Red Coat

"She's the one in charge."

- Emily Fields (referring to Big A)

Big "A", also known as Red Coat, Head "A", Main "A", Red "A" or simply the leader of the A-Team, is an unknown character. Big "A" is considered to be the person who created "A", and the "A-Team". It is Red Coat that has control over the A-Team, calls the shots, and directs the other "A"'s working for her. Big A is considered to ultimately be the Main "A", as she is considered to be the most important "A" on the A-Team, and the most ranked. Before recently, there had been no information on this character. The only thing clear is that she possibly wears a red coat, and she is in charge of the A-Team.

Big A's character first came to light at the end of the season 2 finale of unmAsked. After it was revealed that Mona Vanderwaal, Hanna's bestfriend, had been the elusive person tormenting the girls for months: "A"! At the end of the episode, she is taken to Radely, where she is then visited by someone in a red coat, similar to that of Vivian Darkbloom's. Mona looks up to her and says: "I did everything you've asked me to", revealing that even A herself is working for someone of higher ranking.

Throughout season 3, new information has sprung about this person. Big "A" has been revealed to be a she, has a petite frame, and has long blond hair. Although the blond hair could simply be a wig. Up to date, the most popular theories concerning Big A's identity are: Alison DiLaurentis, Courtney DiLaurentis, Melissa Hastings, Jenna Marshall, Cece Drake and Aria Montgomery. It has been revealed that in the season 3 finale, the identity of the stranger in the Red Coat will be revealed. However, many fans question the fact that the most important character up to date will have her identity revealed only a season after being introduced. Consequently, many people are starting to question whether Big "A" and Red Coat are the same people.

It is important to note the differences of the terms "A", Big "A", and an 'A-Team member. 'A is considered to be only one individual at any given moment. There are multiple A's working together in one group. This group of A's is called: the '''A-Team'. In this group, one of the A's is considered to be the calling the shots: the Main "A", also known as the Big "A". It is she who calls the shots.''

The Beginning
A first  began tormenting Alison DiLaurentis during the Halloween of 2008, at the time unbeknowst to the liars. When the episode premiered, it was mostly unknown to the audience that A was in fact a team of people. Most likely, Big "A" was responsible for the creation of A and the A-Team, and that members such as Mona Vanderwaal and Toby Cavanaugh were recruited later on.

Season 2
In the Season 2 finale of "UnmAsked," it has been revealed that Mona is in fact A. After Mona knocks Spencer Hastings unconscious and puts her in her car, Mona gives Spencer an "offer she can't refuse": either join the A-Team, or die. After the fiasco on Lookout Point, and when Mona is taken to the police station before departing for Radley, she says in a monologue: "They think it's over! Loser Mona's going to the nuthouse and those precious liars think they can sleep with their windows open and their doors unlocked . Don't they know that's what we want!" It now becomes confirmed at this point that A is a team of people.

At the end of "UnmAsked," we see Mona sitting in her bed at the Radley Sanitarium. A visitor wearing a red trench coat, much similar to that of Vivian Darkbloom, stands before Mona, to whom she says: "I did everything you've asked me to!" It is highly implied that this is the Big "A", and that he/she is the main "A" and the leader of the A team (who calls the shots and controls their workers/minor A's). It becomes quite clear that though Mona is part of the A-Team, and has physically done everything that "A" has done to the Liars, she is simply working for the Big "A", who tells her what to do (hitting Hanna with a car, and other things).

Season 3
By Season 3, it is officially confirmed that A is a team of people: the A-Team, and that due to the ending scene of the Season 2 finale, this team is controlled by the main A: Big "A", who calls the shots.

In the second episode of season 3, Blood Is The New Black, we see Big "A" once more. Wearing a red hoodie, she is seen buying black hoodies and gloves for her workers. The store owner says to Big "A": "So, are you buying this for a team?".

