I’ll just say it — very few shows have the ability to keep me hooked from start to finish, let alone manage to keep me hanging on for more. If you’re a fan of Freeform (or just a magazine journalism junkie like me), chances are you’ve heard of The Bold Type. This incredible show — and guilty pleasure nonetheless — has finally returned this month to start off season four with a bang.
Roughly inspired by Cosmopolitan magazine and it’s former editor-in-chief, Joanna Coles, The Bold Type explores the world of magazine journalism through the lives of three best friends — Jane, Kat and Sutton. While they work at (an incredible but sadly fictional publication) Scarlet together, they face the many ups-and-downs that come with living in New York City as 20-somethings.
If you need more convincing to watch it, here are just some of the reasons why you should jump into the boardroom with Scarlet magazine and navigate life with these three besties.
- Feminism, ladies!
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I think the gif speaks for itself. The Bold Type is jam-packed full of strong female leads and emphasizes the fact that everyone’s journey is unique. So many important issues that women face every day are put right in the spotlight, giving them the recognition they deserve. From Jane facing the fears regarding her having the BRCA gene (and having to freeze her eggs if she ever wants to have kids in the future) to a coworker facing sexual consent allegations, many issues are presented throughout the show and are seamlessly intertwined into their daily life. More than anything, it’s all about girls supporting girls. No matter what their passions are, they always support one another, even in the riskiest situations like changing careers and facing failure.
- Jacqueline Carlyle — the mentor we ALL need
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Need I say more? Jacqueline is not only their incredible boss, but is also like a mom to them in so many ways. When they fall, she picks them back up. When Jane struggles with her writing, Jacqueline always knows what to do to help and inspire her. She’s shared personal stories and accounts of her life for them to learn from, which helps us realize that she isn’t as at ease and balanced as everyone thinks. She too has faced her own problems, both in the past and within current relationships.
- The importance of friendship
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I’ve never seen a stronger group of girlfriends than I have on this show. I mean, honestly, don’t we all need a friend to hold us back from self-sabotage? From breakups to health complications, they are there for each other through it all. Rather than just being friends, they have become family and rely on each other for practically anything and everything. Do they need someone to comfort them at their apartment in 10 minutes? The subway ride is 40 minutes, but they’ll find a way to make it.
- Diversity and representation
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We LOVE to see it. This show makes major moves to be all-inclusive, and prioritizes discussions about our issues as a society regarding diversity. From Kat boldly stating that she is the first black department head at Scarlet, to struggling with her sexuality, and finally, to falling in love with Adena, a lesbian Muslim woman, her storyline alone covers a lot. Not only that, but the show follows Scarlet as it works to become more inclusive and diverse and stay ahead the times as they are evolving and improving. You see Jacqueline trying to showcase more than just one body type within her magazine pages, and you even see the struggles that we still face today when the publication’s board fires her because they don’t agree with her powerful ideas and visions.
- The humor is unmatched
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Sutton. That’s it, that’s the tweet. Seriously though, these characters are absolutely hilarious. Subtle humor is thrown in here and there, and half the time I don’t even catch it — but when you do, trust me, you’ll be glad you did. The characters constantly poke fun at themselves and each other, creating humor around the more serious ideas that are addressed.
- Realistic relationship troubles
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The Bold Type tackles it all. From Sutton’s secret work relationship and having to deal with judgment from coworkers, to Kat trying to figure out her sexuality and Jane trying to cope with being cheated on, all types of relationship problems are addressed. And not only are they just addressed, but they are given realistic outcomes and storylines. Breaking up after cheating? It doesn’t always happen. People at work judging you for your relationship? Maybe their judgment doesn’t have to get the best of you. All in all, the producers and writers have made it very clear that they don’t want to just write out these typical problems in a typical manner. Even the cast members have given their own input on the situations in order to make sure that different relationships — sometimes much more realistic ones — are also given the attention and thought that they need.
- Self-love is a priority
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We all need people to help us up when we fall and forget what we are worth. It’s so common to feel like you aren’t accomplished enough, and even to wish that you were someone completely different. These characters, however, are here to remind you of just the opposite. The show is filled with incredibly inspiring quotes like this one that reflect the nature of remembering who you are and owning it.
- The soundtrack
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I know this might not be the most important factor when choosing a new show, but hear me out. This soundtrack is incredible. It might not be an overly emotional, gets-you-in-your-feels kind of soundtrack, but it’s a gem when you need a little confidence pick-me-up. Seriously — the number of times that I’ve played the soundtrack on Spotify just to make myself feel like a successful, powerful gal is ridiculous. It’s my go-to when I need that little boost to remind myself that I can handle anything that comes my way (and it’s also pretty great for getting ready for a night out with your friends)!
More than anything, I think we can all agree that the best thing about this show is the bond that these three besties share. No matter what they do, they all have each other’s backs and will support one another until the end. At the end of the day, of course, the fashion closet will always be there for another emotional conversation or work emergency. But if not, an over-priced studio apartment in NYC will also do the trick. Let’s give it up for the ladies of Scarlet!