If You Haven’t Been Watching ‘The Bold Type,’ Now’s the Time to Start

Looking for ways to have a better summer experience? Already made a checklist of shows to watch this summer?

Well, if your list does not include a particular feel-good show centered around meaningful conversations, you may want to grab an eraser.

The Bold Type has distinguished itself as one of the most exciting, uplifting, and inspiring shows of this millennial generation, and I have nothing but admiration for the incredible stories and the actors’ extraordinary depictions of the struggles of typical young women navigating adulthood in a metropolitan area like New York City.

The show follows the lives of three best friends, young women working for a magazine called “Scarlet,” which is the fictional version of the ever popular Cosmopolitan Magazine.

There is Jane (played by Katie Stevens), a young writer trying to find her voice and make it heard in the world.

Sutton (played by Meghann Fahy) is a long-term assistant, a fashion enthusiast with no fashion degree or experience, but finally makes her way into the fashion world.

Kat (played by Aisha Dee) is the Social Media Director, who thought she had everything figured out until she discovered she still had so much to learn about herself, her job, and life in general.

The first season is so critically acclaimed that not only does it provide the appeal for repetitive viewing, it also earned the show two more seasons at once.

With beautiful song choices that complement the mood and tempo of every scene, it is safe to say that the musical adaptations on the show deserve a spin-off of their own.

The Bold Type is a good example of the famous saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.”

A clip of three young women screaming in a subway station is not exactly the picture that sells a compelling storyline, with glaring advertising loopholes robbing the show of the opportunity to find its audience early.

The promotional materials released prior to the airing of the series premiere did little or nothing to effectively arouse viewers’ interests in giving the show a chance.

Nevertheless, as more people have come to discover the show, especially through social media, conversations surrounding these characters and their stories have been further amplified.

With a clear focus on gracefully tackling contemporary social issues, The Bold Type is in a class of its own.

Season one tackles a myriad of issues related but not limited to Cyberbullying, breast health awareness, sexuality, workplace romance, job dynamics, and immigration bottlenecks.

A few months before the birth of the “Me Too” movement, The Bold Type gave us an episode on sexual assault, with a particular scene that I consider to be one of the most powerful scenes on television.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions for me seeing that a woman in Jacqueline’s position had distressing experiences shrouded in the courage she exudes.

That depiction gives a human face, not just to Jacqueline as a character, but to other women in her position, and reinforces the fact that we may all encounter similar experiences but deal with them differently.

Though the show has a youthful outlook, it accommodates the viewing interests of people of different age groups because in reality, many of these social issues affect people from all walks of life.

At the heart of its storytelling, The Bold Type gives subtle humor and non-tragic drama in a way that enables the viewer capture reality while also navigating through the fantasy of the plot.

It is an escape from reality that is not unrealistic in its approach.

There is a minor subplot referencing infidelity, but The BoldType comes highly recommended because of the way the story is handled.

For a character to take conscious steps to make amends after an indiscretionary act that is actually intended to move the story along, it attests to the thoughtfulness of the show in ensuring that even seemingly minor characters receive fair treatment.

Adena’s decision to take a break from Kat to end her relationship with Coco stamps a seal of integrity on her character, and it is easy to empathize with her situation, especially since she and Coco were on the verge of separation prior to meeting Kat.

With a diverse cast, The Bold Type is a show that cares about representation, shattering a number of stereotypes along the way.

The mean boss trope, the predatory lesbian trope, the female rivalry trope, all take the back seat, as this show inspires us to be our best selves.

In a world where young people need motivation and direction, here is Jacqueline (played by Melora Hardin) mentoring the girls, helping them steer their professional and personal tracks.

Sutton, in Nora Ephron style, is a constant reminder that it literally pays to know one’s worth, and ask for what one deserves.

Kat is a 25-year-old Social Media Director in a high-profile establishment like Scarlet, who is questioning her sexuality, without being overly dramatic about it.

How about a Type-A character like Jane? She represents new, ambitious employees, trying to fit in and find their voices, making an array of decisions along the way.

The girls’ friendship and their careers are at the forefront, romance being the inevitable side piece that maintains the balance, as is applicable in real life.

We are presented with a genuine friendship between women that is devoid of rancor and male-dominated drama, a redefinition of feminism that involves the male folk.

We see these young women supporting one another, rejoicing and crying together, resolving issues like best friends should, and not judging one another’s choices, but being a “safety net” to one another.

These are female friends that have such endearing chemistry, none of which is sexual; friends whose collective relationship is not adversely affected by their individual love interests, a prototype of what modern friendships ought to be.

The added appeal from the show stems from the fact that these on-screen best friends have proceeded to become off-screen best friends, as evident through their interactions on social media, such that their comfort with one another permeates through the screen.

Sprinkling extra flavor on an already stellar package is the “Kadena” storyline, exploring a romantic relationship between an African-American woman (Kat) and Adena, a female, immigrant, Muslim photographer, a very rare type of representation on Network TV.

The “Kadena” storyline is handled with such care and detail, that it has become a fan favorite, earning Nikohl Boosheri (who plays Adena) a series regular position.

The Bold Type is a show that inspires you to live your best life, teaches you a lot without making you feel like you are being schooled (again), and makes you laugh in the process.

If you have a craving for fashion, you will definitely get nourished from the looks served by the characters, and the fashion-forward ideas at every moment on the show.

So, grab your glass of champagne, invite your friends over, and give your friendship a treat.

Catch up on The Bold Type Season 1 on Hulu or the Freeform App. It is a 10-episode installment, well-worth your time. And yes, you can binge-watch it in a day just like I did.

The long hiatus is almost over, and season two is fast approaching. Tuesday nights are about to get super interesting again because with TV’s favorite best friends, there is never a dull moment.

The two-hour premiere of The Bold Type Season 2 airs on Tuesday, June 12, 8/7c on Freeform.

Have you seen The Bold Type? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Bold Type airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Freeform.

 

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