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This article is about the "A-Team", the team of people affilated with "A". You may be looking for "A", the single individual, Red Coat and The Black Widow, the accomplice of the Leader, Charlotte DiLaurentis.

You're not the only genius in this car. You bitches underestimated me!

The A-Team is a secret group of people who use the pseudonym "A" to threaten Alison DiLaurentis, Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, Spencer Hastings, Emily Fields, and later Mona Vanderwaal. They operated with instructions from a leader that differed at times, but each had their own agenda for wanting to torment the girls. It was initially led by Mona Vanderwaal until her admittance into Radley Sanitarium. After Uber A started to torment the girls years later, a second, unofficial A-Team was born from the ashes of the old with Alex Drake leading it until she revealed herself a year later.

Years later, the reincarnation of the A-team in the neighboring town of Rosewood, named Millwood by Marshall Clanton and Archie Waters.

Overview

When Mona revealed herself as the "Original A", she tried to convince Spencer Hastings to join what she referred to as the "A-Team". She had to earn it, the right to be a part of it. After Mona was admitted into Radley Sanitarium, she continued to plot how to continue her game with her team. A mysterious woman in a Red Coat visited Mona and stole the game from her, crafting a team of their own in response. Mona wanted to keep the playing the game after her release, but knew a stronger person had stolen it from her. The new A brought Mona into the fold as a player, but kept her at bay as to conceal their true identity.

Toby Cavanaugh joined the A-Team to keep Spencer safe, a feat he accomplished until she uncovered the truth and joined the team as revealed to be helping Mona, there were plans alluded that referred to a mysterious phone call, that never got made. Toby had helped Mona orchestrate the events surrounding Garrett Reynolds frame-job for the murder of Maya St. Germain.

The A-Team, as of "Game Over, Charles", has consisted of Charlotte, Sara, Spencer, Mona, Toby, Lucas, Melissa and Wilden.

Series

The possibility of a team of more than one "A" tormenting the Liars was practically unheard of. The Liars were of the belief that "A" was only one person. However, despite the overall teams status, Mona had helpers throughout her tyrannical reign. The most notable being Lucas Gottesman.

In "Touched by an 'A'-ngel", Spencer, Emily, Hanna and Aria talk about the possibility of "A" working with multiple people. At the time, the Liars were suspecting Jenna and Garrett of being "A", and that Jason killed Alison. The Liars talked about how Jenna, Garrett and Jason were all working together, and "playing on the same team".

In "A Hot Piece of A", the Liars begin to think that the person in the greenhouse wasn't actually "A", but a helper.

Throughout the season, the Liars continue to suspect Jenna, Garrett, and later, Melissa, of being "A". They often referred to "A" as "them", believing there to be multiple people involved.

In "UnmAsked", Mona attends the Rosewood Masquerade Ball with the other girls and later, goes with Spencer to the Lost Woods Resort, after Spencer deduces that "A" had rented the room next to the one Alison was staying in. In the room, they find sketches of a Black Swan costume and conclude that "A" must be wearing it at the ball. Mona offers Spencer a stick of gum, but Spencer turns her down. While going through "A's" belongings, Spencer locates a gum wrapper from the same brand of gum Mona just offered her. She tells Mona that she changed her mind and that she'd like a stick of gum after all. Mona agrees, but says she doesn't have any more on her, but that she can go get some out of her car while she goes to call Hanna. She leaves the hotel room while Spencer continues to search. A few minutes later, Mona returns to the room and angrily says "I found the gum!". Spencer looks up from the book and says "You didn't call Hanna.. because you're "A". Spencer turns around and to see Mona wearing a black hoodie. Mona admits she's "A" and congratulates Spencer on figuring it out, right before knocking her out with a flashlight.

Spencer wakes up in a car with Mona driving recklessly towards Lookout Point. Mona says that she wants Spencer to join the A-Team. Spencer asks if the reason Mona became "A" was her anger at them for letting Alison bully her. Mona laughs and says that she got over that a long time ago. She became "A" because she hated them for stealing Hanna's friendship from her. Spencer pleads with Mona to stop, assuring her that Hanna is still her friend. As they drive, Spencer is secretly recording their conversation on her phone and sending the video to Aria's phone. Aria, Hanna, and Emily leave the ball immediately and drive to Lookout Point. When they show up, Spencer and Mona struggle, resulting in Mona falling off the edge. Spencer reaches out, trying to save her, but fails. Mona falls to the rocks below but survives her injuries. She is admitted to Radley Sanitarium by a mysterious strange in a red jacket. Mona remarks she did everything that she was told.

