Every now and then, there comes a show that is so full of offensive material that you don’t even know where to start. Enter Freeform’s The Bold Type.
As previously reported, The Bold Type is dubbed a teen drama despite its extremely adult-oriented content, and airs on what was formerly ABC Family. The show, however, is anything but family-friendly.
Sex, sex, sex and oh, did we mention sex? The Bold Type, much like its inspiration, Cosmopolitan magazine, wastes no time beating you over the head with their sex obsession in Tuesday, July 11th’s episode.
Since the show is geared toward teens, impressionable young girls might be lured into believing they must "F*$k Like a Porn Star," be able to pull off ridiculous sex positions that look like a game of Twister, and regularly watch pornography (we're told one in three women view porn) in order to be hip and please their man since that's the message sent in the show's opening scenes as the ladies discuss story ideas for the magazine.
The sex obsession continues with the girls discussing sex dreams and their best orgasms ever which leads to the central plot of this episode: Jane (Katie Stevens) has been assigned to write a story on "best orgasms" but she has never had an orgasm herself - the episode is titled "O Hell No" - get it? ("Like, not even with yourself?!" "Correct.") The other girls then plot to help Jane have her first orgasm.
Jane visits a sexologist to discuss why she hasn’t been able to achieve an orgasm. As part of an assignment from her sexologist to “find her inner freak” and her “erotic creature,” Jane watches porn with the girls, complete with us hearing loud screams from the TV and shots of women making out.
Later, Jane tries the "yoni egg" the sexologist gave her to strengthen her vagina muscles, but much to her chagrin, the yoni egg gets stuck inside her. So, what’s a girl to do when she gets a yoni egg stuck in her “vagene” as they call it, while trying to find her “inner freak?” Enlist her girlfriends to help once again of course!
We are treated to this lovely scene of Jane leaning back with her legs spread while Kat (Aisha Dee) sticks her hand inside to retrieve the yoni egg, with Sutton there for moral support (Meghann Fahy).
Kat: Oh, my God. All right.
Jane: I appreciate you.
Kat: Hold my Fitbit? Lay back. Okay, I'm gonna need you to slide down to me. Spread your legs. All right. A little.
Jane: Oh, my God. Don't stare.
Sutton: Sorry!
Kat: All right, ready? Okay. The female form is actually quite beautiful.
Jane: Can you not narrate this?
Kat: Okay, fine. I need you to relax.
Jane: You know what helps me to relax is you telling me to relax.
Kat: I need you to relax, or I'm not gonna be able to get it out, okay? Sutton?
Sutton: Huh? Oh, Yeah. Stay with me. We're on a beach. We're drunk. There's, like, a whole pack of really cute puppies running in slow motion down the beach.
Jane: Do not ruin puppies for me.
Sutton: Okay, breathe, breathe, breathe.
Kat: Oh, wait, I think I got it. No, wait—
Jane: You think you got it?
Kat: No, I can feel it.
Sutton: This is the worst Easter egg hunt ever.
Kat: Wow. Okay, okay. I got it! Oh, my God. Oh, my God. I got it.
Jane: You're the best friend ever. Thank you.
Kat: What are friends for?
Jane: Are you okay?
Kat: I'm not a lesbian, Jane. Just not. And you can relax. It wasn't your vag. It's just who I am. I'm not about the ladies, you know? I'm hetero, totally hetero. I'm hetero, right?
Jane: Are you trying to convince me?
Kat decides she’s straight after that experience, but no more than 10 seconds later, she says she’s not actually sure what she is. Kat is still obsessing over her attraction to Muslim, lesbian, photographer Adena and is upset that Adena appears to be “ghosting” her. Even though she says she’s “always been into dudes,” Kat admits that she’s having “sexual identity issues” because of Adena and fluctuates between straight, gay and bi throughout the entire show. Which is not surprising considering Hollywood’s push to spread their “sexual fluidity” concept wherever and whenever they can.
Kat mentions that her psychologist parents would probably tell her that she was just concerned for Adena because she was unreachable while out of the country and that she’s confusing her feelings for romantic attraction. Sutton is shocked and asks, “Would they really say that to you?” As if they told her she has two heads.
But Kat’s parents could very well be correct, especially with the message society sends to girls these days. Innocent feelings of wanting to snuggle with your best friend, have sleepovers, hold hands, etc., are no longer seen as normal feelings of friendship and girls are made to feel that it must mean something sexual. Kat represents every young girl who is confused by such messaging and shows like this that tell young girls that they are gay or bi if they have those innocent feelings for their friends.
Later at an art gallery event showcasing Adena’s work, Kat decides to approach Adena, thinking there might be some mutual attraction, but sees her kissing another woman, and it’s obvious that she is upset about it. So, we’re back to lesbian now. Or just sliding on the gender fluidity scale?
While Kat says she feels “like an idiot” after seeing Adena’s kiss, Jane reassures her and tells her that her “bravery” inspires her. Then Kat makes a proclamation that leads us to the finale and the most important message for young girls from this episode: “Like I said, you got to do something crazy.”
Sutton: Kat, hey. Are you okay?
Kat: God, I feel like such an idiot. I just completely misread that whole situation.
Sutton Hey, you're not an idiot.
Jane: No, you're not. I mean, you're the bravest person I know. You take risks, and you put yourself out there. I mean, I wish I could be more like you.
Sutton: Yeah, me too.
Kat: Like I said, you got to do something crazy.
Jane: You know what? I can, and I will. Hey.
Ryan: Hey.
Jane: So have you been flirting with me?
Ryan: Yeah.
♪ Can't keep my hands to myself ♪♪
Jane: I have to go. I have to write.
Ryan: Jane.
Ah, yes! Jane finally says “O Hell Yes” as she crazily kisses Ryan at the show then is able to finally write her “O Hell No” assignment about never having had an orgasm. What bravery! What inspiration for girls everywhere!
So, what have we learned from this episode, young women? That' it’s okay to be straight, then lesbian, then straight, then bi, then lesbian, then straight, then confused, because hey, that’s how “sexual fluidity” goes!
And we also need to embrace and love porn like so many women are, according to the show. If you want to be hip and please your man (or woman!), you better embrace it, too, along with yoni eggs and learning to “f*$k like a porn star” while you’re at it! Because that’s what the hip, cool girls are all doing!
Like I said after the pilot episode, my teen will not be watching this show or being brainwashed into believing such garbage. But I feel for every young girl that is watching and falls for such twisted thinking.
