They missed the boat by not making Frankie an overt bitch...

[Snarky Oracle!]

Frankie was a passive-aggressive, entitled harlot, yes, but the character was mostly pretty boring. Only Sable's resentment made it interesting, her sister's on-again/off-again sluttery with Jason Colby, Sable's husband.

But I just saw a decent 1965 episode of GUNSMOKE (ironically titled, "The Lady") in which Katharine Ross (who, like every young actor on their ascent at the time, guest starred several times on the popular western) played a doe-eyed innocent young ex-heiress traveling to San Francisco with her earnest aunt (Eileen Heckart) when a stage stop in Kansas leads to the aunt becoming engaged unexpectedly to a landowner after her brief stint as a saloon hussy... But Little Miss Ross wants to carry onward to California, and becomes a sudden just-add-water bitch-o-rama and hires an ugly would-be-suiter to murder her aunt's fiancé so the two women can complete their journey to Frisco, leaving Dodge City far behind in the dust.

Katharine Ross was surprisingly convincing as a nasty homicidal cow disguised as a fawn. You totally believed her. Very Kristen Shepard-esque. And you didn't really see it coming.

This is where THE COLBYS may have really dropped the ball: there was never really "a bitch" on DYNASTY'S spin-off... Connie was a tough old bird (sort of); we were supposed to see Sable as a villainess, but she was too layered and sympathetic to really be all that despicable; and while Frankie's blasé entitlement, strolling through her sister's house as if she owned it (and soon would), made her quite hate-able, the character was never kinetic enough to be all that interesting.

So perhaps what we needed to see was The Two Faces of Francesca -- a woman who was sweeter-than-sugar to Jason, Jeff and Constance, but a ghastly c**t to everybody else. Because, as it turns out, Katharine Ross could actually do it.

It might have given THE COLBYS a focus structurally the show never really had. By giving Sable more of a valid adversary other than Connie (too old and not long for the manor).

 

[Willie Oleson]

This is where THE COLBYS may have really dropped the ball: there was never really "a bitch" on DYNASTY'S spin-off...

There was also no resident bitch in classic DALLAS. Judith Ryland was the first.
I, for one, love THE COLBYS' subversiveness of the likeable villainess and the unlikeable heroine and I often find that Sable's villainy is little bit underestimated.
What Sable does and why she does it isn't always cut and dried, unlike Alexis who will take every opportunity to lash out (and from her own point of view she had good reason to do so).
I agree that the appeal of a villain is partiallly influenced by our perception of their victims, but THE COLBYS had this most intriguing narrative of "the wrong things happening at the wrong time" rather than a straightforward "I hate you and I will destroy you" story. In other words, it worked because they didn't do it like DYNASTY.

Furthermore (you know there's going to be much, much more) there's the regular complaint in the DYNASTY fandom that Alexis never had any strong adversaries, she never had to deal with serious defeat except for that hideous moment at the end of season 7).
Frankie is a strong adversary but in a passive, ignorant way. There's a great scene in season one in which Sable tearfully begs her sister to leave California, and I think that should tell us something about Frankie's personality. She's a trouble-magnet without having to make a single effort or to be a gleefully nasty bitch about it.
Her existence is the problem but she really wasn't meant to be in Jason's house. That happened because Connie believed that Jeff would benefit from her emotional support after Sable had tried to "Angela Channing" her nephew out of the mansion. And also because of the problems with Miles and Fallon.
This is exactly what made it so amazingly soapy: one person's action having an unexpected (not to mention, unwanted) effect on a seemingly unrelated issue. And it continued to snowball throughout the first season.

But THE COLBYS did miss the boat, and for two reasons, to be precisely.

1. I wanted a stronger water theme for DYNASTY II and naturally that would include a Disaster Movie style boat accident for a spectuclar season finale (instead of Monica's lame plane crash).
They also dropped the ball with Zach's stepson and the mystery of his mother's watery grave.

