In the hit TV show Pretty Little Liars, the identity of the mysterious “Red Coat” was one of the biggest mysteries of the series. Red Coat was an anonymous figure who seemed to be helping -A torment the Liars. In the season 3 finale, it was revealed that CeCe Drake was Red Coat. This shocked fans, as CeCe had been introduced earlier in the season as a fun-loving California girl who had befriended main character Alison DiLaurentis. So why was CeCe actually revealed to be the sinister Red Coat? Here’s a deep dive into the many clues and theories about CeCe’s surprising alter ego.
Who is CeCe Drake?
Before analyzing why CeCe was Red Coat, it helps to understand her backstory. CeCe Drake came to Rosewood in Season 3 posing as a student named Vivian Darkbloom to befriend Alison DiLaurentis. She claimed they had met previously in college and bonded over feeling like outsiders. CeCe threw elaborate parties and gave Alison a makeover, cementing their new friendship.
However, we later found out this was all an act orchestrated by CeCe. Her real name was Charlotte DiLaurentis – she was actually Alison’s older sister. Charlotte had a troubled past, spending time in mental hospitals and transitioning from male to female early in life. She felt alienated from her family, especially after being banned from seeing Alison by their father. Her time in Rosewood was actually a secret plot to get closer to Alison and the other Liars as part of the -A team.
CeCe’s Motive as A
CeCe’s traumatic childhood gave her a strong motive to torment Alison and her friends as part of the A-Team. She was extremely jealous of the close friendship Alison shared with the other Liars. Additionally, CeCe blamed the Liars for getting Alison kicked out of the house by revealing she faked her death. This tragic event led Alison’s mother to bury her alive, thinking she was dead. CeCe wanted revenge on the Liars for their role in harming Alison.
CeCe’s Red Coat Disguise
Wearing a red coat was CeCe’s way of concealing her identity as she secretly supervised -A’s plans. The striking red outfit allowed her to hide in plain sight while watching the Liars to gain information. It also enabled her to discreetly communicate with other A-Team members like Mona Vanderwaal. No one suspected the fashionable Red Coat to be sinister until the season 3 finale reveal.
Clues Pointing to CeCe as Red Coat
In hindsight, there were various clues sprinkled throughout Pretty Little Liars hinting at CeCe Drake’s alter ego as Red Coat:
1. Focus on Fashion
Both CeCe and Red Coat had a very bold, fashion-forward style. CeCe was always dressed to impress in designer clothes and sky-high heels. Similarly, Red Coat’s iconic red trench coat and blonde wig was a memorable outfit. This clue hinted CeCe and Red Coat were one and the same.
2. Anonymity
CeCe kept her true identity hidden when she first came to Rosewood, using the alias Vivian Darkbloom. Red Coat also used anonymity to torment the Liars with secret messages and gifts. This demonstrated CeCe was good at deception and playing multiple roles.
3. Height Similarity
CeCe was notably tall, similar to Red Coat’s height and build. In flashbacks, Red Coat was shown to be slightly taller than the Liars. This lined up with CeCe’s long-limbed, leggy appearance.
4. Love of Alison
Both CeCe and Red Coat displayed an odd protectiveness and fascination with Alison DiLaurentis. As Charlotte, CeCe was extremely jealous of Ali’s friendships. As Red Coat, she seemed to be watching over Alison and leaving her gifts and clues. This hinted at their secret familial connection.
5. Flashbacks
In several flashbacks showing Alison’s story, Red Coat was there in the background, spying on her. We later found out CeCe had been obsessed with Alison for years, even before coming to Rosewood as Vivian.
The Lodge Fire
A major clue linking CeCe to Red Coat was the fire she set at the Lodge in Season 3. Red Coat was shown starting the fire and locking the Liars plus Mona inside. CeCe later admitted she started the fire in anger over the Liars getting Alison kicked out of her house. Her unhinged act revealed how far she’d go to get revenge as part of the A-Team.
Why Target the Liars?
By trapping the Liars in the burning Lodge, CeCe as Red Coat demonstrated her rage at them “stealing” Alison away from her. The fire was meant to eliminate the Liars for destroying her relationship with Alison. Though Mona and Toby rescued them in time, the Lodge fire remained one of Red Coat’s most sinister acts.
Finale Face-Off
The season 3 finale showdown in Ravenswood Cemetery provided conclusive proof that CeCe was Red Coat. In an eerie sequence, each Liar chased a flash of red coat through the graveyard only to realize they were all seeing the same person – CeCe. A and Red Coat had been working side-by-side the entire time.
Motives Revealed
In this scene, CeCe explicitly stated her motives as Red Coat: “You took my only friend away from me. You don’t deserve to be happy.” This confirmed Red Coat’s vendetta was about protecting Alison and getting revenge on the Liars.
Escape Plan
After her identity was revealed, CeCe attempted to flee town before the Liars could expose her. However, Aria foiled her escape, allowing the police to catch and arrest CeCe. Her run from justice proved CeCe had been secretly orchestrating the A games all along.
Aftermath & Impact
The fallout from CeCe being revealed as Red Coat dramatically impacted the rest of the series. Here are some of the major effects of this bombshell storyline revelation:
CeCe’s Arrest
With CeCe finally in police custody, the Liars enjoyed a brief respite from A’s threats. However, she had set plans in motion that allowed the A games to continue during her incarceration.
Ezra’s Betrayal
Learning CeCe’s backstory helped expose Ezra Fitz as another member of the A-Team. Ezra knew CeCe’s history and manipulated the Liars to write a true crime book, making him extremely untrustworthy.
Alison’s Return
Exposing CeCe led to Alison finally returning to Rosewood, alive and well. CeCe had been hiding Alison to protect her, but with her identity revealed, Alison reunited with the Liars.
Radley Secrets
The Liars did more digging into Radley Sanitarium, where CeCe was a former patient. This helped uncover secrets about Mrs. DiLaurentis faking Charles’ death and clues about Alison’s mysterious disappearance.
Conclusion
CeCe Drake being Red Coat was a legendary twist in Pretty Little Liars history. Her vengeful scheme to punish the Liars for hurting Alison led her to unleash years of torture and deception upon them. Red Coat was one of the A-Team’s most chilling members thanks to her anonymity and faceless torment. When fashionable CeCe was unmasked as the woman in the red trench coat, it shook up the entire series and catapulted the mystery into new, even darker territory. The reveal highlighted CeCe’s complex backstory and set the Liars on a path to finally uncovering Uber A’s endgame.