Watercooler Pick
The Bold Type
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The Bold Type follows the lives of three 20-something women who work in New York City’s glamorous glossy magazine world. As they navigate the successes and hurdles of their chaotic personal and professional lives, the trio of best friends explore concepts of freedom, equality, and religion along the way.
The series was created by Sarah Watson (formerly an executive producer on Parenthood) and stars Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, Meghann Fahy, and Melora Hardin, best known for her role as Jan Levinson in The Office.
Set against the glittering skyscrapers and flashing neon lights of pre-pandemic New York City, a trio of best friends—Jane (Katie Stevens), Kat (Aisha Dee), and Sutton (Meghann Fahy)—seem to have scored dream jobs and a glamorous life rich with launch parties and trips to Paris Fashion Week. The three young NYC professionals work as a journalist (Jane), social media director (Kat), and assistant (Sutton) at Scarlet Magazine, a fashion and pop culture outlet that appears on the surface to be full of frivolous, anti-feminist content.
But beneath the shiny facade, the magazine — and the comedy-drama series itself — bring much needed awareness to some timely, poignant issues, all through the lens of millennial women. From sexuality to racism to gun control, tough topics are examined with care while encouraging the characters, and viewers, to broaden their perspectives.
Female empowerment is a theme throughout the five seasons of the series, but The Bold Type also celebrates female friendship, and viewers get to witness the bond between the three protagonists strengthen as they navigate heartbreak and contemplate career moves — all typical of today’s 20-somethings. Whether it’s supporting Jane at her breast cancer exam or encouraging Kat to explore her identity, we see them put each other above all else.
At times the series can be wildly unrealistic—how can a journalist afford to live in NYC by filing a single 500-word story a month? But The Bold Type is a surprisingly insightful show that challenges the stereotypes that plague millennials while illustrating how young women can be equally immersed in pop culture and complex social issues.
Anybody who works in the media industry will find this series relatable. Viewers who are interested in exploring the issues young women face in a more candid and not-always-serious way will also enjoy The Bold Type. And with the perfect blend of escapism and aspiration, this show is for those who are looking for something with a Darren Star vibe (think Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, but less problematic).
Former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles serves as an executive producer on The Bold Type, and much of the show is inspired by her time at the magazine.
- Moods: de-stress me, find me fun, inspire me
- Interests: escapist, single life
Vivian Chung
