TV Shows Similar To The Bold Type With Deeper Themes

Last Updated: Written by Dr. Carolina Mello Dias
tv shows similar to the bold type with deeper themes
tv shows similar to the bold type with deeper themes
Table of Contents

TV shows similar to The Bold Type: fresh voices emerge

If you loved The Bold Type for its portrayal of female friendship, career ambition, and social justice, the best shows similar to it are Good Trouble, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Younger, Grown-ish, and Emily in Paris-all of which feature young women navigating professional and personal growth in major cities.

Why These Shows Resonate with The Bold Type Fans

The Bold Type premiered on Freeform in 2017 and concluded its five-season run in 2021, running for 46 episodes total. Inspired by Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles' life, the series centered on three best friends-Kat, Jane, and Sutton-working at Scarlet magazine while tackling identity, friendship, and heartbreak. Shows like The Bold Type share its female friendship core, workplace dynamics, and themes of self-discovery.

Top 10 TV Shows Similar to The Bold Type

Show TitleYearsStreaming PlatformKey Similarity
Good Trouble2019-presentHulu, Disney+Friendship + career in LA
The Sex Lives of College Girls2021-presentMaxDiverse friend group + LGBTQ+ lead
Younger2015-2021Hulu, Paramount+Publishing industry + light tone
Grown-ish2018-presentHulu, Disney+Freeform sibling + fashion ambitions
Emily in Paris2020-presentNetflixYoung professional in major city
Insecure2016-2021Netflix, MaxCareer + friendship with mature lens
Ugly Betty2006-2010Hulu, Disney+Fashion magazine workplace setting
Never Have I Ever2020-2023NetflixGrief, mental health, relationships
Sex and the City1996-2004MaxFemale friendship + NYC fashion
Broad City2014-2019Hulu, Paramount+Co-dependent best friends in NYC

1. Good Trouble: The Fosters Spin-Off with Career Focus

Good Trouble follows siblings Callie and Mariana as they move to Los Angeles to launch their careers, exploring friendship, dating, and adulthood challenges common to people in their 20s. Like The Bold Type, it emphasizes friendship dynamics while characters navigate a major city, making it the closest tonal match. All episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+.

2. The Sex Lives of College Girls: Diverse Friend Group at Elite College

This show features four college students-Kimberly, Bella, Leighton, and Whitney-adjusting to life away from home while exploring romantic and sexual relationships. Both series feature an LGBTQ+ main character (Kat in The Bold Type, Leighton here) and center on a core friend group with different backgrounds. It's available on Max and ITVX.

3. Younger: Publishing Industry with Light-Hearted Tone

Starring Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff, Younger follows a 40-year-old divorced woman who lies about her age to work at a publishing house, where she meets Kelsey. Both shows deal with modern writing and publishing aspects while maintaining a light-hearted, escapist tone. Stream it on Hulu and Paramount+.

4. Grown-ish: Freeform Sibling with Fashion Ambitions

Grown-ish is a Black-ish spin-off airing on Freeform-the same network as The Bold Type-following Zoey and Junior as they leave home for college. Like Sutton in The Bold Type, Zoey dreams of making it in the fashion world, and both shows target the same age demographic with similar tones. Available on Hulu and Disney+.

5. Emily in Paris: Young Professional in Major City

Marketing professional Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) moves to Paris for work, acclimating to culture while navigating her love life. The primary plot centers on a young professional figuring out adulthood in a major city, with Emily's memorable wardrobe mirroring The Bold Type's fashion. All episodes stream on Netflix.

tv shows similar to the bold type with deeper themes
tv shows similar to the bold type with deeper themes

How to Choose Your Next Watch

  1. Prioritize Good Trouble if you want the closest friendship + career dynamic in a major city
  2. Choose The Sex Lives of College Girls for diverse representation and LGBTQ+ storytelling
  3. Select Younger if publishing industry workplace drama appeals most
  4. Watch Grown-ish for Freeform's signature tone and fashion ambitions
  5. Pick Emily in Paris for escapist fashion + city life without heavy drama

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Themes Across Similar Shows

  • Female friendship as the central narrative driver
  • Professional growth in competitive industries like publishing, fashion, and marketing
  • Social justice and identity exploration through personal stories
  • Urban settings (New York, Los Angeles, Paris) providing aspirational backdrops
  • LGBTQ+ representation with authentic character development

These shows collectively represent fresh voices emerging in television drama, continuing The Bold Type's legacy of depicting millennial and Gen-Z women navigating complex personal and professional landscapes.

Expert answers to Tv Shows Similar To The Bold Type With Deeper Themes queries

What shows are most like The Bold Type?

Good Trouble, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Younger, Grown-ish, and Emily in Paris are the top five shows most similar to The Bold Type, sharing themes of female friendship, career ambition, and urban life.

Where can I stream The Bold Type?

All four seasons of The Bold Type are available on Hulu and Paramount+ in the US, while the UK can stream all seasons on BBC iPlayer.

How many seasons does The Bold Type have?

The Bold Type ran for 5 seasons with 46 total episodes, premiering in 2017 and concluding in 2021.

Is The Bold Type based on a true story?

The Bold Type is inspired by the life of Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, though the characters and specific storylines are fictional.

What other Freeform shows are similar to The Bold Type?

Grown-ish is the closest match since it also aired on Freeform and shares the same target demographic, tone, and story arcs about young adults navigating early career stages.

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Education Analyst

Dr. Carolina Mello Dias

Dr. Carolina Mello Dias holds a Ph.D. in Education Leadership from the University of São Paulo, with a concentration in Catholic and Marist pedagogy.

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