The Bold Type Review: Love (Season 4 Episode 15)

The structure of The Bold Type Season 4 Episode 15, “Love” alone tells us that this episode matters perhaps more than any other in the show’s recent history. Is there a better way to examine one of life’s most powerful emotions than in such depth? 

It’s started wars and started lives and ended them just as quickly. Quite frankly, it could still have the same monumental effects on any one of The Bold Type couples we spend such intimate time with on “Love”. 

Let’s try to make sense of the time we spend with four of the five couples on the episode. (Jaqueline is the best, but not even the real-life marriage between Melora Hardin and her husband Gildart Jackson — who plays Jaqueline’s husband Ian on the show — makes their struggle more interesting). 

Sutton and Richard: Unconditional Love

Obviously, there is one condition on this love, and Richard and Sutton just never listened to each other about it. He tells Jaqueline as much while he’s venting to her. 

As heartbreaking as Richard’s decision is, there isn’t much to say about it. I love Sutton Brady-Hunter. But Richard is right that overall, he’s the one that has made more sacrifices for her. 

That definitely doesn’t mean that it’s Sutton’s turn to compromise or that she hasn’t made some big ones too.  However, one cannot do such a thing when it comes to wanting children. It’s not fair for a child to grow up with a parent that resents their existence. 

Right now, the only choice Richard feels he has is to leave, and it’s a valid choice. 

Flashbacks might have been a more artistic way to refresh us on their relationship history, but words are probably faster and viewers do need reminders. 

Sutton and Richard both say important things. But Meghann Fahy and Sam Page’s performances are what make this particular vignette so strong. 

Every look that they give each other has emotion behind it that’s so powerful it’s almost hard to watch. What is more intimate than watching a marriage crumble or the breakup sex that comes with it? 

The sex is a powerful few seconds because I can’t help but wonder if they are using protection. 

Would The Bold Type get Sutton pregnant with a child she doesn’t want so soon after a miscarriage? Viewers don’t know that answer yet, but it’s going to be difficult to navigate if the answer is yes. 

We can’t tell the future, so it must be said that it’s unclear whether Richard has left Sutton for good. It sure seems that way. But divorce is a long journey of its own. 

Sutton is definitely a changed woman already. That much is clear from the scene where she’s rinsing her face. In fact, this is the most powerful few seconds of the entire episode. 

She’s void of emotion and clearly doesn’t recognize herself in the mirror. 

Washing one’s face in a mirror is probably one of the most intimate mundane tasks we do daily in our lifetimes. Imagine not being able to recognize the person staring back at you. Thinking about that too had will send a chill up your spine. Kudos to Fahy and everyone else on The Bold Type responsible for the emotion behind such a simple act.

Even though the thought of them not being together might wreck viewers’ souls, at least neither of them is lying to themselves anymore. Love stories are great, but not if you lose yourself within the pages.

Kat and Ava: Forbidden Love 

Unsurprisingly, forbidden love is the most tempting kind there is. There is no denying the sexual tension between Kat and Ava. 

To be clear, these two women are not in love at the moment, and there is nothing wrong with making out with someone with the opposite political beliefs to your own one night.

This relationship is more than that and therefore potentially problematic.

I’ve said it before. I can’t help thinking that Ava is a compelling character. Some conservative politics don’t make a person bad.

Human rights issues are a different story, and if Kat is going to consider having a relationship with Ava, her stance on immigration alone is going to make that difficult. 

Much like the case with Sutton and Richard, we don’t know Kat or Ava’s fate.

Frankly, Ava, a lesbian woman, says she doesn’t support conversion therapy. So she doesn’t, period. Plus, it’s unclear if her father does at this point on The Bold Type. 

Viewers know, he has in the past

Kat and Ava’s story is suffering most from airing at such a difficult time in history.

Our country is in pain, and there is a right and wrong way to treat human beings. If The Bold Type is trying to tell a story whose moral is “we have different political beliefs, but love conquers that” it is wrong. But it also wouldn’t be the first “progressive” show to do that.

As difficult as it is, we just have to go on the journey and keep calling out the problems until it’s over. A television show can be shaped by the history it’s living through. Let’s hope for The Bold Type that means positive change.

Jane and Scott: First Love

This is another couple who is not in love yet. They are in….lust? Like? I’m as confused by what they are as Jane is when trying to introduce Scott to the guy at the investment bank. (Note to Jane: names usually suffice.)

Scott’s feelings for Jane come out of nowhere, and that’s the issue with them as a couple. 

We don’t have to be told about them via dialogue or even much physical acting to guess that they exist. 

But even when Scott explicitly tells Jane he’s attracted to her, it’s unbelievable — in a bad way. 

I do love that the reason this vignette is called “First Love” is writing and I like Scott more now that he basically admitted he writes fanfiction. 

But that’s not going to change the fact that it’s a safe bet that no sparks will fly when they actually do kiss. 

Jane and Scott work well together, and Failing Feminist is easier to understand while watching them chase a story. That’s all. 

Lack of chemistry is inexplicable. But Jane deserves the “on fire” kind of love. 

Alex & Alicia: Complicated Love

Watching Andrew chase the guy harassing Alicia out of the club while in drag is a fun kind of shocking. 

Someone has to do it, and it doesn’t have to be Alex, honestly. 

Alex and Alicia’s conflict is the most intellectual of all five, and there are really no right and wrong ways to interpret the scene in the bar. 

Alicia is valid to want protection in that moment and not have realized it until it happened.

Alex is just doing what he thinks Alicia wants him to do. 

Violence is never the answer, but it’s always a possibility in this scene because the jerk refuses to leave Alicia alone more than once. It’s a good choice not to have Alex use it. 

Masculinity is a nuanced issue that The Bold Type should keep exploring. 

Alex is a good character to do this with especially because he’s Black. Let’s just be really clear — he also deserves more screen time and romantic moments–and let’s see the Black couple have sex scenes. 

The Bold Type has matured in the second half of its fourth season, making its content matter more and therefore vulnerable to more serious criticism. 

It’s experiencing some growing pains, as are to be expected at various points in a show’s lifespan. Hopefully, it lives through them, because any diehard fans know how potentially beautiful the other side could be. 

The Fine Print

• Sutton doesn’t make a decision about Richard’s life for him. She makes a decision about her life for herself and if he’s left her for good, he’s made a rash one without her pretty quickly. 
• The Bold Type‘s soundtrack slays every time. What music supervisor do I call to curate the soundtrack of my life?
• The bar as a thread through the episode is a clever touch. 
• Read this essay to learn more about why Ava and Kat’s relationship is so problematic from a Black woman’s perspective. 
• I didn’t know The Belle was based on a real place called The Wing that I learned from the essay above has a history of microaggressive racist behavior but The Bold Type shouldn’t ignore that.  

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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