‘The Bold Type’ understands bisexuality better than most shows, and we have the receipts
By Reed Gaudens
Photo Credit: The Bold Type/Freeform, Acquired From Disney ABC Press
As a series about women empowering women on their individual journeys through career and sexuality, ‘The Bold Type’ is your un-problematic fave.
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By now, you’re already more than aware that Freeform’s The Bold Type is the summer obsession we all deserved. Its cast is brilliant, its perspective is fresh, and its message is relevant. But with each passing episode, which get more addictive by the week, The Bold Type has proven itself as a fierce warrior for bisexual representation. And the series does it without an ounce of regressive language.
The Bold Type isn’t the first series to incorporate a character’s sexual exploration (and it won’t be the last), but the newcomer happens to be blowing its predecessors out of the water. In the first episode, Kat discovers an attraction to a queer female artist named Adena despite identifying as a “proud hetero.” Fast forward to the second episode’s conclusion, and Kat has accepted the latest shades of her sexuality in an effort to honor them. In lieu of battering their friend with questions and uncouth jokes, Jane and Sutton show up for Kat with unparalleled support. Looking back at other depictions of bisexuality in drama series, The Bold Type’s representation is pressingly important.
When The O.C.’s Marissa informed her best friend Summer of her relationship with Alex, a woman, Summer was supportive. However, she worried that she would now be a “turn on” for Marissa. When Adrianna started dating a female character on 90210, her relationship ran its course then faded without discussion, a demarcation of bisexual erasure. When William’s romantic history with Jessie, a man, came to light on This Is Us, his family was thrown through a loop. But, again, they were supportive, save for Kevin quipping, “You’re gay now.” Insert any number of shows and their questionable actions.
These are shows that we love, and continue to love, but it’s common practice that television won’t always get it right when representing sexualities that don’t play into heteronormativity. The Bold Type, on the other hand, makes it look easy. The third episode, titled “The Woman Behind the Clothes,” tackles three vital stories about women facing underestimation, sexism, and online threats. But the episode’s best moment didn’t arise from Sutton breaking her back for her dream job or Jane discovering the dirty secret of fashion’s intersection with politics.
A feel-good sequence finds Jane preparing for drinks with Pinstripe sex writer Ryan with Kat. Rather than making the scene play for awkward laughs, The Bold Type eschews the harmful tropes surrounding bisexuality on-screen. Katie Stevens, who plays Jane on The Bold Type, retweeted a fan tweet containing a screengrabbed Tumblr post praising the series for its ace representation of bisexuality and friendship.
"Okay I’m currently crying real tears because Kat, who’s recently revealed that she might be interested in women, walked in on her friend Jane, a straight girl, changing, said “Hey Sexy,” continued having a conversation with her while she was changing, and then ended the convo with a friendly slap on the ass and in no way was Jane uncomfortable or say anything weird like “don’t enjoy the view too much haha” or ANYTHING she was just OKAY with it because they’re FRIENDS and this is assumedly how they’ve always acted and Kate being attracted to girls hasn’t changed that and I’m FINE."
https://twitter.com/thekatiestevens/status/887514620591820800
For legions of fans who have watched their sexuality be reduced to an arc during sweeps or a supposed “experimental phase,” The Bold Type broke down years of backwards illustrations of bisexuality with one simple scene. Other shows, take note. You don’t have to poke fun at the elephant in the room. We know it’s there, you know it’s there, the characters know it’s there, but it’s perfectly acceptable to let it lie. That’s what most normal people do in real life anyway.
We do pause in labeling Kat as bisexual because she hasn’t yet determined if her sexuality aligns with its meaning, and we want to give her the space to figure that out for herself. It’s all about giving each other the space to evolve, which we can learn tenfold from the ladies of The Bold Type. It’s also worth noting that whether Kat pursues her emotional connection with Adena and it turns into something or whether she doesn’t, this storyline — neigh, character journey — wasn’t a means to an end. It meant something, and it was important.
Next: 5 boldest OMG moments from 'The Bold Type' series premiere
Women can hold up and cheer on other women. Women of differing sexualities can call each other sexy without it being a come-on. Women can share the same space and be equals no matter what or who wants to divide them. That’s a pretty damn strong and far-reaching message for The Bold Type to send with just three episodes under its belt. So few shows recognize the power they hold when telling queer and/or female-centric stories. The Bold Type doesn’t mess with that archaic nonsense. When will your fave?
The Bold Type airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Freeform.