The TV Chick

Pretty Little Liars has really been heating up in the first few episodes of the second season. The girls have started living up to their title, but who could blame them given the situation they are in? One of my favorite relationships and story lines since episode one has been the Aria and Ezra relationship. Once quite taboo and essentially illegal, (that I was rooting for — sue me, they are adorable!), is no longer, because Ezra isn’t Aria’s teacher anymore. I recently had the chance to catch up with Ian Harding, who plays Ezra, and we talked about what’s to come for the big couple, the epic kiss from a couple weeks ago and that awful, pesky A and how he/she/them will be meddling in the “Ezria” relationship.

Let’s talk about that kiss from “The Goodbye Look.” It was a little risky seeing as it was right outside the school, no?
Oh yeah! Oh man! When we were shooting that — we actually shot that on a back lot at Warner Brothers — literally there were tour buses driving by. I don’t know what it was, it was like National Teenage Girl Day, because all of them were filled with every female between the ages of thirteen and twenty one. And it was the most epic kiss in the world. Norman Buckley, the director, said, “Hey, why don’t you spin one way and then spin another way.” And I was like “Oh this is going to look so ridiculous,” but it actually came out pretty well. It was an epic kiss and I feel like — I mean never say never, as soon as I say this, it’s going to change — but I feel like it kind of symbolizes the end of the constant hiding and ducking and weaving of Aria and Ezra. I feel like they’ll be able to take their relationship a little bit more public now. But of course, that’s all up in the air. And there’s going to be of course, speed bumps. A is going to have something to say about that, so we’ll see.

What are your thoughts on where the relationship has gone since it’s started, up until now, where hopefully they won’t have to hide.
I really like it. I think that they’re definitely getting a little more adult now. By age, yes, Aria’s not an adult. I mean, Lucy’s an adult. [Aria's] very adult-like. She’s more than just beyond her years, she’s an old soul. So we’re definitely getting a bit more adult. And I think that the story line is really going to progress in a beautiful way. I think it’s going to be really beautiful.

Now that the student/teacher relationship is gone, do you think the doubters will embrace it? I know I’ve supported it the whole time.
Well, hmmm. I know there’s that whole, “Oh, we can’t, we can.” That push/pull element is fading. Thank God, because there’s only so long you can play it. They’ll get more bored of that than anything. But there’s going to be other things. It’s a relationship that’s going to be constantly tried by forces outside the two people. It’s a beautiful thing and they truly are absolutely in love with each other but A, whoever that is, whoever they are, whoever the alien is, is going to have something to say about that. Society in general is going to have something to say about that. And then, just couple it with normal relationship issues. It’s going to be tumultuous, so I think the juicy drama that is “Ezria” is going to persist in some way, shape or form.

Glad to hear it! And now that the relationship is public, is A going to have to find new ways to mess with them?
Probably. I think that something was such a genius device already, is that Ezra knows something is going on in Aria’s life and is trying to be supportive for her, but he doesn’t know the whole scope of the whole A situation. And Aria’s kind of keeping that from him. I guess, rightfully so, but as a result, I think A is going to try and drive a wedge through them through the secret of his or her existence. It’s a lot of Aria being like “Oh no, nothing’s wrong,” and something’s obviously wrong and that starts to drive a wedge. Whether or not there are going to be pictures or something like that, who knows?

That sneaky A!
I think it’s just going to be general, psychological warfare.

That’s what A’s all about, I guess. Do you think that Aria might ever come clean to Ezra about A?
I hope so, considering how dangerous this person or people is. I’d like to be informed if this person can possibly kill somebody and remove the body within a matter of moments. This person should be working for the CIA. So I hope she does. To what extent is up in the air to say the least.

Last week, Aria took that pottery class to get closer to Ezra, but will it end up backfiring?
They are trying to make this relationship work and there are certain people that are going to come and going to really meddle with that. And so, pottery class aside, they are in for an interesting road over the next couple of episodes.

And there are going to be bumps in the road for them, as you said, but possibly new love interests? Can you talk a little bit about that?
While being as vague as possible, with any relationship when it gets really strenuous, their eyes start to wander a little bit and as much as — not to contradict myself — but as much as Aria and Ezra are soulmates and are very old souls together, they’re still learning about themselves as people. They may be learning about themselves through other people, and they don’t know what that means to themselves yet. It’s not going to be smooth sailing when it comes to just loving each other and that alone. There’s going to be some wandering. Not too much.

But a little.
Yeah.

When we spoke last on set, you and Lucy both said that the writers’ had told you that Aria and Ezra were not sleeping together. Do you think that has changed or will change?
Well…define sleeping together.

(laughs)
I think in terms of spending the night…in the same house…

Sure. Let’s say that.
I think they may have spent the night with each other. In terms of consummating their relationship, I don’t think that’s happened, no. I’d be really shocked if all of a sudden, they were like, “Yeah, they did.”

What would you like to see from Ezra as this season continues and even into next season?
I don’t know. I really trust the writers with keeping the storylines, the arcs very fresh and constantly moving. I think that telling the parents might be up on the table, or something where they travel together or a summer internship together or something. I don’t know, I think that would be great. I would love to see my character interact with the girls in a basis that’s not in a classroom. I have so much fun with them on set, that I would love to actually have a scene with one of them.

So much about relationships in general is meeting the friends, and you know Aria’s friends, but not really in a friendly way. So that would be cool to see. Also obviously the show has a very big and very vocal fandom. Now that the show has really taken off, have you gotten any interesting reactions to it?
The fans are for the most part, very respectful. Getting recognized in public every once is always interesting. Or I’ll be home and somebody will come up to me. I remember one time I was home and this person that I literally went to school with for six years and came up to me and was like, “Hey, I don’t know if you remember me, we went to school together.” And I called her by her first name and I said, “Yes, I remember you.” She was like, “Oh I just didn’t know because the show is so huge.” First of all, it’s huge, but the great thing is I’m able to leave the house. It’s not the kind of popularity that I am swamped if I step foot outside my apartment. The fans are really respectful and devoted, but not insane.

You recently joined Twitter. Have you enjoyed interacting with fans that way?
Sure. I am a very private person and I don’t really like sharing what I do on a daily basis. I think Twitter is a great device for getting connected in the sense of either thanking a fan or communicating with a fan, or promoting things. I have a lot of friends who are up and coming actors and comedians, so promoting their stuff. Or a designer that I like. Or a cause that I like. But you’re not going to hear me anytime soon, “Oh, what a tough day here…”

I know you can’t spoil too much, but can you give a little teaser for tonight’s episode, “Blind Dates,” and what’s coming up after that?
Oh man, I know the general arc of what’s going to happen over the next couple of episodes. And there’s going to be kind of a distance made between Aria and Ezra, and I don’t think that Ezra’s going to be completely filled in on all the facts. And so when that comes to a head later down the line, it’s going to be great. I’d say pay attention to the next few episodes, because it’s going to set up for a good pay off, I think.

Be sure to tune in tonight at 8 pm to ABC Family for an all-new episode of Pretty Little Liars!