The Bold Type Review: Stride of Pride (Season 2 Episode 5)

On The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 5, “Stride of Pride,” we were blessed with an episode that has a fresh 110% on the re-watchability scale.

This means I could watch this episode 15 times and still not get tired. Where do we start with this episode, guys?

It’s… I’m just… feeling so lucky to be able to write about The Bold Type. It’s like watching your lanky little sister blossoming into a gorgeous badass. “Stride of Pride” is peak The Bold Type now.

This series went from episodically scraping the surface of intersectional issues to fully developing and crafting this huge cohesive narrative that builds on itself with every episode.

The Bold Type fans, WE ARE BLESSED.

Every episode this season has culminated into this halfway mark, and I’d hate to say I called it last episode… but I did. The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 4 spent most of its time building up all of the drama that we see manifest throughout the episode.

Okay, so let’s stop talking around it and dive right into it!

First, I’d like to point out a gross assumption I made of Jane’s character earlier this season. In my review of The Bold Type Season 1 Episode 3, I said that Jane needs to address her white privilege, and I still think she has some growing to do on that end.

However, I also alluded to the fact that, like Kat, she had a solid economic background that also contributed to her privilege, and the heart-to-heart Jane and Kat have in the cafe negates that.

Jane has valid concerns about her future because her dad doesn’t supplement her income contrary to what I initially believed. And we got the chance to witness how a genuine conversation between two people on a hot-topic like white privilege can go down.

No one was speaking over the other. You could see Jane and Kat get defensive at one point or the other, but each party stopped themselves or the other from devolving into a name-calling contest to reassure them that they love them.

They recognized that this is a touchy topic for each other, but they took strides on both sides to repeat, I’m here, I’m listening, and I want to come to an understanding not attack you or prove you wrong.

Whew. What a friendship. What a way to address such an important topic as privilege, and not just talk the talk but also walk the walk.

I stan a powerful friendship that can survive anything.

Kat: Dylan, Hot A&R guys said, ‘So, am I seeing you tomorrow?’ Is that the dude from last night?

Sutton: Yep,

Kat: So thirsty.

Jane: What? Thirsty? I think its sweet.

Sutton: Wow. Meets one hot doctor and suddenly the world is filled with puppy dogs and ice cream.

Jane: Puppies and ice cream are great. And im just saying it wouldnt be the worse thing in the world to put yourself out there?

Speaking of making strides, I’m so confused about how I feel regarding that sweet moment between Sutton and Richard at the elevator.

I’ve never made it a secret that I don’t particularly ship Sutton and Richard together. However, my heart skipped a beat when they stared at each other both before and after their conversation with Kat.

The way Sutton caught her breath when she saw him. The way he stared at her when she stood up for Kat. How long they stared at one another while the elevator doors closed saying everything and yet not speaking a word.

Somehow, their time apart has made me like them more? I don’t know. However, what used to be boring moments for me have now drawn me in.

I was elated when Sutton told Richard they couldn’t be together due to her career because I knew that was a solid decision. It’s still the perfect decision for her career, but now, somehow, I’m rooting for them to be endgame.

The Bold Type has slowly but surely crafted their love story to be epic, whichever way it goes. They’ve cultivated such nuance with Sutton and Richard’s predicament that if they get back together or stay apart — it’s an amazing love story.

If Sutton and Richard stay apart, they’ll be starcrossed lovers with a love so deep for each other and themselves that they were willing to be apart so that the other person could get all they hoped for out of the rest of their lives.

If they get back together, they chose to build with one another and take down their other life obstacles one by one depending on the other and letting their love for each other conquer over all.

Wow. Never thought I’d be advocating for the Sutton/Richard pairing, but here I am.

This show makes me think and feel a lot of things that I never thought I would. I appreciate The Bold Type for that.

Season 2 has not only pushed the envelope on their stories and their characters, but they do so for their audience. Each story and character is just like a well-written article in that it’s honest, analytical, truth-seeking, and engrossing.

And those last moments during The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 5 were the culmination of all of those things.

Sutton watching Richard with another woman after their elevator moment that prompted her to feel everything she’s been trying to suppress swirl around in her body.

Jane connecting with her new boyfriend who challenges her in the best way but also gives her moments of peace and solace when she needs them.

And Kat’s mind, sabotaging THE OTP of OTP relationships.

Okay, that’s not fair. It’s not like thinking is cheating. It’s also not like Kat can control what she thinks.

But dang it! I want someone to blame this new and HUGE wrench being thrown into a relationship that just landed on solid ground after an entire season of heartbreak and angst.

I have to admit. Kat’s scene with Adena’s friend was hot… like, really hot.

However, no! Those lips belong to Adena! Initially, I thought Adena’s friend was sending those vibes to Kat, and Kat didn’t really notice.

I thought that it fell into line with the cheating theme of the episode, but Kat would be the antithesis of the cheating husband Sutton had to deal with and would kick homegirl to the curve.

Welp, that’s not at all what happened, as you guys know.

A part of Kat herself wants to be intimate with Adena’s friend, and if her mind has any say in the matter, Kat won’t be kicking anything but her clothes.

Kadena fans, we must not freak out. Just because Kat’s feeling this way doesn’t mean she’ll act on it. If anything, I think it brings a big test to the Kadena relationship that will only make it stronger.

It also brings to light why Kat made such a huge deal out of Adena past relationships, jumping to huge conclusions like Adena may be cheating or looking for other women to date.

She projected those things on to Adena because she was feeling that way herself.

This doesn’t make her anything but human. This is Kat’s first relationship. She’s trained her mind and her body to experience a new person every some odd weeks, and now that she hasn’t her brain, and maybe even her body, is going through withdrawals.

Just like when you try to break any other habit, something that’s a regular tendency or practice, it’s hard to just quit cold turkey. And in Kat’s mind’s defense… Adena’s friend is super gorgeous.

However, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. I truly believe it’s something Kat will work out with her therapist parents and Adena after Adena’s initial hurt settles.

I truly believe they’ll come out of the other end stronger because I refuse to believe that they literally crossed oceans for one another simply for a sex dream to be the reason why they break up.

Kat wouldn’t physically do that do Adena, and Kadena has set up a foundation in their relationship of under love and understanding. Our OTP ain’t going anywhere, ladies!

Stray Observations:

• We got to see Pinstripe again! Whoohoo! I hope he stays Jane’s coffee shop partner. I want Pinstripe to stay on The Bold Type for forever.
• I’m loving Oliver more and more with every episode. “People are complicated.”
• I need more ALEX! Okay? When does Alex get to be in an entire episode? I feel like he’d be the perfect guy best friend for Sutton, Jane, and Kat. Can we make that happen?
• Kat’s hair is giving. me. life.
• We got some latina representation on the screen today! Love it! Hope we get to see more of her.

What do you guys think about The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 5?! I’m headed to rewatch it right now! How about you?! Share your thoughts on all the drama that unfolds during this episode in the comments section below!

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

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