The series ultimately ends with the two reuniting, and Richard choosing Sutton over kids.
Not once is Sutton's decision, or her knowledge of her own self and her own plans and desires for her life, disrespected. Sutton was 26 at the time of this conflict, and where other shows probably wouldn't have let a second go by without reminding audiences of her relatively young age, and that she "could change her mind," "The Bold Type" took a vastly different approach. Sutton and her older husband Richard (Sam Page) separated in the final episodes of the penultimate season, when they were unable to compromise on Richard's need to have kids, and Sutton's firm aversion to kids.
One particularly interesting and pivotal storyline came to a surprising and optimistic ending in Wednesday's series finale. Writers shut that ship down at the last minute, in response to criticisms that it was unrealistic for Kat to be with someone who supported policies that undermine her existence as a queer Black woman. The show has tackled everything from queer Muslim and queer Black identity, to cultural assumptions about how vaginas should smell, to the manipulations of anti-abortion "crisis pregnancy centers." Much like its protagonists who stumble and fall on their feminist journeys, "The Bold Type" itself has had and acknowledged its own bumps along the way - namely, a controversial romance between Kat and a lesbian conservative woman. The show has often been a blast, owing to their chemistry alone. The best friends navigate a number of wild personal and work-related shenanigans, often tackling critical social issues along the way, and they do it all together.
Jane (Katie Stevens) is a Type A, serial monogamist, and natural-born-writer Sutton (Meghan Fahy) is the plucky and adventurous fashionista who grinds as a fashion assistant for years before clinching her dream stylist position and Kat (Aisha Dee) is the fierce social media wizard, perennial activist, and, since the middle of the first season, a proudly out queer woman.
The dramedy, which ended its five-season run with its series finale Wednesday night, tells the story of three young, millennial women working their ways up their own professional ladders at the fictional "Scarlet" magazine. Freeform's "The Bold Type" was just one such show that rose to the occasion, but it managed to stand out from the pack as an unmistakable, unapologetic ode to female friendship. I will miss it terribly, but I am so grateful for the opportunity and glad to know it’s been a comfort to so many people out there.The Trump presidency is now behind us, but the period of invigorated social activism and deeper appreciation for journalism inspired a wave of plucky, new political storytelling. “I have truly loved writing this show and living in this world. I spent my twenties in New York City working in magazines, so in many ways the show feels very personal to my experiences,” added showrunner and executive producer Wendy Straker Hauser. “‘The Bold Type’ has been a gift that has truly changed my life. I want to thank Wendy Straker Hauser and all the writers for telling these amazing stories that will undoubtedly live beyond the pages of Scarlet Magazine.” “This show will always hold a special place in my heart for its authenticity and ability to provoke meaningful conversations with each episode. “It has been a joy to watch Kat, Jane and Sutton live out their lives on screen over the last four seasons and become an inspiration for so many young women along the way,” said Universal Television president Erin Underhill. “It’s one of my favorite shows, and I am proud that we are giving the series the sendoff Wendy, the incredible cast and crew, and the beloved fans all deserve.”
It’s been refreshing, relatable and fun to watch Kat, Jane and Sutton lean on their friendship to navigate the complexities of modern life,” said Tara Duncan, president of Freeform. “’The Bold Type’ is a brand-defining show for Freeform. Nikohl Boosheri will also recur as fan-favorite character Adena El-Amin later in the season. A signature hit for the network, the series will celebrate Kat, Jane and Sutton’s journey in the farewell episodes set to air later this year. Today, Freeform announced that the critically acclaimed series “The Bold Type” will return for a fifth and final season.