2. Somehow they failed to create a strong adversary for Jason Colby hence why they tried a little bit of everything. With the focus on the Zach-Sable romance Zach became sort of Renaldo Marchetta instead of the Cliff Barnes that the soap needed. Or at least in the way it was presented as an "epic feud".
There was a lot of potential in DA John Moretti - imagine all the courtroom battles - but for some reason they lost interest in this character.
Then we got antagonist Lucas Carter with yet another feud rooted in the past and we were simply expected to buy into it, but at least it produced a few great episodes.
Next up is back-from-the-dead psycho brother that had no potential to grow into something bigger.
Perhaps Zach Powers should have been more involved with the IMOS Project - and they should have shown more of the IMOS Project - and perhaps Zach could have been responsible for the alien invasion which, of course, is what happens when Dynasty tycoons want to conquer space.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I wanted a stronger water theme for DYNASTY II and naturally that would include a Disaster Movie style boat accident for a spectuclar season finale (instead of Monica's lame plane crash).

Oddly enough, so did I.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Zach's mansion

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I want to conflate Zack Powers with King Galen (always played by Montalban). Just as I want to combine Brady Lloyd with Daniel Reece (always played by Billy Dee). And Lady Ashley combined with Frankie (played by God-knows-whom) who was once engaged to Blake in the '50s before Alexis pushed her out of the way.

 

[Monzo]

Instead of turning Francesca into a bitch, I would have presented her as a mysterious woman—someone who makes the audience wonder whether or not she can be trusted. It could have become a recurring theme of The Colbys that something from the past kept surfacing to make Francesca look bad.

For starters, Francesca should have told Jeff that she had left him because she was suffering from persistent postpartum depression and viewed separating from the child as her only form of self-treatment. Sable could counter that she never noticed any signs of depression, leaving it unclear who is telling the truth.

Before the planned wedding to Roger, Francesca’s stepson (who could have become a love interest for Monica) was supposed to show up and claim that Francesca had killed his father. It would have turned out that all of Francesca’s husbands (just how many were there?) had died shortly after the marriage. Francesca would have insisted on her innocence, and ultimately, it would have been revealed that the stepson was a psycho who had killed his father himself.

Sable should have recalled how Francesca had been determined to care for her terminally ill mother. Although doctors had given the mother a few more months to live, she passed away within weeks while in Francesca’s care. Sable intended to delve into the past and question the former doctors and nursing staff. Ultimately, Francesca would confess to Jason that her mother had asked for help to die and that she had granted that wish with a heavy heart. This selfless act would convince Jason that Francesca was the right woman for him, and nothing would ever tear them apart—whereas Sable believed her sister had simply been overwhelmed by the task of caring for her dying mother, just as she had been with baby Jeff, and had killed her.

Francesca could have claimed that her father had molested her when she was very young—a notion completely incomprehensible to Sable. Under hypnosis, Francesca would have recalled that it was not her father but her uncle (perhaps Alexis's father?) who had abused her; that would have made Sable even angrier, given that Francesca had falsely accused her beloved father.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Sable intended to delve into the past and question the former doctors and nursing staff.

She could accidentally find out that she had been adopted by the Scotts thus making herself feel second best to Frankie thus given her even more reason to hate her sister.
In the case of Sable it's always "be careful what you wish for". In the case of Alexis it's "be careful what you're wearing".
Come to think of it, she did tell Frankie that she's always been jealous of her. I believe this happened in one of their first scenes (together) in The Colbys.

I have no reason to doubt Sable's love for Jason but she also told Arthur Cates that she "loved being Mrs. Jason Colby". And that's what I meant when I said that Sable's motives are often ambiguous. Did she really want the very best for Miles, or was it way to secure her own position? Probably both, but I'm just saying that Alexis was far more transparent in what she tried to achieve through her children.
When Krystle visits her to inform that Steven is still alive and that she's welcome to visit the house, you can almost hear the machinations playing inside Alexis' head.
I'm sure she loves Steven, but her son was also a precious connection between her and Blake. Just like Scott Cassidy proved to be a very welcome family connection between Sable and Jason. Not only that, Scott being the first Colby grandchild would effect the family hierarchy and that was a great opportunity to defeat Jeff and Frankie.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

For some reason, in phantom Season 10 of DYNASTY, I want a scene where Jeff goes to the hospital to see his mother, Frankie, who's about to die -- underplayed as much as possible. Secrets are revealed.

So maybe the Mysterious Frankie thing is an instinct we all sense about her, but never really got to see. It's listening-to-nature thing, creatively.

Like I'd prognosticated Roger Grines' body being found on DYNASTY in its final season, two years before Paulsen actually did it. As Paulsen was a listening-to-nature kind of guy.

