Why Emily Fields Is Missing in Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists

When Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists premiered, fans of the original series were thrilled to see Alison DiLaurentis return to their screens. However, one glaring absence left viewers asking questions: Where is Emily Fields? The beloved character who captured hearts throughout the original series’ seven-season run is notably missing from the spinoff, and her absence carries significant weight for the storyline and for fans who invested years in her relationship with Alison.

The spinoff series, which follows Alison as she moves to Beacon Heights University to pursue her Master’s degree, addresses Emily’s absence in ways that have left longtime fans of the couple devastated. What was supposed to be a fresh start for Alison has instead revealed deep fractures in what many considered one of television’s most beloved LGBTQ+ relationships.

Emily’s Notable Absence from the Spinoff

Emily Fields, portrayed by Shay Mitchell throughout the original Pretty Little Liars series, does not appear in The Perfectionists. This absence is particularly striking given that the show features Alison as one of its main characters. The decision to exclude Emily from the spinoff was primarily a practical one—Shay Mitchell was not available to reprise her role due to other commitments and projects.

However, the show’s writers had to address this absence in a way that made sense within the established universe. Rather than simply ignoring Emily’s existence or leaving her fate ambiguous, the series chose to tackle the situation head-on by exploring the current state of Emily and Alison’s relationship. What they revealed shocked fans who had watched the couple, affectionately known as “Emison,” finally get their happy ending in the original series finale.

The State of Emison’s Relationship

At the beginning of The Perfectionists, Alison explains that she moved to Beacon Heights to pursue her Master’s degree with the intention of eventually returning to Rosewood to be with Emily and their twin daughters. This initially seemed like a reasonable explanation for the couple’s temporary separation—a career opportunity that would ultimately benefit their family.

However, Alison also reveals something more troubling: she and Emily have been experiencing significant trust issues. After years of trauma, manipulation, and the constant threat of “A,” the couple struggled to build a normal life together. The weight of their past, combined with the challenges of raising twins and maintaining their relationship, created tensions that couldn’t be resolved through distance.

The trust issues between Emily and Alison stem from their complicated history. Throughout the original series, their relationship was marked by manipulation, secrets, and betrayal, particularly on Alison’s part. While Alison underwent significant character development and seemed to become a better person by the series’ end, the scars from their past remained. Emily had harbored feelings for Alison since they were young, and Alison had used those feelings against her more than once.

The Heartbreaking Divorce Revelation

The most devastating revelation about Emily and Alison’s relationship came in the episode titled “The Ghost Sonata.” In one of the saddest moments in the PLL universe, viewers learned that Emily had sent divorce papers to Alison—and Alison signed them. This moment marked the official end of Emison, a relationship that fans had rooted for across multiple seasons and numerous obstacles.

The divorce papers represent more than just the end of a marriage; they symbolize the failure of two people to overcome their traumatic past and build a healthy future together. Despite their love for each other and their children, Emily and Alison couldn’t bridge the gap that had formed between them. The separation that was meant to be temporary became permanent, and the distance only highlighted the fundamental issues in their relationship rather than resolving them.

For fans who had invested years in watching Emily and Alison’s journey, this revelation was particularly painful. The original series finale had given them what appeared to be a happy ending—married with children and seemingly at peace. To learn that this happiness was short-lived felt like a betrayal of that ending, even if it was perhaps a more realistic portrayal of the challenges facing a relationship built on such a complicated foundation.

Why Emily Sent the Divorce Papers

While The Perfectionists doesn’t provide extensive details about Emily’s perspective on the divorce, we can infer several factors that likely contributed to her decision. The trust issues that Alison mentioned were clearly significant enough that Emily felt the relationship couldn’t continue. After everything Emily had endured throughout her life—from coming out in a conservative environment to surviving multiple threats from “A”—she deserved a relationship built on honesty and trust.

Emily’s character had always been portrayed as the most emotionally vulnerable and sensitive of the core group. She wore her heart on her sleeve and invested deeply in her relationships. For someone with Emily’s personality, trust issues would be particularly devastating. The constant doubt and uncertainty would have taken a severe toll on her mental and emotional well-being.

Additionally, Emily was likely considering what was best for their twin daughters. Growing up in a household where the parents don’t trust each other and are constantly struggling would be harmful to the children. By initiating the divorce, Emily may have been making the difficult but mature decision to create a more stable environment for their family, even if that meant ending her marriage.

