PSA:Â Let me tell you something about Aria Montgomery.Â
She is the kind of person that stands by her friends no matter what.Â
Sometimes she may seem self absorbed and stuck in her own little world but that isnât intentional. It is not intended to come off as mean or selfish.Â
She cares about her friends more than anyone else in her life. To her, they are family. Itâs pretty much a fact that she would do anything to protect them (but unlike most of the overly protective and obnoxiously annoying characters on the show, she doesnât try to assert her authority by protecting those that donât ask for it.) She keeps her distance. She understands that people need space because it is something that she can relate to.
When the world gets to be too much for her, she pushes away from those closest to her and tries to keep her pain to herself. In a way, it is selfish â She feels everything too deeply and therefore even the smallest of tragedy is the end of the world â but mostly, itâs incredibly selfless. Instead of burdening others with her feelings, she makes sure that they donât have to feel what she is feeling.Â
Last nightâs episode demonstrated, at least in my opinion, how good she is at keeping those feelings bottled up.
That is why, when something extra bad happens to her, she breaks down and trashes apartments or causes public scenes. It is the only way she knows how to get her feelings across without completely feeling them.
People often try to categorise Aria as being a hopeless romantic â someone that gives into matters of the heart because of spontaneous and overwhelming whims. While that may be somewhat true, I think itâs truer to say that she craves safety.
Relationships provide her with that.Â
Not only that, but Iâve always believed that her interest in older men was sparked by her friendship with Alison.Â
In a sense, she started dating men that Alison would approve of. Men that would impress her âdeadâ best friend.Â
That is exactly why Ezraâs betrayal hurts so much. Flashback to a season or so ago and he was holding her hand through panic attacks and waking her from nightmares. She trusted him more than she has ever trusted anyone and she does not trust easily. Not since Alison.Â
To find out that Ezra was using her for a story? And more importantly, a story about Alison, has destroyed her.
The last episode basically proved how bad her anxiety has gotten. When the world comes crashing down, instead of dealing with the betrayal and leaning on her friends, she runs away.
Pretty Little Liars gets a lot of shit for its storytelling (and itâs rightly deserved) but Aria is such a good example of someone with an anxiety disorder. She is so busy trying to feel safe and be happy that sheâs never able to find a healthy balance.Â
It is not OK to call her weak or âcrazyâ for any of her actions last episode. In fact, it is entirely offensive.Â
Whatâs worse is to claim she must be pregnant to have been so angry. Are you kidding me? So, because a woman is angry, she must therefore be pregnant? Get out with your blatant and disgusting sexism.Â
She is the victim of emotional abuse.Â
She is entitled to act on her anger and give into her sadness.
While it is fine to hate a character, it is absolutely not OK to tag such disgusting hate. Stop.Â
