10 Times What We Know Now Changed Everything In My Re-Watch Of 'Pretty Little Liars' Season 1

Re-watching the first season of PLL at this point in the show (in between seasons 5 and 6) affords the viewer a lot of epiphanies — and of course, because it's PLL, brings up even more questions.

As I wait out the seemingly endless hiatus between seasons of Pretty Little Liars (season 6 premieres on June 2nd in the U.S.), I decided to do a re-watch of the show from the beginning. I've been a fan of the show since it started and re-watching the first season has been a treat — not only because the show is awesome (nuanced, genuinely suspenseful, deep, and funny), but also because we (the viewers as well as the eponymous liars) know so much more now. Here are a few things I've noticed — and a few questions I have — while re-watching season 1, regarding character's histories, lies, and motivations that we now know colored a lot of the goings-on in season 1.

Obviously, spoilers abound below.

1. Mona is 'A' in Season 1

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At the end of PLL season 2, we — and the liars — learned that Mona Vanderwaal (formerly Loser Mona and more recently, Hanna's Queen BFF) had been their anonymous tormentor ever since Aria moved back to Rosewood and Alison's body was discovered in the show's pilot. Knowing this while watching season 1 loads Mona's every appearance with meaning. Oh, Mona was mad at Hanna when 'A' hit Hanna with a car? Mona was in the play when the liars found "Ian's" trophy covered in rat blood? Mona pops up out of nowhere all the time? Duh, guys, Mona's 'A'!

Also, as we know from the season 4 finale, Mona was the one who convinced Ali to fake her death and get the heck outta Rosewood — thereby assuring her (and Hanna's) own ascension to Queen Bee throne. Devious, Vanderwaal!

2. "Ezra Fitz, Teacher" = "Ezra Fitz(gerald), Aspiring Truman Capote"

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Ezra Fitz was taking notes for his true crime novel based on Alison DiLaurentis' disappearance the whole time he was seeing Aria (until she found out about his "research" in season 4, anyway) — and he knew exactly who she was when they met (and made out) at that bar in the pilot episode. Sorry not sorry, #Ezria fans, but knowing this makes their already creepy (and illegal) relationship even creepier.

Bonus re-watch LOL to when Byron Montgomery, Aria's dad, asks Ezra if teaching at Rosewood HS is his way of hiding out from pursuing his writing — and Ezra looks like he's about to poop his pants, because he knows (and we know, now!) that he was hiding out at RHS to pursue his writing. And another bonus LOL to Aria telling Ezra he was the only guy who never lied to her in the season 1 finale. Think again, Montgomery!

3. Noel Kahn knows all?

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At the end of season 4, we learned that Noel Kahn not only knew Ali was alive, but was also helping her while she was on the run. Did he know this way back in season 1 when he tried to date Aria? Was he helping Ali stay incognito when she pushed Ian off the bell tower in the season 1 finale (he shows up in the crowd when the liars walk out of the church after being MIA for a few episodes)? Noel Kahn's hair is full of secrets, y'all!

4. Melissa thought Spencer killed Alison…and more!

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Thanks to Melissa Hastings' dramatic video confession to Spencer in season 5, we know that Melissa thought Spencer killed Ali with a shovel That Night…and buried the body to help cover for her sis! Turns out Melissa really buried a still-alive Bethany Young, and we still don't know who attacked Bethany — but it wasn't Spencer. However, re-watching season 1 with Melissa's confession in mind makes it apparent that Melissa's concern over Ali's body being found is really masking her concern over her own role, and Spencer's perceived role, in the girl's death.

Knowing what Melissa thinks she knows also makes her anger over Spencer's Ian accusations a bit more understandable — Mel was in quite a tough spot when Spencer shone a spotlight on Ian as Ali's killer. Exonerate her hubby by telling what she did/what she thinks she knows? Or continue to protect Spencer while Spencer was (seemingly ungratefully, to Melissa) going after Ian with a pitchfork?

5. Ian + Melissa = a great and terrible union

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Ian probably knew what Melissa "knew," too — hence their quickie marriage (since you can't be forced to testify against a spouse) and his general a-tti-tude toward Spencer. He was perpetually confused about why Spencer would be coming after him (because he thought, as Melissa did, that Spencer killed Ali) and when he was ready to kill her/fake her suicide in the season 1 finale, he claimed he was doing it out of his love for Melissa. This makes a lot of sense when you consider that he likely knew Melissa had buried the body she thought her sister had attacked with a shovel. So killing Spencer, who was on a tear blaming Ian and also under investigation herself, would take care of that secret/problem right quick. He also describes, when talking about Spencer's faux suicide note, the exact way Melissa thought the murder went down.

6. RIP Maya

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Maya's fate (revealed in full halfway through season 3) is even sadder when you see her pulling away from Emily while she's at True North (with Cousin Nate/Lyndon James) in real time. We know what awaits her. We know she should stay away from Lyndon at True North. RIP Maya.

7. Jenna loves Garrett…and Toby

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We find out at the end of season 1 that Jenna and Garrett are together, and per a comment Ali made about them in the season 4 finale, they have been ever since the summer before Ali disappeared. So why was she still so possessive of Toby in season 1? Because she was scared he'd tell their secret? Or because she just wanted both of them? We may never know.

If Garrett's story in season 3 is to be believed, Jenna also thought Garrett killed Alison. So Jenna's paranoia and stress over the Peeping Tom videos at the end of season 1 wasn't just about her secret being revealed — she was worried about Garrett, too (maybe).

8. Paige and Ali had a history

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When Paige was trying to date Emily (secretly) in season 1, she told Em that Alison was "dynamic," but that she didn't know Ali well at all. This is a lie. We know, via Cece and later Paige herself, that Ali and Paige were well-acquanited…because they hated each other. Alison bullied Paige right into an almost-suicide (man, Ali really was a bitch, huh?). Honestly, I can't blame Paige for lying to Emily about her and Ali's history, since it was so terrible.

However, I can totally blame Paige for trying to drown Emily and then trying to date her. And I can blame Emily for letting her succeed with the latter! This is still as absurd as it ever was in a re-watch, FYI.

9. Cece, Ali, and the infamous frat party

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We learn later on that Cece got kicked out of college because someone blamed her for the girl falling down the stairs at Ian's frat party. This party is first mentioned (and flashbacked to) in season 1, but Cece is nowhere to be seen (probably because the actress wasn't cast yet, since Cece didn't show up until season 3) — and neither was Ali, at least not when the girl fell down the stairs. Was Ali off somewhere with Cece during that party? Was Cece her real reason for bringing the girls to that party (not Ian)? Most importantly…did Cece and Ali toss a random girl down the stairs?!

10. Alison is alive!

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This is a huge thing to know when re-watching season 1 — Alison is alive, and on the run, the whole time! Which means that Hanna's conversation with Ali in the hospital wasn't a hallucination — it was real. Even though Ali still spoke like a cryptic figment of someone's imagination. Ali also pushed Ian off the bell tower to save Spencer's life. But she didn't stick around for long (though Noel Kahn, her maybe-helper, did). Knowing Ali is alive the whole time is fun when re-watching season 1, but it's also sad — all the mourning and memorializing the liars do is for naught. How much more at peace would they be if they knew their BFF wasn't actually dead? (Probably not much, since Ali was a monster, had someone after her, and A was already tormenting the girls. But still.)

As usual, re-visiting Pretty Little Liars brings up more questions than answers — but it's cool to look back at season 1 and realize that this show's been planting seeds since the very beginning. And it's fun to watch knowing all we do now. Can't wait until June 2nd!