Pretty Little Liars has been one of my few deeply beloved guilty pleasures on television since it came on air in 2010. I was 19 then. Now I’m 24 and just as obsessed with the characters and storyline as ever. Over the last five years though, I’ve developed a clear favorite: Spencer Hastings, played by Troian Bellasario, is hands-down, no-contest the absolute best liar in the A game. Here are six reasons I completely admire the character and want to be her.
- She is the only character who actively tries to solve the mystery of A’s identity.
Pretty much every single episode (with the exception of Spencer’s stint in Radley Sanitarium) shows Spencer dedicating brain power to figuring out the puzzle. She’s constantly dissecting the messages from A, plotting to catch A and her minions, and figuring out a way to save her friends. Spencer is relentless in her battle against the faceless enemy, and I admire her tenacity and fighter’s spirit. - She’s bloody brilliant.
There’s no question that Spencer is the smartest of the liars. She’s an academic rock star in absolutely every subject, and she does most of her work in her head. I have trouble doing basic math in my head, but this character can mentally unscramble children’s blocks to discover A’s true name while she’s being held prisoner. I love that this female character’s dominant trait is her intelligence and academic drive, instead of just being the stereotypical “hot” girl. Finally, a character I can relate to. - She will stand up for herself and her loved ones.
The worst thing any character can do on PLL is try to hurt one of Spencer’s friends or family members. This is the driving force behind her ceaseless work against A. She constantly does everything she can to protect her friends from A, and she will even sacrifice herself to save them. A great example is when she joined the A team as a double agent and put herself in grave danger of being discovered. - She (almost) always has it together.
Granted, it’s a TV show, and everything is scripted. But one of my favorite things about Troian’s character is her ability to keep herself pulled together, even during the most stressful situations. She’s always on top of her game or at least tries to be. This is something I strive for in my day-to-day life, so a character who can manage it all is basically my hero. - Logic rules her more than emotion.
Spencer is a logical person, but that’s not to say she doesn’t have emotions or emotional breakdowns. I mean, she had to be committed when Toby faked his death to protect her, and she has a major addiction to amphetamines. Despite this, she still clings to logic more than anything else and lets it guide her through the maze that is the A mystery. - She doesn’t beat around the bush.
This character has zero time and patience for dishonesty or dodging the truth. Spencer won’t tolerate small talk or fluff words when there are more important things to discuss, like a hooded stranger with a lust for torture. It might seem like she’s harsh and honest to a fault, but I honestly think it’s a quality worth admiring. There’s no point in trying to break the news easy or speak in circles. Be direct and have a purpose when you speak.
Spencer Hastings isn’t a perfect character, but there are plenty of qualities worth admiring in her. The other liars are great in their own ways too, but Spencer just totally mesmerizes me in each and every episode.
(Featured image via Facebook)
