nuDynasty Episode Chat S3E01: Guilt Trip to Alaska (Season Premiere)

[thomaswak]

I've edited it. I don't know if it's on Netflix Germany.

Thanks. I was asking because It's not on Netflix France (and it won't till june 2020) so I wanted to know if it was the same in other euoprean countries.

I mostly enjoyed the premiere to be honest, but yes, the soapnesia just seems unnecessary especially now that Liam is in the opening title. We know Ashley might be a three episode speed bump at best; it probably would've been better to just have him have short term memory loss which is actually fairly common with head traumas.

That's why I don't want to judge the episode overall.
I need to see it first.

But I agree. Telenovela/soap amnesia is cheesy.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Amnesia is something I expect to see. I don't get the soapnesia-hating here. It's NuDynasty where it's probably gone before next week's title credits.

 

[tommie]

Amnesia is something I expect to see. I don't get the soapnesia-hating here. It's NuDynasty where it's probably gone before next week's title credits.

I don't think it's as much "hate" as much as a loud groan because it's such an overused soap trope. I guess we'll see if it plays out and they manage to twist it in a way that makes it slightly more exciting, but Ashley won't be long on this show. Maybe she can hang around to get killed in the midseason finale or something.

 

[tommie]

On a related note, it's funny how quickly they seemingly "wrapped" Trixie's death/Fallon's involvement - she just went to the police and confessed to her falling and that seems to be it. It makes me wonder if Sallie Patrick had a different vision in mind where it was going to go and Josh Reims just quickly wrapped it.

 

[thomaswak]

Amnesia is something I expect to see. I don't get the soapnesia-hating here. It's NuDynasty where it's probably gone before next week's title credits.

It's not that I hate it. It's just that soap amnesia is :
- convenient
- lazy
- cliché/overused
- old

 

[thomaswak]

Ok, Just watched the episode.

It was good, in Nu Dynasty's standard (except for the soap amnesia for the reasons mentioned above)... It was largely better than season 2 premiere. I enjoyed it.

Some notes :
- Dominique wants Blake's empire. And now she's Cristal's enemy. She hires a journalist/investigator to dig up dirts from Cristal's family : rings a bell ? She's officially "interim Alexis".
- Cristal3.0 jokes were nice. Especially the "I just got here". For once, the tongue in cheek was kind of clever.
- I like that she worries that they find her DNA on Mack's body (at least, THIS is a consequence of her spitting on Mack. It's nice that the writers remembered that)
- Daniella Alonso's acting is good. I love the nuances on her faces when she's lying to the police, about not knowing Mack.
- Adam's jokes on Trixie and Mack's name were so in character (Nu Adam, not OG Adam of course)
- Kirby is nice, is a moral compass. That's good.
- You got to love Blake slapping Adam
- Blake mentioning he loves "bad ass Cristal" is much "under the nose" for the viewers. But I think it's the writers way of telling us "this is Cristal, and this time we have decided what she is"

Season 3 premiere is an improvement on both season 3 finale and season 2 premiere. The writer's team proved they could deliver sometimes good/great episodes by the past. I hope that Josh Reims, the new show runner, can keep them in that direction. It's a good start imho. I have to be honest : now I can't wait about next episode.

 

[Mason Carrington]

Dominique just seems to be Alexis 2.0, but with money. She just wants the social status, hence her “re-introduction”. I really hope they don’t ruin another character.

 

[thomaswak]

Money she got from Blake actually. And yes, she wants more (more money, and fame)

 

[Willie Oleson]

It's not that I hate it. It's just that soap amnesia is :
- convenient
- lazy
- cliché/overused
- old

But isn't the "will he live or die" cliffhanger cliché too?
The next question: when will he remember?
Although I don't think it's going to change anything, unless they want to de-villain Adam and put him on the love & marriage merry-go-round like they did in O.Dynasty.

 

[thomaswak]

But isn't the "will he live or die" cliffhanger cliché too?

It was terribly cliché. The f...ing dumb show runners did the same with Morgan in Fear The Walking Dead finale (and Morgan is the main character, we all know is not going to die in any way. But as I said, dumb show runners)

Back to Dynasty, I disliked season 2 finale. And Liam being a fan-favorite, we all knew he wasn't going to die in that pool, and finish his resting days in the lake too.

