The Bold Type Review: Technical Difficulties (Season 3 Episode 5)

Scarlet‘s been hacked on The Bold Type Season 3 Episode 5, “Technical Difficulties,” and the magazine’s version of a blackout ensues. 

Blackouts can definitely have disastrous effects but at the beginning stages of one, people often come together and bond — for better or worse.

I’m so very proud of Jane, everyone! Do you agree? It’s about time someone stood up to Patrick, and of course, it has to be Jane. Yes, because if her emails leak and Patrick didn’t know the contents — well it would be bad for her. 

But also because he deserves it. Negotiating with anyone who is attacking you on such a large scale is tricky. I understand that. Patrick is such a jerk about his position on the matter, though. Most importantly he’s ignoring the fact that sources like Ingrid basically put their lives on the line for Scarlet and they deserve anonymity. 

He has nerve being so flippant about the livelihood of someone sharing their abuse story. Also, how big does one’s ego have to be to announce to anyone that since you are head of the digital content at a magazine, you have the authority to make decisions that affect employees’ safety — like whether or not to tweet about it.

Safford Publications and Richard and the Board exist for a reason, jerk! 

I could rage on and on about the character of Patrick, but the honest truth is that now that we’re midway through the season it’s clear that he’s working as an antagonist for the series. 

He’s not the worst person in the word. Jane’s drunken confession about the drinking game she plays when he’s rude actually forces them to make progress in their relationship. Some shows overdo it, but every show needs at least one villain. So if we must, sure, I’ll take him. 

Enough about Patrick. I’m also bursting with pride thanks to Sutton. 

I think we can all agree that even though this dinner party starts off rocky, it definitely ends better than the first one. The bathtub scene is iconic, but it causes Richard tension that makes me sad. 

The stakes are higher at this dinner as Richard’s friends seem very snobby and pretentious at first. Or, maybe they just are that way but they are still good people. I don’t know. 

But this isn’t about a dinner party or even Sutton getting into the fashion design seminar. 

It’s about Sutton knowing what she wants and staying convicted about it.

I don’t love being too cliché often — but I know I need to hear these next few sentences; so for me and anyone else who needs to read them. It’s OK not to want children now, or ever. It’s OK to find suburbia boring now and forever whether you are 30, 50, or 75. Your goals and dreams matter. Your life has the meaning you assign to it. No one else’s opinion matters. 

That’s getting so deep. But I have so much respect for Sutton for turning down the onesie designer contract and actually saying out loud that she’s more interested in high fashion and that being a designer is a career change, not just a phase. 

This takes guts in front of anyone, even loved ones. But practical strangers? Personally, I think that’s harder because when the night is over their opinion doesn’t have to matter as much — they are easier to ignore if you want to. 

Sutton doesn’t and it makes sense. Richard’s goals are actually similar to his friends’. She needs to be crystal clear that kids and suburbia are not in her near future at all.

They might not even be a goal when she’s halfway to her future. They may almost be at the end of her “future.” I’m not exactly sure if those words make sense but I’m trying to make a point. 

Cheers to Sutton and all of the ladies defying societal pressure about what our futures are supposed to look like.

I just accidentally wrote the most perfect transition into Kat’s story. 

Cheers girl! To being a badass political candidate I can get behind even if you are fictional. Also, good for you for putting yourself out there with Tia even if she is straight. 

I don’t care what Tia’s sexuality is, but I really hope that she remains Kat’s campaign manager and nothing else — at least for now.

Tia is a great addition to The Bold Type but, not every character on a show who is close to the main characters’ ages has to have a romantic tie to one of them. A campaign manager can be just a campaign manager and then turn into a friend as you get to know her. That is a great story, no romance attached. 

As long as the pace and timing feels right, the show could go in many directions with Kat’s career in politics and so many other storylines. We’re now officially halfway through the season and I’m not OK with that. 

The Fine Print 

• I’m so happy that the effects of the hack are going to continue into at least the next episode. One of The Bold Type‘s few flaws sometimes is that they wrap stories up a bit too quickly. 
• Ditto with the Pamela Dolan models story. As a journalist, looking at it from Jane’s perspective it’s an interesting story about the process of investigative journalism. 
• The review of The Bold Type Season 3 Episode 4, “The Deep End,” is all about women supporting women but also being aware that some women are fake. I must reiterate how bold it is (no pun intended) that the show is taking on an abuse story and making a woman the potential abuser. This might be a controversial opinion but women who have power need to be held responsible for bad behavior, too. 
• I’m so happy that Sutton got into Julian Grant’s seminar, but (don’t hate me) that dress on Season 3 Episode 4 is really ugly and I want to see what she can really do. Can there be a crossover Project Runway episode because…watching that would make me so happy to be alive. 

What did you think of this episode of 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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