At ease, Pretty Little Liars fans who have absolutely no idea what is going on with the plot this season! You are not alone. Keegan Allen, whose character Toby is at the center of one of the messiest, most convoluted plots in the show, also has no idea what's going on. He couldn't explain the whole "Toby/Bethany/Toby's mom/Jessica DiLaurentis/the suicide that was maybe not a suicide/but maybe it was a suicide/you see where I'm going with this" situation if he tried. Fortunately, there's plenty that Allen can explain, like the never-ending allure of Alison DiLaurentis, his forthcoming book of poetry and photographs (life.love.beauty), and the terrifying power of A.

Hey Keegan, what are you up to?

I'm at the airport right now. I'm flying to Pittsburgh to promote my book.

Does it feel surreal to even say that? "I'm promoting my book."

It does! This is a passion project I've been working on for years and years and years … I've created this very much as a love letter to fans and camera enthusiasts alike.

Are poetry and photography your first passions? Were you into writing before you got into acting?

I grew up with artistic parents that were very creative — my father being an actor, a thespian if you will, off-Broadway, film and television. And my mother is a watercolor impressionist painter. I grew up listening to Van Morrison and Bob Dylan on vinyl. My obsession with photography [started] from the age of 9 onward. My first photo in the book is from when I was 5 years old; I had my dad help me take it from my window, of the L.A. riots. I remember begging my dad to help me take the picture. [But] I'm an actor first and foremost, so that's my main ambition.

Is any of the poetry in your book written for a specific person? Did you ever write a girl a love poem?

Yes. And they're all in this book. And it's really scary to share some of it. I kept a lot of it out and I kept a lot of it in, if that makes any sense … I'm allowing [readers] to see how I felt while writing something. If there was a certain poem directed at somebody, it's anonymous; I don't want to out any of the people I'm writing about … I have a story in there about the first time that I remember figuring out what love was at 6 years old.

Sounds like you were an intense little kid.

I was a very emotional child. And growing up waxing poetic in math class in the first grade was not the most attractive thing. But it's good, and looking back on these journals, I'm kind of surprised.

Let's discuss Pretty Little Liars. Why do you think do you think any of the girls are still friends with Alison? She seems like this irredeemable, beautiful sociopath. Would you be friends with her in real life?

I think her allure is, just like any beautiful person, [her beauty] is sometimes terribly toxic to other people. Anybody can kind of raise their hand and share a beautiful person who created a toxic environment in their life. Whether or not she's a sociopath, she's just not a nice person, regardless of what her intentions are. I don't think I'd be friends with her in real life. I have experienced people like her in my life, and I try to stay as far away from them, mentally and emotionally, as possible.

What do you think is the scariest thing A has ever done?

I think the reality of this character, if you step out of the heightened reality of the show and of Rosewood, and look at it for what it is — this is a murderous stalker — that's terrifying. The whole idea of this phantasmagoric character who is constantly adding misery to the lives of these teenage girls ... I would never want this or wish it on my worst enemy.

How does it feel to be part of one of the only age-appropriate relationships on the show? Seems like almost all these teenage girls are hooking up with guys in their 20s — even the ones in relationships with high school guys now, like Spencer and Hanna, have dated or kissed these guys who are way older than they are.

There's always something alluring about dating a teacher. And extremely illegal! But alluring nonetheless. But everyone has a crush on a teacher growing up. I had a crush on a teacher growing up. And there's a fantasy aspect that people are relating to. I think it's brilliant because it obviously creates interest, and people are interested in knowing what happens, because it is a little taboo.

Be honest: If I asked you to explain the plot of the show right now, especially all this stuff going on with Toby and Bethany and Jessica DiLaurentis and Radley, could you do it?

I don't think I could do it. I don't think I could actually do it. Because there's a lot changing within that universe at all times. In the first, second, and third season, I could do it. Fourth season, I have less information, and the fifth season is even more so that way.

What are the best fan theories you've heard?

One of my favorites is that, the way that the show would end, is that at the very end, they're all together, and they realize that the viewer is A. That there's this person in the room and it turns out to be the audience itself.

Oh, I like that. Very meta. Who do you think A is?

Oh, I have no idea!



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Jessica M. Goldstein Jessica Goldstein is a writer covering all things culture.

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