The next question: when will he remember?
Although I don't think it's going to change anything, unless they want to de-villain Adam and put him on the love & marriage merry-go-round like they did in O.Dynasty.

This kind of amnesia is not realistic. Not common, after a head trauma of that kind. But we are in the Nu Dynasty Universe (NDU ?) where plastic surgery can basically turn a 50 yo old woman in her 25 yo daughter lookalike. Based on this, the writers can choose whatever road they want to take. They can make Liam remember gradually, or never. They can conveniently pick what Liam can remember or not. I'm not expecting much from this storyline. I hope I will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Willie Oleson]

This kind of amnesia is not realistic

How realistic were the 80s prime time soaps? The headaches, the "he did drugs", A Love Remembered?
After my initial complaints that NuDynasty wasn't soapy enough I'm not going to complain about the things that are quintessential - albeit cliché - soap opera.
The amnesia itself is not very exciting but it's not the kind of thing that would hurt the show. I think they got much bigger problems (although your review of the season premiere seems fairly optimistic!)

It would be interesting if Liam remembers more than we know!

 

[thomaswak]

How realistic were the 80s prime time soaps? The headaches, the "he did drugs", A Love Remembered?
After my initial complaints that NuDynasty wasn't soapy enough I'm not going to complain about the things that are quintessential - albeit cliché - soap opera.
The amnesia itself is not very exciting but it's not the kind of thing that would hurt the show. I think they got much bigger problems (although your review of the season premiere seems fairly optimistic!)

It would be interesting if Liam remembers more than we know!

If it was only cliché, or unrealistic, this would be ok. But it's also overused, lazy, and convenient imo. That's a lot to take, even in Nu Dynasty standards But I agree, it can't hurt the show. And as you read my opinion about this episode, I confirm I enjoyed it and thought it was good. And I sure do prefer the show to go full soap, than taking the Cynthia Cidre road (may her "creativity" rot in peace)...

Maybe you're right. Maybe Liam is lying about his amnesia though. When he woke up, he gave Fallon a straight smile. Then maybe he went on the "amnesia thing" on purpose. Not a clever one, but on purpose to protect himself from Adam. But also to protect Fallon from Adam, if he thinks that as her fiancé, he can (involuntarily) trigger the worst in Adam and his obsession about his sister. Maybe Liam woke up way before, and had time to think about all of this. He's a writer after all. He should have the imagination to go with the job (yes, it is a wink at the show's writer. I can be obvious and not subtle too )

As I said a few days ago, I would go short amnesia and show the viewers that Liam remembers, and wants to trick Adam in a trap of his own. On a second thought, faking a soap amnesia can, be clever too : Liam's relation with Adam can start from fresh ground. He can even fake a friendly relation with him as a part of an elaborate plan.

This would be full soap. But there is just a line between "full soap" and "full crap" that shouldn't be crossed. And that's what lead original Dynasty to go from the n°1 show to n°69 in just 4 years...

EDIT :
Thanks to @Willie Oleson courtesy, I wanted to do a "full soap" recap for Nu Dynasty. Every help is welcome. So far we have :

- Falling from the stair balcony (Trixie)
- Amnesia (Liam)
- Plastic Surgery (Alexis)
- Crazy nurse (Manny the nanny)
- Unexplained recast (Cristal 3.0)
- Lost relative coming back from the past (Adam)
- Miscarriage (Cristal 2.0)
- Character's family origin changed to be related to the main protagonists (Monica and Jeff)
- Fire (Alexis studio)

I'm sure there is more.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

My TV went out just before nuDynasty premiered.

I see it as an obvious sign.

 

[thomaswak]

My TV went out just before nuDynasty premiered.

I see it as an obvious sign.