It is confirmed that Mona has had the help of an accomplice. While Mona is still in Radley Sanitarium, the Liars are still getting texts from "A". Also, it is revealed that after the events of "UnmAsked", Spencer, Aria and Hanna returned to "A"s lair and all of "A"s pictures of the liars had been removed. Spencer also mentions several occasions where Mona was with them at the same time they received texts from "A" proving that she has "friends" who help her.

In "Blood Is The New Black", the new "A" is seen buying various black sweaters and gloves while wearing a red coat. The cashier says asks if they're buying the supplies for a team.

In "Single Fright Female", two black-hooded figures are seen together. One hands the other the key to "Room A".

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Toby is revealed as "A"

In "The Lady Killer", Nate St. Germain/Lyndon is revealed to have been Maya's killer. Mona walks with a black-hooded member of the "A-Team" back to Radley Sanitarium. She wishes they could have made "the phone call", but says that even the best-laid plans can go awry. She promises to see the A-Team member soon, and Toby turns around.

In "She's Better Now", Toby tries to run down Lucas while wearing a black A hoodie. Later, a hooded figure tampers with someone's bike and the person, Brad from Decathlon Club, crashes. Mona ultimately takes his place on the team.

In "Misery Loves Company, Mona told Toby that "they" need to understand that she's in charge, confirming that "A" is indeed a girl.

In "Dead to Me", a member of the "A" team was seen by a drugged Emily digging Alison's grave. Red Coat was also there - to supervise - and leaves when Emily begins to yell at them stop. Spencer also found the second "A" lair, but it was empty.

In "I'm Your Puppet", Aria goes to pick up Malcolm from karate, but finds that he has already been picked up by an "Aria Montgomery". She goes to his cubby and finds a carnival flyer with an "A" circled. Aria heads over to the carnival; while talking to her mom, she sees Malcolm getting a balloon with a black hoodie standing by him. Malcolm watches a puppet show and eats popcorn with a black-gloved person. After finding him, Malcolm tells Aria that her friend "Alison" picked him up. Spencer is shown putting her pills in her pillow and takes out a black hoodie, along with two puppet show tickets, and thinks about how she joined the "A" team, meaning it was her who took Malcolm.

Spencer A team
In "A DAngerous GAme", the other Liars learn that Spencer is working with "A" and unbeknownst to Mona; Toby and Spencer infiltrated for the same reason: Spencer wanted to protect the other girls and Toby confirmed that he did it to protect her. In the fire, started by other "A-Team" members, Mona revealed that she started the "A-Team" and had few followers, but Red Coat wanted to start a partnership and then took over. Mona, Spencer and Toby are expelled off the team. Mona is now a victim of "A". A mysterious person in a Red Coat saves the girls' lives. It was Alison, who really only saved Hanna, as someone else saved the others.

After Mona is kicked off the team. "A" is believed to work alone, but still has Toby under their thumb by promising answers about his his mother's apparent suicide.

Another person they blackmailed to help was Jessica DiLaurentis, who was protecting the one who attempted to kill her daughter. Jessica had buried Alison that night, which A knew. She handed someone a suitcase in "Unbridled", indicating she was helping someone in the shadows leave. After Jessica writes an email saying she can't protect the person anymore, she was murdered and buried her in the Hastings backyard.

Shana follows the Liars in New York to kill them and Alison as justice for the Jenna Thing. Aria kills Shana and the girls believe Shana was Big A, but it was later confirmed it was justice for Jenna.

In "Miss Me x 100", "A" blows up Toby and Jenna's house. They are no longer working with a team.

FrAmed

Red Coat returns and appears to be working with Charles DiLaurentis. They sabotage Aria's art gallery and get tickets to the Rosewood High School prom.

Game Over, Charles

CeCe is revealed to be Charles, aka Charlotte DiLaurentis, and she made a deal with Mona that if she helped Mona get out Radley, Mona would let her play the "A Game" with her. Unknown to Mona, Sara Harvey was another member of the team who acted as a decoy for Charlotte as Red Coat and The Black Widow.

