#fAcetoface with A

I pretty much can hardly handle the #BigA reveal tonight on Pretty Little Liars. There are soo many fan theories circulating out there. Here are my guesses, although I can't actually back everything up with examples . . .

My Initial Feeling:

Big A = Wren - He's really Charles and that's his motivation - not sure why he hates the girls though
Red Coat = CeCe
Black Widow = Melissa
Uber A = Aria (we won't find this out until the end of the 7th season)

But, I need to take into considering the following information:

All key plot lines revolve around Radley.

1. Wren volunteered there
2. Aria volunteered there
3. Mona lived there
4. Spencer lived there
5. Bethany Young lived there
6. Toby's mom lived & died there
7. Charles DiLaurentis lived and possibly died there
8. Jessica D was on the board at Radley
9. A young Spencer may have been there too (remember the Maddie Ziegler dance?)
10. How was Mona able to just come and go from Radley
11. What did that orderly guy know? Forget his name . 
12. A CCavanaugh visited Radley. Charles Cavanaugh aka Toby who isn't really Charles but has taken over his identity a bit? Or maybe he really was Charles at one time. Are Marion Cavanaugh & Mrs D siblings?

They also revolve around the DiLaurentis Family.

1. Someone has been trying to kill Ali for years - she even faked her own death to escape
2. Ali's mom, buying 2 little girl dresses (in a flashback), the birthday party with "Freddy" at the Campbell Farm
3. Jessica D's sister was a Campbell
4. Andrew is an adopted Campbell
5. Ken D thought Charles was dead. He also told Jason that Charlie was his imaginary friend.
6. Jessica was on the board of directors for Radley - where Charles, Bethany, Marian lived . . .
7. Jason is always in and out of town, mysteriously. Why? Was he really at rehab? 
8. Charles - is he dead or alive? Is someone pretending to be him or using the name of Charles D as a ruse?
9. And Mrs D got pregnant for Jason by Mr. Hastings. That makes Spencer and Jason & the D family 1/2 siblings. 

And just where do the following people fit into the equation?

1. Sara Harvey
2. Who was Hottie Boy Ali thought she was pregnant by all those years ago?
3. Melissa, if she's not Black Widow
4. CeCe, if she's not Red Coat
5. Mona
6. Andrew Campbell
7. Bethany Young
8. Charles D - is he dead or alive
9. How many people are currently on the A Team?
10. Jenna
11. Lucas
12. Where is Tippy the bird?
13. The NAT Club in general - It's interesting that Jason is the only member who's still alive.

Are any of these "dead" people actually still alive? Marlene King hinted some dead might rise...

1. Maya
2. Garret
3. Wildon
4. Ian
5. Jessica D
6. Marion Cavanaugh

Consider these:

Who is technologically advanced enough to be A?

1. Caleb
2. Mona
3. Andrew Campbell
4. Ezra
5. probably Spencer
6. Lucas
7. Maybe Jenna

Who is rich enough to fund A?

1. Hanna
2. Mona
3. Any of the DiLaurentis clan
4. Carissimi Group which seems related to Jessica DiLaurentis
5. Spencer
6. Melissa
7. The Hastings parents

People who like dolls?

1. Mona
2. Aria
3. Ali had dolls in her room too

The Charles Clues

1. Charlemagne
2. The Mime at Ravenswood (who I initially thought looked like Caleb but now think looks like Toby) 

Who was at the Prom 7 Years Ago:

1. CeCe was Prom Queen
2. Jason
3. Garret
4. Melissa
5. Ian
6. Maybe Charles should have been there - maybe he was. 

The whole Charles is a Girl Theory:

1. That Charles became Bethany Young
2. That he is Sara Harvey
3. This is why he likes dolls so much?

Other things that have shaped my final(ish) opinion:

1. Keenan saying that the ending is bittersweet
2. Makes me think it's someone we care deeply for. 
3. Hearing that it's been in front of our face all along by Marlene King.
4. Spencer says that she got the feeling she knew Charles to the girls after she'd just been standing in front of him. This could mean Ian, Jason, or TOBY . . .

