I never thought that The Bold Type would make me sentimental, but this second to last episode of the series really had me in tears. Sometimes you realize how much a show and its characters mean to you when you have to let them go. And then again, sometimes letting them go seems like a natural progression because the series starts to wrap up in a way that you can feel proud that they were in your life.
Characters sometimes feel like they are your friends. They know you, without knowing you. You watch their lives and you see bits of yourself in them. You love them, you root for them, and you know they are rooting for you.
You have your problems with the way that they go about their lives. You wish they would have dated differently, made different decisions, and you know that they are feeling the same about you.
In this episode, I wanted to be the supportive friend. I wanted to be the friend that celebrated their wins.
I realized that I think I am going to be okay with saying goodbye, because these three have come so far and I know in my life every week or out of it – they have taught me so much. And that’s why The Bold Type is so iconic to me – it taught me about strong friendships, dreams, and never backing down.
JANE
Jane has always had big dreams. Sure, I do feel like the character has been whiny, but it has taken me until this episode to realize that it wasn’t really whiny – it was Janes journey to finding her strength. And I tell you that I am sorry for misunderstanding her.
Jacqueline is training Jane for her time as interm editor in chief. Jane decides that she wants to take on meeting with one of the advertisers so that Jacqueline can go out with Ian. Personally, I didn’t think she was ready. And when Jacqueline agreed to it, I wondered what she was thinking.
But Jacqueline is smarter than all of us and sees things that we don’t see. She knows what people are capable of. It actually is something that I truly realized when I saw her tell everyone that they should go to Jane, she was training to be her while she was on vacation.
But the beauty of it all was that Jane – just when you think that she’s counting herself out – you see her really start to take herself by the reigns. She realizes that she’s Jane Sloane, she’s a kick ass writer, and has conquered big dreams. She is talented and she deserves to be where she is and even more, she was born for this.
Jane relates to the younger generation of Scarlett in a way that no one does. At least no one in that office.
Jane is this person who doesn’t give up. When she’s told that she can’t interview a celebrity by their body guard, she takes on talking to him. And talking to him inspires her next article.
That’s the beauty of Jane. She sees the story in everything. She sees the way that things can change. It’s the reason that the shock of Jacqueline telling Jane that she is offering her the job so quickly doesn’t hit as hard. It feels natural, it feels good. Hell, it feels great.
KAT
When it comes to Kat, I always loved her. But at the same point, I hated the fact that she didn’t realize how she had things. She took some things for granted, but she embraced things in a different way.
It is when she embraced life in a different way that she started seeing what her voice could do. It was the strongest things that she ever did. I feel like a jackass saying this – but every heartbreak, every time things went wrong, everything Kat did wrong – all of this was right. Why? Because it led her to who she is.
And who she is, is someone that we should all strive to be. It is someone that wants to make a change for everyone. It’s someone who wants to grow. It’s someone that wants to see the beauty in the world, believing that people can be good. That they are good.
Kat is a pillar of change and strength. She believes that the world can be a better place. It’s why she wants to make #DontTurnAway a bigger thing. People aren’t investing because they don’t have the final idea and want more information. But you know who comes through, just like she always does? Jacqueline.
She offers Kat her own vertical, bringing #DontTurnAway under the Scarlett umbrella. Kat is hesitant and it is totally understandable that she feels scared. She doesn’t want to loose control. But when Adina reminds her of what Scarlett can do and how it can really benefit everyone, it’s this amazing thing.
And just like we always hoped, Kats journey is coming full circle and she is coming home. She’s coming back to Scarlett. She’s in charge of #DontTurnAway, with a massive budget and the opportunity to make it big also for the people that she started it for.
Jacqueline never stopped believing in Kat. She knew what she was capable of and it feels really good for Kat to see that her journey is going to help so many people.
But it feels so great to see Kat, Sutton, and Jane back together.
SUTTON
Honestly, the person that I have always been rooting for the most is Sutton. I feel like she’s the person who hasn’t ever realized her worth because of her upbringing. She’s never felt good about who she is.
But who Sutton is? She’s a strength and perseverance. She’s the strong one who doesn’t realize she’s strong. She’s the person who is incredible, but doesn’t see how incredible she is.
Richard calls her and he’s got divorce papers. She’s trying to be grown. She’s trying to show that she isn’t bothered by things, but she is. Sutton doesn’t want to be divorced, but she also doesn’t want to show Richard how hurt she is.
She’s been trying to cut down on her drinking. She’s been talking to a therapist. Some people not believe in therapy, but for Sutton it is helping.
One of the things about Sutton, I believe, is that she has shown that she’s independent. In the same breathe Sutton has also shown that she just wants to be loved and feel good enough. She wants to know that she doesn’t have to be defined by her mistakes or by the way she was raised.
And the first person who made her feel that she was good enough was Richard. Well, that was before he didn’t. But being around Richard and seeing him happy hurts her. But we see Sutton’s growth when she goes back to deliver the papers and tells him that he looked happier without her.
It’s then he tells her that he started the adoption process. And for the first time we see a ray of hope. We see Sutton realizing that no matter what happens it is not about her worth, because she is worthy. We see Richard let down his guard and let her back in.
These two were always incredible and whatever journey life takes them on – together or apart – they made each other better. But their love also made them discover themselves.
The Bold Type has felt like home, because it is home. Sutton, Jane, and Kat – we’re rooting for you.
The series finale airs Wednesday on Freeform.
