JROG
Telly Talk Well-Known Member
For no reason other than I cannot stop myself, I decided to rewatch Season 5. I do not know how far I'll take it, but so far I'm 8 episodes in.
There is a lot of stupidity and bad plotting everywhere you turn but it's been fun (re)discovering some things that work -- not to mention surprising:
Mark's murder and Alexis' trial:
The bad parts:
It starts nonsensical and just gets worse and worse. Firing her lawyer, firing Adam, Alexis eating caviar in jail!!!, those trial episodes, Steven's surprise witness testimony, Alexis going full-on crazy diva on steroids.
The good parts:
Alexis stupidly leaving the country and then being arrested for it, that stuck-up neighbor Hartley who somehow managed to invoke such a strong essence of old, snooty money, Dex calling Steven a fag and one of the few fights I can recall that doesn't feel homoerotic when it shouldn't, Neal McVane in drag (yes, it was ridiculous but my GOD what an audacious move from the show. There was really nothing like it).
Dominique Devereaux:
The good parts:
I've found myself enjoying the story quite a lot. Dominique and Brady work nicely together. There is a sense the writers know where this is going. There's potential. The reveal Dominique is Blake's sister. Dominique wanting to be accepted/recognized as a Carrington.
The bad parts:
Dominique talking the way she does and making constant random speeches. Blake, a white man, using her as a cash cow. Dominique making a random proclamation that she wants to make Blake pay. What/huh?
Fallon's Death:
The good parts:
Jeff's drinking/whoring around is done competently enough (but nothing to write home about). Krystle and Claudia finding out and comforting each other. Peter deVilbis somehow being involved. Nicole coming to get revenge (as a storyline idea).
The bad parts:
Fallon's emotionally-dead funeral: All these people crying and suffering; it should be a tearjerker. I feel nothing. Fallon seems to be forgotten as soon as she dies; no real sense of grieving or tragedy occurring. The whole stupidity of her disappearance and lazy writing. Nicole.
Amanda:
The good parts:
Fun introduction having her snoop around Alexis' penthouse etc. and that ending: Mother! Catherine's casting. Amanda showing up at Alexis' party to tell everyone she's her daughter. Alexis slapping her and calling her a little bitch.
The bad parts:
Why is Amanda calling Alexis "mummy" when she's just found out she's her mom? Why doesn't Blake seem to suspect Amanda could maybe possibly be his until it's beyond obvious?
Steven is gay again:
The good parts:
Steven and Claudia arguing for the 25th time in 8 episodes and Steven suddenly yelling "he was just straightening my tie!" and walking away. Wow. An entire argument based on subtext. They didn't even discuss it before this. Why can't they do more of this all the time? Luke is cute.
The bad parts:
Claudia the robot. Steven's acting. Horrid dialogue. Just... nothing clicks. I sat through this week by week and it was so painful.
Sammy Jo Kidnaps Danny:
The good parts:
Sammy Jo taking him, trying to extort money, Adam tying her up and taking the baby back.
The bad parts:
The show killing/not exploring the very promising Adam/Sammy Jo relationship. A match made in hell! Instead, Adam is left trying to be a good boy.
Blake and Krystle's Marriage Rift:
No bad parts. Perhaps the most surprising and shockingly competent aspect of the season so far. Written with, dare I say, subtlety, emotional honesty, and with the characters in mind. Not great dialogue or acting but a sense of these peoples' personalities and history exists. Mounting tension. Foreshadowing. Krystle has also had a lot of jabs about Alexis this season and a couple of bitchy scenes with her -- one of the only times she comes alive. The rift is believable and deepening. Ah, as long as it doesn't lead to a chemistry-free affair or something....
Saving Denver-Carrington:
Another rather competent part of the season: Blake's efforts to get money, the brief Alexis mortgage, Billy Waite, Hal Lombard, Dominique being brought into it, how it informs/affects the marriage problems Blake is having with Krystle, and a believable return to status quo. This isn't DALLAS level detailing and logic but it's much, much more than this show has given in a long time.
Random observations:
Steven and Dex are celebrating in Alexis' penthouse but there seems to be no memory of their truly nasty fight.
Insane plotting: Three new relationships/affairs introduced one after the other in the same episode.
