The scene that destroyed Krystle (Seasons 3, 4, 5 & 6)

[Snarky Oracle!]

In my last few re-watches, Linda Evans' acting doesn't really bother me until early in Season 5 -- perhaps because Krystle is becoming increasingly irrational, and the actress probably realizes it.

Y'know ... pregnancy.

The scene-concluding expression on her face after her "(I'm becoming) a problem?!" exchange with Blake is identical to the expression she has after Blake cancels their honeymoon in Hawaii because "It's not going to take 90 days!" two years earlier.

Krystle's A-V malformation is on the move.

It's been said before that better writing makes for better acting. And when you combine S.A.D. with the non-sequiturs that exist in every other line of DYNASTY dialogue, no wonder the cast had such problems (and began getting jeers & jokes from the press around this time). And, in particular, Krystle -- whom TVGUIDE was calling "a flimsy character" by Season 5 -- is beginning to suffer: her conflicts with Blake are increasingly stupid and contrived (and it's not always his fault, like it used to be). So Linda's thespian response is to play Krystle squeakier and squeakier because the role is getting dumber and dumber. (She seems to self-correct later in the year, presumably due to criticism).

And nice characters are the hardest to write for, especially given Eileen Pollock's contempt for the role and the actress herself. (One assumes that lines like, "You're boring!" and she's-only-beautiful "when she smiles" and "You're the most dangerous Carrington of them all!" and "You're arrogant!" are coming, directly or indirectly, from Madame Pollock). Eillen even tried to later blame Linda in the press for the highly-touted mid-Season 6 shutdown and retooling by sniping in that "some people (Linda) think of DYNASTY as a part-time job!" while the Pollocks themselves had to be called-back to Hollywood while they were obliviously splashing their feet on some mid-year Mediterranean vacation as the series' ratings were collapsing and the media were crowing about it.

Linda should have had the dirty bitch fired before re-signing her own contract in 1986 (something Forsythe had to talk Evans into doing to begin with).

Anyhoo.... Nicole Simpson (not O.J.'s ex-wife) shows up, and I wonder if she should have later stalked Jeff to Moldavia so she could wind up part of the measly body count... I mean, my god, kill somebody!!

Luke Fuller has arrived and is inexplicably drawn to the vile Stevenbot -- so Luke's motive must be cynically ambitious. And Claudia catches Luke fixing Steven's tie only three seconds after the two gayboys meet... Luke Fuller is precious enough, his greasy hair ghastly, but perhaps a black boyfriend for Steven might've been nice --- although ABC would never permit it in 1984. (But then, I wanted Michael Culhane to be African-American, too).

And the script is now pushing Blake & Alexis' break-up back from 1964/1965 one more year to 1963 -- foolishly suggesting that their brief attempt at a reconciliation (after his catching her with Roger Grimes) went on for several months (instead of one volatile July weekend before it all, quite predictably, fell apart). They now have the reconciliation ending in October 1963.

In my world, Blake caught Alexis with Roger in late-May/early-June 1964, around Steven's seventh birthday, the short-lived reconciliation was two nights in July, and the divorce was finalized in January 1965, thus rationalizing the "sixteen year" scenario referred to in Season 2.

But this is a show which just told us only weeks apart that Blake & Alexis were married for seven years and nine years. With no jokes about Alexis lying about her age.

And, not to be prim, but they should have had Amanda sleep with Dex before the two lovers knew who the other one was. Then, by the next season, Amanda sleeps with her father-in-law, King Galen, just to keep the pattern of "sloppy boundaries" going.

 

[Ked]

And nice characters are the hardest to write for, especially given Eileen Pollock's contempt for the role and the actress herself.