After Charlotte tells the Liars her story, she tries to blow up Radley with the DiLaurentis family in with her. The Liars stop the plan with Sara getting punched out by Emily and Charlotte declaring "Game Over" after she nearly commits suicide; thus the A-Team is disbanded.

Members and Motivations

Mona's Team

Image Real Identity Episode Revealed Motive
Mona000 Mona Vanderwaal "UnmAsked" Wanted revenge for the harassment she received from Alison and her gang.

Getting revenge on the Liars for "stealing" Hanna away.

Lucas as A Lucas Gottesman "'A' is for A-l-i-v-e" Blackmailed by Mona
Gave Emily a massage in "Touched by an 'A'-ngel".
BlackSwan Melissa Hastings "Face Time" Blackmailed by Mona
Was the Queen of Hearts and Black Swan.

Charlotte's Team

Image Real Identity Episode Revealed Motive
Episode 10 Game Over, Charles 114 Charlotte DiLaurentis "Game Over, Charles" Getting revenge on the Liars for "wanting" Alison dead.
Wanted revenge on her family.
9328r907 Mona Vanderwaal "A DAngerous GAme" Wanted to keep playing the game after her release.
Worked for Red Coat
Toby-betrayer-pll Toby Cavanaugh "The Lady Killer" Worked alongisde Mona to protect Spencer.
SpencersA Spencer Hastings "I'm Your Puppet" Find out if Toby was alive
Learn the identify of Red Coat.
Melissa confessing to being QOH 2 Melissa Hastings "Face Time" Blackmailed by Mona
Was the Queen of Hearts and Black Swan.
2 Queen of Hearts Darren Wilden "'A' is for A-l-i-v-e" Blackmailed by Charlotte
Was the first Queen of Hearts.
SaraRedCoat Sara Harvey "Game Over, Charles" Sara loved Charlotte and wanted to help to repay Charlotte for taking care of her.
Was Red Coat and The Black Widow.
Noel Kahn in the Dollhouse Noel Kahn "The Wrath of Kahn" Helped Charlotte torture the Liars in the Dollhouse.

Alex's Team

Image Real Identity Episode Revealed Motive
Alexa Alex Drake "'Til Death Do Us Part" Wanted revenge on whoever killed Charlotte.
Wanted to become Spencer and have Spencer's life.
144998 1553-900x0 Wren Kingston "'Til Death Do Us Part" Was in love with Alex and wanted to help her.
Donated sperm to impregnant Alison.
Had Mona released from Welby so she could join Alex's team.
Pretty.Little.Liars.S07E06.1080p.HDTV.X264-DIMENSION 1225 Jenna Marshall "Wanted: Dead or Alive" Promised to fund surgery that would help regain her sight.
Episode 14 Power Play 0852 Sydney Driscoll "Power Play" Blackmailed
Alex used Sydney because she "fit the hoodie".
Met with Aria under the guise of being A.D.
Pretty-little-liars-1-e1495708951168 Aria Montgomery "The Glove That Rocks the Cradle" Blackmailed by Alex.
Destroyed Emily's nursery and hid a body.
'Til Death Do Us Part (311) Mary Drake "'Til Death Do Us Part" Assisted in keeping Spencer hostage.
'Til Death Do Us Part (271) Mona Vanderwaal "'Til Death Do Us Part" Double Agent
Watched the Liars in a "Melissa mask".
Incapacitated Spencer.

Archie's Team

Image Real Identity Episode Revealed Motive
PLL-OS Principal Clanton-Infobox Marshall Clanton "Chapter Ten: Final Girls" Getting revenge on The Little Liars and The Sinners for Original Sin
PLLOS FirstLook23 Archie Waters "Chapter Ten: Final Girls" Getting revenge on The Little Liars and The Sinners for Original Sin

