The Bold Type Western Series Review

The Bold Type is an American comedy-drama television series created by Sarah Watson and produced by Universal Television for Freeform. It is inspired by the life and career of former Editor-In-Chief of Cosmopolitan magazine Joanna Coles, who is executive producer of the series. Filmed in Toronto, Montreal, and New York City, the series chronicles the lives of three millennial women, portrayed by Katie Stevens as Jane Sloan - a writter at Scarlet Magazine, Aisha Dee as Kat Edison - social media Director at Scarlet Magazine, and Meghann Fahy as Sutton Brady-Hunter - a fashion stylish at Scarlet magazine, all of whom are employed at a fictional global publication called Scarlet in New York City.

I really love the pilot episode, how exciting it is to work on a magazine company. The idea of a millenial under 30 who works following their passion, feelings, justice and how they bring out about woman empowerment, social issues and social judgment is amazing. 

The series starts with 4 season, which is not yet end. Season 5 supposed to come within next month (May 2021). It centers on a trio of millennial women—Jane Sloan (played by Katie Stevens), Kat Edison (played by Aisha Dee), and Sutton Brady (played by Meghann Fahy)—living in New York City. The three best friends work for Scarlet, a fictional global women's magazine, spearheaded by its editor-in-chief, Jacqueline Carlyle (played by Melora Hardin). The young women navigate their lives in the big city, including their career trajectories and romantic relationships.

Jane begins the series as a new writer for the magazine after working as an assistant, struggling to find her writing voice. Sutton is in a secret romantic relationship with Richard Hunter (played by Sam Page), a Scarlet board member and attorney for the magazine's publishing firm; she also realizes that she is ready for a change in her career and attains a fashion assistant position for the magazine under department head Oliver Grayson (played by Stephen Conrad Moore). Meanwhile, secure in her position as Scarlet's social media director, Kat Edison meets photographer Adena El-Amin (played by Nikohl Boosheri) and starts to explore her sexuality, including the tribulations that said exploration brings.

Season two of The Bold Type follows Jane as she continues to find her journalistic voice in a new media-driven landscape, Kat and her struggle with her racial and sexual identity in addition to her relationship with Adena, and Sutton in the aftermath of her decision to end her relationship with Richard due to the realization that it could hinder her from advancing in her career in fashion industry. As we all know, about work that relates to talent and art, it requires certain connection to make it big into the industry and that's what Sutton is afraid of. She is afraid if someone gonna tell her that she can enter fashion industry due to her relationship with Richard. 

The third season sees Jane entering a new relationship with a fellow writer named Ryan (played by Dan Jeannotte) and collaborating with Jacqueline on a story regarding the abuse of models at the hands of a prominent photographer. Kat, in a career shift, becomes inspired to run for city council, supported by her campaign manager Tia (played by Alexis Floyd), with whom she also becomes romantically involved. Surprised by Adena's return during her campaign, Kat ponders whether her past relationship with Adena is unfinished. Sutton, while content in her role as a fashion assistant, considers pursuing a career as a fashion designer while navigating her rekindled—and newly public—relationship with Richard.

Season four of The Bold Type tells a story about Kat, Jane, Sutton, Jacqueline and Alex who confront challenges in their various relationships, bringing newfound understanding of their partners or creating irreparable rifts between them. 

First, Jane has her first mammogram and spirals into anxiety waiting for the results. Scarlet reels over their new dynamic, forcing everyone to adjust, while Jane tries to cope with the changes to Jacqueline's role at the magazine. Jane volunteers to write a story about a sex club, while Jane and Ryan try a different kind of marathon to rebuild their relationship. Jane's story on millennial weddings comes to a halt when she uncovers a secret about Jacqueline - her work situation leads to tension with her husband which enables them to get separated for several months and allows them to date someone else who can make them feel valuable. Jane feels like a fraud when asked to speak at a wellness seminar while struggling with a sudden feminine health problem. Jane tries to celebrate with her friends while struggling to process recent discoveries. Jane decides to throw Sutton an epic bachelorette party, but the bride can't quite bring herself to enjoy the festivities. Jane gets career news while facing some devastating personal issues. Jane is overjoyed that her brother, Evan, comes to town, and she introduces him to Ryan. However, her relationship with Ryan ends up because finally she was able to ask Ryan on what really happened during the book tour, in which Ryan slept with someone else while getting drunk. As she cannot forgive him, she finally let him go. With her plan on Masctectomy, Jane isn't comfortable in her post-surgery body, but a visit from her dad change her outlook. Jane tries to emulate Jacqueline's leadership with her new staff. Three months after surgery, Jane returns to Scarlet with new editorial duties. 