I always look to characters like Melanie Hamilton from "Gone with the Wind" and Sybil from "Downton Abbey" for nice characters who are actually interesting. For all their kindness, they were also spirited and brave, willing to stand up for what they believed in and for who they loved, not afraid to make waves if it meant achieving the greater good, even if it meant butting heads with friends and family. And even though they both came from wealthy backgrounds, they were also humble and willing to work with their hands and do menial jobs. Status didn't matter to them.

That should have been Krystle.

Linda should have had the dirty bitch fired before re-signing her own contract in 1986 (something Forsythe had to talk Evans into doing to begin with).

Heh, probably... except somehow, I get the impression Linda is too a nice a person to have done that.

Anyhoo.... Nicole Simpson (not O.J.'s ex-wife) shows up, and I wonder if she should have later stalked Jeff to Moldavia so she could wind up part of the measly body count... I mean, my god, kill somebody!!

I go back and forth on whether I'd have Nicole in my own rewrite or not, but yes, I agree, her main purpose is to up the body count for the massacre. Other people I always/often kill:

-King Galen (hence why I object to him being played by Ricardo Montalban; the guy needs to be Zach Powers so he can stick around to screw with everybody's lives )
-Prince Michael (sometimes I let him live, if there's something actually interesting in Season 6 for him to do, but ultimately, he's more often got his head on the chopping block)
-Yuri
-Brady Lloyd
-Daniel Reece
-Lady Ashley
-Rosalind and her husband

I prefer to keep Luke alive, but he ends up wheelchair-bound for the rest of the series. While they're still being held captive, Blake would tell Luke that he's apart of the family now, and that he's coming home with them, finalizing the Carrington patriarch's reconciliation with Steven (which should not have happened in Season 4, but here in the Season 6 premiere, making the journey more gradual and more organic).

Steven could still end up having an emotional affair with Bart/Fox Fallmont, although that would be a case of Steven and Luke being unable to be intimate thanks to his injuries. Plus, Steven keeps himself in check for the most part, and what goes on between him and Bart/Fox is exaggerated by Adam's lies/manipulations.

(But then, I wanted Michael Culhane to be African-American, too).

Before or after you saw it happen on NuDynasty?

And the script is now pushing Blake & Alexis' break-up back from 1964/1965 one more year to 1963 -- foolishly suggesting that their brief attempt at a reconciliation (after his catching her with Roger Grimes) went on for several months (instead of one volatile July weekend before it all, quite predictably, fell apart). They now have the reconciliation ending in October 1963.

In my world, Blake caught Alexis with Roger in late-May/early-June 1964, around Steven's seventh birthday, the short-lived reconciliation was two nights in July, and the divorce was finalized in January 1965, thus rationalizing the "sixteen year" scenario referred to in Season 2.

Honestly, it would have been so simple for Blake to recall that he had sex with Alexis the very night before he left for that trip. He could have returned the very next day to discover his wife in bed with Roger (thanks to a tip off from Caress), so that Alexis really could have had no clue as to which man was Amanda's father. I still would have kept in the ski instructor, just to up the numbers, cuz why not?

Ultimately, I would have Alexis insist that Roger Grimes is Amanda's father, foreshadowing certain details in Season 9 (her belief that she and Roger were very much in love, thus why she was so intent on proving Blake murdered him). But a simple DNA test like what happened in Season 2 would prove that Blake is Amanda's father - there just needs to be that many connections between him and Alexis, showing just how difficult, if not impossible, it is for them to separate.

With no jokes about Alexis lying about her age.

They never even acknowledged that Alexis was a grandmother! She was always referring to her grandchildren as "Steven's child" or "Fallon's child." And the kids themselves never called her Grandma, always addressing her by her first name. And none of the characters, not even Sammy Jo, made fun of this fact.

And, not to be prim, but they should have had Amanda sleep with Dex before the two lovers knew who the other one was. Then, by the next season, Amanda sleeps with her father-in-law, King Galen, just to keep the pattern of "sloppy boundaries" going.

