The Bold Type Review: Legends Of The Fall Issue (Season 4 Episode 1)
Jaqueline’s fall issue is a legend no more on The Bold Type Season 4 Episode 1, “Legends Of The Fall Issue,” thanks to our fearless leading ladies.
Their break-in to the printer to steal copies of the magazine is the catalyst to Patrick finally leaving Scarlet. Their means justify the end for many reasons. The fact that we no longer have to tolerate Patrick on our screens is just one of them.
In the spirit of honesty, it must be said that this is a rather bland episode of the show we know and love, but its fabric remains the same. Or to use a more appropriate metaphor, its interface is still user-friendly.
Jaqueline is absolutely a boss worth losing a job over and even going to jail for if her cause is badass enough. The fall issue’s message that all bodies, genders, and sexual orientations deserve representation is worthy of all of the risks the girls take.
As loveable as Jaqueline is, on the season premiere episode, she shouldn’t be the only character whose journey is set in motion.
At the end of the hour she gets her job back (she should’ve negotiated a raise, for the record), encounters an obstacle with Scarlet going digital, leads a march against domestic violence, and viewers know that her marriage will probably be in trouble this season.
Those are great issues to explore — but what do we know about everyone else?
Pinstripe comes back from his book tour for a few minutes. Richard is going to San Francisco, but most of his scenes with Sutton are about the Jaqueline situation.
Adena and Kat are the saddest examples. We learn Adena’s job is safe, but we never see her on-screen. In fact, we may not see her anytime soon because she’s away on assignment.
Viewers care about Jaqueline. Obviously, she’s the one true editor-in-chief of Scarlet in all of its forms. The Bold Type made a mistake to try and shift that with Patrick in Season 3 and they fix it here. But to devote a whole episode to this when there are other arcs to explore is a waste.
The scenes at the printer are hysterical and cannot be sacrificed. But so much of the episode focuses on the business of magazines. I know more about that than I care to because of my career. But the details of it all are pretty boring to watch on TV.
Jane, Sutton, and Kat are their most entertaining selves when they are out in the world living their lives and just happen to take the lessons they learn to work with them.
When they’re stuck at Scarlet offices trying to stay employed after the leak and to impress board members so Jaqueline gets her job back, disappointment is inevitable.
The fashion closet may help our ladies solve all of their problems, but it can’t save every episode.
The Fine Print
- Jane is me when she asks if Alex thinks Angie will make it on Bachelor In Paradise after learning she’s on The Bachelor.
- Considering I don’t remember Angie’s face, I don’t think she’ll be in Paradise.
- Richard is pretty boring but the “I love you, but this is bad” hug he gives Sutton after hearing about her role in the leak is #RelationshipGoals.
- I’ll suspend disbelief all day for The Bold Type but the ladies sure do stand up to uptight white men regarding business politics and win so much. Girl power and all, but sometimes the win is not easy and that story is worth telling, too.
- Speaking of those wins, though…yay for name dropping Nike, Colin Kaepernick, and the Gillette campaign against toxic masculinity.
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 Thursdays at 9/8c on Freeform.
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.