The Bold Type, Netflix’s new series inspired by the life and career of the former Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan Joanna Coles.
This is a show I’ve had my eye on for a while ever since it first started airing in America on Freeform. It was originally placed on Amazon Prime in the UK, so I patiently waited several years for it to make its way to Netflix, and just last week it finally did just that. My expectations were high, but I was still shocked at just how amazing this show is.
The show follows three women, Jane (Katie Stevens), Kat (Aisha Dee) and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) as they try and make their way working for Scarlet magazine – a women’s lifestyle magazine in New York. The show puts their careers front and centre, which is an amazing addition and rarely seen, and explores their family and romantic relationships, but also the relationship that the three of them have with each other.
I could sit here forever and list all the amazing things I love about this show, but I’ll try and keep it brief.
Taboo topics
Breast cancer screenings, sexual assault, female pleasure, bisexuality erasure and immigration issues are just a few of the many topics that this show has covered, and I’ve never seen a show like this tackle such serious problems so confidently and naturally.
Image credit: Cosmpolitan
One of the starkest examples of this was when lead character Jane was conducting her daily self-check of her breasts, having been previously told she was more at risk of developing a cancerous lump. I physically felt my heart drop in my chest when she felt a lump. Not only showing a character checking her breasts, but also having her call her doctor and get checked is so incredible and rare to see on screen.
An ongoing storyline in the show is that of Kat’s sexuality, who starts the show convinced of her heterosexuality, before eventually falling in love with a woman. Once she decides on labelling herself as bisexual, she experiences being shunned by her ex-girlfriend who believes that she was just a “phase”. Highlighting the struggles that she goes through as a bisexual woman, the process she goes through in discovering her identity, the confidence she feels in acknowledging it, and the experiences she has because of it, are what make this show so open and honest.
Female empowerment
Our three protagonists represent three distinct personalities, but they get along regardless. Jane is our type A character, and easily stressed when it comes to her career. She is more attracted to long term and serious relationships, rather than flings, and takes everything to heart.
Sutton is outgoing and has no problem with embracing her sexuality or confessing that she’s slept with 28 people. This is one of the things that is so endearing about Sutton, is her complete openness and how easily she admits her issues to her friends.
Kat is driven by her heart, often sacrificing her common sense in pursuit of the greater good. From tackling immigration policies and running in local elections, Kat demonstrates that she believes in people and will do anything to protect them, whilst also discovering her sexuality at the same time.
Despite stark differences in their personalities, sometimes leading to disagreements, they always see the error of their ways and their friendship always prevails. Strong female friendships is what makes this show so appealing to its audience – that and the character of Jacqueline.
Jacqueline is the Editor of Scarlet magazine and the person in charge of our three main characters. She acts as a mentor to Jane, someone she can turn to when she is struggling, and is a fount of wisdom. Jacqueline has a lot of experience in all areas and happily shares this wisdom with the characters throughout the show which is both heart-warming and inspiring.
Serious comedy
This show, aimed at a millennial and Gen-Z audience, handles serious topics like cancer, consent and sexual assault in a light-hearted and tactical way. There is no way to avoid how serious some of the issues the show faces are, but the Bold Type effectively uses comedy to navigate through the stories and create characters that are uplifting and add high spirits to the drama.
Alongside the content of this show, the soundtrack is made up entirely of female or non-binary musicians, and is an amazing addition to an already incredible programme.
So, are there any down sides?
Like anything, we can always find a downside. Aisha Dee, who plays social media manager Kat, has previously criticised the show for not being diverse enough backstage. On-screen, the show has a diverse range of actors from a variety of backgrounds, but off-screen, not so much. Aisha Dee wrote in a social media post that it took two seasons of the show’s current four season run, to get a single BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and person of colour) person in the writers’ room, which she called out for not being inclusive enough. She also admitted that in the 48 episodes they’ve made, one Black woman has directed two episodes, and the hair department only added in someone who knew how to deal with textured hair after three seasons.
Whilst behind the scenes of the show has slowly become more diverse and inclusive, it’s clear that these issues still need to be addressed across the show and others like it.
Ultimately, the Bold Type offers the audience a feminist utopia and perhaps an unrealistic outlook into the world of journalism. However, it remains an uplifting and empowering show, demonstrating the strength and vulnerability that young women can show, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Seasons 1-4 of the Bold Type are available on Netflix now, with season 5 expected in 2021.
By Faith Pring
Feature image: UNO Gateway