ClassyCo's Thoughts on Falcon Crest

[ClassyCo]

I started my journey with FALCON CREST some years ago. I binge-watched the first three seasons in rapid succession, before slowly losing some interest in the show as I moved and my DVDs got lost in the shuffle of things. I also just simply didn't have the time to set down and watch the show with all the responsibilities with one's everyday life.

However, in the past couple of weeks, I have been watching FALCON CREST on my wife's Amazon Prime account. The show is on the streaming service for free, but with ads, which does get a little annoying because it makes 45-minute episodes be like 55+ minutes. I decided to start with Season 4 instead of starting over, and I've got the first 11 episodes of the season in the can so far. I wanted to have a place to put some ideas down as I watch the episodes, so I figured I'd pop over here and start a page dedicated to such opinions and, shall we say, constructive criticism.

Here's what I'm thinking so far:

I am enjoying Season 4 so far. Of course, I knew there would be a lot of drama surrounding the resolution of the Season 3 cliffhanger, which resulted in the deaths of three characters, including Angela's second husband and lawyer, Phillip, and Cole's wife, Linda. Angela and Lance start cooking up their schemes to have Chase grounded so he cannot fly anymore. So typically of them, right? But, as luck would have it, Chase is eventually cleared and he lives happily ever after.... at least for the time being.

Speaking of Angela, she is simply one of my favorite soap opera villains. I like that she is an older woman, and not a beautiful or handsome younger man or woman. It makes sense that she is the one calling the shots at Falcon Crest when she's the one that's labored there for decades and saw the vineyards grow in power and profitability. Her comedic one-liners are just as good as anything J.R. or Alexis dishes out, and perhaps even sometimes a little better, considering she's an older woman with her little old lady-style hair. I like how you can literally see the wheels turning in Angela's head. Whenever she has a scheme start brewing, you can see the devious ideas rolling around in her head. Her facial expressions and mannerisms are unmatched.

Chase and Maggie are so goody-goody sometimes that it's almost hard to stomach. I don't mean that I don't like them, because I most certainly do, but they do get a little heavy-handed with the cuteness stuff sometimes. Chase is particularly frustrating for me because he presents himself as such a moral-based guy that plays more by the rules than Angela and Richard. But then Chase can be such a hot-head and make me just loose complete interest in what he's got going on (similar to Blake Carrington). As for Maggie, she is really the heart of the show. She is beautiful and sweet, and really the voice of reason when such chaos tangles up around her. I was actually genuinely disheartened for Maggie when Angela drops the ball that Maggie was adopted. Her search for her biological parents is sweet and they handle it with a firmness that keeps the story pretty much wrapped in reality.

Let's talk about Lance. He's the heartthrob of the show, that's for sure, but I like how they occasionally try to slide in some extra layers to his character. He has an ongoing affair with Terry, but he also gets placed as the new owner of The New San Francisco Globe when he and Angela buy the newspaper out from under Richard. I like how they try to "humanize" him a little by having him work in the loading department of the newspaper to gain some respect from the workers that were likely to bail as Richard was dethroned. Recently, he has slid into a side-romance with Laura Prescott, Richard's used-to-be stepdaughter.

Terry is an interesting character. I knew right off the bat that she wasn't going to have any remorse for Michael's demise in the plane crash. She was solely interested in obtaining his fortune from being the beneficiary of his will. Aside from her fling with Lance, Terry's got other trouble brewing her way. Her husband, Joel, has come back into her life. She thought their divorce had been final, but her lawyer slacked on his job and the two are still legally wed (although I think Joel just might be lying with the "proof" he's got). Joel is a drug addict, and he's intentions are to drain Terry of her wealth while hanging the fact over her head that he can go public with the news that he and Terry are still married.

Then there's Melissa and Cole, who are living together once more. Chase and Maggie are worried that Cole is being lured into another of Melissa's traps, but she insists that her intentions are genuine. She even ditched Greg Reardon, Angela's new handsome lawyer, to commit herself to Cole. Knowing Melissa and knowing the tradition of soaps, I'd be apt to cast my bet for Melissa soon losing interest in Cole and sliding back into Greg's bed.

As for Greg, he's one of the best of the new characters. I like that he doesn't take any crap from Angela and calls her out on her dirty dealings. In many ways, he is really Angela's intellectual equal, and he can take care of himself, even with her frequent threats to have him fired.

Julia's come back from the dead, as such things happen in soap land, but only Emma knows she's alive right now. Angela and Lance are dismissive of Emma's talk of Julia being alive, believing Emma is simply confused and strained mentally from the effects of the plane crash. Julia's took to shacking up with Lucas, although she's recently been kidnapped by Gustav, the leader of the cartel after Richard.

Richard and Pamela have their on-off relationship still spinning around, and I really like them together. Recently, though, Richard got tangled up with Francesca, Angela's illegitimate Italian half-sister, effectively leaving poor Pamela out in the rain. I wish they did a little more with Pamela, considering I like her as a character.

I really like the 5-episode arc with Francesa that I just finished earlier today. It added a good little twist to the show.

That's where I'm at right now. I'll come back as I have the time to and talk more about FALCON CREST and my thoughts on it.

Until then... Happy viewing!

 

[ClassyCo]

I'm back!

I've finished Season 4, and I just finished the first episode of Season 5.

Here's my random thoughts:

I felt a little shafted that Francesca didn't get to hang around a little longer, and I didn't like how "she" waved goodbye at the beginning of the episode (we all know Gina Lollobrigida had done taken her final bow). I thought she was good, sexy addition, and they could've squeeze a little more out of her. Even so, I liked how Richard decided to name his generic table top wine after her.

