Examples of Exceptional Conflict Resolution in Freeform’s “The Bold Type”

The most empowering thing about this damn show is everyone’s Emotional Intelligence

kelly dickinson
Aug 24, 2017 · 8 min read

The Bold Type is a fun show. It’s also a fantasy world that operates by its own internal logic. It’s a show about the staff of a magazine where the magazine does not work like a real magazine, the website does not run like a real website, the New York apartments are far too big and bewindowed, where do they get all this money, no train station is that clean, if these people work uptown why are they constantly standing in front of the Flatiron, etc. etc. etc.

But the most fantastical thing about this show is not the shoes, and it’s not the hair or the cute bathtubs.

No, it’s the conflict-resolution skills.

These people have insanely good conflict-resolution skills.

Dramedies are fueled by misunderstandings and piss-poor communications. People on TV are unrealistically disinclined to tell one another how they really feel, ever, in a way that is tactful and normal in human conversation. Obviously this is good for creating conflict, but it can get exhausting for the viewer.

The Bold Type dispenses with that. Everyone communicates well and clearly. Maybe too well and clearly? Scarlet magazine is a world where everyone on this always reasonable and nice (even Lauren and Oliver who are supposed to be kind of mean?!?!?!?!?!?)

It’s fake. And it’s lovely? Everyone listens? Everyone tries to see thing from one another’s perspective?!??!

Below, some narrative highlights.


sutton: i can tell that it bothered you that my two friends and i got too high or drunk and spent the night curled up in your bathtub at what was supposed to be a dinner party where you got to know my best friends.

richard: ah, yes, at another time in my life, that would have been a good thing, but now i am middle-aged and it is not as good a thing

sutton: i believe we have fundamentally different goals and social lives because of our age difference, and our relationship will not work but i still really like and value you as a person. let’s break up.

richard: thanks. the positive regard is mutual. i agree we should break up so let’s break up. this is difficult but it is the right thing to do

sutton: yes this is difficult but it is right


jane: *accidentally says “i love you” during shower sex*

— LATER —

jane: i wanted to talk about what happened in the shower a few minutes ago. i didn’t mean it, it just slipped out

pinstripe: oh i totally understand, things like that just slip out sometimes. no big deal

jane: that’s right


jacqueline: kat, one of your employees did something bad that was bad for the magazine. you need to remind her to be better.

kat: thank you. i have already tried one tactic to help her see the error of her ways, and it did not work, i will try another tactic.

jacqueline: yes, try another tactic.

— LATER —

jacqueline: kat it seems as if your other tactic did not work

kar: oh no, my other tactic did not work you are right.

jacqueline: i think you have to fire this person

kat: this is going to be hard for me and for her

jacqueline: i understand that this will be very hard for you to do and for her to experience but i believe that you can do it and support you.

kat: thank you for understanding how hard it will be for everyone. i will do it, and it will feel bad, but it is a necessary professional experience for both of us.

jacqueline: you are doing a great job and doing the best that you can


sutton: i am nervous about a round of layoffs at our magazine, which is called Scarlet.

jane: i, too, am nervous about a round of layoffs. also, i am unhappy with kat. kat knows more about the layoffs because she is a director and has heard more things. i wish she would tell us what is going on.

kat: hey guys! how are you?

jane: we are mad at you because you know more than we do about the round of layoffs but won’t tell us.

sutton: in summation, we are very nervous and feeling like we will lose our jobs, which we love.

kat: i appreciate that it is very hard for you. however i promised our jacqueline that i would not spread any rumors about the layoffs. please understand that this is very hard for me, too, because i love you both and support you. i know my job is safe and recognize that i am in an inherently privileged position at this time. but it kills me inside to know that my two best friends, who are so great and deserve the best, could get laid off.

jane:

sutton:

jane: we recognize that you are under a lot of stress, apologize for the outburst, and would like to emphasize that we are here to help you, as we know you just fired someone.

kat: thank you so much.


jane: pinstripe, we have been seeing eachother for a long time and i would like to let you know that i am also seeing other people because i am modern

pinstripe: thank you, as am i. seeing other people and am modern.

