TV Show review
Review basis: 5 seasons, 52 episodes · through June 30, 2021
June 20, 2017 · 45 min · TV-14 · Ended
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Bold Type follows three friends working at a glossy women's magazine called Scarlet in New York City. Jane writes articles, Kat runs social media and gets involved in politics, and Sutton works in fashion. They navigate careers, friendships, romances, and personal challenges. The series centers queer storylines and feminist themes, especially through Kat's exploration of her sexuality and activism across all five seasons.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Bold Type.
Woke representation / casting
Biracial actress Aisha Dee plays Kat, a main character in prominent activist, leadership, and queer roles. Stories repeatedly emphasize intersectional diversity and identity in visible positions at the magazine.
Woke political dialogue
Characters discuss feminism, white privilege, patriarchy, conversion therapy, and gender identity in direct exchanges that drive multiple episodes and arcs.
Identity-driven story themes
The central premise follows women finding their voices through sexuality discovery, racial identity, feminist empowerment, and activism. Kat's queer relationships and political run form sustained core storylines.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show critiques traditional gender roles, male authority figures in media and politics, and conservative positions such as conversion therapy support through a feminist lens at the magazine.
Woke character or canon changes
Production
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Mainstream coverage and social media show almost no complaints treating the show as pushing woke, DEI, or identity politics messaging. Reception was largely positive or internally critiqued for not going far enough.
Creator track record context
Sarah Watson built the series around women's empowerment and identity topics. Joanna Coles advanced feminist and political themes in major media. Some writers have progressive credits. Other crew have mostly standard television backgrounds.