So, I've sort of decided this:

Big A = Toby (although personally, I don't think he's smart enough). It was really one of A's minions in the arcade to throw the others off the scent that it was really Toby all along. Toby has always seemed kind of older. He never finished school (maybe he already did elsewhere - around Jason's graduation time), always had a big boy job while his gf was in high school, etc. He could be older.

Motives = Hates Ali for blackmailing him over Jenna. Thinks the D family is somehow responsible for his mom's death. He's avenging it. Hates the liars, well, b/c they did the Jenna thing. The NAT Club except for Jason as all been killed. He's been dating Spencer to stick close to the Liars to try to ruin their lives/kill them. He tried to date Emily first, but she turned out to be gay. Then he moved to Spencer. Has been with Jenna the entire time (as in in-love). She is Red Coat and she can see.

Actual Red Coat = Jenna (CeCe and Ali have worn it too) - She has a lot of the same motives as Toby - the whole Jenna thing, revenge for Toby's mom, etc. Or we could all be surprised and it's Maya from the dead. Not sure of her motive though. I do think Red Coat is more in control than Big A.

Black Widow = Melissa - like she told Spencer earlier re the Bethany/Ali buried alive thing - she did it to protect her little sister. Maybe the Black Widow is good and has been around helping the Liars. She knew about Toby and Jenna so she kept a close eye on Spencer and the girls. 

Now, if one of the dead people was really still alive this whole time, who would it be and what would their motive be for the dollhouse, etc?

1. Maya - she seemed to have secret info about Ali (maybe found it hidden in their house)
2. Ian - He hated Ali for sure for coming between him and Melissa
3. Garret - He loved Jenna, so if Jenna is involved, maybe him laying low was part of the plan all along.
4. Wildon - Connected to Jason, Ali, etc

And what's with . . . .

1. That darn yellow Ali shirt everyone has to wear?
2. The doll fixation?
3. Maya's secret web page? Was Maya really killed for some other reason?
4. If Wren isn't A, then what's with him anyway?
5. Jason being the only ALIVE member of the NAT Club (that we know of)
6. The dude in the gas mask in the Halloween episode? We still don't know who that was. And then Mona got the gas mask in the Dollhouse . . .
7. Lucas & Jenna holding hands at prom together? Did anyone else catch that?
8. This could be a neverending list. . .

Things I Want Answered in an Hour:

1. Who is Big A and why?
2. Who are A's minions and why?
3. Who is Red Coat and their connection to Big A?
4. Who is Black Widow?
5. Is Charles dead or alive?
6. What's up with Bethany?
7. What's up with Sara? She foreshadowed that Emily prob won't like her after this final reveal episode last week.
8. What's up with Radley in general?
9. Why did the people who've died have to die and who actually killed them? It would be too tidy to say that A killed them all. After all, we've all seen the movie Clue.
10. 
    

Pre-Show A-nalysis Working Theories - With Vi and Nan

Here's what we know about The Big A:
1. Was in Season 1
2. It's "Bittersweet" per Keegan Allen
3. It's twisted . . . (also per Keegan Allen)

1. The Twisted Version: Toby & Jenna have been a secret couple the ENTIRE time and are jointly A. We don't have a lot to back this up, but it is a pretty twisted guess.

2. The Bittersweet Version: Emily is A and the reason Paige suddenly left town & dropped Emily like a hot potato is because she figured out. Paige should've drowned her when she had the chance. We don't really have anything to back this up, other than it would be pretty sad if the sweetest member of the Liars gang was A.

3. Most Probable Version: Hanna is A. She and Mona (the first A) were best friends in Season 1. She's the most similar-looking to Ali. Ali humiliated her the most, making fun of her eating habits, her size, and the fact that her first kiss was with Aria's brother Mike. By Season 1, she was skinny, popular and re-invented with Mona's help. Remember Mona? She's dead now, but she was the original A. . .

