretty Little Liars series finale will air Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Freeform.
