The Bold Type Review: Not Far From The Tree (Season 4 Episode 16)
The Bold Type Season 4 Episode 16, “Not Far From The Tree” is a victim of circumstances we shouldn’t ignore — it’s a forced season finale because all filming was put on pause this spring.
It’s a filler episode forced to act as more, and it doesn’t come through in the clutch.
Sutton’s story at least has a natural cliffhanger that is officially built-in on The Bold Type Season 4 Episode 15, “Love.” It’s human instinct to want to go “home,” when life crashes and burns.
There is a “full circle” element to the fact that “home” for Sutton is in Manhattan dancing in the middle of Jane and Kat’s living room.
If you think about it too hard, there’s a huge problem with the fact that her rings are off and she’s not in Richard’s arms. But the most troubling element of the story is that Sutton sleeps with Billy.
She’s in pain, and drunk. While it’s understandable that she might hook up with her high school sweetheart for comfort, it’s very cliché. The Bold Type is above such things if only they knew it.
Billy is married with kids and not only does Sutton know that — she knows his wife by name.
I always appreciate it when any show takes a close look at raw pain. There are moments where Sutton’s story is doing just that, but sex in the back room of a bar is just a plot device.
There is no way we can move on from this storyline without mentioning the cold open. It’s a good one. Sutton’s pain feels the most real there. It’s understandable that Kat and Jane would want to try to get her up and out, but crying in the bathroom right after she gets out of bed should be a clear sign Sutton is just not ready.
On a lighter note, real friends bring every variety of breakfast pastry and beverage if they’re going to force you out of bed. They also know that if you’re going to sing someone out of bed, the Golden Girls theme is the only song to sing.
The cold open is the closest The Bold Type comes on this episode to its sweet spot.
All of the other plots are watchable but forgettable. The journalistic ethics of Jaqueline telling Jane to cut a story because Ian is connected to a subject would be interesting to explore in a longer arc.
Jane is reporting on the story, so it’s not like this is wrapped up in a neat bow yet. But even though Jaqueline letting the story continue is the right thing to do, right now that feels like a very easy solution for Jane — and makes for boring TV.
We need to talk about Jane’s journey though. On The Bold Type‘s pilot, she’s just beginning her job as a staff writer. Three seasons later she’s the head of a vertical and Jaqueline is calling her “the future of Scarlet.”
This feels too good to be true because it is. Also, is labeling another white, cisgender, heterosexual, abled woman “the future” the best Scarlet and The Bold Type can do? I hope not, and so do its cast members. It’s time to call this out as officially problematic.
The Bold Type is held to a high standard by critics, TV journalists, and fans alike because it has always been brimming with potential and sometimes reaches it in a fulfilling way.
Jane’s storyline is a place to course-correct, but if Kat’s love life is fixed first, no one will be mad.
At least Jane is calling it like she sees it to Kat’s face where Ava is concerned. The Bold Type shies away from letting Ava expand on her beliefs for too long. But it’s clear enough that Kat’s not the one that needs to be learning and growing toward any “middle ground” in the relationship.
Yet, she explicitly tells Jane she’s learning so much from Ava.
It’s true that no matter what side of the political spectrum we’re on, we need to talk to each other or nothing will change. But if Ava truly believes in a hardline immigration policy as a gay woman who is also marginalized and oppressed by the U.S. government (even though she doesn’t like to talk about it) — she’s the one who has to put on listening ears and learn like a big girl.
This story’s saving grace is that Kat has sent a text saying she’s out.
Complications are a part of life. But they’re not worth working through if the issue in the relationship is that your girlfriend believes children should be separated from their parents and thrown in cages.
Ava hasn’t said those exact words. But Kat says on her podcast that if Ava is against you, you’re doing something right. Moderate conservatives don’t become pundits on conservative news networks. “Move America to the center” is no party’s slogan.
I’ve never denied the chemistry between Kat and Ava…who can?
But if Ava’s existence on the show is truly meant to make Kat more open to dehumanizing conservative ideas…hard pass.
Forget RJ Safford was ever the conservative head of a media empire who might believe in conversion therapy and give Kat her job back. While they’re at it, whoever is doing that could please check if Adena is hiding in the fashion closet, thank you very much.
For a bunch of stories that we may never see come to their intended conclusion, ending this season of The Bold Type with our bold three dancing freely in “their” living room is about as good as it gets right now.
Cross your fingers tightly that this story isn’t over, though. Jane, Kat, Sutton, and The Bold Type deserve a chance to do better than this.
What did you think of this episode of The Bold Type? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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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.