As much as I like Richard, I hate how he acts sometimes. He can be a real jerk and make some jerk moves. He treats Pamela shabbily, although she isn't one to be messed with. She'll get him around the corner, I believe.

I liked Lance & Lorraine together. They're cute, and I wish they would've kept them going. But I knew Lorraine was going to die after she fell from the fire escape trying to see Lance.

Terry is a favorite of mine as well, although I get a little tired of trying to hustle something out of someone. She toyed around with Lance and then with Greg, and now she's batting some eyes towards Richard. I know she's the gold-digger of the piece, but I'd be alright if they wanted to tone it down a little along the way.

Cole & Melissa can't have a peaceful go at anything. Melissa keeps having skeletons come out of the closet, and Cole can't keep his temper in check. And now Cole's knocked up Melissa's brat of a cousin Robin. I knew when Robin came to visit that she'd be trouble for Cole & Melissa, and boy was I right.

The Nazi treasure plot was just dropped after episode 20 of Season 4, and it was barely mentioned thereafter. Ole Gustav and his slinky sidekick got caught in an avalanche of rock and that's where it all stopped. The lid was put on it and the case was closed.

Poor Emma can't catch a break. She was in love with Gustav (in disguise as Jeanne-Louis) and then she fell for this guy called Damon Ross. I was holding out for Damon to be a good guy, and I think he is, but he was just after Falcon Crest like all the rest.

Julia popped back in for a little while, but Angela worked out a deal for her to spend her time at a convent instead of going back to jail for murdering Carlo Agretti.

One thing I'll fault FALCON CREST for is not having "that" couple, the one that is hopelessly devoted to one another. I guess Chase & Maggie are supposed to be that couple, but it's not working for me. I love Maggie, and she's easily one of my favorite characters on the show, but Chase is a jerk. Yeah, he was supportive of her finding her biological mother, but he's done some jerky stuff. He's flirted with Connie and now in Season 5, he's being a butt about Maggie and her bouts with amnesia. Like... What gives???

I'm really enjoying my venture through this show.

Feel free to ask me any questions about the show and if there's anything you'd like to pick my opinions on that I haven't brought up myself.

Until then... Happy viewing!

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

The Nazi treasure plot was just dropped after episode 20 of Season 4, and it was barely mentioned thereafter. Ole Gustav and his slinky sidekick got caught in an avalanche of rock and that's where it all stopped. The lid was put on it and the case was closed.

Someone at CBS demanded the Nazi treasure plot be dropped immediately, with ~10 episodes left in the season. To my mind, this is where the show veered offtrack and never really ever recovered.

 

[Jock Is Sleighing]

Season 4 was a fine season overall, even with the axing of the Nazi treasure plot. I enjoyed the Rossini family and their antics, in latter 1984-'85. The next season just wasn't as fine. I thought Father Christopher Rossini's storyline was interesting, given that FC was the most catholic orientated of the four eighties U.S.A. prime time super soaps and I know I'm in the minority for thinking Apollonia was a youthful pretty character, dare I say good songbird. The arrival of Peter Stavros into Angela's business was also a plus. However imho the 5th season was unfortunately a bit of a damp squib. @Bo Henry I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts, on 1985-'86.


Eric and Melissa arrive at the Agretti winery, which is undergoing construction. Work is terminated because it as come to light that cost cutting allegedly happened, putting the project in breach of the plans. Eric snaps a memo from the Building Control employee's hand. He reads the memo out loud, c/w Melissa's forged signature, (a scene from season 5, 1985 - '86):

"Frank just a note to remind you of our agreement; by cutting a few corners we should be able to save half a million dollars, in building costs. Enclosed is a little something for your trouble."

Eric to Melissa: "That's your signature."

Melissa pleads her innocence. Building Control deems her out of business. The beautiful Agretti woman claims Angela is behind it all.

 

[ClassyCo]

There are two things I'm most excited about for Season 5: the Father Christopher arc and Morgan Fairchild as Jordan Roberts.

As for Season 4, it was still a strong season. I felt shafted when the Nazi storyline was over, but I thought the Chase & Maggie drama and the Rossini arc helped it a lot from being too weak and thrown together towards the end. The Cole & Melissa mess gets a little tiresome, but I also liked how they tried to attempt to humanize Lance a little with his work at the New Globe and his relationship with Lorraine.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to what's coming next.

 

[Richard Denault]

I started my journey with FALCON CREST some years ago. I binge-watched the first three seasons in rapid succession, before slowly losing some interest in the show as I moved and my DVDs got lost in the shuffle of things. I also just simply didn't have the time to set down and watch the show with all the responsibilities with one's everyday life.

However, in the past couple of weeks, I have been watching FALCON CREST on my wife's Amazon Prime account. The show is on the streaming service for free, but with ads, which does get a little annoying because it makes 45-minute episodes be like 55+ minutes. I decided to start with Season 4 instead of starting over, and I've got the first 11 episodes of the season in the can so far. I wanted to have a place to put some ideas down as I watch the episodes, so I figured I'd pop over here and start a page dedicated to such opinions and, shall we say, constructive criticism.

Here's what I'm thinking so far:

I am enjoying Season 4 so far. Of course, I knew there would be a lot of drama surrounding the resolution of the Season 3 cliffhanger, which resulted in the deaths of three characters, including Angela's second husband and lawyer, Phillip, and Cole's wife, Linda. Angela and Lance start cooking up their schemes to have Chase grounded so he cannot fly anymore. So typically of them, right? But, as luck would have it, Chase is eventually cleared and he lives happily ever after.... at least for the time being.

