I'm watching CW's Dynasty

[ClassyCo]

As a side note, I've finished up Season 2. I had some vague memories on how the season finished up from when I watched the show before, and with that, I thought the final moments of the season finale were quite good and set-up some intriguing storylines for Season 3 to dive into.

We'll see what Season 3 has for me when I start it at lunch today. I honestly don't think I've ever watched past the first episode of Season 3.

 

[Daniel Avery]

The running gag where Fallon kept asking to touch Cristal2's hair was hilarious. I wish Ana-Brenda had been able to stick with the show....and yes, Nicollette too. Not just for continuity but because they were well cast in their roles.

 

[ClassyCo]

The running gag where Fallon kept asking to touch Cristal2's hair was hilarious.

It never ceased to make me smile when Fallon made a remark towards Cristal 2.0 and her hair. Which, to be clear, Ana Brenda Contreras has beautiful hair.

I wish Ana-Brenda had been able to stick with the show....and yes, Nicollette too. Not just for continuity but because they were well cast in their roles.

Nicollette left after Episode #15 of Season 2, and Ana Brenda left after the Season 2 finale. I'm just two episodes into Season 3, and Daniella Alfonso (who I never liked on ONE TREE HILL, by the way) is definitely a step-down as Cristal. So far, she doesn't seem to be a "match" for anybody. Like, literally all of the people she threatens look like they could squash her like a gnat. I already know she's going to be a whiny, annoying version of Cristal. While I didn't necessarily like the direction that took Ana Brenda's Cristal towards the end of second season, where they made her just as malicious and cutthroat as Blake, I did like that she wasn't so easily pushed around. Daniella's Cristal, or so I fear, is going to get on my nerves just like Linda Evans's O.G. Krystle eventually did on the '80s show.

Ana Brenda and Nicollette or both definitely missed, and Elaine Hendrix hasn't even made her debut as Alexis 3.0 yet.

 

[ClassyCo]

"Anyone bothered by the amount of cast changes?" asks the title of a Reddit discussion started back in 2019, perhaps 2020.

In the spirit of the original DYNASTY from the '80s, which eventually recast all four of the Carrington children (Joan Collins said in an interview once: "Every season there was another child."), the CW version of DYNASTY has recast multiple major characters, and I'm just five or six episodes into its third season.

I can overlook the changeover from Nathalie Kelly (who says she "was not asked to return" after the first season) into Ana Brenda Contreras at the start of Season 2 because they aren't the same character. Kelly was revealed to be Celia throughout the first season, while Contreras was brought on as "the real Cristal Flores" for the second season. I like both Kelly and Contreras, but I overall, I think I might like Contreras better. She seems to "fit" the show a little better, and I wish she had been able to stick with the show. Contreras seems the best on-screen match for Elizabeth Gillies, who is real force to to be reckoned with as Fallon, the real focal point and true star of CW's DYNASTY. Daniella Alfonso, who makes her debut as Cristal at the start of third season, just pales in comparison with Contreras's take on the character. This transition is less forgiving because Contreras and Alfonso are playing the same Cristal. They're supposed to be the same person... but they're not, and it's obvious. There's a few in-universe winks at the audience made over Alfonso stepping in as Cristal. For instance, when interviewed about the dead bodies found on the Carrington estate, Alfonso's Cristal says, "I just got here!" There are a few other references made by Alfonso that "wink" at the viewer. They're cute, and I'm trying my best to go with this recast --- it is, after all, a "soap opera", a genre infamous for recasting key cast members throughout their runs. The most jarring thing about the change from Contreras to Alfonso, for me at least, is the lack of a Mexican accent. I just expect this 21st-century Cristal to have an accent.



Look, Joan Collins will never been matched as Alexis, but do felt that Nicollette Sheridan made the character her own. My major take back on this 21st-century rendition of Alexis is how they treat her as a joke. She's an irritation, not a threat, and they have her living in a tin can when we first learn about her. She's more like the mean, popular girl at your local high school, not the calculating vixen we love-to-hate in the '80s show. Sheridan's look, voice, mannerisms just "fit" the vibe of this CW version of Alexis, even if I wish her storylines were stronger. I hated when she left (for whatever reason), and I was iffy on Gillies stepping in as her temporary replacement. However, I do think Gillies nails Sheridan's voice and diction. I've yet to see Elaine Hendrix's version, so I'll come back to that.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Alfonso's Cristal says, "I just got here!" There are a few other references made by Alfonso that "wink" at the viewer.

Later on, Fallon is mad at Cristal (whom I christened "C3" as shorthand): "You've already apologized twice. You think the third time's a charm?"
C3 looks a bit struck and says "I hope so."

