Biggest Drop in Quality

Which season had the biggest drop in quality?

  • Season 1

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Season 2

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Season 3

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Season 4

    Votes: 3 11.5%
  • Season 5

    Votes: 4 15.4%
  • Season 6

    Votes: 1 3.8%
  • Season 7

    Votes: 4 15.4%
  • Season 8

    Votes: 5 19.2%
  • Season 9

    Votes: 9 34.6%

  • Total voters
    26

Monzo

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The quality of Falcon Crest declined over the course of its nine seasons, but when do you think the biggest drop in quality occurred?
 

Willie Oleson

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I was tempted to vote for season 6, but the question isn't about the worst or least favourite.
For the most part, season 4 is very watchable and it still looks very pretty (as it was with Dynasty) but there's something very problematic about it.
Julia's return is boring, the only way to do it was to make it even more spectacular than season 3.
It was also the beginning of the guest stars (never a good sign) and then there was the most peculiar casting choice for the role of Robin Agretti.
Thankfully that wasn't the only thing that happened in season 4, but it felt like "not as good as" what had come before.
Season 6 may have been worse than season 5, but that's two negatives and therefore not a huge drop in quality.
 

Snarky Oracle!

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I voted for Season 5 -- too cluttered and drab. It needed a new murder mystery.

Season 4 was okay, but without Bob McCullough (who kept getting himself fired) or Ann Marcus (whom McCullough also probably got fired) Season 4 just couldn't be as good as what had preceded it.

Season 6, Freilich's first year, has some real problems, and it started to get too "joke-y." But it had a renewed energy (which Season 5 lacked) so it almost worked.

I would also have voted for Season 7, as it became so stupidly frenetic and cloyingly slapstick that it was often hard to sit through. Even Filerman and the actors agreed. (Although the subsequent changes in tone during Seasons 8 & 9 weren't much better). Season 7 is the year I most re-make in my head -- and, oh, is it good!
 

Angela Channing

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I'm not sure I entirely agree that the series declined over it's nine seasons because I think some seasons were better than the one that preceded it. I think the standard was pretty high, to varying degrees, over the first 6 seasons and the decline really set in during season 7, so that gets my vote.
 
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Snarky Oracle!

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I voted for Season 5. The tail end of Season 4 showed signs of issues, but Season 5 had too much going on. Season 6 was better, but I haven't seen the rest of the show to judge it.

As you may know, the last 10 episodes of Season 4 saw the sudden dropping of the nazi treasure storyline because somebody at CBS found it offensive. Despite it being the year's key storyline.

To my mind, this is where FC derailed and never recovered.

Network and studio executives are there to destroy. Nothing else.
 

ClassyCo

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As you may know, the last 10 episodes of Season 4 saw the sudden dropping of the nazi treasure storyline because somebody at CBS found it offensive. Despite it being the year's key storyline.

To my mind, this is where FC derailed and never recovered.

Network and studio executives are there to destroy. Nothing else.
Yes, I'm aware of the behind-the-scenes politics that ended that storyline. FALCON CREST was never the same again.
 

ClassyCo

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Someone once called FC the most-harassed Top 10 show in TV history (probably an exaggeration).
FALCON CREST seemed to have about as much behind-the-scenes trouble and turnover as DYNASTY did.
 

Jock Og

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The quality of Falcon Crest declined over the course of its nine seasons, but when do you think the biggest drop in quality occurred?

As much as it pains me to say I voted for season 7. It wasn't a patch on heyday FC, yet I enjoyed this 'bells and whistles' season more than 8 and 9 put together.






The cast from the 'bells and whistles' season.


The Gioberti castle is about to vanish; into FALCON CREST history, after a bomb goes off with Angela, Richard, Maggie, the two boys and the maid inside. Richard does what he never thought he would have to do; save Angela, (a scene from season 7, 1987 - '88):

Angela to Richard, as he picks her up out of the rubble: "Oh Lord! I've died and gone to hell."

Richard speaks to a paramedic: "She's fine!"

Richard then goes outside to Maggie and Fred Wilkinson (D.A.).

Richard: "What are you doing here Wilkinson?"

Fred: "Well it is not every day a house blows up in my valley. This is the second time for you Channing. You think it might be blamed on your explosive reputation."

Richard: "Why don't you save your comedy routine for the gas inspector. He's inside."

Fred: "Looking for what, gas leaks? He won't find any. When a house blows up with both Angela and Richard Channing inside it can't be blamed on excess gas."

Maggie: "Mr. Wilkinson my house is in pieces. I'm not in the mood for jokes."

The alleged gas inspector joins them, after finishing his inspection.

Fred: "Here. Here. I'm Wilkinson from the D.A.'s office. What did you find? Any evidence of anything?"

Alleged gas inspector: "Gas leak. No question. This pipe is part of the main line."

Fred: "I'll hang onto that. If you don't mind."

The alleged gas inspector provides his report of the explosion.

Richard glances at Fred: "There goes that Dick Tracy merit badge."
 

Angela Channing

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As much as it pains me to say I voted for season 7. It wasn't a patch on heyday FC, yet I enjoyed this 'bells and whistles' season more than 8 and 9 put together.
Season 7 wasn't terrible and I agree that it was better than the following 2 seasons but it was when the rot started to set in, not least because....

Everything after the great Caesar Romero was written out
...he wasn't an original cast member but a superb actor and a great addition to the show who made Angela even more interesting. It was a big loss when he was written out of the series.
 
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