Colbycats - who copied who and who did it best?

[Mel O'Drama]

13. Distressed Female Dynasty Character Jumps Into Vehicle And Crashes Into A Season Finale Cliffhanger

Both pale in comparison to the drama of another that fits this category: Fallon's Inexplicable Disappearance in Round 7. But on the basis that the rules of The Colbys were still being written and as a younger character there was even less certainty that she would survive, I'll vote for...

THE COLBYS 22-5-186: Monica

(plus it followed a dramatic In Flagrante Delicto moment, which for me echoes smart daughter Lynne Howard's cliffhanger in Howards' Way a year earlier).

 

[Willie Oleson]

To me, Monica's crash looks like a cliff hanger of the week, but without the havoc of Blake and Daniel Reece's plane crash of the week.
Ironically, this lack of panic - the last moment "Lindsay Blaisdel" scream notwithstanding - juxtaposes the extremely dangerous situation. In soap terms a no-win situation because she was going to die or survive miraculously, Moldavia style.
And I didn't think she was going to die for a character like Neil Kittredge.

Alexis' poor little rich girl act doesn't ring true at all and in many ways it looked much worse than Monica's scene.
However, they actually show the crash and while it seemed even more unlikely that she was going to die, the chance for survival was a bit more realistic.
But that doesn't change the fact that she was in the water, in a very realistically dangerous situation. It was absolutely impossible for her to survive without any damage to her hairdo and make-up.
The very ordeal of being trapped inside a car underwater seems more suspenseful than the obligatory is-she-going-to-die-or-not, and in that regard it's kinda similar to the cabin fire cliff hanger of season 3.
And with my vote for Dynasty the current score is...

THE COLBYS - 21
DYNASTY - 14

To be continued....

 

[Willie Oleson]

14. Women Reluctantly Confessing to an Extra-Marital Affair on the Witness Stand (*)

DYNASTY 20-4-1981: Claudia


THE COLBYS 27-2-1986: Francesca


(*) COURTesy of James from London

 

[James from London]

Women Reluctantly Confessing to an Extra-Marital Affair on the Witness Stand

Both are heart stopping, edge-of-the-seat moments, but in different ways. We've been in on Claudia's fragile little secret since the affair began and so can empathise with every agonising moment of her ordeal on the stand. With Frankie, we're not sure what the truth is so we're really in the same position as the rest of the courtroom, agog to hear what is gonna come out of her mouth next. And whereas Claudia's testimony feels like an ending, specifically for the Blaisdels -- it's the last time she and Matthew ever see each other -- Frankie's (or at least its aftermath) feels like a beginning; the revelation that Jason is Jeff's daddy is life-changing for all concerned. But while both are unmissable, only one breaks your heart. Ergo, I'm pressing my buzzer for DYNASTY.

Subpoenaed by the prosecution to testify as to her marital fidelity, Frankie is the case's sacrificial lamb, just as Claudia Blaisdel was at Blake's murder trial. "Did you ever cheat on your husband at any time?" she is asked while her present husband Roger sits in the courtroom the same way Matthew Blaisdel did. Will Frankie tell the truth about her affair with Jason the way Claudia did about hers with Steven? We'll never know because before she can answer, a last-minute surprise witness arrives. Instead it being a vengeful ex-wife in a big hat, it's Phillip's medical officer, Captain Timothy Holmes (hey, that's my cousin's name!) who states that medical tests performed on May 23rd, 1957 (hey, that's exactly one year before my parents got married!) revealed Phillip to be sterile. "Therefore, he couldn't have been the father." Cue dramatic music and a succession of stunned reaction shots that seem to go on forever.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

14. Women Reluctantly Confessing to an Extra-Marital Affair on the Witness Stand (*)

DYNASTY 20-4-1981: Claudia

As James said, it breaks the heart to watch the already fragile Claudia being put through the wringer this way. I feel touched just thinking about it.

