I’m probably late to the party, but I just finished watching all of The Bold Type. It is a show that really stands out in my mind, and I find that it was so refreshing, comfortable, and pleasing to watch that I can’t bring myself to start another television show. At this point in time, I feel like nothing can measure up to the feeling that The Bold Type gives me when I’m watching, so I am avoiding the idea of starting something new.
If you’re looking for a new series to watch or binge, it comes highly recommended from me. It even inspired a blog post when I first started watching it, which I recommend you check out if you haven’t already. Back in October, I published Spooky Stories: Cyber Stalking My Exes, which was fun to write. While I was trying to spread and elongate how long it took me to consume this series by watching it off and on, I ended up just binging the whole thing in the span of a week because it was so good that I couldn’t help myself.
For today’s blog post, I wanted to write about the 5 reasons I would give The Bold Type 5 stars. These reasons are the same things that I hope to see in the next show that I watch, and what I believe make the show stand out against others. It is especially recommended if you’re a fan of Younger or the original Gossip Girl.
Star 1: The Vibes Are IMMACULATE
The common thread that you will find between Younger, Gossip Girl, and The Bold Type is that they all take place in New York City during the prime time, before COVID hit. I haven’t been back since the pandemic, but I can’t imagine that the city atmosphere could so easily be restored after such an unprecedented event. These shows have captured an idealized version of what living in New York City once was, and that New York minute seems to be a dream now.
While there doesn’t seem to be a way to time-travel back to that wonderful time, seeing that version of New York City through the eyes of Jane Sloan, Kat Edison, and Sutton Brady are the next best thing because they all love the city. Fun fact: the last season was actually filmed during COVID times, as the world was opening back up again.
Star 2: Relatability When It Comes to Career Challenges in Your 20’s
There’s a reason that the 20’s are known as the defining decade: it’s a critical period in life where the foundations of every career start being built. Scarlett Magazine, the main setting of The Bold Type, is where Kat, Sutton, and Jane are developing their careers at different paces and at different places. A fictionalized version of Cosmopolitan Magazine, it is the perfect place for Kat to develop her identity as a leader, for Sutton to explore the different aspects of a career in a magazine, and for Jane to find her voice as a writer. Best of all, they have the best mentor in the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, Jacklyn Carlyle.
Star 3: Tackles Complex Issues in a Lifelike Way
A common challenge in developing movies and television seems to be creating an accurate portrayal of the complications and adversity that take place in the span of a lifetime. Often, issues are presented in a simplified, one-dimensional way, or are shown in a way that seems to be one-sided. The creators and developers of The Bold Type do a phenomenal job of showcasing the issues from different angles, making the weight of the issues feel heavy in all their layers. From Jane trying to understand and come to terms with certain health predispositions to Kat trying to understand the complex dynamics of sexuality, The Bold Type tackles a variety of problems from the everyday to the occasional complicated roadbump.
Star 4: Fashion Inspiration Everyday In Everyway
Fashion Week in America takes place in New York City, and while some people think that fashion is for the rich, fashion is a wonderful form of expression. I believe that fashion is an essential part of any New York based show, and the source of all the fabulous fashion in The Bold Type? The fashion closet at Scarlett Magazine, housing a collection of clothing and accessories that are used in the magazine. Could you imagine having access to all the clothes you would find in an edition of Cosmopolitan Magazine? While the girls can’t afford any of the clothes, they do have access to the closet as employees and tend to use the closet as a refuge when life gets hard.
Star 5: Loving, Healthy Friendships
I loved the original Gossip Girl, but I can’t say that Serena and Blair’s friendship was the healthiest to see. While they love each other, I can’t help but think that their relationship was a little toxic. That’s the major differing factor when it comes to the girls of The Bold Type: no matter what they’re going through, Jane, Sutton, and Kat are always able to come together to come to terms with their problems. And even when there’s strain in their relationship, they always work their way back to each other. That’s a friendship of unconditional love, and that is the type of friendship everyone deserves.
What do you look for when you start watching a show? Is there a dynamic duo that you aspire for? If you had to recommend one show for everyone in the world to watch, what would it be and why? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Love Always,
Kristi My
Kristi My Dao 