There’s something unique about shows based in New York: the hustle, the fashion, and the friendships. If I’m being completely honest I started watching The Bold Type because the Netflix brief felt like a crossover between Gossip Girl, The Carrie Diaries and Sex and The City.
The show centres around the life of three best friends: Jane, Sutton, and Kat who work at Scarlet Magazine and are navigating the challenges of their early to mid 20s. The show tackles and features important, complex issues in a way that is subtle and natural. In the beginning of season 1 Jane has just become a journalist for the magazine and is struggling to find the perfect story to tell. While Jane deliberates writing what she thinks readers want to read, Scarlet magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jaqueline Carlisle, urges her to tell an honest story, true to her voice. In season one, Jane is shown as a careful, consciousness and risk-averse character. I related to Jane on a personal level: in her worrying and overthinking nature I saw a lot of myself.
Season one brings to light important Socio -political issues such as immigration law, police action, justice reform, and breaking the glass ceiling. Kat’s love interest with Adina is powerful for so many reasons. To begin with Kat had identified as a heterosexual her whole life until she met Adina and fell deeply in love. The show captures the complexities of sexuality and love for young people. Adina is a Muslim, woman who identifies as lesbian. Throughout the episode there’s a lot of conversation regarding identity politics and labels: from Kat’s struggle being bi-racial to Adina trying to reconcile her religious identity with her sexuality.
Sutton’s story arc is the quintessential small town girl with humble beginnings moving to New York to make it big in fashion. Sutton’s subplot revolves around her relationship with Richard Hunter and her professional struggle. Richard is an older co-worker who is also on the board of Scarlet magazine. Throughout most of the episodes Sutton is weighing out the risks of dating Richard and how it could harm her career. She is shown as a practical, realistic, and grounded character who thinks more with her head and less with her heart: in the end she chooses to break up with Richard and keep pushing to pursue her dreams.
I have high hopes for season 2 and am excited to see Jane take more risks, Sutton explore the world of fashion, and Kat continuing to be her true, authentic self.
Season 2 review coming very soon!