 

[Willie Oleson]

With the intent to strip Jeff of his royal "Colby" title it all looks like very Big Soap, and maybe with a whiff of a Salem witch trial, too.
I don't think it matters if Frankie had known all along or that the testimony regarding Phillip's sterility made her realise the alternative scenario right there and then.
Her reluctance to answer Arthur Cates' questions in detail isn't even to protect herself but to protect the family, especially Jason and Sable.
If I'm going to limit my vote to the courtroom scene itself then the one on THE COLBYS feels slightly underwhelming in terms of outrage.
Arthur Cates' iconic quote "the man sitting over there...is NOT a Colby!" is from the previous episode.
Funnily enough, the strongest dramatic expression comes from Garrett Boydston (of all characters).

A lot of great stuff happens in the rest of the episode but this is about the witness stand.

As if the death of Ted Dinard isn't tragic enough, Andrew Laird comes up with the plan to re-write Steven Carrington's sexuality thus making Ted look like the homosexual predator which would, if not justify, at least explain Blake Carrington's reaction.
Unlike Frankie, Claudia is squirming in her chair and begs Laird not to make her say it. We already know what happened therefore the emotional time bomb isn't about the truth but about Claudia's incapacity to deal with her infidelity.
Pamela Bellwood is terrific as the tormented witness but the core of the drama - Claudia, Steven, Blake - is embodied by Matthew Blaisdel.
Even if this wasn't the culmination of his season-long story arc then it still looks much more important than To Colby Or Not To Colby.

I love both trials, but Dynasty is the obvious winner for me.

 

[James from London]

Funnily enough, the strongest dramatic expression comes from Garrett Boydston (of all characters).

Interesting! Especially given that he is undergoing his own "I'm the real daddy" storyline on DYNASTY at the exact same time.

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

Philip really nailed it.

You mean that he seduced his own widow before she could become his sister-in-law?

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

Yes, our beloved Colbys are one big and happy family!

 

[Willie Oleson]

You mean that he seduced his own widow before she could become his sister-in-law?

Exactly! Seduced, manipulated, taking advantage of her confusion. He was a very nasty man.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Can't think of a new colbycat right now. In the meantime, we're going to listen to Krystina singing a song from DARK SHADOWS.


p.s. the current score is...

THE COLBYS - 21
DYNASTY - 17

 

[Toni]

No "who called her rival slut best"? Really? Or "who shot her rival´s a** best"?

​

 

[Willie Oleson]

There was an elevator in the Colby mansion indeed. It was just used once though (by Jeff if I'm not mistaken). It is located just before the stairs.

Found it!

 

[Tony]

With the intent to strip Jeff of his royal "Colby" title it all looks like very Big Soap, and maybe with a whiff of a Salem witch trial, too.
I don't think it matters if Frankie had known all along or that the testimony regarding Phillip's sterility made her realise the alternative scenario right there and then.
Her reluctance to answer Arthur Cates' questions in detail isn't even to protect herself but to protect the family, especially Jason and Sable.
If I'm going to limit my vote to the courtroom scene itself then the one on THE COLBYS feels slightly underwhelming in terms of outrage.
Arthur Cates' iconic quote "the man sitting over there...is NOT a Colby!" is from the previous episode.
Funnily enough, the strongest dramatic expression comes from Garrett Boydston (of all characters).
View attachment 36288
A lot of great stuff happens in the rest of the episode but this is about the witness stand.

As if the death of Ted Dinard isn't tragic enough, Andrew Laird comes up with the plan to re-write Steven Carrington's sexuality thus making Ted look like the homosexual predator which would, if not justify, at least explain Blake Carrington's reaction.
Unlike Frankie, Claudia is squirming in her chair and begs Laird not to make her say it. We already know what happened therefore the emotional time bomb isn't about the truth but about Claudia's incapacity to deal with her infidelity.
Pamela Bellwood is terrific as the tormented witness but the core of the drama - Claudia, Steven, Blake - is embodied by Matthew Blaisdel.
Even if this wasn't the culmination of his season-long story arc then it still looks much more important than To Colby Or Not To Colby.

I love both trials, but Dynasty is the obvious winner for me.

Interestingly both episodes of the trial Enter Alexis and Burden of Proof were directed by Gabrielle Beaumont who knew how to direct courtroom drama.

I love The Colbys spilling out of the courthouse after the verdict leading to Miles crash, Jeff and Frankie’s confession and best of all Sable’s elephant gun.