Pretty Little Liars: 10 Saddest Things To Happen To Spencer

Of all the main characters on Pretty Little Liars, Spencer Hastings seems like the one who could crack the case of “A” once and for all. Unfortunately, even she isn’t able to figure out the teen drama’s mystery, as this character suffers over seven seasons along with her best friends.

If the show was real life, Rosewood would be in the news constantly, as a lot of bad things always happen in this town. And Spencer sees a lot of pain in her young life, despite her comfortable and privileged background, close friendships, and love story with Toby Cavanaugh. By the series finale of PLL, Spencer has definitely experienced some true sadness.

10 Watches Toby Marry Someone Else

Toby marries Yvonne and it’s an incredibly awkward storyline, as PLL fans have always wanted Toby and Spencer to be together.

It’s heartbreaking for Spencer to know that her one true love is going to marry someone else, and the fact that Yvonne and Toby tie the knot while she’s literally in the hospital complicates things even more. While Spencer would never wish ill on Yvonne and is just as horrified as everyone else when Yvonne dies, it can’t be denied that she always has feelings for Toby. It seems like she always thought that, in the back of her mind, they would find their way back to each other.

9 Learns She’s Adopted & That Her Mom Is Mary Drake

Some of the liars’ family members are better than others and it’s tough for Spencer to learn that the Hastings adopted her. They keep this massive secret from her for so long, and she struggles with her identity and place in the family.

It’s also sad for Spencer to learn that her mom is Mary Drake, as she’s a very troubled woman. The liars spend a really long time trying to find out the truth about Mary, and every new clue and piece of information is even sadder than the last.

8 Thinks Toby Is “A”

A few episodes into the first season of PLL, it’s obvious that “A” doesn’t play around and that the scary text messages are only the start of what they’re capable of.

In the third season episode “Misery Loves Company,” Spencer thinks that Toby is “A,” as she catches him in her house. This is one of the saddest things to happen to this character, as she can’t believe that the guy she loves would make this kind of choice. She doesn’t yet know that he did this to help her and her friends stay safe.

7 Has PTSD From The Dollhouse

Watching the liars get thrown into the dollhouse is so horrific and Spencer suffers even more than the other girls do. Because she suffered with her mental health before, this is one of the worst things that could have happened.

After getting back home, Spencer can’t sleep at all. She definitely has PTSD and it’s impossible for her to stop thinking about everything that happened. At this point in the show, it’s not clear if Spencer is going to be okay, and she doesn’t seem to think that she will be, either.

6 Believes Toby Died

Season 2 is really tough on Spencer, as she thinks that Toby died and she’s sent to Radley. This was all part of the master plan by “A,” who wanted Spencer to spend some time in the mental institution. Thinking that Toby is dead is too much for Spencer, though she does discover that he’s totally fine soon after.

The fact that “A” manipulated this whole situation is not only sad but also terrifying. This is a big moment for Spencer, as she realizes that the liars have no idea what they’re dealing with, and that she could lose the people she loves at any moment.

5 Discovers Her Evil Twin, Alex Drake

At the end of the show, fans finally learn that Alex Drake is “A.D.” and that Spencer has an evil twin.

This is one of the saddest times in Spencer’s life, especially since it seems like Alex wants nothing more than to murder her. She kidnaps Spencer in the final episode and Spencer has no idea what’s going on or how to escape. She suddenly realizes that she has been connected to “A” this whole time and that her twin was pretending to be her at various moments, which is pretty unnerving.

4 Her Relationship With Caleb Doesn’t Work Out

Even though Spencer always loves Toby, she falls for Caleb Rivers near the end, and she can’t stop her feelings for him.

When things don’t work out between them, it’s incredibly sad. They’re both in tears, torn because they started to really care about each other and imagine a future together, but they know that they’re supposed to be with other people. It’s a very mature ending but a painful one nonetheless.

3 Learns Of Her Mom’s Cancer Diagnosis

In the sixth season, Spencer’s family experiences a terrible time as they find out that Veronica has cancer.

Spencer hasn’t always gotten along with her mom and no one could really say that they’re best friends, but this is still difficult news for a daughter to process. Spencer has been through so much and this also complicates Veronica’s senate campaign as it adds a depressing and heartbreaking layer to the situation.

2 Abuses Pills In Season 4

Spencer’s brilliant mind can sometimes veer into dangerous territory, as she starts abusing pills in season 4. She puts so much pressure on herself to do well and that can lead to these dark decisions.

This is one of the hardest things that this character has to go through, as her friends start noticing how she’s struggling. Spencer can’t sleep properly, let alone make sense of real life when she’s awake. It’s really scary to watch her like this.

1 Spencer And Toby Think She’s Pregnant And Break Up

After the time jump on the show, fans learn that Spencer and Toby thought she was pregnant, and that was too much for them to deal with. They broke up before the characters came back to Rosewood.

Toby and Spencer are a beloved couple, so it was so hard for fans to learn what had happened to them. This is a tough moment for Spencer as this isn’t the first time that the couple breaks up. Thankfully, by the end of PLL, it’s clear that they’re going to end up together.

About The Author

Aya Tsintziras
(1730 Articles Published)

Aya Tsintziras is a freelance writer who writes about pop culture and TV. She has a Political Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Journalism from Ryerson University. She loves coffee, reading, working out, and watching TV. She lives in Toronto with her husband.

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