The Bold Type Review: The Domino Effect (Season 2 Episode 6)

The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 6, “The Domino Effect,” gives us a lesson on the importance of knowing the truth and your truth.

You want the truth? Unlike the line from A Few Good Men, The Bold Type wants you to know that you CAN handle the truth. Run fearlessly toward it and accept it for what it is: a chance for growth.

The episode makes these distinctions throughout the second season, but most of the lessons come to a head in “The Domino Effect” and that makes this episode so satisfying to watch.

As I’ve mentioned countless times before, these new, better-connected episodes of The Bold Type has done wonders for their stories.

Now, instead of everything wrapping up in one episode, with romance as the only arcs that are allowed multiple episode development, we get to dig deeper into multiple stories over a series of episodes.

Sutton’s truth in re-finding herself after her break-up with Richard takes 3 episodes to resolve. Because of that, we got to see and develop the subtleties of her personality as they shifted.

Sutton stopped being on time. She was running her body ragged. She tried to be friends with a woman who did not have her best interest at heart (which, come on, we all saw that the episode she was introduced).

However, most importantly, she stopped being there for Kat and almost missed an opportunity to be there for Jane.

When Kat came into Jane’s apartment traumatized by how her body’s wants conflicted with her mind’s wants, Sutton trivializes the situation.

And although not seeing her ex with his new girlfriend is completely understandable, she also almost missed Jane’s award ceremony.

Not being there for other people, like their bosses, psh, whatever. I mean– life, right? But not being there for your best friends — no — your sisters… a friendship that is so tight that it’s a huge part of your personality… is not okay.

Ben: I’m assuming this is a 3-way date with Kat and with Sutton.

Jane: We are a package deal.

It took Sutton’s recent party mate to be a horrible person in Sutton’s time-of-need to remind Sutton of that, but at least she remembered it in time to grab Kat and make it in time to the ceremony.

I’m so proud of Sutton for facing that truth and her truth about Richard. Trying to push away her pain, just caused her more pain.

Now that she has truly accepted her truth, in regard to her moving on from Richard and the person she wants to be, we finally get the Sutton we’ve come to know and love back and it feels great.

Not receiving a Mandy award for an amazingly important article great, but great nonetheless. Sutton’s life is beginning to fall back into place, but it seems as if Jane’s pieces are done falling.

The character growth she has sorely needed since season 1 is complete. Hallelujah!

Jane was sort of dealing with her own ex-boyfriend-ish drama, but in Jane’s case, her ex-boyfriend was Scarlet and Jacqueline.

Jane had to take a step back from a relationship that she let define who she was, and she had to grow and really figure herself out.

The pressure was on, and it turned Jane into this multi-faceted diamond that’s ready to take on her own truth, embrace her flaws and work on her assumed privilege.

We’ve gotten to watch skillful character growth in just 6 episodes. Jacqueline is completely right. The Jane that was on our screens a few weeks ago is a different woman than the Jane we see in The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 6.

Jane: I was so angry at Jacqueline for not bringing me back, but the truth is she was right. This time has been good for me. 

Ben: Sounds like you’ve really turned a corner.

Then, as it always happens without exes, as Jane begins re-finding her footing and moving on, Scarlet and Jacqueline came back into her life. But this time, Scarlet came into her life when she was ready to fully appreciate the environment.

She couldn’t go back to Scarlet before because she was ready. Nevertheless, now that she has had time to grow, Scarlet is the perfect fit in her life now.

Does that sound similar to someone else’s story? Maybe… Richard?

Although I was rooting for Sutton and Richard after that elevator scene, I completely understand where I think their story is going. Richard may be ready to settle down and build a family, but Sutton is still young, scrappy and hungry.

Their lives are in two completely different places, and Richard and his new girlfriend’s are not.

They couldn’t make it work in Paris, because of where life pulled them. Now that they’ve both sown their oats — similarly to Scarlet with Jane — their relationship seems to be on the best footing to start again, and this time, they’re able to truly appreciate their relationship.

The truth is, sometimes life happens and love can’t conquer all. For Sutton and Richard, this may be the case. It doesn’t make their love story any less romantic and wonderful.

The same goes for Kat and Adena.

In my review of The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 5, I was so confident that Adena and Kat would work it out. They had to. They are Kadena.

However, as always, Adena is miles ahead in the wisdom department. Kat’s need to experience a world that had been cut off from her for so long won’t go away.

Unlike Adena, Kat hasn’t had time to sample the scene, thrive in that life, and then settle down with someone who makes her feel like no one else can.

Kat doesn’t really know what others can make her feel yet. In this way, their love story also mirrors Sutton and Richard’s. Whereas Richard has been able to live his best life and get to his professional peak and can now settle down knowing what’s out there, Sutton can’t.

This puts Kat and Sutton in a completely different place than Adena and Richard in their lives, and thereby, leaves a big disconnect between both parties in the relationship.

I still believe Kat and Adena will work this out, because I still feel like Kadena is the OTP of OTPs and deserves to have their love trump all.

However, I’d also understand if Adena isn’t comfortable with an open relationship — which would be the only way they could stay together and allow kat to still undergo the full NY lesbian experience.

I’m so torn; I don’t have much to say on those two. The rational, journalist side of me could see the narrative breaking off from Kadena so that Kat can find her truth in the way that Sutton and Jane have. However, the other part of my brain wants to know, “who says she can’t do that with Adena?”

Kat: Um, are you breaking up with me? I don’t want to lose you.

Adena: I don’t want to lose you either. But this curiosity that you have Kat.. it won’t just go away.

Kat: So, what do we do?

Adena (sighs): I don’t know.

Who says Adena can’t help her find herself in the same way Adena has leveled her out, showed her what a stable, romantic love is like, and has all around helped her grow as a person? Why does Adena have to be left out of Kat’s truth?

On the other hand, if the story demands it; it demands it. You see? I’m all over the place with how I feel about them right now, so I’ll leave further Kadena comments for when I’ve figured it out.

What about you guys? How do you feel about Kadena’s possible break up? Are you also proud of Jane’s Mandy achievement and personal growth? Are you just as excited as I am that our girls are back working together?!

Share your thoughts on The Bold Type Season 2 Episode 6 in the comments section below!

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

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