Speaking of Angela, she is simply one of my favorite soap opera villains. I like that she is an older woman, and not a beautiful or handsome younger man or woman. It makes sense that she is the one calling the shots at Falcon Crest when she's the one that's labored there for decades and saw the vineyards grow in power and profitability. Her comedic one-liners are just as good as anything J.R. or Alexis dishes out, and perhaps even sometimes a little better, considering she's an older woman with her little old lady-style hair. I like how you can literally see the wheels turning in Angela's head. Whenever she has a scheme start brewing, you can see the devious ideas rolling around in her head. Her facial expressions and mannerisms are unmatched.

Chase and Maggie are so goody-goody sometimes that it's almost hard to stomach. I don't mean that I don't like them, because I most certainly do, but they do get a little heavy-handed with the cuteness stuff sometimes. Chase is particularly frustrating for me because he presents himself as such a moral-based guy that plays more by the rules than Angela and Richard. But then Chase can be such a hot-head and make me just loose complete interest in what he's got going on (similar to Blake Carrington). As for Maggie, she is really the heart of the show. She is beautiful and sweet, and really the voice of reason when such chaos tangles up around her. I was actually genuinely disheartened for Maggie when Angela drops the ball that Maggie was adopted. Her search for her biological parents is sweet and they handle it with a firmness that keeps the story pretty much wrapped in reality.

Let's talk about Lance. He's the heartthrob of the show, that's for sure, but I like how they occasionally try to slide in some extra layers to his character. He has an ongoing affair with Terry, but he also gets placed as the new owner of The New San Francisco Globe when he and Angela buy the newspaper out from under Richard. I like how they try to "humanize" him a little by having him work in the loading department of the newspaper to gain some respect from the workers that were likely to bail as Richard was dethroned. Recently, he has slid into a side-romance with Laura Prescott, Richard's used-to-be stepdaughter.

Terry is an interesting character. I knew right off the bat that she wasn't going to have any remorse for Michael's demise in the plane crash. She was solely interested in obtaining his fortune from being the beneficiary of his will. Aside from her fling with Lance, Terry's got other trouble brewing her way. Her husband, Joel, has come back into her life. She thought their divorce had been final, but her lawyer slacked on his job and the two are still legally wed (although I think Joel just might be lying with the "proof" he's got). Joel is a drug addict, and he's intentions are to drain Terry of her wealth while hanging the fact over her head that he can go public with the news that he and Terry are still married.

Then there's Melissa and Cole, who are living together once more. Chase and Maggie are worried that Cole is being lured into another of Melissa's traps, but she insists that her intentions are genuine. She even ditched Greg Reardon, Angela's new handsome lawyer, to commit herself to Cole. Knowing Melissa and knowing the tradition of soaps, I'd be apt to cast my bet for Melissa soon losing interest in Cole and sliding back into Greg's bed.

As for Greg, he's one of the best of the new characters. I like that he doesn't take any crap from Angela and calls her out on her dirty dealings. In many ways, he is really Angela's intellectual equal, and he can take care of himself, even with her frequent threats to have him fired.

Julia's come back from the dead, as such things happen in soap land, but only Emma knows she's alive right now. Angela and Lance are dismissive of Emma's talk of Julia being alive, believing Emma is simply confused and strained mentally from the effects of the plane crash. Julia's took to shacking up with Lucas, although she's recently been kidnapped by Gustav, the leader of the cartel after Richard.

Richard and Pamela have their on-off relationship still spinning around, and I really like them together. Recently, though, Richard got tangled up with Francesca, Angela's illegitimate Italian half-sister, effectively leaving poor Pamela out in the rain. I wish they did a little more with Pamela, considering I like her as a character.

I really like the 5-episode arc with Francesa that I just finished earlier today. It added a good little twist to the show.

That's where I'm at right now. I'll come back as I have the time to and talk more about FALCON CREST and my thoughts on it.

Until then... Happy viewing!

Robert was always unhappy with his role and in the third season he was about to leave the series.
Susan Sullivan suggested that Richard be her new partner. that the good woman saves the bad, the actor and the character were also more attractive and likeable
The producers tested the reaction of the spectators at the end of the third when Maggie was in the hospital and had her first affectionate scene. In the fourth the story of Lorraine and Maggie's mother brought them closer together and the fourth ended with a passionate kiss between them.
The Producers and writers considered that there was a lot of personal chemistry between them and that is why the story worked too.

The photo is from when they performed a Delicate Balance in theater in 2014

 

[FC Mulled Wine]

There are two things I'm most excited about for Season 5: the Father Christopher arc and Morgan Fairchild as Jordan Roberts.

As for Season 4, it was still a strong season. I felt shafted when the Nazi storyline was over, but I thought the Chase & Maggie drama and the Rossini arc helped it a lot from being too weak and thrown together towards the end. The Cole & Melissa mess gets a little tiresome, but I also liked how they tried to attempt to humanize Lance a little with his work at the New Globe and his relationship with Lorraine.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to what's coming next.

The Father Christopher storyline ended too quickly. Ken Olin did not like his contribution as Angela's priest grandson, so he removed the detail from his CV. Melissa becoming attracted to Christopher was a interesting twist and of course he was conflicted because of the Catholic celibacy laws. I think the arc was memorable.

 

[Richard Denault]

The Father Christopher storyline ended too quickly. Ken Olin did not like his contribution as Angela's priest grandson, so he removed the detail from his CV. Melissa becoming attracted to Christopher was a interesting twist and of course he was conflicted because of the Catholic celibacy laws. I think the arc was memorable.

