CeCe Drake

CeCe Drake
Pretty Little Liars character
First appearance "Crazy"
Created by Oliver Goldstick
Portrayed by Vanessa Ray
Information
Nickname(s) That Blonde Girl
Aliases
Alison DiLaurentis[lower-alpha 1]
Red Coat
Vivian Darkbloom
Gender Female
Occupation
Former college student
Stylist
Businesswoman
Significant other(s) Jason DiLaurentis
Residence Rosewood, Pennsylvania
France (expatriate)

CeCe Drake is a fictional character in the ABC Family Pretty Little Liars television series adaption. She is portrayed by Vanessa Ray. CeCe is introduced in the season three episode "Crazy". In the season four episode "Bring Down the Hoe", CeCe is revealed to be a member of the "A-Team", and in the following episode she's revealed to be a Red Coat, although later confirmed she wasn't really Red Coat but only a decoy.[1] She is also helping Ezra Fitz in writing his book.

She began appearing in the Pretty Little Liars spin-off web series Pretty Dirty Secrets in the episodes "A Reunion" and "CAll Security".[lower-alpha 2]

Casting

CeCe Drake (top) and Alison DiLaurentis (bottom).

It was reported that Vanessa Ray was cast to play CeCe Drake.[2][3] Vanessa was announced to start filming again for PLL, Ray spoke about returning saying "It's so fun to do, and what a crazy character I get to play. She's sort of a sociopath. I think she's so weird because she's, like, 22 but hangs out with high-schoolers. It's like, 'Hey, girl! Get a life!'”[4]

Development

CeCe Drake was characterized as a "beyond-charismatic twenty-something blonde stylist at a boutique that has one heel in the present, one in the past.”[5] Pretty Little Liars Producer Oliver Goldstick told TVLine that she "schooled Alison in the wicked ways of the world … She taught her everything she knows!”[2] Drake's personality is described as the sociopathic qualities: controlling, charming, seductive, dominant, and extremely intelligent.[3] CeCe is described with her big, blue eyes, shiny blond curls, and admirable confidence, CeCe possesses a charm eerily similar to Alison’s.[6] The girls believe CeCe is “a lot” like Alison. In fact, CeCe acted as Alison’s mentor in teaching her how to be controlling and manipulative. Like Ali, she is closest to Spencer.[7] CeCe was also described as “off-the-wall, self-centered, bizarre fashionista”.[4]

Storylines

CeCe makes her first appearance in the season three episode "Crazy", The girls mistake CeCe as Alison due to CeCe being like Alison.[8] CeCe Drake reveals that she spent what was described as an "intense" summer with Alison DiLaurentis in Cape May, New Jersey before Alison's disappearance.[2][8] CeCe Drake also revealed that she previously dated Jason DiLaurentis.[2][3][8] It was revealed that CeCe broke up with Jason the day after Alison went missing. Jason blames CeCe for the way Ali acts.[3] In the episode "The Kahn Game", CeCe reveals to Spencer and Aria that she was a student at UPenn and invites them to a party, promising Spencer that someone from UPenn admissions will be attending.[9] Later, CeCe challenged Eric Khan to a game of "Truth or Dare".[9] CeCe appears in the episode "Single Fright Female", in which CeCe revealed to Spencer that CeCe and Paige had a feud between the two over Emily Fields in which CeCe referred to Paige as "Pig Skin".[10] CeCe and Alison appear in an flashback with Paige in which CeCe also revealed that she believed Alison was afraid of Paige.[10] Later, Spencer helps her out.[10] CeCe saves Spencer from a snake attack in the dressing rooms.[10] In the episode "Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Inferno", CeCe remembers the photo of Ali and Cece bonding with lobsters in Cape May, NJ that Emily shows her, but she says she never knew who "beach hottie" was exactly. CeCe stated "Honestly, there were so many hotties down there that summer,".[11][12] Ali comes to see her at Annie's Crab Shack and tells her she's late ... like two weeks late. She was using protecting, "just not all the time."[11] In the episode "Hot Water", Hanna sees Wilden put CeCe in his car, CeCe leaves Rosewood because she is afraid of Darren Wilden because he believes CeCe told people about Wilden getting Alison pregnant.[13] In the episode "I'm Your Puppet", it was revealed that CeCe had a visitor pass to Radley and she was visiting Mona while she was there.[14] CeCe wanted see Mona because she was desperate to see her during when Mona wasn't allowed visitors.[14] It was revealed that CeCe was thrown out of college.[14] Mona would later admit to seeing CeCe while in Radley, though not recalling what they spoke about due to being on medication, in the episode "'A' is for A-l-i-v-e".[15]

CeCe as Red Coat.