The Impact on Alison’s Character Development

The divorce profoundly affects Alison’s character arc in The Perfectionists. Throughout the original series, Alison’s redemption and growth were major themes. Her relationship with Emily represented her ability to change, to love genuinely, and to leave behind her manipulative past. The failure of their marriage raises questions about whether Alison has truly changed or whether some damage is simply too deep to overcome.

In The Perfectionists, Alison is shown grappling with the reality of her divorce while trying to build a new life in Beacon Heights. She’s pursuing her education and attempting to forge new relationships, but the shadow of her failed marriage hangs over her. The signing of the divorce papers represents Alison accepting the consequences of her past actions and the reality that some things cannot be fixed, no matter how much someone has changed.

This storyline adds depth to Alison’s character by showing that personal growth doesn’t automatically erase the past or guarantee happy endings. It’s a more mature and nuanced approach to character development than simply maintaining the fairy-tale ending from the original series finale.

Fan Reactions to the Emison Split

The revelation of Emily and Alison’s divorce sparked intense reactions from the Pretty Little Liars fandom. Many fans expressed heartbreak and frustration on social media, feeling that the couple deserved better after everything they had endured. The hashtag #Emison trended as fans shared their disappointment and mourned the end of the relationship.

Some fans argued that the divorce felt like an unnecessary way to create drama and that it undermined the hopeful ending of the original series. They felt that Emily and Alison had earned their happy ending and that the spinoff had no right to take it away. These fans pointed out that the couple had already suffered enough throughout the original series and deserved to find peace together.

However, other fans appreciated the realistic portrayal of a relationship struggling under the weight of trauma and past betrayals. They argued that not all love stories have fairy-tale endings, and that showing Emily and Alison’s struggles actually honored the complexity of their relationship. These fans felt that the divorce storyline was more honest than pretending everything was perfect just because the original series ended on a happy note.

Could Emily Return to The Perfectionists?

Throughout The Perfectionists‘ run, fans held out hope that Shay Mitchell would make a guest appearance as Emily, potentially providing closure for the Emison storyline. However, no such appearance materialized during the show’s single season. Mitchell’s busy schedule, which included her role in the series You and various other projects, made it difficult for her to return to the PLL universe.

The lack of Emily’s physical presence in the show meant that fans only got one side of the divorce story—Alison’s perspective. Without hearing from Emily directly, many questions remained unanswered. What specifically led to the trust issues? How is Emily coping with the divorce? How are they managing co-parenting their twins? These questions lingered throughout the series.

If The Perfectionists had been renewed for additional seasons, there might have been opportunities for Emily to appear and provide her perspective on the divorce. The show could have explored whether reconciliation was possible or showed both characters moving forward separately but amicably for the sake of their children. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled after one season, leaving these storylines unresolved.

The Legacy of Emily Fields

Despite her absence from The Perfectionists, Emily Fields remains one of the most important characters in the Pretty Little Liars universe. Her coming-out story resonated with countless viewers and provided representation at a time when LGBTQ+ characters were less common on television. Emily’s journey from a closeted teenager afraid to acknowledge her feelings to a confident woman who embraced her identity inspired many fans.

Throughout the original series, Emily demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience. She survived being blackmailed about her sexuality, endured her parents’ initial rejection, faced multiple traumatic events orchestrated by “A,” and still managed to maintain her compassion and kindness. Her character showed that vulnerability is not weakness and that sensitivity can coexist with strength.

Emily’s relationship with Alison, despite its troubled ending in the spinoff, represented hope for many fans. It showed that people can change, that first loves can sometimes work out, and that forgiveness is possible. Even though the relationship ultimately failed, the journey itself mattered to viewers who saw themselves reflected in Emily’s experiences.

Understanding the Complexities of Trauma Bonding

The breakdown of Emily and Alison’s relationship can be understood through the lens of trauma bonding. Throughout the original series, the two women shared intense traumatic experiences that brought them together. They survived threats, manipulation, and constant danger, which created a powerful bond between them. However, relationships built primarily on shared trauma often struggle once the external threat is removed.

When Emily and Alison tried to build a normal life together after the events of Pretty Little Liars, they had to confront the reality of who they were without “A” as a common enemy. The trust issues that emerged likely stemmed from the fact that their relationship had always been complicated by manipulation, secrets, and power imbalances. Alison had spent years lying to and manipulating Emily, and even though she had changed, overcoming that history proved too difficult.

This portrayal of their relationship’s breakdown is actually quite realistic. Many relationships that form or strengthen during traumatic periods struggle to transition to normal life. The intensity that sustained the relationship during crisis becomes problematic during peace, and couples often discover that they don’t know how to relate to each other without the drama.

