The Bold Type Review: Snow Day (Season 4 Episode 12)
Nothing forces you to face hard truths quite like not being able to literally run from them. So in a sense, the blizzard is everyone’s nemesis on The Bold Type Season 4 Episode 12, “Snow Day.”
It’s quite amazing to watch how much people can grow while standing still.
Each of our bold ladies and Oliver have personal moments that are equally important. Let’s start with our Black, queer, fashion editor first.
Jasper is gorgeous. While it’s odd to meet him in recovery because we have not seen the pain he’s caused Oliver, it is refreshing to see them begin healing their relationship as co-parents.
It’s an important lesson in trust. Oliver has to decide to trust that Jasper’s word is good again.
Hopefully, we will get to see that trust evolve even more or possibly devolve. Addiction issues are important to discuss in-depth and The Bold Type could definitely start a layered conversation if given the chance.
The point is Jasper needs to stay on our screens no matter what.
As for Oliver, it’s also good to see him dispense advice to someone other than Sutton, even if Jane takes it and runs in the wrong direction. That’s not on him.
Jane needs to figure out how to run an entire vertical on her own, so the choice not to run to Jaqueline is correct. It’s not brave, or surprising, or anything, but the right thing to do. She’s the boss, it’s time for her to be one. Period.
Now for some tough love because the final solution that Jane and Scott come to about his piece is the wrong one.
Feminism isn’t exclusively for women. But The Bold Type has her hire a male writer for Failing Feminist very early in its life — arguably too early.
I admittedly still don’t understand the point of a feminist vertical at a feminist magazine, as discussed in the review of The Bold Type Season 4 Episode 11, “Leveling Up.”
But Failing Feminist exists and Scott is a writer for it. Jaqueline is right when she eventually tells Jane that she’s wrong for rewriting a writer’s piece. That isn’t her job.
It’s also not her job to change Scott’s opinion via her writing and one magical heart-to-heart. Being a writer is a constant struggle to decide what personal pieces of your story you want to share with the public.
It’s understandable that Scott may not want to share that he struggled to realize that his mom and sisters needed help after his dad died and he wishes they would’ve told him — but he’s a writer. Part of his job is to find objective ways to start hard conversations sometimes.
How is anyone supposed to know that someone needs help unless they ask for it? Sure, it’s helpful to have men in your life who understand institutional sexism. But Scott’s original idea isn’t invalid because he “should’ve known better” but didn’t.
His original piece about needing to know when women need help may have actually made feminism seem more relatable to men who resisted it at first. By suggesting that one white woman’s perspective can create such a big change of heart in a man in just a few hours, The Bold Type is wrapping a really complex issue in a bow that’s way too pretty.
It’s a shame because if they let this particular plot get a bit messy and go on longer, a really unique and necessary conversation might have emerged.
At least there are hints that Ava may stick around, and she and Kat are going to begin to have difficult conversations about politics.
Looking at Kat’s behavior objectively, she acts super privileged and takes her job for granted. She deserves to get fired. But Maya saving Kat’s job makes for good TV, and may lead to some very necessary dialogue for fans to see on-screen.
There is also an undeniable sexual tension between them whether it’s meant to be there or not. It has to be said.
(Freeform/Jonathan Wenk) ALEX PAXTON-BEESLEY
Since we’re talking about sex, let’s discuss Sutton’s anxiety about being a newlywed, newly pregnant, a new mom to a newborn, and a new stylist. That’s a lot of “new” for one sentence.
It’s understandable if your first instinct is to roll your eyes because we’re talking about a TV show and that’s a lot of drama to drop on one person very fast.
But real women face similar, or more stressful circumstances, every day. Sutton’s fear is valid. If one woman feels a little bit less alone after seeing Sutton’s struggle it’s worth it.
Her monologue to Richard while she thinks he’s sleeping is more than relatable — it’s a standout moment of the series for Meghann Fahy. Sutton is definitely stressed to the point of tears but Fahy doesn’t overplay it.
Many women have days where we say, “I tried to prove I could do it all today, but I can’t. I kind of failed at everything,” and cry. She’s definitely lucky to have Richard to comfort her and solve her bomber jacket fashion emergencies.
But Sutton would be lifting all of the single ladies up by making sure they look fabulous on their worst days, so she’s very easy to root for.
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 10/9c 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.