— LATER —

jane: pinstripe i have come to the conclusion that i am not the kind of girl who can see multiple people at once, and i understand that you are not the kind of guy who likes to limit himself to one girl. which is fine but not how i choose to live my life.

pinstripe: jane should we talk about this?

jane: i understand that we should talk about it but i don’t want to make it seem like i want to change you. you should not have to change, you are great and deserve good things that you want, and your nonmonogamous lifestyle is valid. however that nonmanogamous lifestyle is not for me at the moment! everyone deserves good things but what we want is different. i will choose to be honest right now to ameliorate future conflict and preserve goodwill between us. we should separate, it is what is best for both of us. thank you!

pinstripe: ah, okay. i understand. yes that makes sense for right now, i prefer a nonmanogamous lifestyle and you do not and an amicable breakup is a logical conclusion


lauren: sutton you are simply taking on too many things lately, some of which are outside the purview of your job, and i am angry with you

sutton: ahhhh i am sorry

lauren: sutton i am so mad

sutton: it’s just that i am trying to get a job in a different department, and i have been helping them with their projects, which has resulted in me de-emphasizing responsibilities at my current role. but i recognize that this was the wrong way to go about that. i am earnestly very sorry.

lauren: i understand your desire to move from your administrative position into a role more suited to your professional goals and will use my position in the company to help you get the job that you want. i recognize that the good work you have done as my assistant for years does not discount the mistakes you have made this week. i am stern but celebrate your many good qualities

sutton: thank you for your help

lauren: you’re welcome


kat: it’s breast health awareness week, so let’s all go topless and post about boobs on social media accounts as a way of destigmatizing and desexualizing breasts.

jane: this makes me uncomfortable

kat: why are you uncomfortable?

jane: there is no reason.

— LATER —

jacqueline: jane i would like you to write about a genetic test that helps young women determine whether they are at risk for developing breast cancer

jane: i think the test is bad because it causes unnecessary stress

jacqueline: i believe you should do additional research and then come to your conclusion although you are entitled to your opinion of course and you may be right. i believe in you as a journalist and think you will do an exceptional job with this piece and air your concerns in a responsible way.

jane: thank you *is privately stressed*

— LATER —

jane: I THINK THE GENETIC TEST IS STILL BAD IN ALL CASES. ALSO, I THINK BREEZY, CUTSIEFIED SOCIAL CAMPAIGNS ABOUT BREAST HEALTH ARE UNHELPFUL. IT IS BAD FOR THIS PUBLICATION TO ASK WOMEN TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR TRAUMA IN A PUBLIC FASHION. YOU ARE BAD, JACQUELINE.

jacqueline: please don’t shout. go home, jane.

— LATER —

jacqueline: jane i fixed this beautiful dinner for us and invited you to my home so we could talk. i understand that you are upset. i am sorry that you feel that we are trivializing your experiences. we did not intend to do so. please don’t yell in the office again. it was unprofessional. however i am interested in your input. i think you should keep an open mind about the story you are writing but i recognize that it is a complicated issue for you personally and comprehend the difficult position i unknowingly put you in. you have plenty of important insights into the genetic test and it is important for you to share them. i am also here for you emotionally although i recognize that there is an employer/employee line. please let me help you in whatever ways would be useful to you.

jane: thank you for understanding the ways past experience is informing my current behavior. i will not yell again. if i have a problem, i will address it in a more constructive way, and sooner.

— LATER —

jacqueline: kat, i believe that some of our social campaigns are stressing jane out due to trauma that she has experienced in the past. this is a mistake on my part. but i believe you should make things right with your friend personally because the relationship is important to you.

kat: i never considered the way my actions might be impacting my friend. i recognize the error of my ways and will seek to rectify this immediately. thank you for pointing this out.

jacqueline: i hold you and everyone in this magazine to high regard

kat: the feeling is mutual.

— LATER —

kat: i am sorry, jane. please let us support you in any way we can.

jane: thank you! i am going to go get genetic-testing for a story because my doctor recommended it and i have a family history of breast cancer. although i still believe that the genetic test is not right for everyone, it is right for me and people in my particular position.

kat: great. sutton and i will go with you and provide emotional support.

sutton: we are all very supportive of one another as a rule.

jane: that seems excellent. i love you both. you are my best friends.

kat: the feeling is mutual.

)

kelly dickinson

Written by

friend to small creatures. @kickinson on twitter.

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