CeCe does not make an appearance in the episode "Crash and Burn, Girl!", however when Toby and Caleb go to investigate Red Coat's flight plan, they question Nigel Wright a second time, he reluctantly reveals that he was paid to set up an anonymous private flight for CeCe to The Lodge at Thornhill on the night of the fire in "A DAngerous GAme."[16][17] Shana reveals to Spencer that Jenna Marshall is afraid of CeCe Drake in the episode "Into the Deep".[lower-alpha 3][18] It was revealed in "The Mirror Has Three Faces" that Alison was the reason CeCe was thrown out of college after the stunt Ali pulled at the frat party leading CeCe to believe that the girls are "four she-devils" that had something to do with what happened.[19] Ali's mom described their relationship as "toxic" as they 'wore' each other's personalities.[19] CeCe makes her first appearance in season four in the episode "Bring Down the Hoe", CeCe is seen in an apartment filled with pictures of Alison DiLaurentis and the liars, dating all the way back from Halloween 2008.[20] CeCe, in an black hoodie, is show spying on Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz.[20] In the episode "Now You See Me, Now You Don't", the Liars are convinced that CeCe did indeed murder Darren Wilden as sketch of a blonde woman resembling CeCe is shown on the news. During a brief struggle in which her Alison mask is kicked off by Aria, CeCe is revealed to be one of the Red Coats, though this is later proven otherwise.[1] During the struggle, CeCe attempts to escape by grabbing onto a rope, only for it to snap.[1] Aria tries to pull CeCe up as she pleads for Aria to help her, however she proves too heavy for Aria as her sleeve rips and she falls to the ground.[1] While the Liars are contemplating calling the police CeCe’s hand is seen twitching, and when the Liars turn around CeCe has seemingly disappeared.[1] In the episode "Love ShAck, Baby" according to Travis, CeCe was lasted spotted in Maryland on the run from the authorities.[lower-alpha 4][21] It was revealed that she made huge money deposits before Wilden died.[21] In the episode "She's Come Undone", it was revealed that CeCe witnessed a fight between Spencer Hastings and Alison DiLaurentis the night of Ali's disappearance.[22] Also, Jessica DiLaurentis paid CeCe to be quiet about it.[22]

In the season four finale "A is for Answers", CeCe is detained by Detective Holbrook (Sean Faris) and questioned about Wilden’s murder.[23] She confesses that she knows who killed Bethany Young (the girl buried in Alison's grave) and that Alison is still alive.[23][lower-alpha 5]

In "EscApe From New York," CeCe is taken away by Officer Barry Maple to be sent to jail, however, at some point she knocks him unconscious and steals his cop car and heads off to New York where Ali and the Liars are. CeCe finds Ali and asks for her help. Ali gives her a plane ticket to France and CeCe leaves the country as Vivian Darkbloom. When Emily catches Alison, Ali tells her that CeCe was being paid by Ezra for information and that she asked her to dress up as Red Coat only to distract "A". Ali also reveals that CeCe did indeed kill Wilden. In "How the 'A' Stole Christmas," CeCe returns to Rosewood to comfort Ali on her first Christmas with Jessica dead. In order to remain unseen, she wears a white cloak. She gives Ali a bottle of specially made perfume and tells her that her ex-friends are there and not to say Merry Christmas, meaning she does not trust them. Alison and CeCe escape the ball unseen after Ali gives their clothes and wigs to Cindy and Mindy to trick the Liars with.

