That is not the only reason to watch the show.
Perhaps you are like me. You heard about PMMM, and decided to do some investigating. I accidentally spoiled major plot points for myself because I was reading too much about the show. Knowing those plot twists, I had a hard time convincing myself to put the effort into watching the show. I finally did, and was pleasantly surprised.
Even knowing what was in store, the show was a thoroughly entertaining and beatiful experience. The following review hopefully outlines why PMMM is more than worth your time. I will not spoil anything in case you want to go in blind.
Story: While the show starts like a standard magical girl show, the real meat of the story comes into play within the first few episodes. It is not a very complex story, but the themes presented and situations encountered are all at once heart-wrenching, joyous, frustrating and satisfying. The plight of the girls is immensely touching, and the sweeping conclusion is one of the best I have ever seen.
Art: The character designs are all unique, and very colorful. Animation is smooth, and backgrounds are beautiful. The witch labyrinths are easily some of the most haunting and interesting scenes of the whole show. Mixing traditional animation with the "Unmoving plaid" effect makes for a very disorienting trip.
Sound: I watched the sub, and enjoyed the performances of each voice actor. The background music fit each scene, but is not very memorable by itself. However, the music during the witch labyrinths is appropriately creepy, and coupled with the animation make for the most memorable parts of the show.
Character: Each of the main girls has different reasons for becoming a magical girl, and exploring the backstories and motivations reveals a lot about each character. While each girl represents certain archtypes, they do not feel stale. Mixing common tropes with their varied backstories keeps the characters feeling fresh.
The amount of character development achieved in only 12 episodes is amazing. Some characters change more than others, but every major character gets so much time devoted to her that you feel like you are going on their journey with them, and rooting for them.
Overall: A solid plot, engaging characters and beautiful art are why you should watch this show. Not just for the "dark themes" and "shock value". After a year, that shock value is lost. What remains is a strong, well-rounded show.
TL;DR 5 words or phrases to describe PMMM
beautiful art, strong character development, emotional, mature, friendship is magic :)
