nuDynasty Episode Chat S2E16: Miserably Ungrateful Men

[Richard Channing]

Just when I thought they couldn't make Alexis any more of a loser than they did with the suicide thing, now they have nobody giving a shit about what happened to her and Blake and Fallon even planning a party outside her room! It's not even funny, it's actually in quite bad taste. And then to top it all off they literally make her into a clown, in that turban with the balloons. If the new Alexis isn't gonna somehow become a total badass then they might as well just shoot her and put her out of her misery.

 

[Ked]

One random observation I had was about Kirby. This scene:

only re-enforced my notion that the actress should get a pixie cut or something, because she looks better with short hair.


Plus, she and Michael do have cute chemistry.

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

tell him you want to see how bad this show gets.

But he is not THAT stupid

 

[Alexis]

It just feels like it's not really an ongoing story arc even though it is. It's like they get distracted or have a check list of certain things they need to put in an episode. It doesn't feel like a story focusing on a group of characters like the best of the primetime soaps. It feels more like story bubbles as someone said of later Knots Landing @Daniel Avery . I think it's distracting and takes away from the pace.

But is it really the thoughts of Alexis? My impression from that scene is Adam is pulling the strings here. Did anyone else note his comment on how Alexis looked like Fallon in her youth after gazing at the photograph? He also mentioned to the nurse about shaving a few years off. This series is so cheap it wouldn't surprise me if the producers will have Elizabeth Gillies play both the characters of Fallon and Alexis.

There were subtle hints in this episode showing Adam's odd fixation with his sister and after he kissed her last week I wouldn't put anything past him. Perhaps he gave the nurse a photograph of a youthful Alexis who eerily looks like Fallon of today. Kind of puts a new spin on the Krystal/Rita story right?

But why would you put that out in the universe? That's all I need, two Fallon's one as Alexis, catfighting with each other! I know they are going to do this now. It's a perfect vehicle for Liz Gillies acting chops. She might even do a little number in the middle of it!

 

[Ked]

Besides, didn't they already have two Fallon's back in the "Wizard of Oz" episode? Let's not go back there, shall we?

 

[Alexis]

One random observation I had was about Kirby. This scene:

only re-enforced my notion that the actress should get a pixie cut or something, because she looks better with short hair.


Plus, she and Michael do have cute chemistry.

NO! No Dynasty woman should ever cut her hair. Has Leslie taught you nothing!

 

[Ked]

NO! No Dynasty woman should ever cut her hair. Has Leslie taught you nothing!

...Yes. Leslie did teach me nothing. She taught everyone nothing.

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

Then let ME teach you this: NO!

 

[Alexis]

...Yes. Leslie did teach me nothing. She taught everyone nothing.

She taught me to not be the company whore.

 

[Ked]

She taught me to not be the company whore.

So she basically taught you nothing. You learned that on your own.

 

[Daniel Avery]

If Alexis 2.0 ends up looking like someone from Adam's past, then having a storyline version of Krystle/Rita would logically follow. "Real" Alexis would end up in the attic, while "FakeAlexis", controlled by Adam, would inflict all sorts of havoc while being more like what the viewers want RealAlexis to be like. Hence my suggestion of Anne Heche in the role would make sense, since she played good twin/bad twin on Another World so well that they had her play "bad twin pretending to be good twin" several times. Of course in this case she would be playing something more like "bumbling bimbo twin/smart, sinister twin".

It also occurred to me that Adam ought not be appearing at splashy parties and having articles written about him. If Steven is still unsure of whether he hallucinated the whole George thing (even after that last visit with him at the sanitarium), he won't be after seeing Adam with the family in photos and film footage. He would certainly call his sister and/or husband to warn them. That is, if he is not being kept sedated or something equally mean.

 

[Rove]

Instead of poisoned paint, perhaps Adam could make sure one of Jeff's bizarre suits is soaked in one of those poisons that absorbs slowly through skin contact.

It could explain why the writers gave Adam a background in medicine rather than an attorney.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I'm assuming Alexis will be pushed through a balcony eventually.

 

[Rove]

But why would you put that out in the universe?

At this point Dynasty has nothing to lose since it has no integrity as a contemporary adult drama. They (Producers/Writers) may as well throw everything at it, no matter how La La Land it is. If they can conjure up Fallon's the Wizard of Oz episode than anything is possible.

Who is to say Alexis (Nicolette) hasn't been wheeled off to some far flung facility. Perhaps she is going to share the same room as Steven in Paris. We then have Alexis (as yet named) wheeled back into the hospital room after her surgery. We have the unveiling of new Alexis who will be exactly what we have all desired. When real Alexis (Nicolette) is ready to reprise her role she returns and proclaims, "Traffic was a bitch!"

 

[Miss Texas 1967]

I know this is a show so whatever in real life but it's embarrassing watching Fallon playing the victimised female when in fact criticism thrown at her in this episode was completely valid.

