‘Pretty Little Liars’: How Spencer Hastings Went From Preppie To Prisoner 

‘Pretty Little Liars’: How Spencer Hastings Went From Preppie To Prisoner

Now that we’re five seasons and over 100 episodes in to “Pretty Little Liars,” the show’s core cast has gone through enough twists, turns, makeovers and deaths (real

fake) to change their lives forever. But no one on the show has had a bumpier ride than Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario), who will face a pretty serious murder charge when the show returns for its Christmas special, “How the ‘A’ Stole Christmas,” next Tuesday (December 9).

… All in a few short years? Let’s take a walk down “PLL” memory lane to jog our memories.

This was the start of everything, though “A” didn’t show up for Spencer and co. until a full year later.

Then, she was nearly murdered by her brother-in-law while she searched for A.

He in turn was hanged by A — right in front of Spencer.

Her relationship with Toby gave her some newfound confidence as well as a (usually) trustworthy confidant, but it also gave A some more leverage when it came to emotionally terrorizing Spencer.

The lovely A quickly pressured Spencer into breaking up with Toby, proving for the first time how much influence he (or she) had in all of their lives. A poorly advised kiss with her shady sister’s shady on-again, off-again boyfriend Wren soon followed.

Soon enough, someone very close to Spencer got hurt.

“A” quickly injured Toby when Spencer got close to him again, forcing Spencer to push him away even further.

When Spencer found out that her parents were lying to her about having a secret half-brother, her tough exterior started to crack…

But in the Season 2 finale, Spencer proved herself again by defeating Mona.

For the second season finale in a row, Spencer found herself in mortal peril — but she quickly proved that was was more than capable of taking on Mona when she pulled the emergency break on the car, and led the other Liars to their whereabouts. Basically, Spencer saved the day!

In Season 3, with A/Mona behind bars, Spencer got close with Toby again… but not

… Until later in the season, when she realized she trusted him enough to have sex.

This ended up being Spencer’s “Scream” moment, since she soon found out Toby was on the A-Team.

… This was the moment when every “PLL” fan’s heart broke. Spencer was never the same…

In no time, Spencer was in Radley as a “Jane Doe” mental inmate.

To be fair, it’s because she thought that Toby was dead.

… But when she got out, she made up with Toby. Again.

Their sexual reunion — Toby had only betrayed Spencer to find out information about his dead mother/protect the Liars — was quickly interrupted by a fire, and the fact that Alison was maybe alive!

When Season 4 hit, Spencer was a complete badass, as well as the only Liar smart enough to see through Ezra.

Spence quickly proved again that she was “the smart one,” putting together enough pie-order related evidence to nail Ezra as Alison’s famous “Board Shorts.”

… However, an addiction to amphetamines derailed her efforts.

Some rehab helped, but Spence’s public image took a major hit. Also, she soon learned that this wasn’t her first stint with drugs, as her parents had hid a previous “incident” that was wiped from Spencer’s drug-addled memory from their daughter.

She couldn’t possibly be capable of murder, though… could she?!

Next, Spencer remembered some horrifying secrets about her past with Alison.

Spencer once again doubted her own sanity when she remembered maybe hitting Alison with a shovel on the night of her death (or disappearance, whatever).

However, Melissa and the newly-returned Alison soon assuaged Spencer’s guilt.

Spencer wasn’t a killer, Melissa was! Yay!

… Until Alison had Spencer framed for murder.

When the police zeroed in on Alison for Bethany Young’s murder, Alison betrayed Spencer, revealing to them her addiction and a potential motive — she killed Bethany to help Ali, who’d helped her with her pill problem. Spence’s drug history and shady past with the police and Radley made her an easy suspect, so now she’s in jail for a murder she didn’t commit. And Mona, who actually had the evidence to relieve Spencer, has been killed. Yep, things aren’t looking too good for our plaid-wearing heroine.

Will Spencer be let off the hook for Bethany’s murder in the Christmas special? What’s your favorite Hastings moment? Let us know in the comments!