‘Pretty Little Liars’ defies its stereotype

“You watch that show?” people sneeringly ask me every time I talk about my favorite show “Pretty Little Liars” (PLL, for short). Yes, I do watch that show.

It’s no guilty pleasure; I’m proud of it. Indeed, most people’s negative misconceptions of the show are just plain wrong.

The plot of PLL centers around the story of the citizens of Rosewood trying to figure who “A” is, the antagonist of the show. The four protagonists, Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily, are threatened by “A,” who blackmails them to prevent them from telling anybody.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from males is that “PLL is such a girl show.” But PLL is no “Gossip Girl,” which emphasizes drama between friends, boyfriends and family It might have some drama, but mostly, it’s straight-up terrifying.

In almost every episode, somebody is stabbed, shot or killed. Half of the time I watch PLL, I sit frozen in my chair with my eyes glued to the screen; it is shockingly scary yet so enrapturing at the same time. The truth is, it is a more of a crime show than a drama since the focus is solving the mystery of A’s identity and the cause of their friend Allison’s death.

Some people tell me that PLL is boring or uninteresting. There might have been a lull during the first few episodes of Season 5, but only because no sabotaging or life-threatening scenes kept me on the edge of my seat, while usually, the characters are in constant physical danger.

Other uninterested watchers are bored because they do not understand the show. But if you don’t understand because you haven’t watched from the beginning, then I can’t help you.

I can tell you, however, you why PLL is captivating: PLL comes with innumerable plot twists, going from Mona (an enemy turned ally) being A to Ali’s mom assumed of being A to Ali being A. (If that sentence confused you, my point is proven.) The inside-joke-like references to episodes from seasons ago may add to the confusing nature of the show, but it is the icing on the cake for dedicated viewers like me.

With these plot twists, some may say the show becomes repetitive. But it isn’t — it becomes more and more intense. Season 1 begins with just some threats through text, but in Season 5, the threats are real — people die just as viewers are about to find out who “A” is.

The proximity to finding out the identity of “A” is disappointing, but also brings the viewer closer to the emotions of the characters in the show. In addition, if we actually found out who the real “A” is, there would be no show anymore, and that would be the biggest disappointment of all.

I will always be a dedicated PLL viewer no matter what people say to dissuade me, and the minutes before new episodes air on Tuesday night will always be my most anticipated moment of the week.