Former Suspects

  • Jenna Marshall - She meets an unseen person (Shana, from the costume shop) in the park and hands them an unknown item with the instructions "You know what you need yo do". She was also seen associating with the Black Swan. Jenna hates the Liars for being involved in The Jenna Thing. Also, she and Shana moved Det. Wilden's body after Ashley ran him over. (Season 1, 2, 3, 4)
  • Ian Thomas - He may have started the N.A.T. Club to film people for someone other than himself, Jason and Garrett.
  • Noel Kahn - He has dated both Mona and Jenna, and hates Aria for cheating on him with Ezra. He helped Alison remain in hiding and is anxious to not be caught for it. (Season 1, 2, 3)
  • Alison DiLaurentis -  Alison's behavior is strikingly similar to A's. Alison was also the black hooded figure, who the girls referred to as "A", who pushed Ian off the bell tower. In Season 5, she bribed Cyrus in "A Dark Ali", and seemed to know Bethany, when her mother seemed to be having an affair with Bethany's father. She seemingly lured Bethany into Rosewood to kill her and is now forming an army of her own when The Liars cut their ties with her. Later, The Liars found out Mona planted fake information about her. (Season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

  • Jason DiLaurentis - He almost hit Ali with a hockey stick. There were also many pictures of Aria in his shed. In "She's Better Now", he and Mona are hanging out and he has a screwdriver sized hole in his side, and he disappeared when the Liars appeared in the hospital. (Season 2, 3, 4, 5)
  • Garrett Reynolds - He gave a page from Ali's autopsy report to Jenna to hold onto. (Season 2, 3)

  • Paige McCullers - She had a violent past with Alison.

  • Nigel Wright - He is seen talking to Jenna and apologizing to her about failing to keep quiet about CeCe. 
  • Wren Kingston - He was clandestinely talking to someone on his cellphone in "The Mirror Has Three Faces", telling this person about the Liars. Also, he made fake ID passes into Radley for CeCe Drake and Toby under Mona's request. He is seen on the phone with someone and is shady about it and later draws a woman with a red coat hinting he may know who Red Coat is.
  • Jessica DiLaurentis - She buried her daughter alive after she thought she was dead. Jessica was protecting the one who tried to kill her before she died.
  • CeCe Drake - Behaves strikingly similarly to Alison and 'A' and supposedly was furious when Alison got her kicked out of college, believing the Liars were involved.
  • Ezra Fitz - Has been known to keep major secrets and lie extremely well, dating Aria for over a year under false pretenses while keeping his past with Alison hidden. He also has amassed an arsenal of spy equipment which he used to track the moves of the Liars and everyone connected to them. He also seems to have great computer skills.

  • Shana Fring - In the season premiere "EscApe From New York", it was revealed that Shana was the person who shot Ezra. Ezra told Aria this, after he went into shock once he saw Shana at his bedside. She helped set fire at the Thornhill Lodge that night. The Liars found out shortly after when Shana held them at gunpoint. She claims that this was justice for Jenna, and Alison deserved it as even her own mother was afraid of her. However, Shana's plan to kill the liars was foiled when Aria pushed her off the stage with a large prop gun. Shana hit her head on a table. Shana was then suspected of being 'A', but it was later clarified that 'A' is still around so she has been cleared.
  • Gabriel Holbrook - After Alison is sent to jail, the girls are still threatened by "A", so they believe that Alison has a helper. Because of the alleged kiss in How the 'A' Stole Christmas between Gabriel and Alison and because of his questionable absence, The Liars start to suspect him of doing A's jobs. He helped Alison to cheat on the lie detector test, and he was later kicked off from his police's job because of that. Gabriel clarified in "Oh, What Hard Luck Stories They All Hand Me" to Hanna that Alison used him and he's innocent.
  • Mike Montgomery - The Liars found out he visited Alison in jail, so they think maybe he is her helper. The suspicion grows when he starts acting shady (stealing liars' blood from the school's blood drive, meeting Cyrus and giving him an envelope). In "Pretty Isn't the Point", it's revealed he knew Mona wanted to fake her death.

  • Andrew Campbell - After "Welcome to the Dollhouse", he becomes a fugitive because the police found A's stuff in Campbell's farm, including Andrew's journal in which he stated he hates The Liars. After he was arrested, the girls find out he is adopted and it's supposed that his real identity is Charles DiLaurentis. However, soon after that, the police drop the charges and Andrew is released. When the girls confront him after his release, he tells Aria that the reason he was out at the farm was that he was looking for her.
  • Lesli Stone - Hanna and Spencer take Lesli's Radley file from Mona and they find out she was Bethany's roommate.
  • Rhys Matthews - In "FrAmed", Hanna and Spencer meet him at the "Carissimi Group". They immediately suspect him to be Charles, as he looks exactly like a DiLaurentis. Later they follow him to an old doll factory, where he meets Clark.
  • Sara Harvey - Five years later, after Uber A starts threatening the girls, they believe the Former A-Team member, Sara, is the tormentor. She told Alison that Charlotte was her friend and she also had in-and-out access at Radley Hotel by a secret passage.