I already would have had that be the case with Dex and Fallon. Pamela Sue Martin stated in an interview that she would have loved to have had Michael Nader playing her boyfriend, so I would have had Dex arrive on the scene, cross paths with Fallon, and the two have themselves an anonymous one night stand before parting ways... and then Fallon gets to smirk once she realizes she got to bed Dex before her mother did, while Dex himself gets to sweat a little.

I'm not sure if I'd have Alexis ever find this out, though. I kinda like the idea that this incident became one of those secrets that actually managed to remain a secret.

Also, your idea for Galen and Amanda makes me want him to die in the massacre even more! That ugly old man has no business sleeping with his exquisitely beautiful daughter-in-law! I don't care how "sloppy" Amanda is!

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I always look to characters like Melanie Hamilton from "Gone with the Wind" and Sybil from "Downton Abbey" for nice characters who are actually interesting. For all their kindness, they were also spirited and brave, willing to stand up for what they believed in and for who they loved, not afraid to make waves if it meant achieving the greater good, even if it meant butting heads with friends and family. And even though they both came from wealthy backgrounds, they were also humble and willing to work with their hands and do menial jobs. Status didn't matter to them.

That should have been Krystle.

See, Krystle was like that in the first couple of years: sensitive, vulnerable, with a certain toughness.

But that sure changed... thanks, I'm guessing, to "Mike". But perhaps I'm too harsh.... The way Linda began playing it had something to do with it, too.

At least Paulsen explained it retroactively in Season 9. So I was finally able to relax after 6 years and defecate properly.

Heh, probably... except somehow, I get the impression Linda is too a nice a person to have done that.

Yep.

I prefer to keep Luke alive, but he ends up wheelchair-bound for the rest of the series.

But Daniel was barely alive for the months he was on DYNASTY -- and it entirely work.

Before or after you saw it happen on NuDynasty?

What's that? Was that a show??

Ultimately, I would have Alexis insist that Roger Grimes is Amanda's father

Gosh, didn't they? I'm not that far into my Season 5 re-watch, and I just assume they did that...!

But then, I still remember seeing "Episode IV, A New Hope" at the beginning of the crawl when I first saw STAR WARS in the theatre in 1977, and my movie partner and I discussed it when we were sitting there... Decades later, I was told this never happened because it was supposedly added years later.

So, y'know, False Memory Syndrome... maybe.

They never even acknowledged that Alexis was a grandmother! She was always referring to her grandchildren as "Steven's child" or "Fallon's child." And the kids themselves never called her Grandma, always addressing her by her first name. And none of the characters, not even Sammy Jo, made fun of this fact.

That was by Collins' decree. She never wanted to be referred to, on screen or off, as a "grandmother."

It's not that Joan is actually all that nuts, by nature. Joan just wants you to think she's nuts because A Diva would be.

Also, your idea for Galen and Amanda makes me want him to die in the massacre even more! That ugly old man has no business sleeping with his exquisitely beautiful daughter-in-law! I don't care how "sloppy" Amanda is!

Although, in my world, the King is conflated with Zach Powers and played by muscle-y Ricardo Montalban.

 

[Ked]

See, Krystle was like that in the first couple of years: sensitive, vulnerable, with a certain toughness.

But that sure changed... thanks, I'm guessing, to "Mike". But perhaps I'm too harsh.... The way Linda began playing it had something to do with it, too.

At least Paulsen explained it retroactively in Season 9. So I was finally able to relax after 6 years and defecate properly.

True on all accounts. Sigh, if only Krystle/Linda had somebody powerful and attentive in her corner the whole time...

But Daniel was barely alive for the months he was on DYNASTY -- and it entirely work.

Umm... huh? Y'know what, never mind.

What's that? Was that a show??

It was a travesty!!!!

Gosh, didn't they? I'm not that far into my Season 5 re-watch, and I just assume they did that...!

