Pretty Little Liars: 5 Ways Ali Changed From Season 1 (& 5 She’s The Same)

When Pretty Little Liars began, fans only saw glimpses of Alison DiLaurentis in flashbacks or the other characters’ memories. Since she had disappeared from the creepy town of Rosewood, it wasn’t until a few seasons in that she came back and viewers got to know her better.

PLL is among TV’s most popular dramas and a big reason why is because of the fascination surrounding Ali’s character. It’s not every day that a high school “queen bee” suddenly disappears and her friends have to comb through random puzzle pieces to solve a mystery. All of the liars grow up by the series finale, and Ali in particular has gone through so much, although in some instances, she’s always herself.

Changed: Became A Mother Of Twins

It’s impossible to compare Ali’s character in the first season to the final without focusing on her twins.

Ali didn’t plan to get pregnant, as “A” artificially inseminated her with Emily’s eggs. This is definitely disturbing and horrible, but moving on from that dark part of the story, it’s clear that Ali was destined to become a mother. She loves her twins and raises them with Emily, who becomes her partner. It’s amazing to see Ali change from a stuck-up teen to a nurturing mom.

The Same: A Bit Bossy And Controlling

Ali wasn’t always a likable girl, especially not during the first few seasons of the show. She was bossy and controlling, and when she came back, she still had the same domineering personality.

It was hard for Ali to separate from her friend group, so even when she came back, she still thought that she could be in charge of them. The liars’ dynamic had shifted so much in her absence that it was a bit jarring for them all.

Changed: Learned About Her Real Family History

The liars’ relatives were often a big part of the story and that was especially true of Alison.

After season 1, her whole idea of her family changed, and she learned about her actual family history. She found out that her relative, Charlotte DiLaurentis, was “A” and that Spencer’s twin Alex Drake was “A.D.” As Alex wanted revenge for Charlotte’s murder, she was going after the liars. It was a crazy twist and a complicated backstory, and Ali was definitely shocked that her family wasn’t what it seemed.

The Same: Always Acted Tough But Felt Lonely

Ali always acted like a tough girl who didn’t need anyone. She thought that she knew best and that no one could tell her anything. This didn’t always work in her favor, as it led to people stalking her and wishing that she was dead.

Ali felt lonely despite the people who thought she was beautiful and cool, and this made daily life difficult for her. While she wanted to marry Elliot Rollins, learning that he was actually evil and that he wasn’t who he seemed was devastating for her, as she lost herself while dating him.

Changed: Ran Away From Home And Then Returned To Rosewood

Ali’s mom thought that she was dead and buried her alive, which is a terrifying thing to think about. It’s no wonder that Ali ran away from home and didn’t think that she could come back. While Mona made the wrong choice in many instances, she was there for Ali and told her how to run away, which was kind and helpful.

Ali went through a massive change when she returned to Rosewood. She probably never imagined that there would be a place for her in her hometown.

The Same: Always Wanted Acceptance And Love

Ali married Elliot Rollins, who was actually a totally evil guy named Archer Dunhill, and it was a disaster since he was playing a game with her.

Ali always wanted to settle down and find someone who truly loved her. Since she tried so hard to be cool and beloved in high school, as she got older, she knew that she needed to leave that persona behind.

Changed: Realized She Loved Her Friend Emily

Rosewood had many potential boyfriends for Ali but fans were thrilled to see Ali and Emily finally fall for each other.

This is one way that Ali changed, as she had seen Emily as a friend and suddenly, she realized the truth: she loved Emily and wanted to be with her. Ali had been in love with her all along, and it was very moving to see them start dating. After dating people who manipulated her and clearly didn’t care about her (including her strange affair with Ezra Fitz), it was nice to see Ali in a healthier place.

The Same: Kept Things From Her Best Friends

Ali never stopped lying and keeping things from the people she claimed were her best friends in the world. Even when she came back to Rosewood and explained where she had been, it was clear that the liars thought she was holding some parts back.

In season 5, Ali went to the cops and faked that she was kidnapped, and her friends hated her for it. They couldn’t believe that she was lying again and they knew it was a dangerous path to go down.

Changed: Stopped Being A Popular Mean Girl

The PLL reboot interests fans because there will always be mean girls in high school, and combining that with a mystery is TV gold.

But as time went on, Ali stopped being someone who cared about being liked and popular. The girl who fled Rosewood was totally different from the shell of a person who returned. She was much nicer and more caring toward her friends.

The Same: Always Seemed Untrustworthy And Evil

Despite Ali’s attempts to change and be a sweeter person, she was always a person of interest in the Rosewood P.D.’s eyes.

In the fifth season, people thought that Ali murdered Mona, and every time Ali got in trouble for something and then was no longer a suspect, she still seemed untrustworthy. It took a while for her old friends to think that she was telling them the truth and there was always a part of her that seemed evil.