 

[ClassyCo]

Later on, Fallon is mad at Cristal (whom I christened "C3" as shorthand): "You've already apologized twice. You think the third time's a charm?"
C3 looks a bit struck and says "I hope so."

I honestly can't decide if I like these little "winks" at the camera, but I will say it does seem to fit the "vibes" of CW DYNASTY.

 

[Daniel Avery]

If you're not a fan of such winks to the audience (known as "breaking the fourth wall") then you would feel increasing distress as the series goes along. Granted, it's usually just quick lines like these rather than, say, an entire storyline or episode. Since Fallon's non-stop, glib remarks became a major part of the characterization, one had to expect the writers to sometimes step over the line into those kinds of lines.

However, given the nature of a reboot, there will be situations that feel like a fourth-wall violation that are actually just the show producers taking situations from the original and putting their own spin on it. This assumes of course that the viewer knows about the source material and recognizes what the show's doing. I recall several instances where something was done in the reboot series that I found strange....until others reminded me that the plot point was something from the OG series.

 

[ClassyCo]

If you're not a fan of such winks to the audience (known as "breaking the fourth wall") then you would feel increasing distress as the series goes along. Granted, it's usually just quick lines like these rather than, say, an entire storyline or episode. Since Fallon's non-stop, glib remarks became a major part of the characterization, one had to expect the writers to sometimes step over the line into those kinds of lines.

However, given the nature of a reboot, there will be situations that feel like a fourth-wall violation that are actually just the show producers taking situations from the original and putting their own spin on it. This assumes of course that the viewer knows about the source material and recognizes what the show's doing. I recall several instances where something was done in the reboot series that I found strange....until others reminded me that the plot point was something from the OG series.

You're not a fan of the OG DYNASTY are you? There are things I've recognized in the reboot that are definite nods to the OG show.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

If you're not a fan of such winks to the audience (known as "breaking the fourth wall") then you would feel increasing distress as the series goes along. Granted, it's usually just quick lines like these rather than, say, an entire storyline or episode. Since Fallon's non-stop, glib remarks became a major part of the characterization, one had to expect the writers to sometimes step over the line into those kinds of lines.

However, given the nature of a reboot, there will be situations that feel like a fourth-wall violation that are actually just the show producers taking situations from the original and putting their own spin on it. This assumes of course that the viewer knows about the source material and recognizes what the show's doing. I recall several instances where something was done in the reboot series that I found strange....until others reminded me that the plot point was something from the OG series.

If only oldDYNASTY knew itself as well as nuDYNASTY knew oldDYNASTY.

 

[Daniel Avery]

You're not a fan of the OG DYNASTY are you? There are things I've recognized in the reboot that are definite nods to the OG show.

I had not watched OG Dynasty closely in the original run. I would not say I particularly liked it or disliked it---it was just a famous part of a genre I enjoyed. I didn't have easy access to the reruns, so I knew general plots, actors, etc. through "osmosis" (hanging out here, mostly ). When NuDynasty premiered I hoped it would fill in a lot of blanks, but instead it was like a whole new set of blanks. Discussions of the weekly episodes here on the site allowed me to learn a lot of the different approaches the new show chose....and what was a new spin on an old story. It was a member of this site that first pointed out the weird episode titles were actually random lines from episodes of the original, likely a nod to the boring, often uninspired episode titles in the OG.

I know it was a delicate dance, trying to use the OG as a guide while trying to do an "original" product, but I was ultimately disappointed that they went too far away from the source material. Perhaps they'd been warned not to mock the original's "issues" too much, not to attempt to "fix what went wrong" but instead to just pick and choose plot points they wanted to incorporate and ignore others. Conventional wisdom at the time was that Sallie Patrick really did like the original and wanted this to be an updated homage to it, but the longer she was away, the less I felt those who took over wanted to honor the original source material.

But I have to point out that I was frequently reminded at the time that this show meant very different things to different people. To put it mildly, discussions on this site among hard-core fans of the OG bore very little resemblance to the discussions on sites with a younger demo like the Reddit site you mentioned above. While we bemoaned the more comedic tone, the episodic format, and the lack of "respect" for the original, discussions there and elsewhere were all about how much they loved the snappy, sarcastic dialogue, quick pace, Fallon's "girl boss" vibe, and other more superficial aspects. Later on, as viewership dwindled they gathered mostly to complain about missing Steven and how they wasted time and effort on certain rudderless characters while ignoring others. And of course to critique the fashions. It was apparent from the beginning that a large minority of the Reddit group had never even seen an episode of the original series and had little to no background in it, so they weren't trying to compare and contrast the way we were on here.

