The first episode killed this show

[tommie]

Honestly, it's actually quite terrible?

Besides the issue with being way too tied to Dynasty - which means that anyone who wants to jump into the show not having watched the mothership previously is unable to - the plots themselves are quite lame. The Sable / Connie tension just doesn't really seem that justified and then of course you have ridiculous scenes like Jeff "impressing" Jason with his knowledge which goes on for a ridiculous amount of time (though I *am* seriously impressed with John James' ability to memorise dialogue). And Monica being a Strong Business Woman of the 80s borders on parody, like yes, we get it. I bet she has her coffee black in the morning. The Colby's apparently taking helicopters everywhere for no real point (like Connie taking one to a bus stop - oh, Aaron could afford helicopters here!). The faux conversations to show off their wealth (put the orchestra on the terrace!). But I guess at least they had time to squeeze in an attempted rape that serves absolutely no purpose - I'd like to think that actually was the drug dealer that shows up on Dynasty in season 8 (same actor).

Also, the weird scenes between Bliss and Jeff are just... something to behold. I'm not sure what exactly is the purpose of those except for convincing us that Jeff is so sexy his first cousin (at this point...) would sleep with him.

No wonder its ratings trajectory was 22.3 -> 19.3 -> 13.0 when it finally moved away from Dynasty.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

The beginning was such a mess and they spent the rest of the season trying to recover from it. The cop out over Jason’s terminal illness, his sudden contempt for Sable, the whole Fallon/Randall circus, the writers not knowing what to do with Bliss so they basically put her MIA, Miles being a sociopath. The show was on the back foot from the beginning and only really sorted itself out around the trial episodes, by which point I’d imagine a lot of viewers had tuned out.

 

[tommie]

The beginning was such a mess and they spent the rest of the season trying to recover from it.

Yes, it makes me wonder how much Huston and Bast were involved with crafting the initial storylines - it's almost like they were trying to get out of the mess the Dynasty producers had set up for them. I'm already at episode five and Miles just seems to be running around threatening Jeff over Fallon and it's already tiring as much as I like looking at mr Caulfield.

And yay, we got another sweeps rape (well, it's only an accusation).

I did like the subtle way they had Sable think up of her plan against Constance though.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Yes, it makes me wonder how much Huston and Bast were involved with crafting the initial storylines - it's almost like they were trying to get out of the mess the Dynasty producers had set up for them. I'm already at episode five and Miles just seems to be running around threatening Jeff over Fallon and it's already tiring as much as I like looking at mr Caulfield.

And yay, we got another sweeps rape (well, it's only an accusation).

I did like the subtle way they had Sable think up of her plan against Constance though.

I do wonder how they would have fared if they’d just started the show with Jeff being brought into the fold and exploring the conflicts that it caused, instead of tacking on the whole “Fallon with a new face” love triangle. I guess they wanted to tie the show to Dynasty as much as they could but I think it just made things too convoluted. Also, I know that Jason thinking he was dying and then being given a second chance at life was supposed to be the impetus for him seizing the day and going after true love Frankie. However, they could have just had her return to be with Jeff and have Jason fall in love with her again. There were just too many layers of unnecessary crap at the beginning that took time away from better storylines like Sable scheming to have Connie declared senile.

 

[tommie]

Also, I know that Jason thinking he was dying and then being given a second chance at life was supposed to be the impetus for him seizing the day and going after true love Frankie.

Honestly, I would've dragged out Jason thinking he's dying - when he found out in the third episode it was very underwhelming (plus I had completely forgotten he was supposed to be lmao). I would've had him think he's dying, going after Frankie because of that since he thinks his life is over anyway and then find out he's not and wrecked his marriage as a result. That seems like the more dramatic option and would've opened up for him wanting Sable back down the line.

Well, either that or you know, just not do the storyline at all. But I agree - I think the better option would've been to almost just dump Jeff into this world and learn to navigate it. I think it was a mistake to introduce the Colby's on Dynasty tbh.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I think it was a mistake to introduce the Colby's on Dynasty tbh

Or have them there for longer. Do some of these plots while in they're in Denver before the Colbys spin-off -- it's not like early-Season 6 of DYNASTY had anything much goin' on that worked.

