Dynasty (2017 TV series) season 1 explained

Season Number:1
Bgcolour:
  1. EEDD82
Network:The CW
Num Episodes:22
Episode List:List of Dynasty (2017 TV series) episodes

The first season of Dynasty, an American television series based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, originally aired in the United States on The CW from October 11, 2017 through May 11, 2018. The season was produced by CBS Television Studios, with Sallie Patrick as showrunner and executive producer alongside executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. The pilot, which was announced in September 2016, was ordered to series in May 2017. On November 8, 2017, The CW picked up Dynasty for a full season of 22 episodes. On April 2, 2018, The CW renewed the series for a second season.

Season one stars Elizabeth Gillies as heiress Fallon Carrington, Grant Show as her billionaire father Blake Carrington, Nathalie Kelley as Blake's new wife Cristal, and James Mackay as Fallon's brother Steven, with Robert Christopher Riley as Michael Culhane, Sam Adegoke as Jeff Colby, Rafael de la Fuente as Sam Jones, and Alan Dale as Joseph Anders. Notable recurring characters introduced in season one include Claudia Blaisdel (Brianna Brown); Monica (Wakeema Hollis); Cesil Colby (Hakeem Kae-Kazim); Liam Ridley (Adam Huber); Iris Machado (Elena Tovar); Alejandro Raya (Luis Fernández); Ted Dinard (Michael Patrick Lane); Melissa Daniels (Kelly Rutherford); Hank Sullivan (Brent Antonello); and Alexis Carrington (Nicollette Sheridan).

Plot

Dynasty begins with heiress Fallon Carrington unhappy to find her billionaire father Blake engaged to Cristal, a rival employee at the family company. When Fallon's machinations to separate the couple backfire and cost her a promotion, she allies with Blake's nemesis and former employee, Jeff Colby, and strikes out on her own. Meanwhile, the arrival of Cristal's opportunistic nephew Sam—who becomes romantically involved with Fallon's wayward brother Steven—threatens to expose her shady past. The Carringtons form a united front in the wake of the suspicious death of Cristal's former lover Matthew, but things at the mansion do not remain harmonious for long. Blake's manipulations put him at odds with Cristal and his children, while the rivalry between Fallon and Cristal cools. Tired of waiting around for Fallon to take him seriously, Michael begins to date someone else, which only intensifies Fallon's feelings for him but drives her into Jeff's arms. Matthew's pregnant widow Claudia convalesces at the mansion with a hidden agenda, and Cristal's past comes back to haunt her in the form of her sister Iris, and Sam's father, Alejandro. Steven and Sam's on-again, off-again relationship is complicated by Sam's criminal tendencies and Steven's unstable ex-boyfriend, Ted. Jeff's partnership with Fallon is revealed to be a means for him to destroy the Carringtons for what Blake did to Jeff's father, Cesil. Fallon enlists Michael and Cristal to help her turn the tables on the Colbys, and she manages to neutralize Jeff and secure a percentage of his company. Blake's ex-wife Alexis—Steven and Fallon's mother—returns, purportedly to reconnect with her children but in fact angling for a piece of the Carrington fortune. Alexis arranges for her lover to pose as her and Blake's kidnapped son Adam, and reveals to Jeff and Monica that their mother is Blake's half-sister. Fallon ousts Blake as CEO of Carrington Atlantic just as the Colbys force a sale of the company. At Steven and Sam's wedding, an unhinged Claudia appears and shoots Cristal. Blake, Fallon, and Sam escape a fire in the stable house, but Steven, Michael, Alexis, and Cristal remain trapped inside.

The reboot updates several elements from the 1980s original, including moving the setting from Denver, Colorado to Atlanta, Georgia; making Steven's homosexuality a nonissue to Blake; and changing gold digger Sammy Jo from a woman to a gay man.[1] [2] [3] Additionally, in the new series, both Blake's new wife and her nephew are Hispanic, and both chauffeur Michael Culhane and the Colby family are African-American.[1] [3]

Cast and characters

See main article: List of Dynasty (2017 TV series) characters.

Main

Recurring

Guests

Episodes

Production

Development

In September 2016, it was announced that a reboot of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty was in development at The CW, co-written by Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, and Sallie Patrick.[10] [11] The show received a 13-episode a first season order on May 10, 2017.[12] [13] A preview trailer was released on May 18, 2017.[14] [15] On November 8, 2017, the series received a back nine order for a full season of 22 episodes.[16]

