The Bold Type Review: The Woman Behind the Clothes (Season 1 Episode 3)

The Bold Type Season 1 Episode 3, “The Woman Behind the Clothes,” continues to delve into the girls’ personalities and how the events in their lives chip away at their masks. We learn a lot about the young women this episode, and, so far, I like what I see.

Although, we do catch her staring pretty longingly at Alex as he walks away in the beginning of the episode (just saying), Sutton proves to have a lot more to her than her romantic interests. She puts her fear and reservations aside to go for what she wants.

At the end of the episode, Sutton shows the capacity to stick to her guns, approach the situation as a professional, and use her creativity to get the new fashion assistant job opening. 

It’s one thing to claim you’re going to do something. It’s another when on the very next episode, you get it done.

Even with Lauren trying to stand in her way, Sutton’s willingness to work twice as hard to reach her goals shows the work ethic she has alludes to when she talks to Alex about her past on The Bold Type premiere. We don’t know if she got the fashion assistant-ship just yet, but with Lauren finally behind her, her odds look much better.

Jane’s story progresses a bit this episode. She shows the same “scrappy” attitude to attain her goal as a political journalist, at least for her Congress woman article.

With her tenacity, it’s obvious journalism is her calling. Especially taking into account the way she noticed how the congress woman’s outfits look horrible on the days she does environmentally problematic political deals.

However, romantically, she has a lot to learn. It’s weird how she grew up with all men in the house, yet she seems so oblivious to the men and their intentions. Even if her brothers and her father are dense and her ex-boyfriend made her bitter, it seems a bit early for her to be freaking out over something she doesn’t fully understand yet.

Her unwillingness to simply hear Ryan out and her habit to immediately jump to the worst conclusions are already becoming a tiring habit to watch.

I know she had a bad breakup with her ex, but it’s not like Ryan and Jane are deep into their relationship yet. She swears she knows him and his “type” but she’s proven time and time again, she doesn’t. She constantly does exactly what she’s trying to fight against in society: typification and stereotyping.

Hopefully, now that her career is on more solid ground, she has a little more personal growth. I know it’s hard to fight against your immediate instincts to protect yourself, but there has to be a point when the growth starts. I hope to see her doing that soon.

She and Ryan can be something amazing, but she has to be open to receiving him for who he is first. 

Speaking of a little growing, Kat has her starts and stops, but it’s great to watch her approach something with a more mature outlook. Kat can be so reactive and has the tendency to make things worse before it gets better.

She starts to engage with the trolls, or what I like to call them “thumb thugs,” but by the end of the episode, she responds in a smart way by promoting positivity in the face of their attacks. This act shows amazing growth on her part. Now, if she can only stay on this path of anti-reactiveness and more thought out responses, we could actually be going somewhere.

Cyber bullying has become an increasing issue since social media emboldens thumb thugs to say whatever they want with no repercussions. This is especially the case for those that hide behind a cartoon or celebrity’s avatar.

So, it’s great to see The Bold Type show the repercussions of cyber bullying and the mob mentality that comes with it.

The internet is a dangerous place. This episode not only shows us the repercussions of people being horrible human beings behind anonymity, but it also shows the repercussions of putting our lives out into cyber space. Always be diligent with what you post and what you send to people in the cyber sphere. As Kat explains in this episode to Sutton and Jane, once the information is out, you cannot get it back.

What do you all think Adena wants to talk about with Kat? I think she’s going to tell her that she has romantic feelings for her. Kat tends to show a more vulnerable side of herself to Adena.

Although she deletes her comment about unraveling, her asking for help shows she trusts Adena’s judgment and that when she’s struggling, she thinks about her. I’m in love with their future relationship already. I hope they don’t make us sit through the will they, won’t they trope for too long.

Kat and Adena are meant to be together, or at least try to see what they’re like together. 

In just two episodes, The Bold Type continues to explore relevant important conversations we should be having. They touch on the marginalization of women. The bold and confident approach women must not be afraid to have to get what they want.

They explore breaking out of stereotypes and typification, cyber bullying, and professional growth. These are all amazing reasons to tune into this innovative series. So, why aren’t the ratings reflecting of this?

Season 1 Episode 3 shows the highest ratings for The Bold Type so far, but it’s only at 0.14. 

The answer might be in the late air time and the watered down content. Although The Bold Type touches on these amazing stories, they tend to only be episodic arcs. Many of these topics are large and nuanced.

To thoroughly explore them and their real life ramifications, the show needs more than 50 minutes of air time. With how late the series airs, 9 pm PT, there should be more things young and older women can sink their teeth into.

The show also needs more nitty and gritty story lines that will draw in an older audience. If they keep up the stories that graze the surface, where everything always turns out good in the end, then it should be pulled up to an earlier time where the younger viewers can enjoy that type of show.

On the other hand, this could easily be a rush to judgment.

There have only been two episodes, and as word of mouth goes around about how good the show is, the numbers might break from their low demo ratings. However, this concept could be a major road block in the show’s success.

It would be a shame that a show like this that explores intersectional feminism, the sexuality spectrum, and serious feminist issues doesn’t make it on television. Especially when TV sorely needs more shows like this on air.

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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