Finding (the rest of) Falcon Crest - Seasons 7, 8, and 9

[JROG]

I've powered through the first 17 episodes of the 7th season.

Boy.

The first 14-15 episodes or so are just ... something else.

NINJAS AT FALCON CREST?
Eric turning into a complete jerk out of nowhere, beating the sh*t out of Vickie, and causing a miscarriage?
Storylines starting and ending within 2-3 episodes?
Endless succession of characters coming and going within two episodes?
I've never even seen MIAMI VICE and it reminds even me of MIAMI VICE
Lance losing a SECOND fiance to hospital death and arrested for murder AGAIN?
Carlton Travis?
Jesus....
You can see the show slowly tanking in the ratings as the weeks go on, and it's no surprise.

One of the only positives is the incredible chemistry between Richard and Maggie, and how there's a semblance of thought-out arc and story in the development of their love.

Then, suddenly, around the episode of Richard and Maggie's first wedding (which didn't happen), things start feeling a lot more like FALCON CREST again.
Carly is actually quite fun (thanks to Hargitay's work). The pace slows down. The "adventure" storylines are stopped. I'm sure I'll regret this, but I even enjoyed the introduction of The Thirteen. It reminds me of the stories of Season 2/3, which is ironic, since the show fought so hard to move past that kind of thing. The "Stormy Weather" episode was at least a little fun, especially Angela listening in on all the doors!

Could the show turn things around?

 

[JROG]

And just like that... Season 7 is done with. Phew.

Overall, I think it was a destructive season for the show, in a far greater extent than Season 6 was. While I appreciated Chase's codicils, Richard and Maggie, and Carly (mostly thanks to Hargitay), the rest was a collection of random plot points that managed to be outrageous and boring at the same time. When the final episode of the season started with Eric being brainwashed by Rosemont, I very seriously considered hitting Home on my remote and never watching again.

While earlier FALCON CREST could be outrageous, it somehow managed to ground it and make it worth it (like Julia's long kidnapping by the Nazi while he watched her through a mirror). I never took FC too seriously because it never took itself seriously either -- anything could be undone and rewritten as needed. But to a point. And the last couple of seasons have decimated that to the point where nothing matters anymore.

Melissa is the MVP of the season -- Ana Alicia has given the performance of a lifetime, making every single utterly insane thing Melissa says or does work. Somehow. Magically. A bit too much giggling perhaps, but I'll forgive her. How else would you survive all this craziness, as an actor, if not laugh? And I've always adored Sullivan and Selby.

I just don't have much to say. Except perhaps the really quick storylines and incredible turnover of characters was a blessing in disguise: It was so frenetic, at least it helped me tolerate the terrible plots slightly. Once we settled into a much slower pace, it's just a slog.... People have always trash talked Season 5 but it was Shakespeare compared to what followed. Honestly, Apollonia was the worst thing... and I'd take it over what we got in Season 7. At least the cliffhanger was fun!

Please tell me I can expect something better in Season 8? It's the only season from which I've never seen anything.

 

[GillesDenver]

Please tell me I can expect something better in Season 8? It's the only season from which I've never seen anything.

It's a season sandwiched between seasons 6/7 and 9 which are much more modern (not necessarily in a good way). Season 8 is terribly simple, probably outdated for 1988/1989, with a very slow pacing, but I think it gets some excellent moments, if you are ready to accept a bunch of new characters replacing old characters as Melissa, Vickie, Eric, etc

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Please tell me I can expect something better in Season 8? It's the only season from which I've never seen anything.

Season 8 tries to go straight again.

CBS called Michael Filerman at the end of Season 7 due to the ratings drop and said "fi it." So Jeff Freilich, the show-runner for Season 6 and 7, was released. And they brought in Camille Marchetta (the story editor for the first three or four years of DALLAS and the writer-producer for Season 5 of DYNASTY) for FC's Season 8... Marchetta was, by her own admission, a very logical writer, but she arguably lacked a sense of "zip."

Season 8 attempts to correct the tonal and narrative flaws from what came before, but it just winds up kind of dull. FC had lost its mojo, and it may have been too late to get it back. And ratings continued to slump.

They mercifully drop the synthesized music score for Season 8, but it returns for Season 9.

 

[Jock Og]

I liked the 7th season. It really was the 'bells and whistles' season. Everything under the sun happened. Yes 1987-'88 was slapstick, a lot of winking to the camera and it's the last season flimed at Spring Mountain Winery/Villa Miravalle for outdoor scenes.

I'd sum up the year Chao-Li finally got his overdue visual presence in the opening credits as 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' I still stand by what I said since this forum founded 24 years ago and that was season 7 is better/more enjoyable than season 8 and 9 combined.

