Pretty Little Liars: Summer School Ending Explained

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from the Pretty Little Liars: Summer School finale, “Chapter Eighteen: Final Exam.”

After seven episodes of speculating and theorizing who Bloody Rose was and why she was targeting Imogen, Tabby, Faran, Mouse, and Noa, the Pretty Little Liars: Summer School finale answered (almost) all the questions posed throughout the season, while still setting up a potential third season. The Max slasher teen drama, created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring, had been teasing the big Bloody Rose reveal since the premiere, with the characters (and fans) speculating who the villain could be and who might have been working with her. As it turned out, perhaps the most obvious answer was correct.

Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 7 featured the Liars desperately trying to solve the mystery of who Bloody Rose was. Imogen believed she saw her dead mother under the antagonist’s bandages when she attacked the teen in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 6. However, as viewers learned in the finale, Bloody Rose was wearing a mask resembling Davie during Imogen’s test, and the woman behind this season’s terrors was right in front of the girls’ faces (as was her accomplice). Unfortunately, Tabby was Bloody Rose’s final target, and after she was kidnapped, all the dominoes fell into place.

Who Was Bloody Rose? Identity & Motivations Behind Targeting The Liars, Explained

Mrs. Langsberry Wanted Revenge For Chip’s Death

Since Faran saved Kelly (who Bloody Rose strangely didn’t stab) instead of going after the Pretty Little Liars spinoff’s villain, Bloody Rose lived to see another day in episode 8. However, her identity didn’t remain a secret once she kidnapped Tabby and took her to the church, where the teenager received her final girl test. The church was decorated with strange paintings, horror masks, and an altar displaying Pastor Malachi’s body. After waking up in the confessional, Tabby was met by Bloody Rose, her followers, and someone wearing an “A” mask. However, unlike the other tests, Tabby immediately learned that Bloody Rose was Mrs. Langsberry.

At the beginning of Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, Mrs. Langsberry being Bloody Rose seemed too obvious, so, many moved on to other suspects, like Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Beasley. However, Chip’s mother had been the answer all along as she wanted revenge for her son’s death. Although Archie Waters murdered Chip, Mrs. Langsberry blamed Imogen and Tabby, who she believed lied about Chip raping them. Once Mrs. Langsberry was approached by someone who wanted to help her get her revenge on the teenagers, she began dressing up as Bloody Rose, killing people, and terrorizing Imogen, Tabby, and their friends.

Related

Pretty Little Liars: Summer School Soundtrack Guide – Every Song & When They Play

The Max slasher teen drama television series Pretty Little Liars returns with season 2, subtitled Summer School, and a soundtrack of new songs.

How & Why Wes Used Bloody Rose To Make The Perfect Horror Film

The Reckoning Was Wes’ Movie

Of course, everyone wanted to know who Bloody Rose was in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, but many also had thoughts regarding her accomplice(s). As the finale revealed, Wes, Tabby and Christian’s boss at the Orpheum, was the mastermind behind the operation. Wes previously teased his thoughts about the film industry, like how it was unbelievably tough for young white guys to break into the business and how he resented Tabby for her success. So, his plan to make it big and gain notoriety was to shoot the perfect horror movie by actually murdering people — enter Bloody Rose.

After Wes brought Mrs. Langsberry Chip’s belongings from the movie theater, the two got to talking and realized their goals could align (and had a commonality — Tabby). Consequently, Wes utilized Spooky Spaghetti to recruit a cast and crew (aka “lost souls” from Pastor Malachi’s church cult) and began shooting his film, The Reckoning. Ultimately, Bloody Rose’s antics in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School built up to Tabby’s final girl test, which seemingly served as Wes’ movie’s climax as he live-streamed the event. However, he underestimated how far Tabby was willing to go to save herself.

Wes gave his cliché villain speech, and afterward, Tabby threw herself out the window to escape him, Bloody Rose, and her followers. They hunted her in the woods, but like the ultimate final girl she proved herself to be, Tabby defeated them all. Wes tracked her down in Bloody Rose’s cabin, which he built for his movie, but Tabby used a pitchfork to stab her former boss (something he didn’t think she would do). Imogen, Faran, Mouse, and Noa later found Tabby (after Faran knocked Mrs. Langsberry out in the church), and all was well again in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School.

The Truth Behind Our Mother Of Holy Grace

Most Spooky Spaghetti Fanatics (& Bloody Rose Followers) Were Members Of The Church

Our Mother of Holy Grace was seemingly at the center of the Max teen slasher drama’s mystery all season, and, as it turned out, the church was involved with Bloody Rose. As mentioned above, the antagonist’s followers on Spooky Spaghetti were churchgoers that Wes recruited for his film. However, not all the church characters in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School were involved with the Bloody Rose scheme. Kelly, Mrs. Beasley, and, presumably, Henry weren’t aware of The Reckoning, but they were a part of Pastor Malachi’s cult (which is still a bit of an enigma).