But then, I still remember seeing "Episode IV, A New Hope" at the beginning of the crawl when I first saw STAR WARS in the theatre in 1977, and my movie partner and I discussed it when we were sitting there... Decades later, I was told this never happened because it was supposedly added years later.

So, y'know, False Memory Syndrome... maybe.

My childhood is filled with FMS (False Memory Syndrome), if that's the right term. XD Heck, it's even happened a few times to me in adulthood.

That was by Collins' decree. She never wanted to be referred to, on screen or off, as a "grandmother."

It's not that Joan is actually all that nuts, by nature. Joan just wants you to think she's nuts because A Diva would be.

...I don't know, to me, that's what makes her nuts/"A Diva" in the first place.

Although, in my world, the King is conflated with Zach Powers and played by muscle-y Ricardo Montalban.

I know. I still prefer Galen and Zach to be separate characters. Let the king die in the massacre, and let Zach go on to seduce Jason Colby's wife and be the man whose wife Caress supposedly killed. x3

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

...I don't know, to me, that's what makes her nuts/"A Diva" in the first place.

No, no, it's imperative that we understand Joan Collins' faux-diva psychology.

Gordon Thomson once said that Joan (who claims Linda & John and everybody else were "jealous" of her) was projecting her own jealousy onto others, particularly Linda, because Linda was so effortlessly popular on the set with cast and crew, while persnickety Joan was less so (although Joan had the J.J.s safely in her corner).

But what even Gordon doesn't quite understand about Joan, despite having worked with her for years, is that even Joan's projected jealousy is an affectation: Alexis would be jealous of Krystle and her popularity, so Joan's "jealousy" is performative in nature -- even its projection onto others. She doesn't really feel it quite in the way she pretends.

Joan is insecure, yes, but not exactly in the way we tend to think. It's all a game and she thinks she's mastered it. (And perhaps she has!)

We've got to understand it -- we've just got to!

I know. I still prefer Galen and Zach to be separate characters. Let the king die in the massacre, and let Zach go on to seduce Jason Colby's wife and be the man whose wife Caress supposedly killed. x3

We must know when to consolidate -- especially with a series that has a cast of dozens. As much as some of us like the idea of combining Frankie and Lady Ashley (if possible), Galen & Zach are tailor-made for it: once Alexis divorces the king (after two or three episodes on the throne and a reverse-reverse coup d'etat) he heads towards Los Angeles to renew his old romance with Sable!



"Oooooooooh, King Zacharrrrrrrrrry ------ your scepter is as regal as evvvvvvvverrrrrrrr....!"

 

[GillesDenver]

I like the idea of combining Francesca and Ashley but not Galen and Zach (or Daniel and Brady).

Just like I do agree with the idea of Karen Cellini playing a Fallmont but not Emma Samms (who should be a Colby).

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I like the idea of combining Francesca and Ashley but not Galen and Zach (or Daniel and Brady).

Just out of curiosity, could you explain why, or why not?

 

[GillesDenver]

Just out of curiosity, could you explain why, or why not?

Of course.

I think replacing Ashley by Francesca would have given more impact on Francesca on the show's history. Also, Katharine Ross was slightly better than Ali McGraw and I can imagine her with John Forysthe.

I like both Billy De Williams and Rock Hudson and I can't imagine having just one of them.

And while I don't care much about Joel Fabiani's casting, I can't see how King Galen would have fit in "The Colbys". Both characters' background are too much different to be combined.
Too me, it's like combining Nick Toscanni and Mark Jennings. I can't see how it would work.

 

[Ked]

Of course.

I think replacing Ashley by Francesca would have given more impact on Francesca on the show's history. Also, Katharine Ross was slightly better than Ali McGraw and I can imagine her with John Forysthe.

I like both Billy De Williams and Rock Hudson and I can't imagine having just one of them.

And while I don't care much about Joel Fabiani's casting, I can't see how King Galen would have fit in "The Colbys". Both characters' background are too much different to be combined.
Too me, it's like combining Nick Toscanni and Mark Jennings. I can't see how it would work.