The Role of Distance in Their Separation

Alison’s move to Beacon Heights was initially framed as a temporary career opportunity, but it clearly played a significant role in the dissolution of her marriage to Emily. The adage “absence makes the heart grow fonder” proved false in their case. Instead, the physical distance allowed existing problems to fester and grow rather than bringing them closer together.

Long-distance relationships require exceptional communication, trust, and commitment to succeed—all things that Emily and Alison were struggling with even before the separation. The distance removed the daily interactions and small moments of connection that help couples work through problems. Instead of addressing their issues face-to-face, they were left to deal with them through phone calls and video chats, which likely exacerbated the trust issues Alison mentioned.

The decision to move away from Emily and their children also raises questions about Alison’s priorities and commitment to the relationship. While pursuing education is certainly valid, choosing to do so at a distant university rather than staying close to home suggests that Alison may have been looking for an escape from the problems in her marriage. The move gave both women space to reflect on their relationship, and ultimately, that reflection led them to realize they couldn’t continue as a couple.

Co-Parenting and Moving Forward

While The Perfectionists focuses primarily on Alison’s new life in Beacon Heights, the reality is that she and Emily still share two daughters together. The series doesn’t delve deeply into how they’re managing co-parenting arrangements, but this would obviously be a significant aspect of their post-divorce relationship. Despite their romantic relationship ending, Emily and Alison will always be connected through their children.

Co-parenting after divorce is challenging under any circumstances, but it’s particularly complex when the relationship had such a troubled history. Emily and Alison will need to find ways to communicate effectively, make joint decisions about their daughters, and present a united front as parents even though they couldn’t make their marriage work. This requires a level of maturity and cooperation that may be difficult given the trust issues that led to their divorce.

For the sake of their daughters, both Emily and Alison will need to work through their issues and establish a functional co-parenting relationship. This might actually be healthier for everyone involved than staying in a marriage plagued by trust issues and resentment. Children are perceptive, and they would likely sense the tension between their mothers even if Emily and Alison tried to hide it.

What This Means for LGBTQ+ Representation

The end of Emily and Alison’s relationship has implications for LGBTQ+ representation on television. On one hand, showing a same-sex couple going through divorce is realistic—LGBTQ+ relationships face the same challenges as heterosexual ones, and not all of them work out. Portraying this reality can be seen as treating LGBTQ+ relationships with the same complexity and nuance as any other relationship.

On the other hand, many fans felt that Emily and Alison deserved a happy ending, particularly given how few prominent lesbian relationships existed on television at the time. The couple had become symbols of hope for many LGBTQ+ viewers, and seeing their relationship fail felt like losing something precious. There’s an argument to be made that LGBTQ+ characters shouldn’t always have to suffer or have their relationships fail, especially when they’ve already endured so much trauma.

This debate highlights the ongoing tension in representation: should LGBTQ+ characters be portrayed with all the complexity and potential for failure that comes with being human, or should they be given happy endings to counterbalance the historical lack of positive representation? There’s no easy answer, and reasonable people can disagree about whether the Emison divorce was good representation or a missed opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t Emily in Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists?

Emily Fields does not appear in The Perfectionists because actress Shay Mitchell was unavailable to reprise the role due to other professional commitments. The show addresses her absence by revealing that she and Alison are experiencing serious relationship troubles that ultimately lead to divorce.

Did Emily and Alison actually get divorced?

Yes, in The Perfectionists, it is revealed that Emily sent divorce papers to Alison, and Alison signed them. This officially ended their marriage, despite them having twin daughters together and ending the original Pretty Little Liars series as a happy couple.

What were the trust issues between Emily and Alison?

While The Perfectionists doesn’t provide extensive details, the trust issues likely stemmed from Alison’s history of manipulation and the couple’s complicated past. After years of surviving “A” together, they struggled to build a normal, healthy relationship based on honesty and trust.

Will Shay Mitchell return as Emily in future episodes?

Shay Mitchell did not make any guest appearances as Emily during The Perfectionists’ single season, and the show was cancelled after one season. There are currently no plans for her to return to the character, leaving Emily’s perspective on the divorce unexplored.

How are Emily and Alison handling custody of their twins?

The Perfectionists does not provide detailed information about the custody arrangements for Emily and Alison’s twin daughters. The focus of the show remains on Alison’s new life in Beacon Heights, with limited discussion of her co-parenting situation with Emily back in Rosewood.

Does Alison date anyone new in The Perfectionists?

The Perfectionists explores Alison building new relationships in Beacon Heights, but the show primarily focuses on her professional development and her role as a teaching assistant rather than romantic relationships as she processes her divorce from Emily.