Why Tabby Was The Final Girl

Tabby Was Mrs. Langsberry & Wes’ Ultimate Target

Tabby was the source of the Pretty Little Liars: Summer School‘s villains’ hatred, making her the perfect final girl for them. Mrs. Langsberry despised Tabby because of what she accused Chip of and her short horror film that revealed the monster Chip was. Meanwhile, Wes’ hatred of Tabby came from a place of envy and resentment since she was experiencing success in her movie career, even though she was a teenager and a Black woman, while he was in his late 20s and couldn’t break into the business. As a result, Tabby was Pretty Little Liars: Summer School‘s final girl.

Is Archie Waters Still Alive?

“A” Returned & Killed Dr. Sullivan

Of course, Pretty Little Liars: Summer School couldn’t end on a perfect note with every story gaining closure. Earlier in the hour, the Liars learned that Archie Waters, aka “A,” had died during a prison riot. However, by the episode’s end, the audience and Dr. Sullivan learned that wasn’t true. Archie somehow survived and escaped prison, and his first stop was Dr. Sullivan’s office. The therapist, who was excited that her book deal would go through since the Liars, who she described as “narcissists,” would sign off on it, was then horrified when Archie burst through her door.

Knowing these would be her final moments, Dr. Sullivan pleaded with Archie, wanting confirmation that he killed her son. Archie refused to give her any closure and began stabbing the therapist. Dr. Sullivan presumably died at the end of Pretty Little Liars: Summer School and Archie likely won’t be satisfied after her death. “A” will want to go after Imogen, Tabby, Faran, Mouse, and Noa (and probably Mrs. Langsberry and Wes, since they killed his mother), meaning he could return to his main villain status in season 3.

Why Johnny Broke Up With Imogen

Imogen Thought Johnny Was Working With Bloody Rose

The show’s love interests, especially the new ones, were always going to be suspects, but Imogen’s false accusation of Johnny in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episode 8 seemingly marked the end of their relationship. Wes planted Nick, Sabrina, and Sandy’s bodies in the ice cream shop’s freezer, and when Imogen discovered them, she immediately believed Johnny was working with Bloody Rose.Bailee Madison’s character threatened Johnny with a wrench, and when he came too close to her, Imogen hit him in the head and locked him in the freezer.

As Imogen later learned, Johnny was innocent, which was good news for Imogen, but also bad news for her. Although Johnny was okay, Imogen’s antics threw a wrench (pun intended) into their relationship. He broke up with her since it might’ve been hard to get past Imogen knocking Johnny out and locking him in a freezer after accusing him of being a murderer. However, there is hope for their future as Pretty Little Liars: Summer School ended with Imogen expressing that she and Johnny could get back together one day during therapy and Johnny longingly looking at Imogen at work.

Related

Wait, Are Pretty Little Liars: Summer School & Riverdale In The Same Universe?

One Pretty Little Liars: Summer School character made an offhand comment in episode 6 that seemingly alluded to someone in the CW series Riverdale.

What’s Next For Pretty Little Liars On Max – Will There Be A Season 3?

The Pretty Little Liars: Summer School Finale Suggests Season 3 Is Coming

Many questions were left unanswered after the Pretty Little Liars: Summer School finale, meaning that season 3 is a real possibility. Unfortunately, as of the writing of this article, Max hasn’t revealed the show’s future. However, it was previously reported that Pretty Little Liars: Scene Stealer was listed as a trademark on WBD’s database, leading some to believe that Scene Stealer will be season 3’s subtitle (if Max renews the show).

Nevertheless, Dr. Sullivan’s death and Archie’s return suggest that more episodes are coming. If season 3 is greenlit, it would probably revolve around “A” seeking revenge (once again). Meanwhile, the theoretical upcoming episodes will also likely chronicle what happens next to the show’s central relationships — Imogen and Johnny, Tabby and Christian, Noa and Jen, Mouse and Ash, and Faran and Greg. Christian, Jen, and Greg are still a bit suspicious, even after Pretty Little Liars: Summer School‘s finale, so, perhaps there are more villain reveals to come.

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin

The dramatic slasher/horror mystery franchise returns with Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, created for HBO Max. Connecting to the original series, Original Sin follows a group of teen girls terrorized by a mysterious killer named “A.” Being held responsible for a terrible tragedy committed by their mothers over twenty years ago, the girls must uncover the truth of the incident to end the terror of Millwood, Pennsylvania – and to survive. Season 2 of the series was released in May 2024 and is subtitled Summer School.

Cast

Bailee Madison , Chandler Kinney , Mallory Bechtel , Zaria , Maia Reficco , Malia Pyles

Release Date

July 28, 2022

Seasons

2