 

[Willie Oleson]

For some reason, in phantom Season 10 of DYNASTY, I want a scene where Jeff goes to the hospital to see his mother, Frankie, who's about to die -- underplayed as much as possible. Secrets are revealed.

I know the secret, and it's the biggest shocker in the history of DYNASTY. All of season 10 would be like that.

 

[Ked]

Instead of turning Francesca into a bitch, I would have presented her as a mysterious woman—someone who makes the audience wonder whether or not she can be trusted. It could have become a recurring theme of The Colbys that something from the past kept surfacing to make Francesca look bad.

For starters, Francesca should have told Jeff that she had left him because she was suffering from persistent postpartum depression and viewed separating from the child as her only form of self-treatment. Sable could counter that she never noticed any signs of depression, leaving it unclear who is telling the truth.

Before the planned wedding to Roger, Francesca’s stepson (who could have become a love interest for Monica) was supposed to show up and claim that Francesca had killed his father. It would have turned out that all of Francesca’s husbands (just how many were there?) had died shortly after the marriage. Francesca would have insisted on her innocence, and ultimately, it would have been revealed that the stepson was a psycho who had killed his father himself.

Sable should have recalled how Francesca had been determined to care for her terminally ill mother. Although doctors had given the mother a few more months to live, she passed away within weeks while in Francesca’s care. Sable intended to delve into the past and question the former doctors and nursing staff. Ultimately, Francesca would confess to Jason that her mother had asked for help to die and that she had granted that wish with a heavy heart. This selfless act would convince Jason that Francesca was the right woman for him, and nothing would ever tear them apart—whereas Sable believed her sister had simply been overwhelmed by the task of caring for her dying mother, just as she had been with baby Jeff, and had killed her.

Francesca could have claimed that her father had molested her when she was very young—a notion completely incomprehensible to Sable. Under hypnosis, Francesca would have recalled that it was not her father but her uncle (perhaps Alexis's father?) who had abused her; that would have made Sable even angrier, given that Francesca had falsely accused her beloved father.

*ALL* of these sound *AWESOME*!!!!!!!!!

For starters, Francesca should have told Jeff that she had left him because she was suffering from persistent postpartum depression and viewed separating from the child as her only form of self-treatment. Sable could counter that she never noticed any signs of depression, leaving it unclear who is telling the truth.

YES! EXACTLY! Why on EARTH wasn't THAT brought up?!?!?! It would also add more nuance to how Jeff perceives his mother. At first, he's sympathetic to her depression and figures, "Maybe she thought, at the time, that she was doing the right thing... after all, my father had just died... that was probably the straw that broke the camel's back..." But when Sable brings up her own doubts about Frankie's alleged depression, Jeff goes back to wondering if maybe Frankie really was just a heartless, selfish woman after all... and even THEN Jeff can't really trust Sable, what with her rooting for Miles and "Randall."

Before the planned wedding to Roger, Francesca’s stepson (who could have become a love interest for Monica) was supposed to show up and claim that Francesca had killed his father. It would have turned out that all of Francesca’s husbands (just how many were there?) had died shortly after the marriage. Francesca would have insisted on her innocence, and ultimately, it would have been revealed that the stepson was a psycho who had killed his father himself.

That sounds WAY more interesting, especially where Monica is concerned: her various love interests in the original first season were too "outsider-y." Soaps (and shows in general) are more intriguing when the cast is more intertwined with one another.

Sable should have recalled how Francesca had been determined to care for her terminally ill mother. Although doctors had given the mother a few more months to live, she passed away within weeks while in Francesca’s care. Sable intended to delve into the past and question the former doctors and nursing staff. Ultimately, Francesca would confess to Jason that her mother had asked for help to die and that she had granted that wish with a heavy heart. This selfless act would convince Jason that Francesca was the right woman for him, and nothing would ever tear them apart—whereas Sable believed her sister had simply been overwhelmed by the task of caring for her dying mother, just as she had been with baby Jeff, and had killed her.

DANG, now THAT would have been *heartbreaking*... not to mention, yes, it does help build up the relationship between Jason and Frankie - and provide more reason for Sable to hate/resent her sister.