Dex being just random and beyond pompous: He's a hero! Then he's an asshole! Then he's a lover! Picking fights clearly because the writers want to fill time. No direction/purpose.
There is a lot of stupidity and bad plotting everywhere you turn but it's been fun (re)discovering some things that work -- not to mention surprising:
Mark's murder and Alexis' trial:
The bad parts:
It starts nonsensical and just gets worse and worse. Firing her lawyer, firing Adam, Alexis eating caviar in jail!!!, those trial episodes, Steven's surprise witness testimony, Alexis going full-on crazy diva on steroids.
The good parts:
Alexis stupidly leaving the country and then being arrested for it, that stuck-up neighbor Hartley who somehow managed to invoke such a strong essence of old, snooty money, Dex calling Steven a fag and one of the few fights I can recall that doesn't feel homoerotic when it shouldn't, Neal McVane in drag (yes, it was ridiculous but my GOD what an audacious move from the show. There was really nothing like it).
Dominique Devereaux:
The good parts:
I've found myself enjoying the story quite a lot. Dominique and Brady work nicely together. There is a sense the writers know where this is going. There's potential. The reveal Dominique is Blake's sister. Dominique wanting to be accepted/recognized as a Carrington.
The bad parts:
Dominique talking the way she does and making constant random speeches. Blake, a white man, using her as a cash cow. Dominique making a random proclamation that she wants to make Blake pay. What/huh?
Fallon's Death:
The good parts:
Jeff's drinking/whoring around is done competently enough (but nothing to write home about). Krystle and Claudia finding out and comforting each other. Peter deVilbis somehow being involved. Nicole coming to get revenge (as a storyline idea).
The bad parts:
Fallon's emotionally-dead funeral: All these people crying and suffering; it should be a tearjerker. I feel nothing. Fallon seems to be forgotten as soon as she dies; no real sense of grieving or tragedy occurring. The whole stupidity of her disappearance and lazy writing. Nicole.
Amanda:
The good parts:
Fun introduction having her snoop around Alexis' penthouse etc. and that ending: Mother! Catherine's casting. Amanda showing up at Alexis' party to tell everyone she's her daughter. Alexis slapping her and calling her a little bitch.
The bad parts:
Why is Amanda calling Alexis "mummy" when she's just found out she's her mom? Why doesn't Blake seem to suspect Amanda could maybe possibly be his until it's beyond obvious?
Steven is gay again:
The good parts:
Steven and Claudia arguing for the 25th time in 8 episodes and Steven suddenly yelling "he was just straightening my tie!" and walking away. Wow. An entire argument based on subtext. They didn't even discuss it before this. Why can't they do more of this all the time? Luke is cute.
The bad parts:
Claudia the robot. Steven's acting. Horrid dialogue. Just... nothing clicks. I sat through this week by week and it was so painful.
Sammy Jo Kidnaps Danny:
The good parts:
Sammy Jo taking him, trying to extort money, Adam tying her up and taking the baby back.
The bad parts:
The show killing/not exploring the very promising Adam/Sammy Jo relationship. A match made in hell! Instead, Adam is left trying to be a good boy.
Blake and Krystle's Marriage Rift:
No bad parts. Perhaps the most surprising and shockingly competent aspect of the season so far. Written with, dare I say, subtlety, emotional honesty, and with the characters in mind. Not great dialogue or acting but a sense of these peoples' personalities and history exists. Mounting tension. Foreshadowing. Krystle has also had a lot of jabs about Alexis this season and a couple of bitchy scenes with her -- one of the only times she comes alive. The rift is believable and deepening. Ah, as long as it doesn't lead to a chemistry-free affair or something....
Saving Denver-Carrington:
Another rather competent part of the season: Blake's efforts to get money, the brief Alexis mortgage, Billy Waite, Hal Lombard, Dominique being brought into it, how it informs/affects the marriage problems Blake is having with Krystle, and a believable return to status quo. This isn't DALLAS level detailing and logic but it's much, much more than this show has given in a long time.
Random observations:
Steven and Dex are celebrating in Alexis' penthouse but there seems to be no memory of their truly nasty fight.
Insane plotting: Three new relationships/affairs introduced one after the other in the same episode.
Dex being just random and beyond pompous: He's a hero! Then he's an asshole! Then he's a lover! Picking fights clearly because the writers want to fill time. No direction/purpose.