nuDynasty Episode Chat S2E16: Miserably Ungrateful Men

[Brian Kinney]

Off the top of my head all that is springing to mind is how Dallas did business. We didn't need to know the exact details in the contracts, but we at least saw Jock, JR, Bobby, the cartel etc. talking business and making deals and those things impacting the family, thus we cared. We got enough scenes of JR's snark toward the entire family without it being his only character trait. I'm sure there are much better modern examples, I just can't think of them to put down here to illustrate it at this moment.

HBO's Succession does that but it's not considered a soap despite being about a dysfunctional American global-media family. Wikipedia calls Succession a "satirical comedy-drama", could be a description for the better episodes of nuDynasty.

 

[Alexis]

Can't we just tell it like it is? Fallon is Alexis.

If you were closer I'd smack you in the mouth. Go to your room and watch Models Inc on a loop for forever!

 

[Richard Channing]

With the recent revelations about Cristal's family being part of, or head of, a Mexican cartel I can see Dynasty's season 3 going very much the same way Dallas TNT season 3 went.

 

[Alexis]

With the recent revelations about Cristal's family being part of, or head of, a Mexican cartel I can see Dynasty's season 3 going very much the same way Dallas TNT season 3 went.

Down the crapper.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I'm sure they're going to be involved with the season finale cliffhanger.
A soccer team massacre, or something like that.

 

[Alexis]

Didn't TNT Dallas also have a plot line where they were buying a soccer team or stadium or something. Or did they just film a scene in an empty stadium. I seem to remember that.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

nuDYNASTY is easier to take --- because it's a reimagining far removed from the original show, and yet more faithful in a weird way because the writers have familiarized themselves with the original and are quirkily re-working those old plots and events just for fun.

nuDALLAS, on the otherhand, was much more painful for the opposite reasons -- they had the same cast as the original show, yet appeared to have little regard or interest in it... they did the occasional, rare think right, but it seemed to be an accident.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I spoke earlier in the season about what a mistake it was for the writers to ditch Carrington-Atlantic. Having a multi-generational company to fight over gives those fights a lot more "teeth," since most viewers can relate to a family wanting to honor their ancestors' hard work by keeping the family company strong and growing. The ease with which the family sold off the company (no scenes of Fallon feeling like a failure, nothing of Blake feeling he let his father down, no pangs of nostalgia whatsoever) didn't feel right. I thought at the time of the sale that it was just a plot point, that they would somehow regain control of their "dynasty" within a few months. Instead, Blake gets into something totally different, and Fallon has been adrift. Adam ought to be secretly angry at them for letting the company slip through their fingers, since his stated plan to "take what is his" seems like a lot less to take than it would have been a year ago at this time.

I think perhaps the writers simply lost interest in the energy business as a background. It would stand to reason/logic (shut up!) that even if Blake lost C-A to the Van Kirks, he would have gone out and tried to start another energy-centered business since...well, that's the only work he's ever been involved with. His attitude ought to have been "Well, we lost the family business...so I'm going to build another one just like it with my bare hands, and I want Fallon to be by my side while we do it." Trade one dynasty for a new one, and take the viewer along for the ride as he does it. Right now he's just enjoying being rich, playing around with a soccer franchise...but not building anything to leave the family when he kicks the bucket (the way his father did). For all the faults they found in OG Cristal, at least she inspired Blake's ambition and encouraged him to wheel-and-deal to his heart's content.

 

[Willie Oleson]

seems like a lot less to take than it would have been a year ago at this time.

Indeed. There's only one way to be rich and that's getting richer. They've been sitting on their lazy asses doing nothing, and it certainly doesn't help when a person like Sammy Jo occupies the mansion.

p.s. is it Carrington-Atlantic or -Atlanta?

 

[Richard Channing]

I spoke earlier in the season about what a mistake it was for the writers to ditch Carrington-Atlantic. Having a multi-generational company to fight over gives those fights a lot more "teeth," since most viewers can relate to a family wanting to honor their ancestors' hard work by keeping the family company strong and growing. The ease with which the family sold off the company (no scenes of Fallon feeling like a failure, nothing of Blake feeling he let his father down, no pangs of nostalgia whatsoever) didn't feel right. I thought at the time of the sale that it was just a plot point, that they would somehow regain control of their "dynasty" within a few months. Instead, Blake gets into something totally different, and Fallon has been adrift. Adam ought to be secretly angry at them for letting the company slip through their fingers, since his stated plan to "take what is his" seems like a lot less to take than it would have been a year ago at this time.

I think perhaps the writers simply lost interest in the energy business as a background. It would stand to reason/logic (shut up!) that even if Blake lost C-A to the Van Kirks, he would have gone out and tried to start another energy-centered business since...well, that's the only work he's ever been involved with. His attitude ought to have been "Well, we lost the family business...so I'm going to build another one just like it with my bare hands, and I want Fallon to be by my side while we do it." Trade one dynasty for a new one, and take the viewer along for the ride as he does it. Right now he's just enjoying being rich, playing around with a soccer franchise...but not building anything to leave the family when he kicks the bucket (the way his father did). For all the faults they found in OG Cristal, at least she inspired Blake's ambition and encouraged him to wheel-and-deal to his heart's content.

Yes, it was definitely a mistake for them to lose the company. I also thought it would be temporary. So what are we left with? A group of rich people living in a big house none of whom have any real purpose or function.

 

[Daniel Avery]

p.s. is it Carrington-Atlantic or -Atlanta?

It's Atlantic, I just didn't have the energy (ha!) to correct you.

 

[Willie Oleson]

At least Anders is always working very hard, and Kirby is now a millenial content consultant something. There's also a doctor/vet now, the family and the dog are in good hands.

 

[Rove]

There's also a doctor/vet now, the family and the dog are in good hands.

Sweet Jesus! Don't let Adam anywhere near Bo. I wouldn't put it past the creative types to have Adam boil Bo...as in Fatal Attraction.

 

[Rove]

So what are we left with? A group of rich people living in a big house none of whom have any real purpose or function.

That's what I'm struggling with Richard. At least original Dynasty had the blend of business and family. This version likes to think it's creating something special and for a brief moment beginning with the Paris episode I thought we're onto something here. The last episode proves those behind the scenes have no concept how to write good soap or at least string a good yarn.