Parents' Guide to The Bold Type

In a medium where young women are too often gossipy girls or pretty little liars, it's refreshing to see deeper characters in a (still soapy!) workplace drama. The Bold Type's Jane, Sutton, and Kat are presented to viewers as a sort of teen-friendly take on the ensemble of female friends most famously typified by the Sex and the City gang, though their characterizations are subtle and skillful enough that the characters don't break down easily into stereotypes (e.g., "the smart one," "the sexy one"). Each woman is working her way up the publishing ladder while at the same time dealing with romantic attachments. But what's notable about The Bold Type is that the romantic entanglements are only part of these women's lives, not the end-all, be-all. There's just as much drama in Jane pitching a story idea at a meeting as in the moment when she runs into her ex. The series also delves into deeper topics, like breast cancer, miscarriages, and abusive women in the workplace. Like real women, these characters lead full, rich, and complicated lives and are constantly learning.

It's good stuff, despite the fact that Hardin's Jacqueline seems to have been cast as a sort of unrealistically Willy Wonka-esque mentor to her employees. Memo to young people: Your boss may very well assign you work and then check up on your progress. But it's unlikely she'll put off a call from Beyoncé to check in on how your breakup is going. Since this series was inspired (and executive-produced) by Joanna Coles, based on her time as editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, it's not surprising that the boss is painted in such glowing tones, but it does detract from the fun. A Devil Wears Prada-style boss may be a bit of a cliché, but without any antagonism, the antics of our three heroes lose a bit of excitement. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable watch.