Yeah, you summed it all up. The characters of Ashley and Francesca were already pretty generic and vague with similar backgrounds: beautiful women who married much older and much richer men, and are now living off of their dead husbands' wealth. Plus, nobody likes the romance between Jeff and Ashley, so we'd be replacing that with Jeff reconnecting with his mother. This would also have the benefit of making Frankie (whom I would rename "Helen") more sympathetic, in that she took the time to get to know her son and comfort him during the most difficult time of his life. Yet, ironically, if Francesca also goes after Blake, it would also serve as foreshadowing that she has no qualms in going after married men...

Interestingly, I would have postponed Blake and Krystle getting remarried, so that in Season 5, they're both still single, and therefore would be kinda-sorta justified in seeing other people for a while. Which would keep Frankie/Helen sympathetic-ish.

Heh, and considering how much Blake always considered Jeff more of a son than his own sons, it would be a fun spin if Jeff actually supported Blake and his mother marrying. Adam and Steven would take issue with this, naturally, albeit for their own reasons.

Plus, the original plan was for Alexis to be intimidated by Lady Ashley and worried about her marrying Blake. That could easily be accomplished with Francesca, seeing as how Frankie married into the Colby family first and produced the first grandson, and her second husband was also a very powerful and connected man. If Blake married such a woman, that would mean trouble for Alexis.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Helen??

 

[Ked]

Helen??

As a reference to Helen of Troy, a woman so beautiful that a decade-long war was fought over her, resulting in the destruction of the once great and wealthy city of Troy to fall. How fitting a name would that be for the woman who played such a pivotal role in the House of Colby to fall?

After all, Jason Colby shares the name of the Greek hero who married Medea, the powerful sorceress who ensured his victory across many battles, only to cheat on her with a random mortal princess because it suddenly suited his desire to become a king. The end result was Jason losing EVERYTHING (his wife, his lover, his chance at being royalty, his children, his favor with the gods, his friends, his reputation, his honor), and dying alone after being crushed by the crumbling remains of his ship while sleeping.

How fitting would it be for Jason Colby to share a similar fate: he cheats on his wife, which causes a chain reaction so that he too loses everything from his wealth to his children to his reputation, and dies before anything can possibly turn around for him.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

As a reference to Helen of Troy, a woman so beautiful that a decade-long war was fought over her, resulting in the destruction of the once great and wealthy city of Troy to fall. How fitting a name would that be for the woman who played such a pivotal role in the House of Colby to fall?

After all, Jason Colby shares the name of the Greek hero who married Medea, the powerful sorceress who ensured his victory across many battles, only to cheat on her with a random mortal princess because it suddenly suited his desire to become a king. The end result was Jason losing EVERYTHING (his wife, his lover, his chance at being royalty, his children, his favor with the gods, his friends, his reputation, his honor), and dying alone after being crushed by the crumbling remains of his ship while sleeping.

How fitting would it be for Jason Colby to share a similar fate: he cheats on his wife, which causes a chain reaction so that he too loses everything from his wealth to his children to his reputation, and dies before anything can possibly turn around for him.

Good idea. Then why not call her "Troy"?

It's much more unique than Helen, a pretty but routine name -- and names were supposedly so important on DYNASTY/THE COLBYS.

Eileen "Mike" Pollock liked to give girls & women names usually given to boys: Sammy Jo, Alexis, etc... (Barring that, jewels and furs -- and, if anything, they didn't do that enough).

Hence, Francesca/Frankie. But "Troy" is braver than "Helen".

I've always wanted Constance (too associated with PEYTON PLACE) to be named Fredricka/"Freddie" or Rubenstein/"Ruby" (Stanwyck's real first name).

Don't we have a thread about name changes we'd like for the characters? I want Bart to be "Fox," Jackie to be "Jade," and so forth.