Nu Dynasty is meant to be seen on a tablet or a smartphone.
Just kidding. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Edie70]

It was an okay episode, liked it better than the season 2 finale. Fallon just threw her father under the bus which is probably something their relationship won't ever recover from. Blake slapping Adam was glorious and soapy! Michael Michele just tries too hard in the role of Dominique, I don't like her and cringe during her scenes. It's obvious that she is going to be Cristal's enemy. Speaking of Cristal, Number #3 is charming and she seems like a right fit, the recast doesn't even bother me at all because she is much closer to Nathalie Kelley. Only three scenes for Sammy Jo - that's how it should be, he's not my favorite. I liked Kirby in this episode, can't help but feel sorry for her because her father is never there for her when she needs him. It's always so much better when you start watching an episode with absolutely no expectations whatsoever. Liam looked so cute in a coma but I'm not looking forward to his memory loss storyline - who knows? It might be just an act to protect himself from Adam. Liam's mom will be in the next episode, fighting with Fallon again.

FYI: I watched the episode on my phone just as I was taking a dump.

 

[nostalgicstudent]

It was an okay episode, liked it better than the season 2 finale. Fallon just threw her father under the bus which is probably something their relationship won't ever recover from. Blake slapping Adam was glorious and soapy! Michael Michele just tries too hard in the role of Dominique, I don't like her and cringe during her scenes. It's obvious that she is going to be Cristal's enemy. Speaking of Cristal, Number #3 is charming and she seems like a right fit, the recast doesn't even bother me at all because she is much closer to Nathalie Kelley. Only three scenes for Sammy Jo - that's how it should be, he's not my favorite. I liked Kirby in this episode, can't help but feel sorry for her because her father is never there for her when she needs him. It's always so much better when you start watching an episode with absolutely no expectations whatsoever. Liam looked so cute in a coma but I'm not looking forward to his memory loss storyline - who knows? It might be just an act to protect himself from Adam. Liam's mom will be in the next episode, fighting with Fallon again.

FYI: I watched the episode on my phone just as I was taking a dump.

Couldnt agree more about Dominique, I dont necessarily hate her but my God stop trying so hard, everything she says is so over-acted it hurts, I hope she tones it down a bit

 

[Edie70]

And obviously ... I still miss Ms. Sheridan. Oh, this show could have been so different if they created a proper Alexis. There was probably something more to her departure, it's never been discussed but I feel like there was more and they agreed to put out something very diplomatic and part ways. She's completely removed herself from the show and the show removed her, it's like she never existed. It's very frustrating

 

[nostalgicstudent]

And obviously ... I still miss Ms. Sheridan. Oh, this show could have been so different if they created a proper Alexis. There was probably something more to her departure, it's never been discussed but I feel like there was more and they agreed to put out something very diplomatic and part ways. She's completely removed herself from the show and the show removed her, it's like she never existed. It's very frustrating

They completely ruined the character of Alexis (and Cristal too) now they just use Dominique as a replacement but it doesnt work. even with a new Alexis, it just wont be the same, Nicollette had so so much potential and they wasted all of it, I wouldnt blame her if she was just over it and left

 

[Michael Torrance]

Adam Huber is in the credits. Yeah! See Gillieathon people? It takes so little to make me happy.

Amnesia is a classic soap trope. On a daytime soap, B&B, Scott Clifton had actually begged exec producer Bradley Bell to give his character (also named Liam) amnesia because he thought being on a soap had to include that. The issue is not even that it was expected--twist, out-of-the-blue plotting is what damaged the real DYNASTY's credibility in the end. The problem is how lazy a solution to a problem is. After what Adam did, Liam would either confront him or not. But he could have easily faked amnesia, to everyone, Fallon included, to give himself time to frame Adam and to be free from any future murder attempts by him.

Just as lazy was the ease with which Adam was able to go into the morgue and switch the bodies. Most of his schemes have a Scooby-doo quality, which is sad considering his original con game with Steven. BTW, how come Jeff after 24 hours is declared missing but Steven after months is not missed by a single person?

Dominique is the show's redemption for how catastrophically they ruined Alexis.

The new Cristal reminds me of a poor man's Kristian Alfonso (and they are not even related). I guess she will do for one season.

I like how "The Elizabeth Gillies Hour" has brought the Zombie element to the genre: Culhane is a dead man walking, still on screen despite no plot or any reason for being around.

And the Georgia Aquarium: How come this small no-ratings show can do such location shooting and the original ratings megahit never left the studio? Hot Tea Atlanta should do a segment on that.

 

[thomaswak]

FYI: I watched the episode on my phone just as I was taking a dump.

This is the way to watch it. Always.