Most of Hanna's A-prompted humiliations, like eating a bunch of cupcakes and bad-mouthing her soon-to-be step-mother at her father's wedding, were very public while those of the other liars were less visual.

Her mom was the first Rosewoodian to get put in jail, perhaps throwing the scent off Hanna? And Mrs. Marin would do anything to protect her daughter, including sleeping with Officer Wilden to keep her shop-lifting daughter our of juvie.

Let's talk about Hanna's men, shall we? Lucas was on Team A for awhile, and we all know he had a crush on Hanna. Caleb is a no-brainer with his cyber talents and "I would do anything for love" devotion to her. Then there was that little tryst with Wren at Radley while visiting Mona (re: Original A). And the time she kissed Officer Holbrook? Yep - you mustn't forget that Kodak moment.

Hanna vs the Liars:

Ali - Ali was the cruelest to her and the obvious target of her revenge. Hanna practically became Ali, aka the coolest girl in school, after Ali disappeared. She and Mona ruled the school. She needs Alison either gone or in jail to continue her reign.
Emily - Emily always loved Ali the best and in most seasons, was eager to do anything for the girl she loved. That might make Hanna dislike her.
Aria - (Still working on this one)
Spencer - She's a smart cookie. A spent a lot of time trying to get Spencer in jail, first for killing Ali, then for murdering Mona. It only makes sense that the Liar voted Most Likely to Solve for A, would be Spencer, therefore, she needed to be taken out first and foremost.

Hanna was also Ali's named "accomplice", and was the only person other than her mom and Jason who knew about that random night of MILF passion. A made sure it came up in Ali's trial.

Season 5 revealed how smart she is (getting a high score on the SATs and getting into Ivy League schools). She's had the smarts all along to run the A scheme.

Who do YOU think A is?

Per-Show A-nalysis of the Big A on PLL!

I feel like we’re in an 80’s Choose Your Own Adventure book, because ANY of these characters could be A!

It’s t-minus 4 hours to A’s bid showdown, and I thought I’d take a moment (or 20) to go over my thoughts on who the Big A might be and why . . . Feel free to weigh-in in the comments section! I’m dying to read your theories!

Jenna Marshall – Conniving Jenna dominated Seasons 1-3 with sensitive, scared Jenna showing up in Season 4. However, other than the random Alison-Mask-Face moment in the Christmas episode, she’s been inexplicably absent from Season 5. She may be the Big A, but I think she’d be featured a bit more prominently in this season. I’m ruling her out.

Alison DiLaurentis – It would be great if the one suspected all 5 seasons of being A, was, actually, A! But, that wouldn’t be any fun . . .

Vivian Darkbloom – Was that really Ali dressed up or does Ali have a twin? Can you say, “Satan A?”

Jason DiLaurentis – Um, sex with Mrs. Marin? That earned a few out-loud “No’s” screamed by my friend and I during Season 5. He’s always seemed sketchy to me, and is at the center of everything, being not only Alison’s brother but also Spencer’s. I wouldn’t count him out.

Jessica DiLaurentis – She’s obviously not “the” A since we all know she’s dead and buried . . . but who killed her? That’s what I still want to know. And did she really think Spencer killed Ali? And why did she bury her own daughter? Perhaps she thought Jason murdered his own sister. . . and perhaps he tried to. . .

CeCe Drake – Alison’s evil twin. She’s definitely worked for A if she’s not “the” A. I think it would be too obvious if she was, though, so I’m ruling her out.

Melissa Hastings – Dear old Melissa: one minute, pretending to be protecting Spencer, the next, eyes narrowing in evil desire to hurt her sister and her friends. I don’t trust her, so she’s still in the running.

Peter Hastings – He’s practically in bed (figuratively) with all of his daughter’s (Melissa) misdeeds. These two come as a pair. If she’s an A, then so is he. Hey, maybe an entire family is the Big A. Maybe it’s “The Hastings = A.” Wouldn’t be shocked.

