The Bold Type: Breaking Barriers and Making Statements

By starrymag | August 6, 2018

By: Ariba Bhuvad

 

 

Freeform’s “The Bold Type” is exactly that–bold. There is so much to say about the strides this series has made in such a small amount of time. Its messages resonate with the audience in every which way and we find ourselves relating in a way that we don’t always with television shows. And let me explain just why…

 

“The Bold Type” represents our dreams, our fears, our daily lives, our daily struggles and our hopes. It may sound silly to hold a series at such a high regard but take a moment to reflect on the topics they’ve been so courageous to cover so far. When you strip everything away, “The Bold Type” is a show about three best friends navigating through their young 20’s in a city full of dreams. While we all can’t relate to living in New York City working for a magazine, we can relate to the friendship, whether it reminds us of our own or ones that we wish we had.

 

The epicenter of the series is so beautiful and simple, but as the story develops and builds on this strong foundation, we find ourselves falling deeper in love with it. One thing I absolutely commend “The Bold Type” for doing is not holding back when it comes to the real stuff. And by the real stuff I mean the taboo topics we shy away from, but are indeed very real. In the second season alone, the show has addressed the topics of gun ownership, the #MeToo movement, complicated family dynamics, fertility issues, LGBT relationship dynamics and those are just some of them.

 

And perhaps what makes this all work is the phenomenal cast behind it bringing a raw, real feeling to the situations their characters are enduring. We have to give a shout out to Melora Hardin who plays Jacqueline Carlyle. Honestly, the grace and poise with which Hardin handles this character is mindblowing and not enough praise can be given to her. Jacqueline’s role at Scarlet Magazine is a tough one to be in, but the respect she commands and gives is something I wish could be implemented across the world in all companies. She is graceful, respectful and empowering and she pushes those qualities into her employees.

 

Watching her this season with Jane (Katie Stevens) particularly has really been a joy. She’s been a motherly figure to Jane and watching Jacqueline provide guidance to Jane when she didn’t let her come back to Scarlet (for good reasons) and then again when Jane was faced with the reality of her BRCA gene situation were very beautiful, poignant moments. I think perhaps the most standout moment for Jacqueline and Hardin’s portrayal was in this season’s episode The Domino Effect, which broached the topic of #MeToo. Jacqueline was a victim of sexual abuse in years prior and the episode reflects on another victim surfacing that was abused by the same man. “The Bold Type” doesn’t hold back on identifying the idea that Jacqueline could have come forward but didn’t and as a result someone else got hurt. The show dives right into the guilt, repressed trauma and PTSD of the situation, but Hardin takes control and shines. We just wish Jacqueline was more often at the front and center of episodes because she’s just a wonderful character and I personally feel like she helps me.

 

The second season has also focused a lot on Kat (Aisha Dee) figuring out her sexuality and her relationship with Adena (Nikohl Boosheri). It’s been interesting to see Kat be given the freedom to explore what it’s like to be with other women and Adena being supportive of it. However, the show does not present the situation in a fairytale way either and keeps it real. By dating and hooking up with other women, the communication between the two has suffered and it’s pushed Adena closer to her work. So, I’m happy that each topic and situation the show explores isn’t some fantasy or unrealistic idea, but it presents both sides–Kat learning to understand what all this means for her and being new to the LGBT community and Adena having the courage to give her that freedom. It’s really beautiful, if you ask me.

 

I think what this season has done gloriously and unapologetically is bring in a range of topics that are relevant right now and it’s allowed the characters to develop in a more mature way. In episode seven titled Betsy, Jane learns about friend and roommate Sutton (Meghann Fahy) owning a gun and it throws her for a loop. She spends most of the episode resisting this notion and comes down hard on Sutton as a result. But then “The Bold Type” being as strong and at the forefront of issues of 2018, it takes this controversial topic and flips it on its head so that fans can tune into the emotional aspect of it. Jane took a moment to understand why this is important to Sutton and she realized that her friend got into skeet shooting because her mother was drunk and MIA for most of her life. This activity is what she got into as a hobby and just like that, “The Bold Type” illustrates how not every situation is black and white and as controversial as the topic may be, they still went for it in the best way they knew how.

 

Additionally, the second season has been a tough one for our gals because that’s how life is–tough. But the show is bigger and bolder than ever and is not holding back in the least bit. It’s funny because many have the perception that Freeform aren’t the type of network to have programing that talks about anything emotionally deep or relevant, but rather just series that appeal to our guilty pleasures. This is definitely not the case for “The Bold Type,” as the show very quickly proved in the first season. There is so much more to this show and the way it manages to keep us engaged in the outlandish, fantasy aspects of it while still keeping its core deep in reality is mind boggling.

 

Speaking of which, many of us have been rooting for Sutton and coworker/boss Richard (Sam Page) to work out. But as the season progresses, this seems seemingly more unlikely. This is due to Sutton making the decision that she wants to further her career and being with someone high up in the company can taint that. It’s a brave decision to make because there was nothing impure or horrible about the relationship they shared. But, again, it’s a reality many do face in the real world and “The Bold Type” sheds light on it in a way that’s respectable.

 

I think my favorite part of the series; however, is watching Jane, Kat and Sutton support one another. In a time where people are always bringing each other down or using social media platforms to attack beauty and intellect, these three represent a refreshing, optimistic look at what we should be doing. It’s a female friendship that is inspiring because they lift each other up, but they still keep it real when it’s necessary. They’re not trying to make the other feel bad or nitpick about things that make the other feel insecure. I think friendships like this should be represented more often because it’s something the world needs right now–strong, empowered females banding together and just living their lives. How beautiful is that?!

 

Critics of the series may not agree with the method it takes to discuss sensitive topics or even the way these girls are able to live it up in NYC given the jobs they have, but that’s not what “The Bold Type” is about. The focus isn’t on how they can afford what they have (minus Kat who we know comes from a wealthy background), but who they are. It doesn’t bother me that realistically they may not be able to afford the clothes they’re wearing or what their apartment looks like because “The Bold Type” is so much more than that. It’s a beautiful, courageous and bold (yes, I said bold) and the characters are representations of real people going through real problems – ones that aren’t revolving around makeup or clothes, but rather difficult topics.

 

This show hasn’t hesitated to keep it real and I hope that going forward, for the sake of the fans, it stays on this path because it is what makes this show so special and loved. I commend the writers, the network, the cast and everyone in between for tackling the topics they do and with the grace they do. We have fallen completely head over in heels in love with “The Bold Type” and, honestly, I am so not ready for the Season two finale because I want more! I look forward to seeing how the season wraps up and where the story will go from here (don’t forget the show is renewed for another season and we’re hoping for even more). But for now, we head to Paris in the Season Two finale and who knows what surprises await there!

 

And before signing off I have to say thank you to “The Bold Type” for giving us a beautiful story to follow and for inspiring us to be all that we can be and kick down the barriers that hold us back. I am in awe of the stories you tell and Kat, Jane and Sutton – along with Jacqueline – are the beating heart of the show that move me and make me feel empowered in this crazy world! Basically, “The Bold Type”–you complete me.