  • Mary Drake - After Spencer, Toby and Mona discover her Radley file and find out she is Jessica's twin, they assume she is A.D. and is the one who kidnapped Hanna. She is suspected throughout 7A. Their suspicions are removed when Mary removes herself from the team after finding out that Archer planned to kill Alison.
  • Archer Dunhill - The Liars find out that "Elliott" is abusing Alison in Welby State Psychiatric Hospital, making them suspect that he is A.D. and Hanna's kidnapper. When they attempt to rescue Alison, they accidentally hit him with their car, which kills him instantly. They end up burying him in a forest, but after he is sighted at numerous areas in the US, they assume he is alive and is still A.D. after discovering his real name is Archer Dunhill. Their suspicions are laid to rest when they unbury him to make sure he is dead, and he is.
  • Jenna Marshall - When Jenna returns to Rosewood, the Liars immediately suspect she must be A.D. and go all out to confirm their suspicions. They discover she is, indeed, friends with Charlotte and is Uber A's top helper.
  • Noel Kahn - After Sara Harvey is murdered, Noel Kahn shows up in Rosewood and the Liars see him everywhere, finding his acts suspicious. They later find out he assisted Charlotte in the Dollhouse. Hanna goes to the extreme by attempting to drug him, but ends up hitting him over the head with an object and kidnapping him, trying to make him confess that he is Sara's killer, as well as A.D. Hanna doesn't get a chance to get information, as he accidentally kills himself by tripping on his own axe, which decapitates him.
  • Sydney Driscoll - After Noel's death, Sydney returns to Rosewood, becoming a suspect due to her past connection to Jenna. She later admits to Aria that she is, indeed, working for Uber A, having shot Spencer and rescued Jenna from the blind hospital.

  • A's Lair

    A's lair is "A's" base of operations. It is where "A" would meet up with the other members and would create their plans. The original lair was located in Room 2 of the Lost Woods Resort. The room contains pictures, newspaper clippings, and dolls resembling the girls and Alison. There is a hole in the wall behind a picture frame so "A" could watch Alison in Room 1 next door. Spencer concludes that "A" was stalking Alison. This is where Spencer figures out Mona is "A", due to the gum wrapper and the cashmere sweaters.

    Once the original lair was discovered by Spencer, the other "A"s cleared out the room and began to find and rent a new room elsewhere for the lair. Mona was seen in the lair in "The Lady Killer" discussing plans with another "A". In "Dead to Me", Spencer finds the second lair, with the help of a private investigator, but it is empty when she arrives. The lair was re-housed to an R.V., which Big A blackmailed Toby into returning.

    In "Welcome to the Dollhouse", it is revealed that Big A built a dollhouse with the help of allies to kidnap, Mona, Sara, Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily. A also used the Campbell Farm as a temporary lair, in order to frame Andrew. In reality, A had worked alongside Noel Kahn to build the dollhouse, operate it, and torture the Liars with mental manipulations.

    Trivia

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    The Alternate endings for pAige and cAleb

    • The betrAyer and the second member of the A-Team is revealed to be Toby. Multiple endings were shot to avoid the real one from being leaked. Alternates for the betrAyer role were Caleb and Paige. These alternate endings are available on the Season 3 DVD.
    • Producers revealed Mona didn't do two of the things "A" did in the first two seasons. This is most likely Emily's massage (she was with Hanna) and killing Ian (she has no known connection to him, and he clearly knew the person that pushed him off the bell tower).
    • It's possible that the leader wore red while the recruiters wear black, such as the person who visited Mona at Radley.
    • "A" carries around Vivian Darkbloom's driver license and uses it.
    • In Season 4, Toby is a victim of the "A-Team" because "A" knows what happened to his mom and uses that information to get Toby to steal the lair.
    • It was revealed that after the lodge fire, "A" had only one helper, as Red Coat and The Black Widow are the same person.
      • This person was then shown to be Sara Harvey, who was working with Charlotte at the time. It is unknown what other identities Charlotte made Sara wear.

    Revealed Identities

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