To poor Ken Olin when he had no job in prospect and his wife was pregnant. So it's only natural that he was upset with the series.
By the way, Chistofer leaving the priesthood to get married was very common at that time.
In very Catholic Spain, it was normal for the very Catholic and aristocratic Duchess of Alba to marry an ex-priest who became the Duke of Alba.

 

[ClassyCo]

Don't give up on me!

I'm about halfway through Season 5, but I just haven't had the time to come back and type up my thoughts. I'm going to try my best to do this tomorrow afternoon.

Happy viewing!

 

[ClassyCo]

As promised, I'm back today to talk about my recent FALCON CREST viewing. I just finished episode 17 of Season 5, so I'm past the halfway mark of the season.

Chase has really been pushing my buttons this season. At the start, he wasn't the least bit sympathetic to Maggie's amnesia, making her feel bad because she didn't want to hop right back in the bed with him. He hid, although somewhat understandably so, the romantic feelings Connie and for him, but Maggie knew something was up. In fact, seeing Connie sitting at her table was what triggered Maggie and brought her memory back.

On the flip side, I've grown more fonder of Maggie. She's easily one of my favorite soap opera heroines. She's beautiful and intelligent, and when she's had enough --- she's had enough. She doesn't take any mess from any of the men or women in her life. But she's also very sympathetic and has a good heart. She's trying her hardest to reach out to Melissa's troubled cousin Robin, and she's always been supportive of Emma and her love life and other ambitions. I like that Maggie's achieving some widespread success as a writer. All the soaps have had stories where someone becomes a big writing success, which opens doors for juicy family secrets to be spread across the minds of millions of people as they sit by their night lamps and read them in book form.

Angela is still up to her tricks, although some of her own secrets have peeked their heads. She stowed away her illegitimate grandson Christopher, who was raised by priests and grew into being one himself. Christopher is the son of Julia and Dominic Rossini, an old-time vineyard owner that died in a fire. The whole Rossini arc came back to haunt Angela via the entrance of Anna Rossini and her manipulative daughter Cassandra, who first appeared back in Season 4. Anna had an old vendetta to settle with Angela, but the poor woman lied herself into a false reality and she was ultimately put in a mental asylum.

Angela also has a brush of romance when she gets involved with her old sweetheart Peter Stavros. The two cooked up a scheme where Peter bought the shares of Falcon Crest that Anna and Cassandra had swindled away from Angela. Peter held the shares over Angela's head until she agreed to marry him, although he was abducted by his own children. He's away somewhere being hidden by his daughter and son-in-law, who are petrified that Angela will take their spot in Peter's will and therefore obtain his millions.

Christopher wasn't sure what to do with his heritage once he learned he's a member of a wealthy wine family. He struggled with his faith, gets tangled up with Melissa (who he was counseling because of her and Cole's marital issues), and he wrestled the ideas of returning to the priesthood or taking his hand at a normal life. He's attempted to bond with Julia (whose been back in a couple of episodes) and his relationship with his half-brother Lance has been shaky at best (although they share a mutual respect, eventually at least). One thing is certain: Christopher doesn't like the way Angela conducts her business "in the name of Falcon Crest" and he has assured her one day it'll all come home to her. In the end, Christopher has decided that his true calling was the priesthood and he decides to return to the flock where he had been raised as a boy. I'm sure he will be another character that will fade into the background, never to be mentioned or thought of again.

FALCON CREST is the most religious of the soaps I've seen thus far. I don't ever recall DALLAS or DYNASTY having any serious religious leanings or story lines, but the citizens of the Tuscany Valley are shining their Catholic faith strong this season. KNOTS LANDING had Joshua Rush as their TV evangelist, but he wasn't Catholic, was he? I remember actor Alec Baldwin saying Joshua tried to "push is fundamental religious views" into his own career path. So maybe just basic evangelical?

Anyway....

Let's get to Lance. He's fallen in love with would-be pop star Apollonia, and he challenged himself to make her a star. He traded the New Globe for KRDC with Richard, and refashioned the radio station as a rock-n-roll outlet and showcase for his new arm candy. Apollonia is pretty in that generic '80s TV kind-of-way, and, well, she's not much of a singer. As one would guess, Angela isn't happy with Lance taking a fancy to Apollonia (who she originally calls "Babylonia") and she tries to cause havoc in their fling, but to no avail.

All the soaps tried their hand at ushering out their own singing divas. KNOTS LANDING had Ciji, who was later reincarnated as Cathy; DALLAS had Afton; and DYNASTY had Dominique. THE COLBYS did it as well, didn't they? But I just don't care for the singing on the soaps. Good thing Apollonia seems to have taken her final bow, as her show biz career has taken off and Lance is slowly moving on with his life. Here's hoping she doesn't come back; well, I suppose I'd welcome it as long as she stays out of the recording studios.

I wish Cole and Melissa could just settle their mess. Robin hasn't been anything but trouble for them. She agreed to be a surrogate for them, but now that she's had her baby, she's changed her mind. Maggie was recruited by Robin to help her out of having to give up her baby, but Cole and Melissa are insisting she own up to their agreement. Things would run smoother if Cole and Melissa could get their act together, but they both have wandering eyes. Melissa has the hots for Christopher (the naughty rich girl eyeing a priest gives me serious SOAP vibes) and I can't help but think Cole has a thing for Robin. However, a little romantic getaway seems to have rekindled Cole and Melissa's love, although Robin's pairing up with Angela to win custody of her baby will definitely throw in some trouble shortly.

