The Bold Type Review: Pilot / O Hell No (Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2)

On The Bold Type Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” the show lays down the groundwork that sets up each character their personalities, their friendships and their dynamics.

Then later, on The Bold Type Season 1 Episode 2, “O Hell No,” the audience sees most of the really juicy stories that Kat (Aisha Dee), Jane (Katie Stevens), and Jane (Meghann Fahy) on their season-long journeys.

This show presents genuine characters and problems that give the audience tons of opportunities to connect to their stories. This show isn’t Sex and the City for teens; it’s in a new league of its own.

That’s not to say that it’s better than Sex and the City (that would be nearly impossible). Just that this show has its own characters and nuance that specifically relate to the issues of today’s culture for women.

I’m all the way here for this progressive hit show. It’s definitely not your momma’s glass ceiling (shout out to Jane from the “Pilot” episode).

Sutton: Loving the ‘can do’ spirit.

Kat: I’m a problem solver.

The first thing The Bold Type has proven to do is offer different perspectives beyond a white woman’s experience. They have truly taken the intersectional aspect of feminism and modified it for on-screen entertainment.

We not only follow Kat, a black woman with the confidence of Sasha Fierce, but also a Muslim immigrant, Adena. In the “Pilot,” when we were introduced to their budding relationship, we immediately saw the value in telling their stories.

They both must deal with the problems that come with not only being a woman but being a black woman or a Muslim woman in America. In addition, they explore Adena’s experiences in her home country with oppressive laws against women.

The Bold Type also fearlessly explores sexuality. Adena is lesbian, while Kat is either bisexual or queer. This gives the narrative time to explore what it’s like to be a lesbian artist in a heteronormative society, and what expanding your sexuality is like when cultural norms and the lack of exposure has conditioned you to believe you are one thing.

In this way, the show adds a new dynamic to the will they/won’t they trope through Adena and Kat by discovering new ground for these women as they discover it too.

Speaking of discovering one’s sexuality, Jane is experiencing the confidence that comes with sexual liberation and it’s beautiful. She represents a different side of feminism that doesn’t immediately file into the categories of confident and sexually experienced.

Many forget that feminism doesn’t mean you have to be those things. It just means you are allowed to choose to be those things without there being social and political repercussions for it. That’s why I’m very excited about Jane’s story.

Her intersectional perspective comes from being a white woman who doesn’t have a close relationship with her mother (for reasons we’ll soon find out). She’s also cautious, fashion forward, and very intelligent.

Now that she knows her cautious nature is holding her back, she shows that she is willing to come out of her shell one step at a time when she kissed Ryan on “O Hell No.”

Which… we have to take a moment and talk about. That chemistry between those two scream OTP (one true pairing). His confidence is the perfect balance for her safe nature. Plus, they’re both amazing writers who have already shown the capacity to connect with one another based on the written word and its implications.

Although Jane wasn’t too open for a heart to heart in the premiere, that kiss promises much more to come and we hope it involves more of those sizzling moments.

Other moments we need more of belong to Jane and Jacqueline (Melora Hardin). I love that Jackie isn’t the stereotypical The Devil Wears Prada-type boss for Scarlet. She practices exactly what she preaches: feminism and empowerment.

Her nurturing relationship with Jane has some of the sweetest moments in this series so far. It’s even more important because we know Jane doesn’t have a good relationship with her biological mother. Jackie is an older woman in New York, who is not only maternal but also a badass.

On “O Hell No,” her arched eyebrow and smirk when she sees the sexual position the girls are practicing mixes with her confident strut and smile after she sees the girls laughing and giggling in the dressing room. Jacquline and her tough but gentle guidance do amazing work to give this series a unique touch.

Last but definitely not least: Sutton. Her intersectional identities stem from her low-income background, her habitually pragmatic way of making decisions, and her place as a single white woman with ambitions that surpass her current experience.

Unlike, Kat and Jane, Sutton’s not content with her professional place in life right now. She desires something beyond the practical business side of the magazine. As we found out on “O Hell No,” She wants to be in the fashion division that focuses on the key differences between Saint Laurent and Louboutin heels rather than accounting and business proposals.

And we don’t blame her.

She deserves to go for a profession that makes her happy. Speaking of things that seem to make her happy. We know she’s currently in a relationship with Richard (Sam Page), but did anyone see the simmering chemistry between Sutton and Alex (Matt Ward)?

He firmly sits in his position in the friend-zone. This is appropriate because she’s still dating Richard, but Alex seemed more intent on her than he did the other 2 girls. He seemed more invested in Sutton’s problems and helping her.

The toast they had, on “O Hell No,” together with Sutton’s “just in case I fail” fund seems to have bigger implications than simply “friends” behind it.

Maybe I’m into looking into things too much. Or maybe I just want more for Alex than to be the occasional advice-giver. However, I wouldn’t mind one bit if their relationship grew into something more than friends.

The Bold Type explores a lot of friendship dynamics on the series premiere: Kat and Jane, Alex and Kat, Jane and Sutton, etc. And their genuine nature adds another facet to this show that makes it so different from what’s on TV right now.

We need more friendships like those on The Bold Type because there is no artificiality between the girls. Their arguments, fears, and pride are real.

Kat, Jane, and Sutton don’t argue about trivial things like wearing each other’s clothes and accessories. They argue about things like Sutton keeping big secrets and not being there emotionally when the other needed them, as we see on the “Pilot” episode.

Sometimes friends don’t always want to be the patient one who stays to be the punching bag when their friends go through things. Sometimes they do walk away to let each other deal with their own dramas alone because they have their own stressful issues.

However, a true friend is always willing to forgive. Their willingness to be there the moment their friend realizes they can’t do this alone and they do need your shoulder stays true, no matter what. Apologizing requires humility, love, listening to the other’s side after things have cooled down.

Their friendship remains one of the most important aspects of this show. Women, young ladies, and girls need to see what steadfastly supporting each other looks like. We have enough obstacles in society without compounding on each other’s issues with cattiness and cliques.

Overall, the premiere shows great promise and guarantees amazing and authentic stories to come.

What did you think of this episode of The Bold Type? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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The Bold Type airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Freeform.

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