Throughout season 3, there is a "New A" tormenting the Liars. In The Lady Killer, it is revealed that Toby is this "A," and is also part of the A-Team. The dramatic irony is that the Liars don't seem to understand that both Mona, and the New A, are simply workers for the Big "A". In the same episode, we also see Mona possibly talking to the Big "A" on the phone since Mona learns from the other person that there is a "change of plans". Since Big "A" is usually the one planning out all of the "A" schemes, it seems as if it really was her.

It is obvious at this point that there are much more A-Team members then just Toby and Mona.

In Misery Loves Company, when Hanna goes to the boutique, she sees in the window reflection a blond girl wearing a red coat (the same color as Vivian's jacket) across the street, watching her. When Hanna turns around, the girl walks off.

In the same episode, we see Mona and Toby talking in A's lair. Mona refers to someone by saying: "They need to understand she's in charge". While this might imply that the Big A is a female.

In "Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Inferno", Big "A" is seen in the "A" liar using a blowtorch to burn a doll representing Hanna. The girl was seen wearing a red jacket and has red nail polish on.

In "Dead to Me, Emily remembers more of what happened "That Night". She remembers seeing Big A while being attacked by a member of the A-Team. Emily says that she( Big A) is the one in charge.

In "Hot Water, Spencer sees Big A after her date with Wren. Big A manages to get away before Spencer can catch up to her.

In "Out of Sight, Out of Mind " Big A appears to Emily for a second time while she is in her car waiting to meet up with Toby. However Big A quickly vanishes after Emily catches a glimpse of her entering Toby's workplace. It is presumed that Big A lured Emily by using Toby's phone.

Aria is the only liar who has not seen Big A in person.

Identity
Before recently, there was almost no information on Big A. However, since recently, we now know that Big "A" is female and has blonde hair. It can be speculated, however, that Big "A" could be impersonating Alison by wearing the blonde wig that was seen in "A's" Lair in previous episodes. It is also important to note that Big "A's" red trench coat is often a symbol repersenting Alison DiLaurentis, therefore implying that Big "A" could, in fact, be Alison.

It has been widely speculated that Big "A" is Alison, or a twin of some sort (see Courtney DiLaurentis, a book character). Some fans suspect Alison because Big "A" makes her appearence wearing a red trench coat, similar to the red trench coat of Vivian Darkbloom (the alter ego of Alison DiLaurentis, who used this persona to try to find out who A is). Supporters of this theory think that Ali (or Courtney) had a twin who hated her, and started the A-Team to ruin the lives of her and the Liars. Some think that it is not likely that Alison is Big A because she was also stalked by A. It is possible for her to have a twin. Another reason Alison may not be Big A is because Big A has been seen in public places, such as at the store she bought the black hoodies and outside walking. Surely people would recognize her if she was Alison.

Another theory that recently started trending is that Aria Montgomery is the "Big A." Fans have pointed out the fact that Aria recieves almost little to no torment from "A", hasn't had many confrontations with A (until the season 3 Halloween episode), along with a wide range of other clues taken from the show. They also point out that Aria was the last one seen wearing Vivian Darkbloom's coat, before we see Big "A" wearing the same coat when visiting Mona in UnmAsked. They point out that Aria showed no hesitation, or awkwardness, when she was about to wear her dead best friend's coat for the "first time". In The Goodbye Look, Mona says to Aria: "Hey, Big "A"!" There are some things that don't add up to this theory, however; Aria recieves texts when she's alone, and Aria was almost thrown off the Train in This Is A Dark Ride. Some fans ask why A would try to kill Big A.

Big A might wear a mask, so that no one knows who she is. Also, it could be a mask that looks like Alison's face  to throw people off.

Another theory that fans are saying is that Cece Drake is Big A because when she is packing in the episode Hot Water you can see a red coat in her suitcase.

Big A was seen by 3/4 of the Liars:
 * Emily - during "That Night" (flashback; in "Dead to Me"), and also in her car (in "Out of Sight, Out of Mind").
 * Hanna - during her fake interview (in "Misery Loves Company").
 * Spencer - while she was walking (in "Hot Water").