It started with a cheeseburger.
Aria Montgomery, wearing her signature eclectic jewelry and enough eyeliner to stock a Sephora, sits at Snookers bar. She meets a guy named Ezra. They bond over B-26, poetry, and the fact that they both feel like outsiders in a town like Rosewood. They kiss in a bathroom. It’s cinematic. It’s romantic. It’s also the beginning of one of the most polarizing relationships in television history.
Honestly, if you watched Pretty Little Liars during its original run, you probably "shipped" them. Ezria was the gold standard for many fans—the intellectual soulmates fighting against a world that didn't understand their forbidden love. But looking back in 2026, the vibe has shifted. Hard.
The Reality of the Age Gap
Let’s be real about the math here. When the show starts, Aria is a 16-year-old high school junior. Ezra Fitz is a 22-year-old college graduate who just happened to land a job as her AP English teacher. In Pennsylvania, where the show is set, the age of consent is 16. That’s the technicality the show leaned on for years. However, the law also has very specific rules about "institutional sexual assault." Basically, if you are in a position of authority—like, say, a teacher—consent is legally impossible until the student is 18.
People often forget how much the show romanticized this dynamic. We were served candlelit dinners in Ezra’s apartment and secret "dates" in Philadelphia, all set to moody indie music. But the power imbalance was massive. Aria was a kid trying to navigate the trauma of her father’s affair and a stalker named "A." Ezra was a grown man who should have known better.
Even Ian Harding, who played Ezra, hasn't shied away from the controversy. In his memoir Odd Birds, he jokingly referred to Ezra as "America’s most beloved pedophile." It’s a jarring phrase, but it highlights the discomfort that has grown as the audience matured.
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That Season 4 Twist Changed Everything
For three seasons, we believed Ezra was the "safe" one. While the other Liars were getting hit by cars or trapped in burning buildings, Aria had her "safe haven" in Ezra’s arms. Then Season 4 happened.
The "Ezra is A" fake-out wasn't just a plot twist; it was a character assassination that the show never fully recovered from. We found out that Ezra hadn't met Aria by accident. He knew exactly who she was. He had a previous "relationship" (read: grooming situation) with 15-year-old Alison DiLaurentis. He sought Aria out specifically to use her and her friends as research for his "true crime" book.
He had a freaking surveillance lair in Ravenswood.
Think about that for a second. He spent years watching these underage girls through hidden cameras, recording their most private moments, all while pretending to be Aria’s boyfriend. He literally watched her "A" trauma unfold in real-time and didn't stop it because it made for better "chapters."
Why Ezria Still Matters to the Fandom
So, why did they end up together? Why did Marlene King, the show's creator, make them "endgame"?
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The answer is actually pretty simple: the fans. During the show’s peak, the Ezria fandom was a juggernaut. They won People’s Choice Awards and Teen Choice Awards. The chemistry between Lucy Hale and Ian Harding was undeniable, and for a lot of younger viewers, the "forbidden" aspect made it feel more romantic than it actually was.
In a recent 2025 sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter, Marlene King admitted that the show was "definitely probably crossing a line" that she wouldn't cross today. She noted that our cultural understanding of grooming has evolved significantly since 2010. Yet, she defended the choice to give them a happy ending because they were "everybody's favorite couple."
The Book Version vs. The Show
If you only watched the TV series, you might be shocked to learn how the books handled pretty little liars ezria. In Sara Shepard’s original book series, Ezra is a much smaller character.
- Their relationship lasts for about three chapters.
- "A" exposes them almost immediately.
- Ezra gets arrested.
- Aria eventually realizes he was a creep and moves on.
In the books, Aria actually has a much longer, healthier relationship with Noel Kahn. The TV show swapped this entirely, making Noel a villain and Ezra the hero.
The "Endgame" and the Time Jump
After the five-year time jump in Season 6, the show tried to "legitimize" the relationship. Aria was now an adult working in publishing. Ezra was a grieving widower (remember Nicole? That was a whole thing). They were two consenting adults working together on a book.
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But you can’t just erase the history. When Aria’s boyfriend Liam called Ezra out in Season 7, saying, "I think you were seduced by your English teacher," he was the only character speaking the truth. Naturally, the show framed him as the "bitter ex" who just didn't understand their "epic love."
They got married in the series finale, despite a literal kidnapping by Alex Drake (A.D.) on their wedding day. They even planned to adopt a child. For many, it was the happy ending they wanted. For others, it was a frustrating conclusion to a story that started with a crime.
What You Should Take Away
Looking at pretty little liars ezria through a 2026 lens requires a bit of nuance. You can enjoy the chemistry and the drama while still acknowledging that the foundation of the relationship was incredibly toxic.
If you're rewatching the series, keep an eye on the manipulation tactics. Notice how often Ezra makes Aria feel guilty for wanting to tell her parents, or how he uses his "intellectual" superiority to talk down to her. It’s a masterclass in how media can romanticize red flags.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Re-evaluate the Season 4 reveal: Watch the episodes where Aria discovers the book. Pay attention to Ezra's excuses—they are classic gaslighting.
- Read the books: If you want to see a version of Aria who actually has an identity outside of Ezra, the book series is a completely different (and often darker) experience.
- Check out the 15th-anniversary interviews: The cast has been surprisingly honest lately about how they feel about the show's more "problematic" storylines.
Ezria will always be a staple of 2010s pop culture. Whether they are soulmates or a cautionary tale is something the fandom will likely be debating for another fifteen years.