 

[GillesDenver]

Bast and Hudson's first choice for Francesca was "Anthea". I don't know why it was changed.
Miles was also called "Max" in the beginnings.
Constance and Jason were called "Grant" and "Victoria" at some point.

 

[Ked]

Bast and Hudson's first choice for Francesca was "Anthea". I don't know why it was changed.

"Anthea" was an epithet for Hera, the Queen of the Greek gods who was all about marriage and protection of women... which would have made it all the more ironic, considering the characters' actions. My guess is that they changed it because "Anthea" could be shortened to "Annie", and that would have been terrible for a show like this. But that's only a guess. I could be way off base.

Miles was also called "Max" in the beginnings.

I suppose they changed it because of the casting of Maxwell Caulfield. Interestingly, the name "Maxwell" probably would have worked better, as that sounds much more fancy that "Miles," even if I don't really have a problem with the name. "Maxwell" does sound a bit more butch than "Miles."

Constance and Jason were called "Grant" and "Victoria" at some point.

I'm glad they didn't go with "Grant", as that sounds too bookish and geeky - unless it's Cary Grant we're talking about. But obviously, they thought "Victoria" was too obvious a reference to "The Big Valley."

Good idea.

Thanks.

Then why not call her "Troy"?

No.

It's much more unique than Helen, a pretty but routine name -- and names were supposedly so important on DYNASTY/THE COLBYS.

1. I don't like the name for the character.
2. The fact that "Helen" is, as you put it, a pretty but routine name, is the point - it suits the character, who was beautiful but also basic.
3. The name "Helen" would still be important, as it would be a blatant tipoff for what's to become of the Colby Empire thanks to her.
4. Katharine Ross looks like a "Helen."
5. Jackie Deveraux's actress is already named Troy Beyer, and since I want Jackie to become Miles' wife, I don't want there to be any confusion.

Eileen "Mike" Pollock liked to give girls & women names usually given to boys: Sammy Jo, Alexis, etc... (Barring that, jewels and furs -- and, if anything, they didn't do that enough).

Hence, Francesca/Frankie. But "Troy" is braver than "Helen".

Yes, but for the most part, those "boy" names suited the female characters:

"Alexis" has a fancy-ness to it, and it comes off as playful and mischievous, which is perfect for a scheming temptress;
"Sammy Jo" sounds kind of like a hick name, which is perfect for a trailer trash tramp;
"Fallon" sounds unique and upper-class, perfect for a Daddy's Girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

But there were other times where it didn't work:

"Kirby" just sounds... bleah. I mean, come on, who here associates that name with that little round pink video game character? A name like "Victoria" (which was the name of her sister in Season 8) would have been better, as that's what she was trying to be: a victor. Heck, that could have been part of why Adam became so obsessed with her: he saw her as a victory.

The only way I can see the name "Frankie" working is if the character is like Sammy Jo, a young hot babe in shorty shorts. But she's supposed to be a high grand lady with wealth and connections, who's so beautiful and charming and popular that she can send a redheaded goddess like Sable Colby into a jealous snit. I just can't take all that seriously when she's touting the name "Frankie."

I've always wanted Constance (too associated with PEYTON PLACE) to be named Fredricka/"Freddie" or Rubenstein/"Ruby" (Stanwyck's real first name).

Don't we have a thread about name changes we'd like for the characters? I want Bart to be "Fox," Jackie to be "Jade," and so forth.

I'll agree to "Ruby", as we needed more jewel names. I wouldn't want "Freddie" for the same reasons I don't want "Frankie."

I have also always liked your alternate name "Fox" for Bart Fallmont, and "Jade" would certainly work for Jackie Deveraux. Matter of fact, I like imagining Maxwell Caulfield saying that name, "Jade" in his scenes with her.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I like both Billy De Williams and Rock Hudson and I can't imagine having just one of them.

