'Pretty Little Liars' picked up for Season 2, Aria and Ezra are 'soulmates'

Shocking absolutely no one, ABC Family announced that they are bringing their hit show "Pretty Little Liars" back for a second season during their time at the TV critics winter press tour. on Dec. 10. They also announced that "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" has been picked up for a fourth season.

The four core Liars, Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell and Troian Bellisario joined executive producers Oliver Goldstick and I. Marlene King on stage to discuss what's coming up in Rosewood.

When asked about the status of Ezra (Ian Harding) and Aria's (Hale) relationship, King says, "'Ezria' will continue to look for ways to be together, but continue to find that they're constantly presented with obstacles along the way." One obstacle? Goldstick says, "One student finding out raises the heat." Obviously, the student is Noel Khan (Brant Daugherty), who will continue to cause problems for the couple throughout the rest of the season.

When asked about the legalities of their relationship (Ezra is six years older), Goldstick was quick to defend the show: "The focus is very on the romance. It was a romance portrayed as soulmates from the pilot. She's not sleeping over there."

In the winter premiere, Emily (Mitchell) came out to her parents, telling her father, "I'm gay." Mitchell spoke about how proud she was to be playing a gay teenager on TV. "If I can represent the gay community in a small way then I'm so honored and I couldn't be more proud to do that." She also says she has received an incredible response from fans, boys and girls, all over the world thanks to Twitter saying Emily coming out to her parents in the premiere has inspired them.

A funny (slightly awkward) moment came when the girls were asked if it was creepy or romantic when Lucas (Brendan Robinson) kissed Hanna (Benson) while she was sleeping in the hospital. Hale was quick to answer, "It depends on the guy. It could be really great."

Bellisario went on to say, "When I read it in the script, I imagined it on the lips. When I watched it, I was like, "Oh, no! I wanted on the lips. Maybe I'm creepy." Benson revealed that they also shot it where Lucas kissed her on the lips, but they went with the forehead kiss because it "was a little sweeter and not as creepy. I think it was very romantic because he's a sweet boy."

Benson also says her mother's (Laura Leighton) financial troubles will continue after stealing money from the bank and Hanna will try to help her overcome the situation. "She does things to try and get money for her mom. There's definitely a lot more struggle in these next couple of episodes." 

Finally, King says the show will integrate new characters that aren't in the books, while also paying homage to the ones that are. "We love the idea of creating some new suspects each [10-episode] cycle."