 

[Monzo]

When I last watched DynastyS6/ColbysS1 a few years ago, I was most amazed at how weak Sable was as a character in the Dynasty introduction and at the beginning of The Colbys, I had totally forgotten that. Luckily things changed later, but at first she seemed like someone you wouldn't like.

 

[tommie]

When I last watched DynastyS6/ColbysS1 a few years ago, I was most amazed at how weak Sable was as a character in the Dynasty introduction and at the beginning of The Colbys, I had totally forgotten that. Luckily things changed later, but at first she seemed like someone you wouldn't like.

I genuinely think Beacham changed the trajectory of Sable - she's obviously meant to be an Alexis type character, but then you have how she genuinely plays Sable as a conflicted woman who wants what she assumes is the best for her children and family. It might be misguided, but you end up rooting for her. I think there's a nice moment in episode seven where Sable asks Frankie to take Jeff to Europe and while she could've played that straight up manipulative (like Joan probably would) she played it more vunerable.

 

[lbf522]

The beginning was such a mess and they spent the rest of the season trying to recover from it. The cop out over Jason’s terminal illness, his sudden contempt for Sable, the whole Fallon/Randall circus, the writers not knowing what to do with Bliss so they basically put her MIA, Miles being a sociopath. The show was on the back foot from the beginning and only really sorted itself out around the trial episodes, by which point I’d imagine a lot of viewers had tuned out.

Not only that but they wanted the viewer to root for Jason and Frankie both of whom were awful people betraying Sable and Phillip. Also, Barbara Stanwyck was wasted in her role of Constance Colby who was the eldest Colby sibling and the matriarch of the family. There were possibilities to go with her never explored. And Bliss was written as a typical rich airhead who sleeps around. She had her moments but not enough.

 

[Willie Oleson]

it makes me wonder how much Huston and Bast were involved with crafting the initial storylines - it's almost like they were trying to get out of the mess the Dynasty producers had set up for them

I believe it was mentioned in @Alexis ' interview with Paul Huson that it took the writers a little while to see the true potential of the cast, and the original premise was modified accordingly.
I thought the first two episodes were a bit of shambles but it all started to click in episode 3, and the rest is history.

I think the better option would've been to almost just dump Jeff into this world and learn to navigate it

It was done with (surprising) respect to the character.
"Jason dying" endangered the future of Colby Enterprises since Miles had not shown any interest so far, and that's why Constance decided to "keep" Jeff.
But there had to be a reason why he was reunited with his family in the first place.
Jeff had become a Carrington (possibly from the moment Cecil died, which is also why Alexis never got the chance to become a Colby) and it was very clear that he wanted nothing to do with them.
There was no way Constance could have tricked him into leaving the precious Carrington World just because she and the family needed him.
The Colbys needed some Carrington bait, something that would make unsuspecting Jeff walk into the spin-off trap.
In hindsight, this would not have been possible if Fallon hadn't lost her memory.
It was ALL meant to be.

 

[tommie]

Where's my passive-aggressive disagree button?!?

Alas... I had forgotten how annoying Miles is in season one - it's not so much that he's sociopathic, he literally acts like a huge child constantly throwing tantrums. Though I guess kids are essentially sociopaths. I also forgot about The Colby's tendency to have pointless cliffhangers that goes nowhere (ie Jeff going over the cliff, LB is missing, Fallon accusing Adam of rape etc).

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

LB is missing

Wasn’t he up a tree or hiding in another room or something ridiculous like that? But yes, season one had some great moments but also a lot of dross like that.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Where's my passive-aggressive disagree button?!?

It's "informative".

But what you need is a "I don't understand the brilliance of The Colbys" button.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Where's my passive-aggressive disagree button?!?

We know the Grinch who stole it, passive-aggressively.

Alas... I had forgotten how annoying Miles is in season one - it's not so much that he's sociopathic, he literally acts like a huge child constantly throwing tantrums. Though I guess kids are essentially sociopaths. I also forgot about The Colby's tendency to have pointless cliffhangers that goes nowhere (ie Jeff going over the cliff, LB is missing, Fallon accusing Adam of rape etc).

Despite Huson & Bast's presence, I guess it was still a Pollock Production.