Toby Cavanaugh – Maybe he didn’t just put himself in the police department to keep Spencer safe. Maybe he’s really there to keep on top of things as the Big A! He was an A helper, afterall. I almost peed my pants during that reveal scene!

Spencer Hastings – She’s too obvious a choice for A. She’s smart and nosy as hell. I don’t think it’s her.

Wren Kingston – Melissa’s boyfriend who makes out with Spencer which breaks up his relationship with Melissa which sends him packing but pops him up at Radley of all places being best buds with former A, Mona, and now he’s back with Melissa???? We haven’t seen him in Season 5, but I’ve never trusted him and want to learn more about his connection to Radley. Don’t we all?

Lucas Gottesman – Lucas Lucas Lucas. He loves Hanna, but hates Ali. He even destroys her memorial. Then there was that whole canoe-kidnapping of Hanna in Season 3 or 4. Wait. Didn’t someone try to drown Jenna in the same episode? Who was that? I can’t keep up with all of this stuff!!

Emily Fields – Gentle Emily. I think she’s the least likely of all the “girls” to be the Big A, so perhaps PLL will blow my mind and choose her.

Paige McCullers – Tries to drown Emily, then tries to sleep with Emily. Emily sleeps with the enemy. She’s always been a bit obscure and on-edge. It’s strange that in Season 5 she was all gung-ho Emily, then suddenly super happy to move away and never talk to Emily again. Suspect, much?

Ezra Fitzgerald – Still don’t trust him. I still think he’s a head-runner for the Big A. He clearly has the spyware and the detective skills. I don’t trust him anymore, and Aria and her friends shouldn’t either. What adult teacher dates a 16-year-old student anyway? Ew, gross!

Noel Kahn – Evil as sin, but I don’t think he’s smart enough to pull all of this off. He needs people like Ali to tell him what to do.

Sydney Driscoll – She and her terrifying lips showed up in Season 4, but thankfully only reared their ugly, uh, lips in the Christmas episode of Season 5. Maybe her mouth is A!

Aria Montgomery – Besides Emily, she’s the least likely Big A in my opinion. That would, by default, make her a good A . . .
Mike Montgomery – He’s not smart enough to be the Big A, but he’s certainly doing favors for A or for a dead Mona.

Andrew Campbell – Clearly he’s a regular on Season 5 and we all saw the end of that one episode where A was putting “Andrew Jackson” bills in each prison Bible. But wouldn’t that just be TOO obvious of PLL to make him A? He’s certainly helping A, but I doubt he’s the Big A. Maybe he doesn’t even know about A at all. Maybe he’s just a random psychotic *sshole Aria’s managed to get mixed up with.

Officer Holbrook – Too obvious plus he hasn’t been around in all the seasons. Not sure why he was dumb enough to let Ali mess with his head, but clearly he’s weak somewhere inside. Oh, and the Santa outfit looked stupid, by the way.

Lt Tanner – Yeah, no.

Pastor Ted – Um, possibly. I can’t remember them now, but I feel sure I had some funny feelings about him in the past. It would just make sense for someone as proper and devout as Pastor Ted to be A. Pastors can be creepers, you know.

Hanna Marin – I’ve gone down the list of all the other Liars, leaving her for last. Season 5 has really promoted Hanna being the smartest of the girls. She’s looked pretty evil/guilty to me at times, and I really just feel Season 5 has set her up to be the ultimate A, with or without Caleb’s interwebs help.

Caleb Rivers – See above. He’d do anything for Hanna. Anything – even be on a really bad tv show named Ravenswood that anyone could see was going to be cancelled after the first season!

Oh! Mona's Mom - Where has she disappeared to this season? Maybe the reason Mona was so smart is because she learned it from her mom!!

In all sincerity, with Keegan Allen calling the reveal "tragically beautiful," I feel like it HAS to be one of the Liars. I'm going to settle on Hanna.