January has always been considered a month of new beginnings with New Year’s resolutions and trying to reach for the stars. So why not try a new TV series that will motivate you to (in words of one of its protagonists) “unleash holy hell on anybody who tries to hold you back.” We are of course talking about The Bold Type!
The Bold Type is an incredibly poignant and unapologetic female-led series that follows three best friends, Kat, Sutton, and Jane, living in NYC and working for Scarlet Magazine, a fictional counterpart to Cosmopolitan. It also deals with many hard-hitting topics, from sexual assault, feminism, breast cancer ,and racism, to sexual orientation and identity, to name just a few. It offers a fresh perspective and makes you realise that these are the problems that every woman (every person!) on this planet deals with in one way or another throughout their lifetime.
I admit, I fell for the series after watching just its first episode, and I fell hard. I went in expecting an entertaining plot about three young women making their way up the media world ladder in the most sung about city in the world and some love complications, which the series naturally delivered, but it also gave me so much more!
And as its fourth season has just premiered this week, it seemed like the perfect time to give you 10 reasons why you should most definitely pick up your remote control and join in on the fun!
- Dealing with relevant issues of today’s society.
As mentioned previously, The Bold Type deals with a lot of very important and pressing issues, be it speaking out about sexual assault and rape, racism and sexism. But it doesn’t simply offer a moral without sustenance. We follow our characters as they learn of them and deal with them, realise their possible privilege and make amends when needed.
- Offers a fresh view on what it means to be a women’s magazine.
Since Scarlet Magazine is based on Cosmopolitan, The Bold Type also presents a running commentary on what it actually means to be a women’s magazine and how people nowadays still see that. The pilot episode of the series very openly discusses how stylish or girly is not a synonym for anti-feminist, which can also be understood as breaking the fourth wall. Just because The Bold Type focuses on three girls working at a women’s magazine that publishes articles on fashion, sex, and beauty doesn’t mean it can’t be feminist or empowering – on the contrary!
- FEMINISM!
And that leads us to one of the most important points of why to give The Bold Type a chance and do it now! Feminism! The series elegantly underscores the various goals of modern feminism and breaks down the toxic idea that you have to “be like this or that” (No pink sweaters. No skirts. No high heels.) to be a feminist. Feminism is not a neatly labelled box in which you must fit to call yourself one. Feminism is a movement that encompasses all women and fights for equality for them all. Period.
“One voice can inspire others. One voice can start a movement.”
- Jacqueline Carlyle
Jacqueline Carlyle, the hotshot editor-in-chief of Scarlet Magazine! Yes, the boss is one of the main reasons to watch The Bold Type! She is by far one of the most beloved characters on the series because she defies every single “evil boss” stereotype out there. Say goodbye to scary Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada and welcome Jacqueline Carlyle, a boss that everyone wishes they had! Jacqueline is strict and expects people to work hard, but that’s simply because she believes in them and wants them to realise their full potential. Plus she’s never above helping her employees and really, we all need a Jacqueline Carlyle in our lives.
Jacqueline is portrayed by Melora Hardin who all of you sitcoms lovers might recognise from The Office where she was Jan Levinson, the not-so-great boss. Call that a promotion!
- Relatable Characters
There is no way you will be able to resist the charms of Sutton, Jane, and Kat! Why? Because they are just like you in many ways! They struggle with their identity, confidence, and family matters, while also juggling demanding jobs, love, and their social lives! They make mistakes and make amends. They are perfectly imperfect and therefore inspiring role models for women everywhere.
- Friendships To Die For
The friendships in this series are seriously its best part. As the girls go through emotional turmoil time and time again, there is one bright constant in their lives – friends! There is no backstabbing and jealousy that too often overshadow the most positive aspects of friendship in female-led series. Let’s leave all that negativity in the past and focus on what is really important. Standing beside your sisters and cheering them on! Girl power all the way! Sutton, Jane, and Kat have you covered and you’ll be calling your BFF in no time, inviting them to a marathon of this epic series!
- An Incredible Fashion Closet
Our three main protagonists on the series have a very special place where they meet to talk, rant about current problems, and comfort each other – the fashion closet! Literally, they meet up in this big walk-in Scarlet fashion closet where a ton of different clothes, shoes, and accessories lie about. Now this seems like a minor reason to give this series a chance, but since many of the scenes do happen in said fashion closet, it is also a series staple. And don’t tell me you wouldn’t want a secret meeting place where you could catch up with your friends and maybe, possibly, plan world domination?
- Romance
Okay, so you had to know this was coming, right? While The Bold Type doesn’t focus largely on love interests of our three main heroines, there is still plenty going on in the area of love. But the most beautiful part of these different cute and OTP-material love stories? There is no toxicity, no minimising oneself. Just beautiful and sometimes heart-wrenching love stories that will have you rooting for them til the end!
- Fantastic Guest Appearances
Not gonna lie, I am one of those people who’s heart always skips a beat when a beloved celebrity appears in one of my favourite TV series! And The Bold Type is one of the hottest TV series out there at the moment, which means there are recognisable guest stars aplenty! Get ready to see Betty Who as herself singing her heart out at one of the events for Scarlet Magazine, Joanna Coles, an ex-Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief on who Jacqueline Carlyle is based on, exchange a lovely wave with Jacqueline herself, Nicola Correia-Damude from Shadowhunters slays as a tough love Dana Jacobs. and Sasha Velour from RuPaul’s Drag Race visits a fundraiser in the series!
- It will motivate you to go after what you want!
Look, I’ve been a fan of this series for about a year and a half now and every time I finish an episode (or a season, because I admit, binge-watching is a problem I face often), I want to go out and conquer the world! As you watch Sutton, Kat, and Jane deal with their various problems, work hard and come out victorious, you just know you can do the same! This series will make you feel fearless, powerful and hella badass!
And now go catch up on The Bold Type and conquer the world after! You’ve got this!
The Bold Type cast consists of Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy, Sam Page, Melora Hardin, Nikohl Boosheri, Stephen Conrad Moore, Matt Ward, and Dan Jeannotte.