I liked them both on DYNASTY, too, actually. Hudson's infamous descent healthwise wouldn't have received the publicity -- perhaps no publicity at all -- had he not appeared on this iconic '80s show in his last role. So, historically and politically, it was important.

But the guy was so decrepit due to his viral condition, that it barely worked: he was just too ill.

In contrast, we needed more of Billy Dee Williams. And he left the show because they wouldn't upgrade his salary, so he went to do a short-lived action series on another network (where, presumably, they paid him his worth). But Williams and Diahann Carroll were so good together -- suave and innately starlike inside this nervous, weirdly insecure TV series -- that his exit felt to me, at the time, quietly disastrous.

So, if I could change anything, I wouldn't get really get rid of Rock Hudson; I'd just keep Billy Dee Williams around, and find a way to pay him. (I like the idea of bringing him back midway through Season 6, whereupon he remarries Dominique who inherits his empire after he succumbs to the La Mirage fire... or have him survive and stay through Season 7... But the show had become so injured and limping by this point, keeping somebody as cinematically significant as Williams just seemed impossible, like getting Charlton Heston back was impossible.

 

[Ked]

I liked them both on DYNASTY, too, actually. Hudson's infamous descent healthwise wouldn't have received the publicity -- perhaps no publicity at all -- had he not appeared on this iconic '80s show in his last role. So, historically and politically, it was important.

But the guy was so decrepit due to his viral condition, that it barely worked: he was just too ill.

In contrast, we needed more of Billy Dee Williams. And he left the show because they wouldn't upgrade his salary, so he went to do a short-lived action series on another network (where, presumably, they paid him his worth). But Williams and Diahann Carroll were so good together -- suave and innately starlike inside this nervous, weirdly insecure TV series -- that his exit felt to me, at the time, quietly disastrous.

So, if I could change anything, I wouldn't get really get rid of Rock Hudson; I'd just keep Billy Dee Williams around, and find a way to pay him. (I like the idea of bringing him back midway through Season 6, whereupon he remarries Dominique who inherits his empire after he succumbs to the La Mirage fire... or have him survive and stay through Season 7... But the show had become so injured and limping by this point, keeping somebody as cinematically significant as Williams just seemed impossible, like getting Charlton Heston back was impossible.

They tried to make Hudson's character an action hero type, and while that was a good idea at first, it was quickly and clearly becoming a bad one, given his obvious health decline. They could have incorporated that into the story by having Daniel Reece also be suffering similar health concerns (not AIDS, of course; maybe some form of cancer), so that they could cut down on his number of episodes, enabling them to pay Billy Dee Williams to stick around longer.

I still would have had Brady die in Moldavia to up the number of causalities, but I will admit, I do like the idea of a love triangle between Brady, Dominique and Nick.

 

[GillesDenver]

In contrast, we needed more of Billy Dee Williams. A

Oh I do agree on that. He signed for 7 episodes (and eventually only shoot 5) when he should have been on 15. And he should have had his affair with Claudia, as planned.

 

[Ked]

Oh I do agree on that. He signed for 7 episodes (and eventually only shoot 5) when he should have been on 15. And he should have had his affair with Claudia, as planned.

That would have been fun, Brady and Claudia! Perhaps a potential catfight or slapfest between Claudia and Dominique?

 

[GillesDenver]

That would have been fun, Brady and Claudia! Perhaps a potential catfight or slapfest between Claudia and Dominique?

Yes, Dominique should have been given La Mirage as a gift from Blake and fire Claudia on the spot once she found out about the affair (thanks to Alexis who knew it from Steven).

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

That would have been fun, Brady and Claudia! Perhaps a potential catfight or slapfest between Claudia and Dominique?

Or maybe a jealous dogfight between Brady, Steven and Dean Caldwell -- a violent brawl which then turns into a three-man orgy, perhaps photographed by Adam in order to blackmail them. Until the writers forget about it. So everything's fine.