Season 7 lifts off. The rollercoaster season.

Lance, Angela, Fr. Curtis and Chao-Li watch on during the first attempt for 'it was meant to be' hitching of Richard and Maggie.


Rosemont (the 13’s boss) is having tea with Angela, in the Falcon Crest living room. Lance is also there; (a scene from season 7, 1987 – ’88):

Angela: “All of this power you’ve given him…..”

Rosemont: “Richard Channing, your son.”

Angela: “……..He wants to use it to ruin Falcon Crest and to ruin me and when he is through with us he’ll start on you!”

Rosemont: “Well, I consider myself warned.”

Angela: “I haven’t finished.”

Rosemont: “Indeed.”

Angela: “Now you’ve interfered in my personal business. I never allow that.”

Rosemont: “I promise you I had no intention of interfering.”

Lance: “Trying to kill me counts as interfering, don’t you think Mr. Rosemont?”

Angela: “This battle is between my son and myself and if you help him you will make yourself my enemy.”

Rosemont: “And I understand you are a formidable one.”

She smiles at him.

Rosemont: “However I have always had a certain appreciation for a worthy opponent. Indeed if you and I ever find ourselves in that position I might enjoy it.”

Angela: “I doubt it!”

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I liked the 7th season. It really was the 'bells and whistles' season. Everything under the sun happened. Yes 1987-'88 was slapstick, a lot of winking to the camera and it's the last season flimed at Spring Mountain Winery/Villa Miravalle for outdoor scenes.

I'd sum up the year Chao-Li finally got his overdue visual presence in the opening credits as 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' I still stand by what I said since this forum founded 24 years ago and that was season 7 is better/more enjoyable than season 8 and 9 combined.

Season 7 lifts off. The rollercoaster season.

Lance, Angela, Fr. Curtis and Chao-Li watch on during the first attempt for 'it was meant to be' hitching of Richard and Maggie.


Rosemont (the 13’s boss) is having tea with Angela, in the Falcon Crest living room. Lance is also there; (a scene from season 7, 1987 – ’88):

Angela: “All of this power you’ve given him…..”

Rosemont: “Richard Channing, your son.”

Angela: “……..He wants to use it to ruin Falcon Crest and to ruin me and when he is through with us he’ll start on you!”

Rosemont: “Well, I consider myself warned.”

Angela: “I haven’t finished.”

Rosemont: “Indeed.”

Angela: “Now you’ve interfered in my personal business. I never allow that.”

Rosemont: “I promise you I had no intention of interfering.”

Lance: “Trying to kill me counts as interfering, don’t you think Mr. Rosemont?”

Angela: “This battle is between my son and myself and if you help him you will make yourself my enemy.”

Rosemont: “And I understand you are a formidable one.”

She smiles at him.

Rosemont: “However I have always had a certain appreciation for a worthy opponent. Indeed if you and I ever find ourselves in that position I might enjoy it.”

Angela: “I doubt it!”

Well, all I can say is Howard Lakin isn't my favorite writer. His individual scripts for DALLAS were fine until he became their head-writer/constructionist for Season 13 and 14.

His work in FC's Season 7 just doesn't make me terribly happy -- not that he's the only problem.

BTW: I rather like the Season 8 FC theme arrangement:

 

[auhin4]

I liked the 7th season. It really was the 'bells and whistles' season. Everything under the sun happened. Yes 1987-'88 was slapstick, a lot of winking to the camera and it's the last season flimed at Spring Mountain Winery/Villa Miravalle for outdoor scenes.

I'd sum up the year Chao-Li finally got his overdue visual presence in the opening credits as 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.' I still stand by what I said since this forum founded 24 years ago and that was season 7 is better/more enjoyable than season 8 and 9 combined.

Season 7 lifts off. The rollercoaster season.

Lance, Angela, Fr. Curtis and Chao-Li watch on during the first attempt for 'it was meant to be' hitching of Richard and Maggie.


Rosemont (the 13’s boss) is having tea with Angela, in the Falcon Crest living room. Lance is also there; (a scene from season 7, 1987 – ’88):

Angela: “All of this power you’ve given him…..”

Rosemont: “Richard Channing, your son.”

Angela: “……..He wants to use it to ruin Falcon Crest and to ruin me and when he is through with us he’ll start on you!”

Rosemont: “Well, I consider myself warned.”

Angela: “I haven’t finished.”

Rosemont: “Indeed.”

Angela: “Now you’ve interfered in my personal business. I never allow that.”

Rosemont: “I promise you I had no intention of interfering.”

Lance: “Trying to kill me counts as interfering, don’t you think Mr. Rosemont?”

Angela: “This battle is between my son and myself and if you help him you will make yourself my enemy.”