 

[LoganRhinewood]

I just re-watched The Colbys (super unpopular opinion, but I still like it better than Dynasty) and I agree, the first episode is difficult to get through. I rate each episode (just for myself so that I know which ones I really enjoyed) and the first got the worst rating of the entire season. It's... really kinda tedious and filled with "eh wot?" moments, especially when you know (and prefer) the later versions of some of the characters.

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

I just re-watched The Colbys (super unpopular opinion, but I still like it better than Dynasty)

You are not alone ...

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I just re-watched The Colbys (super unpopular opinion, but I still like it better than Dynasty)

It's certainly better than the two concurrent years of DYNASTY (Seasons 6 and 7) and, really, most of the rest of DYNASTY (although Seasons 1, 2 and 9 of DYNASTY are very good).

THE COLBYS had different show runners (Paul Huson & William Bast) but DYNASTY mostly had Bob & Eileen Pollock (who were good at casting and unformed story ideas, but were lousy at details and structure, and were prone to reductive creative perversities like the static acting directive implemented in Season 3).

That's also why THE COLBYS had much better sets and paintings. Even Joan Collins half-admitted at the 2024 Emmys last month that the sets on DYNASTY weren't important but the clothes were.

But we complained about it at the time. Blake's office improved immeasurably, but the deathly La Mirage lobby, Alexis' office and Carlton hotel suite were tackily drab and should have been far more ostentatious; even her triplex penthouse apartment lacked something. And then there is that sea of white bedroom walls and overstuffed white couches. Ugh.

This is much, much better:

 

[anndra w]

It's certainly better than the two concurrent years of DYNASTY (Seasons 6 and 7) and, really, most of the rest of DYNASTY (although Seasons 1, 2 and 9 of DYNASTY are very good).

THE COLBYS had different show runners (Paul Huson & William Bast) but DYNASTY mostly had Bob & Eileen Pollock (who were good at casting and unformed story ideas, but were lousy at details and structure, and were prone to reductive creative perversities like the static acting directive implemented in Season 3).

That's also why THE COLBYS had much better sets and paintings. Even Joan Collins half-admitted at the 2024 Emmys last month that the sets on DYNASTY weren't important but the clothes were.

But we complained about it at the time. Blake's office improved immeasurably, but the deathly La Mirage lobby, Alexis' office and Carlton hotel suite were tackily drab and should have been far more ostentatious; even her triplex penthouse apartment lacked something. And then there is that sea of white bedroom walls and overstuffed white couches. Ugh.

This is much, much better:

Yes I remember thinking I really don’t fancy living in the Carrington mansion. There was a blandness about the rooms etc - I didn’t realise they were reusing the same set for different rooms at that time. I do remember really liking Alexis’s penthouse as it was so different from what we’d seen up to that point. Still at least it wasn’t the Dallas house - the houses in Knots Landing looked more stylish than Southfork!

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Yes I remember thinking I really don’t fancy living in the Carrington mansion. There was a blandness about the rooms etc - I didn’t realise they were reusing the same set for different rooms at that time. I do remember really liking Alexis’s penthouse as it was so different from what we’d seen up to that point. Still at least it wasn’t the Dallas house - the houses in Knots Landing looked more stylish than Southfork!

Even with the re-used rooms for the Carrington mansion, the re-dressing were incredibly boring (and they could have used panel inserts to give color and texture to distinguish them from one another, which they actually did with Steven & Claudia's room -- which was actually the master bedroom/living room set, too; it wasn't terribly attractive, but at least they tried). Alexis' penthouse was large, but its dressing was less-than-impressive: they needed that Warhol of Joan in a chrome circular frame in that empty space over the fireplace, and I always thought those white clay pots by the steps should have been black chinoiserie instead (and then, by Season 6, they changed them to meet my mental demands!)

The house at Southfork should have had much more of a high-end rustic look, but when they tried to do that during the dream season, it just looked cluttered and contrived. I knew when Katzman came back the next year, those prissy cameos on the stairwell would be gone -- and they were!

 

[GillesDenver]

which they actually did with Steven & Claudia's room -- which was actually the master bedroom/living room set, too

No, it was a separate set, like the nursery. It was recycled as Tom's bedroom in season 5.