I was a little disappointed how little was being done with Jordan Roberts when she was first brought on. About all she was originally given character-wise was being a tough as nails, but drop dead gorgeous attorney for Richard. She doesn't take Richard's mess, and she is quite an independent --- in a typical '80s TV way --- kind of lady. As the episodes have trickled on, however, Jordan has gotten more layers. She has a disastrous relationship with her parents, two wealthy socialites, the result of a years-long molestation she suffered at the hands of father, politician J.J. Roberts. Jordan has found comfort in Greg, although she's having trouble entirely opening up. She has serious grief and night terrors after her father takes his own life, and her latest scene has her out on the town, saddling up to a stranger, and calling herself Monica. Some MPD is coming into play, I'm sure.

Richard and Terry have gotten married, although the union is basically one of convenience and power. Terry wants to be married to Richard to obtain status and respectability, while Richard covets Terry's vineyards so he can get back into the wine business and knock Angela off her high horse. He's most recently wrangled Chase as his "reluctant partner" so they can work to overthrow Angela, which isn't going to go as easily as they think. I mean, they know Angela and they know she's always got another trick in her hat.

Richard's also ran into some issues with side fling with Cassandra. Apparently the vasectomy Richard had some time back didn't go through properly, and he's gotten Cassandra pregnant. He was very ugly to her, though, and she's fled town. What's to become of this story, I haven't any idea, but I'm unsure whether or not the story will give Richard another child after Lorraine.

I guess this brings me to Emma and her new hunk of man Dewayne. They are the breeziest couple on the show. They're a mismatch (as Angela would readily agree) because of Emma's privileged upbringing and Dewayne being a working class trucker, but they seem to fit together effortlessly. I like how Dewayne is devoted to Emma and he hasn't any care towards or wealth. He also doesn't buckle under Angela's tampering to break he and Emma up. Emma, as usual, is head over heels, and she slides right by Angela's commands not to see Dewayne anymore. Most recently, Emma has been in an accident when Dewayne's big rig was hijacked by men Angela had hired to stop Chase and Cole's wine delivery (to Angela's defense, she hadn't any idea that Dewayne, let alone Emma, would be driving). I just keep waiting for something to happen to rip Emma and Dewayne because I just know it's not to last.

I'm readily approaching the conclusion of Season 5. This season, while still enjoyable, is a little drab and slow-moving in comparison to the earlier seasons. There's a lot going on, so many stories and characters, but yet a true focus doesn't seem to be at the helm, and among all the drama there just seems to be something lacking. I know that might sound like a strong criticism, but I'm still binging this show like crazy. It's still addictive and I'm liking that I'm passing through so many episodes at record speed (at least for me).

I'll come back as I get some more episodes in the can. My viewing will likely be detailed in the coming weeks due to personal matters, but I shall return.

As always, don't forget to ask my any questions if there's anything I haven't mentioned or if there's something you'd like for me to discuss further. I encourage and thrive in healthy discussions.

Until then.... Happy viewing!

 

[Richard Denault]

As promised, I'm back today to talk about my recent FALCON CREST viewing. I just finished episode 17 of Season 5, so I'm past the halfway mark of the season.

Chase has really been pushing my buttons this season. At the start, he wasn't the least bit sympathetic to Maggie's amnesia, making her feel bad because she didn't want to hop right back in the bed with him. He hid, although somewhat understandably so, the romantic feelings Connie and for him, but Maggie knew something was up. In fact, seeing Connie sitting at her table was what triggered Maggie and brought her memory back.

On the flip side, I've grown more fonder of Maggie. She's easily one of my favorite soap opera heroines. She's beautiful and intelligent, and when she's had enough --- she's had enough. She doesn't take any mess from any of the men or women in her life. But she's also very sympathetic and has a good heart. She's trying her hardest to reach out to Melissa's troubled cousin Robin, and she's always been supportive of Emma and her love life and other ambitions. I like that Maggie's achieving some widespread success as a writer. All the soaps have had stories where someone becomes a big writing success, which opens doors for juicy family secrets to be spread across the minds of millions of people as they sit by their night lamps and read them in book form.

Angela is still up to her tricks, although some of her own secrets have peeked their heads. She stowed away her illegitimate grandson Christopher, who was raised by priests and grew into being one himself. Christopher is the son of Julia and Dominic Rossini, an old-time vineyard owner that died in a fire. The whole Rossini arc came back to haunt Angela via the entrance of Anna Rossini and her manipulative daughter Cassandra, who first appeared back in Season 4. Anna had an old vendetta to settle with Angela, but the poor woman lied herself into a false reality and she was ultimately put in a mental asylum.

Angela also has a brush of romance when she gets involved with her old sweetheart Peter Stavros. The two cooked up a scheme where Peter bought the shares of Falcon Crest that Anna and Cassandra had swindled away from Angela. Peter held the shares over Angela's head until she agreed to marry him, although he was abducted by his own children. He's away somewhere being hidden by his daughter and son-in-law, who are petrified that Angela will take their spot in Peter's will and therefore obtain his millions.

Christopher wasn't sure what to do with his heritage once he learned he's a member of a wealthy wine family. He struggled with his faith, gets tangled up with Melissa (who he was counseling because of her and Cole's marital issues), and he wrestled the ideas of returning to the priesthood or taking his hand at a normal life. He's attempted to bond with Julia (whose been back in a couple of episodes) and his relationship with his half-brother Lance has been shaky at best (although they share a mutual respect, eventually at least). One thing is certain: Christopher doesn't like the way Angela conducts her business "in the name of Falcon Crest" and he has assured her one day it'll all come home to her. In the end, Christopher has decided that his true calling was the priesthood and he decides to return to the flock where he had been raised as a boy. I'm sure he will be another character that will fade into the background, never to be mentioned or thought of again.

