When did FC slip, in quality?

[Snarky Oracle!]

I like the Season 8 update (the music, not the visuals):

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Some of us have come to the conclusion that what Season 5 needed was a brand-new season-long murder mystery story arc.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

On second viewing, I'd just have to give it to season 3 for being the best. The drawn out music in places, and Susan Sullivan's first head spin.

Speaking of drawn out music...still can't get past the lovely, building intro of season 1 before the title card..

Season 5, as I have already said, would be the only real loser for me. They honestly did a pretty nice job with every other season, even 9(for the time).

 

[Willie Oleson]

I like the Season 8 update (the music, not the visuals):

Title cards from season 4 to 8 are kinda Boringsville and don't match the energy of the theme that borders on the hysterical.
To compare, the The Colbys actors always do something with their hands, and besides, Charlton Heston justifies it. He guides his dynasty through the pompous opening theme. In the Falcon Crest title cards it's every man for himself and they're not very good at it in their nondescript outfits (it gets better in season 7).
Laura Johnson's credit in season 5 is the only one that looks glamorously prime time. John Callahan looks cool in season 7.

The season 8 theme sounds like the one you can find on TV Themes compilations CDs, the fake Falcon Crest theme by orchestra anonymous.

This is from a fanmade alternative opening credits video

Sure, the colours are ghastly, but Melissa should always be represented with the Agretti mansion in the background, and not just some random field or lake.
It doesn't make sense that they ignored this characteristic Falcon Crest setting.

And I also want something more exciting for Cole, maybe like an exploding jeep or a love-making scene.

 

[anndra w]

If you watch the dynasty of the colbys intro they look very cheesy. I don’t think it’s the same with Fakcon Crest - the images of the scenery etc in the background are one of the things I like about the credits - the setting is picturesque. Also they don’t feel as cringey or as cheap looking as Dynasty and the Colbys - maybe I’m wrong but I feel those openings probably looked bad back when they first aired.

 

[Willie Oleson]

the setting is picturesque

Of course I would expect to see some grapes and vineyards, and the SF skyline - and they already show that before the title cards appear.

But, starting with season 4;
Jane Wyman (in her FC office, makes sense)
Robert Foxworth (in his living room, presumably, but why not that big fireplace?)
David Selby (yellow flowers. because???)
Ana Alicia (somewhere outside, could be anywhere)
William Moses (still in the fields, but it's characteristic enough for his earthy beauty)
Margaret Ladd (on the veranda-ish, I'd prefer the interior staircase, a nod to her ladder accident)
Laura Johnson (in a nondescript garden of sorts)
Paul Freeman (the Euro-kitsch antique chair, possibly one of the better title cards this season)
Sarah Douglas (I'm sure that's the patio/balcony part of Richard's house. It doesn't look kick-ass but at least she used to be there, talking about Lorraine's feelings)
Simon MacCorkindale (practically the same as Margaret Ladd's location)
Susan Sullivan (they kept the one from season 3 and it just looks good because of her)

as cringey or as cheap looking as Dynasty and the Colbys

Cringey, perhaps, but at least it looks more lively and the backgrounds are much more recognisable and on-topic. And it certainly doesn't look cheap.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Boringsville

Copyright that pronto before I steal it for my next series.

Cringey, perhaps, but at least it looks more lively and the backgrounds are much more recognisable and on-topic. And it certainly doesn't look cheap.

Yes, DYNASTY's varied so much from season to season -- some year's looked good, some were abysmal. I didn't like the way FC would exchange backgrounds arbitrarily between the characters depending on the season.

 

[anndra w]

Of course I would expect to see some grapes and vineyards, and the SF skyline - and they already show that before the title cards appear.

But, starting with season 4;
Jane Wyman (in her FC office, makes sense)
Robert Foxworth (in his living room, presumably, but why not that big fireplace?)
David Selby (yellow flowers. because???)
Ana Alicia (somewhere outside, could be anywhere)
William Moses (still in the fields, but it's characteristic enough for his earthy beauty)
Margaret Ladd (on the veranda-ish, I'd prefer the interior staircase, a nod to her ladder accident)
Laura Johnson (in a nondescript garden of sorts)
Paul Freeman (the Euro-kitsch antique chair, possibly one of the better title cards this season)
Sarah Douglas (I'm sure that's the patio/balcony part of Richard's house. It doesn't look kick-ass but at least she used to be there, talking about Lorraine's feelings)
Simon MacCorkindale (practically the same as Margaret Ladd's location)
Susan Sullivan (they kept the one from season 3 and it just looks good because of her)

Cringey, perhaps, but at least it looks more lively and the backgrounds are much more recognisable and on-topic. And it certainly doesn't look cheap.

It’s hard for me to say because I didn’t see dynasty until the early noughties when I was a teenager, but I do remember thinking then that they looked quite cheap and tacky - but I think that was when they had the background shots that were like jewels or champagne bottles. I did like the images of jets and yachts etc that you had in season 2 for example - I much preferred the Dynasty logo in the white lettering of season 1 as that to me felt more classy whereas the yellow letters were too like Dallas.
Falcon Crest had the beauful Napa countryside to show off and I think I would prefer that to images strictly tied to the characters. It kind of celebrated the setting itself - which still draws me in. I’ve never been to over to Napa but there’s something about that place, the mansion that draws me in. I have been to San Francisco before - it’s also beautiful and full of character - I feel with Napa and San Francisco there’s maybe something special to show off in the titles.
Season 9 titles had less of this and, while they work and are dramatic, they lose the thing that makes the falcon crest titles special in my opinion.