Francesca could have claimed that her father had molested her when she was very young—a notion completely incomprehensible to Sable. Under hypnosis, Francesca would have recalled that it was not her father but her uncle (perhaps Alexis's father?) who had abused her; that would have made Sable even angrier, given that Francesca had falsely accused her beloved father.

Replace the "Fallon thinks Adam raped her" storyline with THIS and you're golden.

Though I'm reminded of this one old idea that another fan came up with: when Jeff first arrives in California and receives Connie's part of the inheritance, as well as her shares/place in the company, he asks her why she has not chosen Monica (Jeff can more easily guess why not Miles or even Bliss). Connie would be evasive, and it would be revealed that years ago, Monica had accused Connie's husband of raping/molesting her as a teenager. Connie defended her husband ("That's a damned lie!"), Sable supported her daughter ("If she said he did, then he did it!") while Jason did his best to mediate (he had Mr. Patterson leave the mansion and NEVER return, but he refused to press charges out of respect for Connie) which resulted in NOBODY being happy.

Bliss would come forward and reveal that she too had been molested by Mr. Patterson; and now I'm imagining her doing that thanks to bonding with Francesca over their shared horrific experience, with Auntie Frankie encouraging her niece to come forward. Cue more mixed feelings for Sable: while she's grateful that Frankie was able to help Bliss, Sable can't help but feel jealous and territorial all over again ("She's MY daughter, why didn't she come to me?!").

 

[Willie Oleson]

I know the secret

Okay well since you asked...and I would advise all Dynasty fans to sit down because this is going to blow your mind.

So, hospital scene.
Jeff: mother...mother....are you trying to say something?
Frankie: *cough, cough* I...I have...*cough cough*....water, please.
Jeff: here, here, water.

Well obviously I need to work on my dialogue skills but this is just the rough writer's room idea. Okay back to Frankie's deathbed confession.

Where was I, oh yes - here, here water.
Frankie:...thank you...now, Jeff. listen to me...and listen carefully...I have made a big mistake.
Jeff: Surely it can't be that bad. Mother, you really shouldn't upset yourself.
Frankie: Jeff, I'm dying...it doesn't matter how I feel. It's about me and Philip...and the baby!
Jeff: Mother, you're not thinking clearly. We've already dealt with that.
Frankie: No...no, no. That's not what really happened. Jason and I never had a baby...because the baby was stillborn.
Jeff: What!!
Frankie: eh...eh...more water. please.
Jeff: you're not getting any water until

Alright, this is taking too long, I'll get to the point.

Frankie: I was out of mind with grief...the only connection I had with Philip...and then it was gone.
I was walking in the street not knowing where I was going, and then I saw a couple with a baby going inside a hotel, they seemed very well off.
I don't remember how long I stood there but then I saw an older woman coming out of the hotel with a stroller, she wore a uniform, like a nanny or something.
I followed her and suddenly we were alone in the park...strange because it was such a lovely day, I remember that. I approached her and without realising it I struck her in the back of her head. She fell down and didn't move...and I grabbed the baby out of the stroller.
Four days later Cecil visited me unexpectedly, we had met before and he always seemed like a good person. He heard the baby cry so there was no point in pretending.
He looked at the baby and took the engraved rattle out of his hand.
"Oh my god, do you have any idea what you have done? This is Blake Carrington's child!" (this is a soft-focus flashback scene played by different actors).
Then he got this strange look on his face.
He said "I won't tell anyone, he will be your child...but I'm the one who's going to raise him. You've got three years, and then I'll be back to collect him".
Three years...it was something. And you'd be raised as a Colby heir. But you are...*cough, cough*...you are...Adam! Carrington!

If you think this is the moment for the Executive Producers freeze frame credit...No. We're not there yet.
With Blake in the hospital (or jail, or both, I don't know exactly what happened to him right after the season 9 finale), Steven gone and Fallon having a nervous breakdown after the season finale drama - Kwyshtina is perfectly fine, btw - Adam has finally reached the highest position at Denver-Carrington.
Sitting at Blake's desk with a smug grin on his face he monologues "Finally, it's ALL mine!"

Not if I have anything to say about it.

But wait! This is only the beginning of the storyline because Adam - sorry, Michael Torrance - has been legally adopted by Blake and Alexis. At least that cheesy tacky scene is going to pay off now.
But anyway, this would be the end credits freeze frame.