On a different note, does no one care about Steven's well being? Besides Fallon and Sam's initial visit why has no one gone to visit him or offered to have him transferred to Atlanta?

 

[Rove]

does no one care about Steven's well being?

I do. Pity the writers and producers don't. James Mackay really improved in the recent Paris episode. I am however puzzled why Anders of all people doesn't even speak of him. It's my opinion this version of Dynasty is being delivered as stand-alone episodes. How else do we explain the appearance of Steven one minute and not the next. Same goes for Monica. I don't believe she has appeared in the last few episodes but surely that is about to change with the imminent arrival of Dominique.

Dynasty is such a bizarre concept.

 

[Rove]

when I thought they couldn't make Alexis any more of a loser than they did with the suicide thing, now they have nobody giving a shit about what happened to her

I feel for you Richard. Your Dynasty trailers typify what could be. I know they are set in the past but I sense you have a real fondness for the character of Alexis. Seeing how the writers have butchered the character in this version is insulting. It's not even remotely funny. How is it possible the producers cannot see the travesty unfolding before their eyes?

 

[xab]

Flames were kind enough not to touch Alexis neck. How nice they are.

Amy Sutherland stepping into Alexis stilettos was the best thing of the episode ( I mean the actress of course, not the writing). I really felt it was Nicolette Sheridan under the bandages. Something in the way she moved and glanced at people was definitely Alexis. She was credible. Why not giving her the part? Obviously she's not a big name, but she deserves to be given the chance.

Of course this episode led this crap back to square one: it's Saturday Night Live spoof again. Compared to that thing the way Pam's exit was handled in Dallas was a masterpiece. Pure Hitchcock.

After last week shocker I expected something a little bit more realistic than a bad sunburn. Maybe, at least, a sterile room? At least... ( Even the worst daytime soap would be more grounded...)
And by the way, next time I'm burned, I want the same painkillers.

And she's going under plastic surgery so soon? A few hours ( days?) after her little journey into the mantelpiece??

What's in store now? I guess I know what they are plotting: the picture Adam showed to the surgeon was Marge Simpson's. I wouldn't be that stunned if a crossover with The Simpsons was on its way...

 

[Alexis]

It really does feel like this is stand alone episodes and not an ongoing story. You get all caught up in something and then poof! Next week it's dropped and we get fashion montages, wise cracks and comedy skits. Then they go back into a story for a bit the next week then, wham! We're in a ski resort making Another Teen movie or some shit.
To me it feels like they either didn't have a strong pre-set bible for the show or they have scrapped it about 6 times already and started over. That just does not work.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Surprise, surprise - but I actually enjoyed this episode.

The torture aftermath was completely bonkers and I hate to say it but I couldn't help but laughing out loud when Alexis wrote "I'VE BEEN BETTER".
Maybe a bit of a setback was to be expected after 3 exhilararting episodes, and maybe the humour is used to counterbalance the extreme horror of the previous episode.
After all, it's Dynasty, not Nip/Tuck.

Another rather typical soap-y side-effect of this comical approach is to soften Adam's evilness just enough to let him get away with it.
"I'm going to teach you to be a better mom".
Adam is the first NuDynasty character that strikes the right balance between tongue in cheek fun and pure wickedness. They've tried the same thing with other characters (including Alexis herself) but this time I feel it really works.
I wouldn't be surprised if Alexis is going to be grateful for having a younger face - and so the episode ends with yet another twist that gets the fans speculating. Very well done!

The mini-time jump (Alexis in the hospital after the fire "accident") is strangely similar to the season 2 time jump (Alexis in the hospital after the stable house fire).
And Celia's demise was treated in a similar, comical fashion. Maybe we should keep this mind next time something big happens.
Besides, it's not like O.Dynasty always wanted to deal with the consequences of their exciting cliffhangers.
Come to think of it, only season 2 (Alexis' entrance) and season 9 (the beginning of Krystle's exit) were the real game changers.

but it's embarrassing watching Fallon playing the victimised female when in fact criticism thrown at her in this episode was completely valid

But that's what I liked about it. Fallon continues to be a PITA but the show acknowledges it.
Compare that to O.Alexis, the Queen of EuroSleaze who was always hailed as being an intelligent, beautiful business icon. That fakeness came from the writers themselves because that's how they wanted her to be in order to promote their merchandise.

I'm not sure if I agree with the comments about misplaced feminism because I don't see why the same rules shouldn't apply to priviliged white women, and her reputation as an eager business woman was established in the very first episode - hence the catfight when Blake gave the position at CA to Celia.
I didn't see how any of this was out of character.

It was not as exciting as the previous episode but I wouldn't call this a boring filler episode. The hot gay gangster was a nice surprise and they continued the storyline with the reporter and the Atlantix S-s-s-soccer team.

Tip for Kirby: keep up the dark eye shadow, it gives her a "cool chick" look. But I'd love to see her become a bit raunchier, like Emma Ryland in DALLAS.