 

[ClassyCo]

only oldDYNASTY knew itself as well as nuDYNASTY knew oldDYNASTY.

NuDYNASTY leans into what it is, but I can't decide if that's a good thing.

 

[ClassyCo]

NuDYNASTY leans into what it is, but I can't decide if that's a good thing.

I'll say this for CW DYNASTY... While it might be a creative mess, full of cast changes, tonal changes, comings and goings among the storylines, it can be quite addictive when you're in the right mood. The OG show never really had me quite as hooked as this cheaper, trashier reboot has.

The OG DYNASTY desperately wanted to be a guilty pleasure, but it just isn't. CW DYNASTY, on the other hand, is just that. It's trash, it knows it, and it runs with it. Like it or despise it, the show is what it is.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I'll say this for CW DYNASTY... While it might be a creative mess, full of cast changes, tonal changes, comings and goings among the storylines, it can be quite addictive when you're in the right mood. The OG show never really had me quite as hooked as this cheaper, trashier reboot has.

The OG DYNASTY desperately wanted to be a guilty pleasure, but it just isn't. CW DYNASTY, on the other hand, is just that. It's trash, it knows it, and it runs with it. Like it or despise it, the show is what it is.

Yes, the guilty-pleasure-of-guilty-pleasures that oldDYNASTY was supposed to be, and is still referred to as being, never really materialized. In the '80s, the media coverage of oldDYNASTY was always far more electric that the dead, suffocated show that aired every Wednesday nights in the States... I mean, the schism was impossible (for me, at least) to ignore; the way everybody talked about it had little to do with the show itself.

The emperor's new clothes in reverse.

It was as if the entire world -- the media, the audience -- knew what oldDYNASTY could and should be,,,, except for the knuckleheads running the show.

Even now, with current specials like TV WE LOVE: DYNASTY (presently posted on the oldDYNASTY page here at Tellytalk) one is still given the impression that oldDYNASTY was this incomparable fabulosity that eventually lost its steam --- instead of the corrosive, soul-sucking train wreck (with a good cast) most of it was.

Perpetually less than the sum of its parts (except for Seasons 1, 2 and 9, of course).

At least the 2017 -- 2022 nuDYNASTY was worth a few laughs, especially when Fallon and Sam Joe were center stage (not that I kept watching it after its second season).

As some of us predicted, before it even premiered, that nuDYNASTY would -- in certain ways-- be more professional than oldDYNASTY, less well-cast than oldDYNASTY, and that nuDYNASTY would likely do a better job at some of its storytelling than the old show (but would also likely suffer from some modern-day encumbrances).

Where were we wrong? We really weren't.

 

[Willie Oleson]

If only oldDYNASTY knew itself as well as nuDYNASTY knew oldDYNASTY.

But that becomes irrelevant when you change the genre from soap to dramedy.
The guilty pleasure catfights notwithstanding, oldDYNASTY (and THE COLBYS) was the only prime time soap that never used a comical tone.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

But that becomes irrelevant when you change the genre from soap to dramedy.
The guilty pleasure catfights notwithstanding, oldDYNASTY (and THE COLBYS) was the only prime time soap that never used a comical tone.

Really? oldDYNASTY wasn't a dramedy??

Dominique at the La Mirage fire after a few burgers:

 

[Daniel Avery]

Maybe you should set a goal of tapering off these AI videos toward Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), then resolve to give up AI videos for Lent. You're lurching toward a Tommie-esque dependence on bizarre video clips that makes me nervous.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Maybe you should set a goal of tapering off these AI videos toward Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), then resolve to give up AI videos for Lent. You're lurching toward a Tommie-esque dependence on bizarre video clips that makes me nervous.

Who's @tommie ?

 

[ClassyCo]

I've got the first eleven episodes of Season 3 so far, which means I've finally made it to Elaine Hendrix and her debut as Alexis #3. I know this statement is very premature and I almost hesitate to say it, but I am actually really liking Hendrix in the role. While I do still miss Nicollette, I do think Elaine is a solid recast. She's attractive, menacing, and appears to be more of a "threat" to Blake, Cristal, Fallon, and the rest of them than I had anticipated. My only drawback is they've paired Alexis up with Jeff, which seems totally random and goes too much against the grain for my tastes. Of course, CW DYNASTY has taken many liberties on the OG DYNASTY, but this "take" isn't necessarily my cup-of-tea. We'll see, though, how it all plays out.

Fallon and Liam are back together... again, and I like that they are. Liam might be the only genuinely good-hearted person on the entire show, and he is easily one of my favorite characters. He just isn't used nearly enough, which I fear is going to be an ongoing trend with the character, despite his being upgraded to "regular" status and getting credit in the intro.