FALCON CREST is the most religious of the soaps I've seen thus far. I don't ever recall DALLAS or DYNASTY having any serious religious leanings or story lines, but the citizens of the Tuscany Valley are shining their Catholic faith strong this season. KNOTS LANDING had Joshua Rush as their TV evangelist, but he wasn't Catholic, was he? I remember actor Alec Baldwin saying Joshua tried to "push is fundamental religious views" into his own career path. So maybe just basic evangelical?

Anyway....

Let's get to Lance. He's fallen in love with would-be pop star Apollonia, and he challenged himself to make her a star. He traded the New Globe for KRDC with Richard, and refashioned the radio station as a rock-n-roll outlet and showcase for his new arm candy. Apollonia is pretty in that generic '80s TV kind-of-way, and, well, she's not much of a singer. As one would guess, Angela isn't happy with Lance taking a fancy to Apollonia (who she originally calls "Babylonia") and she tries to cause havoc in their fling, but to no avail.

All the soaps tried their hand at ushering out their own singing divas. KNOTS LANDING had Ciji, who was later reincarnated as Cathy; DALLAS had Afton; and DYNASTY had Dominique. THE COLBYS did it as well, didn't they? But I just don't care for the singing on the soaps. Good thing Apollonia seems to have taken her final bow, as her show biz career has taken off and Lance is slowly moving on with his life. Here's hoping she doesn't come back; well, I suppose I'd welcome it as long as she stays out of the recording studios.

I wish Cole and Melissa could just settle their mess. Robin hasn't been anything but trouble for them. She agreed to be a surrogate for them, but now that she's had her baby, she's changed her mind. Maggie was recruited by Robin to help her out of having to give up her baby, but Cole and Melissa are insisting she own up to their agreement. Things would run smoother if Cole and Melissa could get their act together, but they both have wandering eyes. Melissa has the hots for Christopher (the naughty rich girl eyeing a priest gives me serious SOAP vibes) and I can't help but think Cole has a thing for Robin. However, a little romantic getaway seems to have rekindled Cole and Melissa's love, although Robin's pairing up with Angela to win custody of her baby will definitely throw in some trouble shortly.

I was a little disappointed how little was being done with Jordan Roberts when she was first brought on. About all she was originally given character-wise was being a tough as nails, but drop dead gorgeous attorney for Richard. She doesn't take Richard's mess, and she is quite an independent --- in a typical '80s TV way --- kind of lady. As the episodes have trickled on, however, Jordan has gotten more layers. She has a disastrous relationship with her parents, two wealthy socialites, the result of a years-long molestation she suffered at the hands of father, politician J.J. Roberts. Jordan has found comfort in Greg, although she's having trouble entirely opening up. She has serious grief and night terrors after her father takes his own life, and her latest scene has her out on the town, saddling up to a stranger, and calling herself Monica. Some MPD is coming into play, I'm sure.

Richard and Terry have gotten married, although the union is basically one of convenience and power. Terry wants to be married to Richard to obtain status and respectability, while Richard covets Terry's vineyards so he can get back into the wine business and knock Angela off her high horse. He's most recently wrangled Chase as his "reluctant partner" so they can work to overthrow Angela, which isn't going to go as easily as they think. I mean, they know Angela and they know she's always got another trick in her hat.

Richard's also ran into some issues with side fling with Cassandra. Apparently the vasectomy Richard had some time back didn't go through properly, and he's gotten Cassandra pregnant. He was very ugly to her, though, and she's fled town. What's to become of this story, I haven't any idea, but I'm unsure whether or not the story will give Richard another child after Lorraine.

I guess this brings me to Emma and her new hunk of man Dewayne. They are the breeziest couple on the show. They're a mismatch (as Angela would readily agree) because of Emma's privileged upbringing and Dewayne being a working class trucker, but they seem to fit together effortlessly. I like how Dewayne is devoted to Emma and he hasn't any care towards or wealth. He also doesn't buckle under Angela's tampering to break he and Emma up. Emma, as usual, is head over heels, and she slides right by Angela's commands not to see Dewayne anymore. Most recently, Emma has been in an accident when Dewayne's big rig was hijacked by men Angela had hired to stop Chase and Cole's wine delivery (to Angela's defense, she hadn't any idea that Dewayne, let alone Emma, would be driving). I just keep waiting for something to happen to rip Emma and Dewayne because I just know it's not to last.

I'm readily approaching the conclusion of Season 5. This season, while still enjoyable, is a little drab and slow-moving in comparison to the earlier seasons. There's a lot going on, so many stories and characters, but yet a true focus doesn't seem to be at the helm, and among all the drama there just seems to be something lacking. I know that might sound like a strong criticism, but I'm still binging this show like crazy. It's still addictive and I'm liking that I'm passing through so many episodes at record speed (at least for me).

I'll come back as I get some more episodes in the can. My viewing will likely be detailed in the coming weeks due to personal matters, but I shall return.

As always, don't forget to ask my any questions if there's anything I haven't mentioned or if there's something you'd like for me to discuss further. I encourage and thrive in healthy discussions.

Until then.... Happy viewing!

