Why did DYNASTY writing go bad?

[Zara]

Joan Collins also said in her autobiography that at some point (mid season 7 obviously) the network wanted the show to be less glamourous, to be more like "Knots Landing" and "Roseanne". Joan stated it was a stupid move, like trading caviar with pâté (something like that).

(Tremendously stupid move. Dynasty's soul was completly different.)

Ah, that explain Blake's old and ugly clothes, and Krystle's and Blake's growing much duller love story and that stupid sick kid. B&K were themselves again the six episodes of season 9.

But why didn't they go with the avalanche- and Krystle's dizziness-story? I would have loved to see that. Do any of you guys know season 7 as it was first shaped, in detail, what would happen with the avalanche, K and everything else?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Oh, I'm sure Spelling nixed the avalanche cliffhanger due to "budget."

 

[Zara]

As for season 7, I do remember some articles about both Dallas and Dynasty toning down the nastiness as a result of the changing cultural climate and what not.

That is odd.

What (nastiness) were Dynasty and Dallas planing to show, mass murder on children or incest victims speaking out?

I can't see it would be so bad it would disturb the whole culture of a country.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

That is odd.

What (nastiness) were Dynasty and Dallas planing to show, mass murder on children or incest victims speaking out?

I can't see it would be so bad it would disturb the whole culture of a country.

Family sitcoms had surged.

DALLAS didn't really do it, but DYNASTY's characters became insipidly humanized, and it wasn't an improvement.

 

[Michael Torrance]

(Tremendously stupid move. Dynasty's soul was completly different.)

Ah, that explain Blake's old and ugly clothes, and Krystle's and Blake's growing much duller love story and that stupid sick kid. B&K were themselves again the six episodes of season 9.

But why didn't they go with the avalanche- and Krystle's dizziness-story? I would have loved to see that. Do any of you guys know season 7 as it was first shaped, in detail, what would happen with the avalanche, K and everything else?

I asked and got a lot of answers from people who had kept track of the press clippings from the time in this thread
http://soapchat.net/threads/why-did-dynasty-need-to-be-saved-in-season-6-but-not-season-7.5473/

 

[GillesDenver]

The avalanche was not in the bible for season 7, I don't know where this comes from. Maybe from a tabloid.

 

[GillesDenver]

Instead of taking a sublet in Denver (what a ridiculous place to "hide"), Sarah should have brought Krystina to a secluded cabin in the mountains. Krystle would have found them but just after she had entered the cabin, a avalanche would have occured. That could have been a nice cliffhanger (maybe not for the season but a least for an episode, like when Blake and Daniel crashed in season 5).

 

[Michael Torrance]

According to @Gabriel Maxwell

- Alexis & Ben were supposed to marry to avoid testifying against each other once Blake was about to expose their crimes
- Dex and Caress were going to uncover Ben's sordid past in Australia, more along the lines promised in the season opener
- Ben was (instead of McVane) going to learn Adam really was Michael Torrence and blackmail him into helping him fight Alexis
- Krystle would've been diagnosed with tumor earlier (hence the headache & doctor's visit in 7A)
- a nurse hired to take care of her would've been Alexis' spy (we never really had a compromised member of the Carrington staff)
- we would've learned how Michael Cullhane (who'd marry Amanda) became rich and see the return of season 2 mobsters, etc.

Had they allowed the intended storylines to continue, some of the flaws of 7A would've in turn looked better in retrospect, for instance, the pointless return of Michael Cullhane, which would've taken front seat in the season-ending cliffhanger with assassination attempt at the car taking Blake, Amanda & Michael to an event.

According to this, the hasty resolution of Alexis' reign at the mansion would not have happened, same as the bizarre conclusion with Emily, nor would the exodus of Caress. It sounds like a case where a retool was NOT needed, and what they ended up giving us was lousy.

 

[thomaswak]

Dynasty, the saga that was supposed to be...

 

[Michael Torrance]

Dynasty, the saga that was supposed to be...

And after all these years of discussing how it could be done superbly if there were another chance, Esther Shapiro gets another chance, and gives her blessing to the Gillieathon...