Rosemont: “And I understand you are a formidable one.”

She smiles at him.

Rosemont: “However I have always had a certain appreciation for a worthy opponent. Indeed if you and I ever find ourselves in that position I might enjoy it.”

Angela: “I doubt it!”

Yeah I loved 7. It was really fun. I can't wait to rewatch it! The guest stars were great. All of it was very memorable. I loved all the globe-trotting.

 

[JROG]

Just wrapped Season 8 and, I must admit, I quite liked it. I thought it made narrative sense from beginning to end, I really enjoyed the new characters, and the business with The Consortium/Glenbraddoch served as an excellent season-long arc.

It definitely toned things down too much. One can't simply go from bombings, kidnappings, and shootings every twenty minutes (absurd as it all was) to something that resembles an early 90s earnest drama. I can see how, certainly by comparison, it would appear dull, and not really win over ratings. Ana-Alicia's return as a lookalike was the only time the show felt like a jolt of electricity again, following her arson/suicide.

Speaking of Ana-Alicia, what a horrible decision to write her out. I assume it may have been budget related, but Freilich had done a number on the character. I am sad they turned her into a psycho and a joke (in somewhat similar fashion to what happened to Valene Ewing).

Kinda funny how Dan's replacement was another tall, white, long-haired blond guy. Still cute.

Overall, however, I may even rank this season higher than 6 and 7, but behind 5. Season 6 started so promisingly but soon plummeted, so I don't know if I can rank it above Season 8.

I cannot, for the life of me, say many good things for 7 -- I forgot to mention the terrible music in my earlier post -- but I am glad it gave us Frank (whom they wisely kept around) and I did enjoy their use of Tony. But it completely decimated the show as I knew it and further destroyed the Giobertis, whom they have still to adequately replace.

I am SO excited for Season 9, different or not!

 

[GillesDenver]

Speaking of Ana-Alicia, what a horrible decision to write her out. I assume it may have been budget related

Unfortunately not, she was paid the full season since she had a contract but Michael Fillerman wanted her out. When he had to call her back, he had to pay her a second salary for the role of Samantha !

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Speaking of Ana-Alicia, what a horrible decision to write her out. I assume it may have been budget related, but Freilich had done a number on the character.

Unfortunately not, she was paid the full season since she had a contract but Michael Fillerman wanted her out. When he had to call her back, he had to pay her a second salary for the role of Samantha !

They had to double pay her?? Ha!! No wonder Filerman was so mad! Ana-Alicia said he was so angry that he was forced to rehire her (audience complaint resulted in CBS and Lorimar demanding she be re-hired) that Filerman hovered around her unprofessionally to intimidate her because he couldn't take his fury out on the network or the production company.

I know some fans think Melissa had overstayed her welcome, and that her descent into mental illness was played for laughs (I blame all those brain tumors I want for Season 7), but she was perhaps the most popular character on the show. So fix the writing for her -- don't just kill her!

 

[JROG]

Unfortunately not, she was paid the full season since she had a contract but Michael Fillerman wanted her out. When he had to call her back, he had to pay her a second salary for the role of Samantha !

Oh, yes! I remember the double salary now! Well that makes me feel slightly better about her firing - if you're gonna make a dumb move like getting rid of Ana-Alicia, you're gonna have to pay for that. In many ways.

They had to double pay her?? Ha!! No wonder Filerman was so mad! Ana-Alicia said he was so angry that he was forced to rehire her (audience complaint resulted in CBS and Lorimar demanding she be re-hired) that Filerman hovered around her unprofessionally to intimidate her because he couldn't take his fury out on the network or the production company.

I know some fans think Melissa had overstayed her welcome, and that her descent into mental illness was played for laughs (I blame all those brain tumors I want for Season 7), but she was perhaps the most popular character on the show. So fix the writing for her -- don't just kill her!

Why on Earth would anyone want to get rid of her? Sounds like a personal thing. Terrible to hear about how she was treated when she returned.

Her descent into mental illness was definitely a joke and played for laughs. It just came out of nowhere. Perhaps they started to write her like that, including making her increasingly erratic and a goddamn baby stealer, because they hoped it would cause the audience to turn against her? Thing is, Ana-Alicia played the HELL out of it, selling even the most implausible stuff....

I assumed they did it because they ran out of ideas -- after all, FC cycled through stories so quickly, they weren't exactly careful with long-term viability for characters, and Melissa was one of the characters with the least viability, admittedly -- or they just thought it'd be exciting.

She was certainly at the top for me as a character, so they really messed up with that one.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Her descent into mental illness was definitely a joke and played for laughs. It just came out of nowhere. Perhaps they started to write her like that, including making her increasingly erratic and a goddamn baby stealer, because they hoped it would cause the audience to turn against her? Thing is, Ana-Alicia played the HELL out of it, selling even the most implausible stuff....