Second, Sutton and Richard make plans for the future. Sutton grapples with her complex reaction towards the massive changes in her life. Sutton struggles to balance her career and relationship. Sutton has doubts about how to kick off her plan to get promoted. Richard and Sutton dive into wedding plans. Sutton tries to bond with Richard's mother. And finally after several months, Sutton and Richard's wedding day is here, and Sutton is faced with a big decision as their plan after marriage is to move to San Fransisco, meanwhile, Sutton is offered a stylish position at Scarlet, which what she really wants - and to stay in New York. Sutton and Richard's long-distance relationship hits a snag. Sutton takes stock of her position at Scarlet, as Richard considers a world outside it.

Third, Kat's latest crusade to save a female-oriented sex toy company could lead her to begin dating again,  Kat goes out of her way to help a transgender runner get into the New York City Marathon. Kat tries to move forward at work with a podcast, but her first episode comes with a price. Kat plans her next move as she faces financial insecurity and turns to Alex for help. A blizzard hits New York City, and Kat is trapped at her new job with her nemesis; Kat faces a hard truth when she's forced to take some responsibility; Kat learns surprising information about RJ; Adena turns to Kat for help in dealing with RJ, which causes more trouble between Kat and the board; Kat and Adena need to work together on a Scarlet project, which becomes tense when Adena learns about Kat's most recent relationship; Sutton takes a big risk, but is disheartened when it goes awry; Kat considers her feelings on preconceived gender roles in the bedroom.

My Thoughts:

This series is so addicting. I really love the story of Jane Sloan navigating through the Editor life, how fashionable she is and how she manages to work on her relationship with Ryan. Even though it may not be good all the time, but she knows her worth. She forgive him once, as she was afraid to be alone. But, she finally be able to face the fears and stand up for herself. 

Meanwhile, my favorite couple here is Sutton and Richard. I know it's a big decision for Sutton to follow her passion to search for what her heart goes. As she needs money to stay alive and fine, while she wants to go for something her heart feels, fashion stylish. I also really look forward to her relationship with Richard as they have that future goals. I was really happy actually that Sutton got pregnant in Season 4 until finally she said she was not ready for the baby - and she has no plans to get pregnant. I know, some of them may say no child as their career is going well. It maybe alright that time because Sutton is still young, but relationship between two people should be balanced in my opinion. She cannot always have what she wants without compromising what Richard wants. 

Cheers~

How To Let The Past Behind and Move Forward

One of the keys to living a happy and healthy life is to leave the past behind. It's a piece of advice you probably hear a lot. Everyone has a past, has skeletons in their closet and no one is perfect. 

I've had a lot of sleepless nights. Nights when I was so worried about something that had happened in the past that I let it dictate my future. We’ve all been there at some point. You're not alone. The thing about is it is that, what about the past that is relevant to you right now? So, here is the 6 tips to leave the past behind and look forward to the future and have faith in yourself. 

1. Learn from the past but don't dwell there.

Everyone made a mistake, had a baggage and bad experiences in the past. Those experiences you had can actually be used for learning and future experiences. You can consider it as opportunities for growth, development and improvement, instead of something to be judged. You know, past experiences were learning curves to help us refine what our preferences, choices and personalities now. They build us to WHO WE ARE RIGHT NOW. 

2. Express yourself.

Don’t hesitate to get the pain you’re feeling off your chest. Whether it’s talking to the individual who has harmed you (or who you harmed), venting to a friend or writing it down, expressing your feelings can assist you in sorting out what, if anything, needs to be done to move on. Let go of that feeling, closed the book and open new chapter to move on. 

3. Stop pointing finger and comparing.

It is so easy to blame others for the past experiences. The problem is, blaming others gives power to someone else and makes us small. It also prevents you from going forward. So, stop pointing fingers. Besides, do not compare yourself to someone else. Life can't be lived comparing yourself to someone else. You can't be successful based on what someone else has done. Know that you are uniquely you, and you are who you are now. 

4. Focus on the present. 

One of the most effective ways to let go of the past is to embrace the present. Instead of reliving the past and getting consumed with negativity, keep yourself active and enjoy the current moment. Learn a new skill. Meditate. Exercise. Have dinner with a friend. Make a new friend. Whatever it is, just live in the moment - even if it’s just sitting at your desk and watching the clouds roll by. 

To achieve a more mindful state, be aware of what you are thinking and feeling, reduce self-consciousness, seek out new experiences and accept your negative feelings and situations as merely being a part of life.

5. Forgive those who wronged you - including yourself. 

No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. Instead of kicking yourself for your past mistakes, cut yourself some slack and focus on the lessons that you’ve learned. Like Michelle Obama said, "Everyone on earth was carrying around an unseen history, and that alone deserved some tolerance." We cannot judged the future based on what had happened in the past. Look at the present. Also, people change all the time.

6. Count your blessings 

Instead of always thinking about the past, how about start by counting your blessing in the present. Give gratitude that we are still alive and healthy. By doing this, we are risking our heart to give some trust and faith for the future. Why do we have to dwell in the past?

Let the past behind, move forward and have faith. 

Cheers ~