 

[TJames03]

The avalanche was not in the bible for season 7, I don't know where this comes from. Maybe from a tabloid.

Lol! Yeah, an avalanche on a show that never showed snow one time....

 

[GillesDenver]

According to @Gabriel Maxwell
According to this, the hasty resolution of Alexis' reign at the mansion would not have happened, same as the bizarre conclusion with Emily, nor would the exodus of Caress. It sounds like a case where a retool was NOT needed, and what they ended up giving us was lousy.

No :

Alexis was to leave the mansion. But after she came to the Carlton, Ben sent Emily's letter (how could he get a copy ??) to the DA, thus forcing Alewis to marry him.
Emily was supposed to suicide.
Caress was killed by Ben.

But yes, contrary to season 6 which needed a retool (the original bible was lame), season 7 should have been kept how it was originally conceived, at least the 2nd part (it's the 1st part who got issues).

 

[thomaswak]

And after all these years of discussing how it could be done superbly if there were another chance, Esther Shapiro gets another chance, and gives her blessing to the Gillieathon...

I think she just gave the blessing to the regular paycheck it gives her lol

Anyway, you're right. It's sad... On some levels, Dynasty is a non self-aware tragedy.

 

[Michael Torrance]

Lol! Yeah, an avalanche on a show that never showed snow one time....

Then how did Dex and Amanda stay in that cabin because of all that snow in "Swept Away?"

 

[Michael Torrance]

I think she just gave the blessing to the regular paycheck it gives her lol

I did not want her to be some idealist who does not care for money. But it is possible to care for your work and seek to make money in the field. Look at Steven Bochco in the 80s. Or really, look at David Jacobs.
Based on how superb season 1 of DYNASTY was, I never would have guessed the mess it would end up being. More than that, that its creator would not care.

 

[thomaswak]

I did not want her to be some idealist who does not care for money. But it is possible to care for your work and seek to make money in the field. Look at Steven Bochco in the 80s. Or really, look at David Jacobs.
Based on how superb season 1 of DYNASTY was, I never would have guessed the mess it would end up being. More than that, that its creator would not care.

Having money is sure great. And you don't have ton consume your soul to get some (I hope lol) but it seems Esther cared more about fame, money and merchandising than the show itself.

I agree, David Jacobs was the right balance between money and quality. Especially with Knots Landing imo.

 

[Zara]

No :

Alexis was to leave the mansion. But after she came to the Carlton, Ben sent Emily's letter (how could he get a copy ??) to the DA, thus forcing Alewis to marry him.
Emily was supposed to suicide.
Caress was killed by Ben.

But yes, contrary to season 6 which needed a retool (the original bible was lame), season 7 should have been kept how it was originally conceived, at least the 2nd part (it's the 1st part who got issues).

Was A Love Remembered in the season 7 original bible?

What was the OB for season 6?

 

[GillesDenver]

Was A Love Remembered in the season 7 original bible?

No, it wasn't.

What was the OB for season 6?

Krystle coping with depression and Sammy Jo trying to destituate her as her executrix.
Amanda accidentally shooting Michael (he would survive) and being trialed for that.
Adam getting Denver-Carrington with the power of attorney but in the cliffhanger we were supposed to meet the real Adam !
Steven taking an apartment with Bart until Adam destroyed their relationship by letting Bart think that Steven double-crossed him.

 

[Zara]

No, it wasn't.


Krystle coping with depression and Sammy Jo trying to destituate her as her executrix.
Amanda accidentally shooting Michael (he would survive) and being trialed for that.
Adam getting Denver-Carrington with the power of attorney but in the cliffhanger we were supposed to meet the real Adam !
Steven taking an apartment with Bart until Adam destroyed their relationship by letting Bart think that Steven double-crossed him.

Depression about what?

 

[GillesDenver]

Because Rita replaced her in the mansion. Remember the scene in which Krystle threw away the clothes of her cupboard in front of Steven because Rita worn them ? We were supposed to see more scenes like that.