I still say Jacqueline buried nuclear waste under Falcon Crest in the early-'50s, which is the real reason she took Chase away as a child and tried to convince him to leave again and take his family in 1982. A few years later, by Season 7, the Strontium-90 leaks into the chardonnay causing customers to burst into spontaneous human combustion. At the same time, Julia and Emma are both diagnosed with brain tumors (which may have lain dormant for years!) and the radioactive waste was the cause (ditto: Maggie's brain tumor from four years earlier)! The Channing sisters undergo simultaneous surgery, but Melissa refuses -- although a brain tumor might explain her insane behavior over the last couple of years (but, knowing Melissa, she may have had some other clandestine agenda). But at least it lets Angela off the hook for her domineering mothering causing all of her daughters' mental shit.

But nobody likes my idea!!

 

[GillesDenver]

But nobody likes my idea!!

I suspect Jeff Freilich wished he had this idea in 1987-1988 !

 

[JROG]

The first two episodes of Season 9 are a shock to the system. I had to pause for a few minutes after "Charley" to process.

From the very first shot, you quickly get the sense this is going to be good. I don't know if you can call it FALCON CREST. It feels more like a crime drama than a soap, true, but then again, what good did the daytime-soap-on-crack tone of Season 7 do us anyway?

There are a lot of shades of TWIN PEAKS and AMERICAN PSYCHO here (with Michael Sharpe). It's really fascinating. With the set of scenes following Richard's imprisonment, the change in tone could not be more obvious. The show is no longer doing glammy melodrama. It's going for something gritty.

The opening credit arrangement will take some getting used to (versus the really lovely Season 8 one) and the show has a huge issue with it's nearly nonexistent female cast. Angela is about to be gone, Maggie has just been killed off, Emma doesn't count, and Pilar is not written true to character. The Pilar I know was cool and measured, and never shrill. Granted, one can assume Angela's interference is pushing Pilar over the edge, but this feels more like Melissa than Pilar (and season 8 took great pains to make sure Pilar was not Melissa). Let's see where this goes.

"Charley" is truly wonderful and the titular character is both fascinating and horrifying. Every scene he's in sparkles.

Both episodes feature shocking, beautifully filmed final scenes: Maggie's heartbreaking drowning (with some wonderful editing) and Charley attacking Angela. I knew of the scenes but it's so great to finally see them in context. Maggie and Angela are my top 2 favorites, next to Melissa, so it's really hard to let them go, but I am keeping an open mind.

This is a masterclass on how quickly you can turn a show around. I have never been so on edge about a character's fate on this show -- it has never mattered so much -- as it did when Charley slowly walked back to Angela's bed with the pillow in his hands. I know what's about to happen, and it is still chilling.

The true test will be to see if they can sustain this. I'm in for the ride!

 

[tommie]

I know some fans think Melissa had overstayed her welcome, and that her descent into mental illness was played for laughs (I blame all those brain tumors I want for Season 7), but she was perhaps the most popular character on the show. So fix the writing for her -- don't just kill her!

Even if they had to write her out, they had a full 22 episodes to set up for her departure and they could've really made it count. Hell, having her on the show for the whole season could've really helped usher in more Agretti's and established them on the canvas.

 

[tommie]

From the very first shot, you quickly get the sense this is going to be good. I don't know if you can call it FALCON CREST. It feels more like a crime drama than a soap, true, but then again, what good did the daytime-soap-on-crack tone of Season 7 do us anyway?

I think the easiest way to view season 9 is as a spin-off - because it definitively doesn't feel like Falcon Crest, but at the same time it's a pretty well-written and plotted soap. I get why fans dismiss it due to how jarring it is from what came before, but I like it. But then again, I also like marmite.

 

[JROG]

I think the easiest way to view season 9 is as a spin-off - because it definitively doesn't feel like Falcon Crest, but at the same time it's a pretty well-written and plotted soap. I get why fans dismiss it due to how jarring it is from what came before, but I like it. But then again, I also like marmite.

Yes, it's undeniable that it's jarring. But, it's so good, you can just ... forget what came before. Unlike DALLAS, whose tonal and format changes did not come with good writing. One just has to decide to!

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

I wonder what you will think of Genele Ericsson, once she has arrived...

 

[JROG]

I wonder what you will think of Genele Ericsson, once she has arrived...

That name sounds VERY Falcon Crest, so that's a good start!

 

[Willie Oleson]

I think the easiest way to view season 9 is as a spin-off - because it definitively doesn't feel like Falcon Crest

I could say the same about Skylar Kimball. What did she have to do with Tuscany Valley?