Reception

The character was well received by critics. Riley Sky of Dropkick Divas Media gave an positive review, saying "As charming and manipulative as Alison DiLaurentis was, we get to see were Ali got those sociopathic qualities in CeCe Drake. CeCe possesses a charm eerily similar to Alison’s. While Ali "may" be dead, CeCe gives us a refreshing look at how Ali's life would have looked. This beyond-charismatic twenty-something blonde stylist that sure does have one heel in the present, one in the past, CeCe leaves us wanting more".[24]

Notes

  1. ↑ Jessica DiLaurentis revealed that CeCe and Alison 'wore' each other's personalities. CeCe Dressed from head to toe like Alison to admit herself to Radley as a joke.
  2. ↑ In the Pretty Dirty Secrets episode "CAll Security", CeCe appears in the security camera footage along with other characters but is counted as a starring role.
  3. ↑ Jenna could fear CeCe Drake because of the phone call that CeCe made threatening to "rip her eyes out".
  4. ↑ It is revealed that the police believe CeCe was paid to kill Detective Wilden.
  5. ↑ Knew Alison DiLaurentis was still alive after her disappearance.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Season 4 Summer Finale Recap: "Now You See Me, Now You Don’t"". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Friedman, Molly. "Pretty Little Liars Spoiler: CeCe Was Ali’s "Wicked" Mentor, and (Spoiler)’s Ex!". WetPaint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Swift, Andy. "‘Pretty Dirty Secrets’ Recap: Jason & CeCe Dig Up The Past". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Burt, Kayti. "Pretty Little Liars Season 4B Spoilers: CeCe Drake WILL Return!". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Friedman, Molly. "Spoiler! Pretty Little Liars Season 3 Spoiler: More Details on CeCe, Connections to "the Past"". Wetpaint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Clip from Pretty Little Liars Season 3, Episode 7: The Girls Meet CeCe Drake". Retrieved 29 May 2014. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  7. ↑ "CeCe Drake - Bio". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Season 3, Episode 7 Recap: Mona Finally Reveals a Secret". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "‘Pretty Little Liars,’ Season 3, Episode 9, ‘The Kahn Game’: TV Recap". Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "‘Pretty Little Liars’ Season 3, Episode 11, ‘Single Fright Female’: TV Recap". Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Etkin, Jaimie. "'Pretty Little Liars' Recap: Spencer Loses It, Hanna Goes Gay, Ezra Learns The Truth And Someone's Pregnant". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Ng, Philiana. "'Pretty Little Liars': The Mystery of Alison's Pregnancy: In Tuesday's "Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Inferno," babies were the talk of the town.". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  13. ↑ NG, Philiana. "'Pretty Little Liars': Wren Makes a Move, Ezra Returns and Wilden Stirs Up Trouble: In Tuesday's episode, "Hot Water," an unexpected accident puts a wrench into a possible Cape May cover-up.". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Recap: Season 3, Episode 23 — Spencer Joined the "A" Team?!". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Recap: Season 4 Premiere — Wilden Is Dead!". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  16. ↑ Lee, Tionah. "'Pretty Little Liars' recap, 'Crash and Burn, Girl!'". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  17. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Recap: Season 4, Episode 7 — "Crash and Burn, Girl!"". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  18. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Recap: Season 4, Episode 9 — "Into the Deep"". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Gajewski, Ryan. [Pretty Little Liars Recap: — The Mirror Has Three Faces "http://www.wetpaint.com/pretty-little-liars/articles/2013-08-13-review-season-4-episode-10"]. Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Recap: Season 4, Episode 11 — "Bring Down the Hoe"". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Recap: Season 4, Episode 15, "Love ShAck, Baby!" — Who's at the Cabin?". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Recap: Season 4, Episode 21 — "She’s Come Undone"". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Gajewski, Ryan. "Pretty Little Liars Season Four Finale "A is for Answers": Alison DiLaurentis tells All, CeCe is arressted, Melissa knows who killed the Girl in Ali's Grave and Jessica DiLaurentis Dead?". Wet Paint. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  24. ↑ Sky, Riley. "Character Review: CeCe Drake — Pretty Little Liars". Dropkick Divas Media. Retrieved 29 May 2014.

External links