It seems to me that the fifth created an unnecessary impasse in the story of Richard and Maggie
Maggie's amnesia could have been taken advantage of to move the romance forward.
Then Maggie regains her memory. she forgets about the romance and that she wrote the book of the mysterious stranger. She should have left it unclear if it was Richard or Chase.
Maggie, when she regains her memory, is very detached from Richard the Unknown.
Although I know that romance continues in the background
515 Checkmate
TERRY
I meat over here to cheer you up
not to be abused. you must be
pretty jealous to attack me like
Este
MAGGIE
Try concerned,
TERRY
Maybe you really want Richard for yourself. After all, it's no secret Richard has always had the hot for you.
In 523 in a scene with Richard Maggie and Chase
Richard
It must be stimulating to be married to such a Creative wontan.
TERRY
Instead of being stuck with her sister

www.falconcrest.org | Deutscher FALCON CREST - Fanclub / German FALCON CREST Fan Club

falconcrest.org

In the last episode, the romance of the sixth season is already anticipated Richard and Maggie hug in front of everyone Cole Terry Angela

 

[Angels Chanting]

I'm loving reading your thoughts on Falcon Crest.

Good thing Apollonia seems to have taken her final bow, as her show biz career has taken off and Lance is slowly moving on with his life. Here's hoping she doesn't come back

These were my sentiments exactly when I watched these episodes.

What did you think of Peter Stavros? He became one of my favourite characters on the show and I thought was a great match and partner for Angela.

I'll come back as I get some more episodes in the can.

I'll look forward to this.

 

[ClassyCo]

These were my sentiments exactly when I watched these episodes.

I just don't like the singing, especially since I don't the singers can really sing that well. About the only one I liked was the Ciji arc on KNOTS LANDING, but that's more because I liked Lisa Hartman's story and how Ciji was eventually brought back as Cathy.

What did you think of Peter Stavros? He became one of my favourite characters on the show and I thought was a great match and partner for Angela.

At first, I wasn't too sure. I sometimes have issues with characters being introduced as these world famous jet-setting-types that have long, drawn histories with the core characters, but yet haven't been mentioned previously.

But when I remind myself this is a TV show --- and a soap opera at that (interestingly, Maggie jokes in Season 5 that she feels as if she were living in a soap opera) --- and I come around.

But to answer your question: I'm liking Peter. I like Cesar Romero, and I'm enjoying how Peter is a good match for Angela. He isn't a pushover, but he's someone with equal footing and power on par with her.

I'll look forward to this.

Just hang in there with me. We've got some personal things coming up, so my viewing and writing will hit a slump. But I will be back. I will finish FALCON CREST.

 

[Angels Chanting]

I just don't like the singing, especially since I don't the singers can really sing that well. About the only one I liked was the Ciji arc on KNOTS LANDING, but that's more because I liked Lisa Hartman's story and how Ciji was eventually brought back as Cathy.

There's more singing to look forward to in the future, I'm afraid. The Babylonia woman was a ghastly character. Apollonia is a talented woman but totally wrong for the show and Lance started to roll his jacket sleeves up to look like a cool music executive was just wrong.

At first, I wasn't too sure. I sometimes have issues with characters being introduced as these world famous jet-setting-types that have long, drawn histories with the core characters, but yet haven't been mentioned previously.

But when I remind myself this is a TV show --- and a soap opera at that (interestingly, Maggie jokes in Season 5 that she feels as if she were living in a soap opera) --- and I come around.

But to answer your question: I'm liking Peter. I like Cesar Romero, and I'm enjoying how Peter is a good match for Angela. He isn't a pushover, but he's someone with equal footing and power on par with her.

Like you, I often find the introduction of new characters a bit jarring when they haven't previously been mentioned on the show. However, I felt the way Peter was introduced to the show and Cesar Romero's brilliant acting made it all seem natural and I was able to accept him as a regular fixture on the show. I think his introduction revitalised the Angela character because he was both her partner in crime at times and her conscience at others. We didn't always get to know what Angela was thinking as she never seemed to have people to confide in, other than her lawyers and Chao-Li, but they were her subordinate so the dynamic wasn't one of equals. Peter was able to challenge her in a way that others couldn't which made them such an interesting pairing and the 2 of them had great chemistry together.

Just hang in there with me. We've got some personal things coming up, so my viewing and writing will hit a slump. But I will be back. I will finish FALCON CREST.

Although there is a drop in quality in the series as it goes on, there are still some great moments to come so I'll look forward to seeing your thoughts on them.

 

[ClassyCo]

There's more singing to look forward to in the future, I'm afraid. The Babylonia woman was a ghastly character. Apollonia is a talented woman but totally wrong for the show and Lance started to roll his jacket sleeves up to look like a cool music executive was just wrong.

The whole story just seems to go against FALCON CREST and its aesthetic. She and Lance didn't have half the chemistry (or appeal) as he and Lorraine had, so that also didn't help.

Like you, I often find the introduction of new characters a bit jarring when they haven't previously been mentioned on the show. However, I felt the way Peter was introduced to the show and Cesar Romero's brilliant acting made it all seem natural and I was able to accept him as a regular fixture on the show. I think his introduction revitalised the Angela character because he was both her partner in crime at times and her conscience at others. We didn't always get to know what Angela was thinking as she never seemed to have people to confide in, other than her lawyers and Chao-Li, but they were her subordinate so the dynamic wasn't one of equals. Peter was able to challenge her in a way that others couldn't which made them such an interesting pairing and the 2 of them had great chemistry together.

