PLL: The Perfectionists Premieres 75% Below Pretty Little Liars' Finale
Paul Dailly
at
.
The ratings are in, and it's bad news for PLL: The Perfectionists.
PLL: The Perfectionists Season 1 Episode 1 scared up just 457,000 total viewers and a 0.18 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
That's got to be disappointing for Freeform when you consider how relentless the promotional campaign was for the show.
The network has used the original series' social accounts for the new series to make sure the word was out there that this spinoff was coming.
Related: PLL: The Perfectionists Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Pilot
Pretty Little Liars Season 7 averaged 1.1 million total viewers in live + same day ratings, along with a 0.6 rating.
The series finale of Pretty Little Liars scored a 0.72 rating in the demo.
Given that there's likely a curiosity factor here because of the link to the original series, it's possible that the ratings could take a larger than usual hit in week two.
The original series did post substantial gains in delayed viewing, so there's a chance the spinoff could secure some healthy gains post-premiere via the Freeform app, Hulu, and DVR.
These ratings are roughly on par with what The Fosters spinoff, Good Trouble (413k viewers/0.20 demo rating) launched with back in January.
Related: Pretty Little Liars Spinoff: Who's Who?
It is also on par with what grown-ish and Siren have been pulling in this season, so there's a good chance the diminished ratings have more to do with Freeform as a whole.
The network has struggled in the ratings ever since it changed its name from ABC Family.
The real test for PLL: The Perfectionists will be how the series holds up, and whether it can be a force in delayed viewing.
What are your thoughts on the low ratings?
Did you watch the spinoff?
Hit the comments below.
PLL: The Perfectionists airs Wednesdays on Freeform.
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
