'Pretty Little Liars' Web Series Debuts Aug. 28

ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars" is giving fans a little something extra of itself headed into its final-season Halloween outing.

Headed into a temporary hiatus, Aug. 28's summer finale at 8 p.m. ET/PT will coincide with the debut of the new limited web series "Pretty Dirty Secrets" on ABC Family's website, with an episode each week for eight weeks debuting every Tuesday at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET leading up October's Halloween return.

The October return is set to feature a guest-starring spot by "American Idol" alum Adam Lambert, set to perform two songs opposite a member of show's main cast. The return from hiatus will center on comings and goings at Rosewood's Halloween store, various individuals keeping close tabs on one another, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The web series, meanwhile, introduces Shana (Aerial Miranda), who plays the store's clerk. Shana will then become a regular character throughout the rest of the season when the second half of season three kicks off in early 2013.

With enough enthusiasm thrown behind them, gap-bridging series like this can be such a boon to a series on a temporary hiatus. In its prime, FOX's "24" rolled out between-season projects like this, then proved with its callbacks during the season how worthwhile it could be to go the extra mile and take in all of the in-between material. To be fair, producers also made sure that what was introduced in these early webisodes was never so crucial that the remainder of the season wouldn't make sense to those who missed it.

It's somewhat like an Easter egg for the most ardent of devotees. That's an ideal fit especially for a season such as this, which has called repeatedly back to the events of the first season in a full-circle transition. "Pretty Little Liars" heads into its last half of its last season having explored a somewhat darker tone, more maturity and with a mind toward being as good to loyal fans as possible.

Kudos for going out with the best foot forward.