Fallon (despite Elizabeth Gillies still being fantastic in the role) just can't seem to find where she wants to go. For all her fussing about wanting to get out from under Blake and establish her own dynasty, she is completely preoccupied with her father. Which, to be fair, it would be hard to come out from under someone like Blake and insert your own identity, especially when you still carry his name and benefit from his wealth. Fallon briefly gets tangled up with Evan Tate, which was quite random, and I honestly don't believe we've seen the last of him. I do like, however, that Fallon seems to be done with Culhane, at least romantically. I've never cared for them together.

I'm slowly warming to Daniella Alfonso as Cristal, even though I still wish Ana Brenda Contreras had been able to stick around. Alfonso is finding her own footing in the role, and she actually shares good on-screen chemistry with Grant Show as Blake. Alfonso just isn't as solid of a recast as Hendrix has been so far.

The rest, as they say, is just business as usual.

 

[Daniel Avery]

My only drawback is they've paired Alexis up with Jeff, which seems totally random and goes too much against the grain for my tastes

I'm not sure, but I think this was done for two reasons, both of which are nods to the original. It was the only way to add "--Colby" to the character's list of last names, and also to place her in the running to inherit the Colby fortune, since the death of OG Alexis's "Colby husband" was what gave her the money and power to fight with Blake on a corporate level. By doing this, however, it put a target on poor Jeff's back, since fans were now endlessly predicting Jeff would end up dying as a nod to the original. I can laugh at it now, but we were seeing the Grim Reaper around every corner when he was in a scene. Liam turned out to be much more like OG Jeff (nice guy in love with Fallon with a rich, dysfunctional family offscreen waiting to be introduced) so NuJeff feels like an independent creation rather than inspired by a character from the original, and thus more expendable (especially after Monica left and Dominique was off doing her own thing).

 

[ClassyCo]

I'm not sure, but I think this was done for two reasons, both of which are nods to the original. It was the only way to add "--Colby" to the character's list of last names, and also to place her in the running to inherit the Colby fortune, since the death of OG Alexis's "Colby husband" was what gave her the money and power to fight with Blake on a corporate level.

You know, I didn't even think about this, but I'd say you're right. In the OG show, the surname "Colby" was the one Alexis reverted to the most often, even though her marriage to Cecil was the shortest.

Which brings me to -- where in the world is Cecil in this reboot? He's barely in the show and once he was off house arrest or whatever, he isn't even on the show. Have I missed any explanation as to where he's supposed to be, or are they just ignoring him for the most part? I know he popped back in suddenly right after Dominique showed up, but now he's gone again.

By doing this, however, it put a target on poor Jeff's back, since fans were now endlessly predicting Jeff would end up dying as a nod to the original. I can laugh at it now, but we were seeing the Grim Reaper around every corner when he was in a scene.

NuJeff feels like an independent creation rather than inspired by a character from the original, and thus more expendable (especially after Monica left and Dominique was off doing her own thing).

Yes, this CW version of Jeff is more of his own creation, where his only similarities to the OG character being his name. However, I'd argue that Jeff takes on some of the characteristics of the OG Cecil, wherein he was a rival of Blake's and bent on stealing the Carrington fortune, despite the Colbys being wealthier.

So, Monica ends up leaving? I like her character, she just isn't given much to do outside fighting with Fallon, fighting with Jeff, fighting with Dominique, and running Club Colby.

The relationship dynamic between Jeff, Monica, Dominique, and Cecil is perhaps the most jarring of the changes from the OG into the reboot. I don't mind that they've made Jeff and Monica siblings from the start, but I'm having issues with Dominique being their mother. I like that they kept Dominique being Blake's half-sister, I just wish they made them more of an ally for one another, instead enemies like literally everyone else on the show. I guess making Dominique the mother of Jeff and Monica condenses the cast and brings a fan favorite character from the OG show into the reboot, but I would've liked it had they done something different. Maybe Dominique could've married Cecil in the reboot, and been their stepmother, but that wouldn't've worked either if Dominique and Blake were to have a more friendly brother-sister relationship.

I don't know how I'd fix it. I'll do some tinkering with it.

Liam turned out to be much more like OG Jeff (nice guy in love with Fallon with a rich, dysfunctional family offscreen waiting to be introduced)

Again, you're right here, I'd say. The OF Jeff was run over by Fallon, the Carringtons, and the Colbys, and Liam fills that vacancy in the reboot. I can already tell they've done practically all their going to do with his character, but I could very well be wrong.