I've definitely come to like Peter. However, his current actions are a little jarring as he's running Falcon Crest while Angela is MIA (a story arc cooked up to accommodate Jane Wyman and her need to be absent a handful of shows). I do, however, like that they make Peter a genuine force to be reckoned with and that he can push back against Angela despite his obvious love for her. The fact that he is an ear for her to talk to and provides a shoulder to lean on is to icing on the cake. And like I said: I've always liked Cesar Romero. Wyman and Romero are both old Hollywood pros, which heightens their acting styles and chemistry.

Although there is a drop in quality in the series as it goes on, there are still some great moments to come so I'll look forward to seeing your thoughts on them.

The bloom is already starting to wilt, but I'm still enjoying the ride. FALCON CREST was at its zenith for it's first three seasons, with Seasons 4 and 5 being a little more muddled, despite my continued admiration for the show and it's characters. There are still several story lines that have me hooked and twists I can't wait to see unravel.

 

[ClassyCo]

I just Season 5, Episode 25. I have four episodes remaining this season, which I hope to get watched this week.

The minute Jeff Wainwright came into the picture I smelt a rat. He's the PR guy assigned to giving Maggie a good build-up and publicity tour for her book. He takes a liking to her, naturally, but his crush becomes infatuation and then obsession. Maggie assures Jeff his advances aren't welcomed, but she's surprised to find he's moved to the valley soon after her book tour wraps. Wainwright tries to cook-up a scheme with Angela to push Chase out of Maggie's life, but Angela turns the tables on him and lets Chase and Maggie in our the conversation. Right now, Wainwright is purchasing a gun. I bet the season finale (if not sooner) is going to present a hostage situation of Maggie being held against her will by the creepy Wainwright.

Chao-Li's daughter has come to the valley. She has never met her father, because her mother raised her in China. She seems nice enough, but there's something she's hiding. I mean, why else would she just suddenly appear?

Cole and Melissa have decided to divorce. I'm actually sort of glad their relationship has dissolved. All they seemed to do was fight and make up and put poor little Joseph in a tough and tense home life. Cole decided to let Robin keep their baby without any fuss, infuriating Melissa. Cole has moved back in with Chase and Maggie and Melissa has started fancying Peter's son Eric Stavros.

And speaking of Peter.... Did his daughter Sophia fall off the side of the planet? Once Peter and Sophia made up, she hasn't been seen or spoken of. Maybe her story just ran it's course? Probably.

Peter's steadily warming up on me. His seemingly shady business leanings during Angela's absence turned out to be a plot to have her criminal charges dropped. His decision to keep everyone in the dark just heightened the tension of it all. Peter truly loves Angela, and the two have finally married in a small, but poignant little ceremony.

Lance is wandering a lot with Apollonia gone. He's recently received a letter from "Apples" in which she basically thanks him for pushing her career, but also disses him for fame. Lance is hurt and angry, but he just leaves to find another woman to come home with him. His most prolific ventures in these past few episodes were his attempts to locate Peter and later his grandmother. Other than that, Lance doesn't have a whole lot cooking right now. His radio station is mentioned but hasn't been seen in several episodes.

Richard and Terry are developing a love-hate relationship. While they seem personally disinterested in one another, they've allowed the physical tension and sexual attraction between the two of them to blossom at little. Richard still wants Terry out of his business affairs, but Terry won't have any of it. She's got her own tricks to get what she wants.

Jordan is still going through the ringer. Her alter ego, Monica, is peeking out more frequently and more aggressively. She's bedded Lance (much to Angela and Greg's horror), but she's started seeing a therapist that's ready to help her heal from the distress she's bottled up for years. Greg, although hurt by some of Jordan's actions, still cares for her deeply. He can't get away from her because he really wants to make sure she gets the help that she needs. Richard, too, wants Jordan to get help, although he's said (numerous times) that he's done with her professionally because the things she's messed up. In Monica mode, Jordan's given information to Terry about Richard's business dealings, and she's fancied herself with many men from shady nightclubs.

Emma and Dewayne are still planning to be married, although I don't recall either of them specifying a date. Most recently, Dewayne moved into Falcon Crest as means of making sure Emma was taken care of after learning it was Angela that was behind his truck being hijacked. Tired of not having privacy, however, Emma and Dewayne have slowly started departing Falcon Crest to find their own place. I bet Angela will put the brakes on the plans once she's clued in.

I can't wait to see what the cliffhanger for Season 5 is going to leave me with. I know a little about what is coming, but it's always better seeing it on the screen. There's a lot brewing and I'm excited to see where all of it is going to lead. The only complaint I have is Father Christopher getting the shaft and basically wiped from everyone's memory. My favorite things going on now is the relationships between Angela and Peter and Melissa and Eric, while I'm anticipating the outcome of Maggie's stalker story with Wainwright.

I'll be back as I finish the season!

Until then... Happy viewing!

As always, don't forget to ask me any questions!

 

[Richard Denault]

Cesar Romero knew Jane since she arrived in Hollywood and this gives a closeness that shows
In addition, he was always a very attractive man who became a partner of Marlene Dietrich, he also looks very human, very warm

 

[Angels Chanting]

In addition, he was always a very attractive man who became a partner of Marlene Dietrich

Really? I'm sure I read somewhere that he was gay.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Romero was Dietrich's partner in a film, The Devil is a Woman (1935), they didn't have an affair. I also assume he was gay - but that is speculation because he never came out.

 

[Richard Denault]

Really? I'm sure I read somewhere that he was gay.

Onscreen . Not in the real life, I meant that they were a film couple
But he was attractive enough to pair up with Marlene, who was gorgeous
Now I understand why Jane was so insistent on getting fired and hiring Rod Taylor.