Casting

Nathalie Kelley was cast as Cristal in January 2017,[17] [18] followed by Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon,[19] Sam Adegoke as playboy Jeff Colby,[20] and Robert Christopher Riley as Blake's chauffeur Michael Culhane in February.[21] Next cast were Grant Show as Fallon's father Blake Carrington,[22] and Rafael de la Fuente as Sam Jones, a gay male version of the original series' Sammy Jo Carrington, in March.[23] [24] The remaining main cast members are James Mackay as Fallon's gay brother Steven,[25] [26] and Alan Dale as Carrington majordomo Anders,[27] Additional recurring performers include Nick Wechsler as Cristal's ex-lover Matthew Blaisdel,[28] Brianna Brown as Matthew's wife Claudia,[29] and Wakeema Hollis as Jeff's sister Monica Colby.[3] In November 2017, Nicollette Sheridan was cast in the role of Blake's ex-wife Alexis Carrington.[30] Other guest stars include Elena Tovar as Iris Machado, Cristal's sister and Sam's mother,[5] [6] Bill Smitrovich as Thomas Carrington, Blake's estranged father,[31] and Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Cesil Colby, Jeff and Monica's father.[32]

In June 2018, Kelley told E! News that she would not be returning for season two.[33] She said in 2020 that she had been surprised to get the call that she would not be returning to the series, and explained:

The CW announced in August 2018 that Ana Brenda Contreras had been cast as "the real Cristal Flores" for the second season.[34] [35] [36]

Filming

Filming for the season commenced on July 19, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia, and wrapped up during the first quarter of 2018.[37]

Music

Paul Leonard-Morgan composed the music for the first season, with him, Bill Conti and Troy Nõka composing the music for the theme song, which debuted in the third episode, "Guilt is for Insecure People", but is only used in some episodes.[38] [39] Composer Paul Leonard-Morgan worked with Troy Nõka to get "an '80s-rock vibe" for the song, to match Leonard-Morgan's soundtrack for the series.[39] The new theme was recorded with an orchestra at Capitol Records in Hollywood, featuring Los Angeles Philharmonic lead trumpet player Tom Hooten.[39]

Broadcast

Season one of Dynasty premiered on The CW in the United States on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, with the season two premiere of Riverdale as its lead-in.[40] Netflix acquired the exclusive international broadcast rights to Dynasty, making it available as a Netflix original series on the platform less than a day after their original U.S. broadcast.[41] The series moved to Fridays starting with the fourteenth episode,[42] and the season finale aired on May 11, 2018.[43] Season one of Dynasty is available worldwide on Netflix.

Leslie Moonves, the then-head of CBS Corporation, said in 2017, "We own 100 percent of [''Dynasty''], and we've already licensed it to Netflix in 188 countries ... So this means Dynasty is profitable before it even hits the air."[44]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 49% approval rating with an average rating of 6.54/10 based on 47 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Dynasty revival retains enough of its predecessor's over-the-top allure to offer a glamorous guilty pleasure in its first season, even if it never quite recaptures the magic of the original."[45] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the season a score of 52, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[46]

Reviewing the first episode of the season, Danette Chavez writing for The A.V. Club felt that despite the premiere "cresting waves of '80s nostalgia and reboots, the CW's reimagined Dynasty feels like it's coming at a bit of an inopportune time".[47]

Accolades

In 2018, the series was nominated by the Dorian Awards as Campy TV Show of the Year.[48]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fall TV First Impression: Dynasty. Matt Webb. Mitovich. TVLine. May 31, 2017. September 12, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170601012550/http://tvline.com/2017/05/31/dynasty-reboot-preview-pilot-cw-fall-lineup/. June 1, 2017.
  2. At First Sight. Emmy. 7. 39. Christine. Champagne. August 23, 2017. September 13, 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823234400/https://www.emmys.com/news/mix/first-sight. August 23, 2017.
  3. Web site: Dynasty: 4 Ways CW's Reboot Has Updated the Series to Be More Inclusive and Tolerant. IndieWire. Hanh. Nguyen. August 2, 2017. October 12, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803001159/http://www.indiewire.com/2017/08/dynasty-the-cw-reboot-more-inclusive-gay-black-latina-1201862962/. August 3, 2017.
  4. Web site: Dynasty Photos: 'I Answer to No Man'. The CW. January 26, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181018043142/http://www.cwtv.com/shows/dynasty/photos/1-111/02766720a76. October 18, 2018.
  5. Web site: General Hospital Rick Hearst to Appear on Dynasty!. ABC Soaps in Depth. Chris. Eades. November 13, 2017. December 1, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171116185921/http://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-rick-hearst-dynasty-146652. November 16, 2017.
  6. Web site: Rick Hearst Announces Dynasty Reboot Role on the CW. Soaps.com. Dustin. Cushman. November 13, 2017. December 1, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171116065059/http://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/50344/rick-hearst-announces-dynasty-reboot-role-on-the-cw. November 16, 2017.
  7. Web site: Dynasty Recap: Fallon Is in Some Serious Trouble. Andrea. Reiher. Brit + Co. February 1, 2018. March 12, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180831174758/https://www.brit.co/dynasty-promises-you-cant-keep-recap-monica-fallon/. August 31, 2018.
  8. Web site: Dynasty Is Back With a Vengeance (in More Ways Than One). Andrea. Reiher. Brit + Co. March 12, 2018. March 12, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180313093252/https://www.brit.co/dynasty-season-1-episode-14-gospel-according-to-blake-carrington-recap/. March 13, 2018.
  9. Web site: Dynasty recap: 'Trashy Little Tramp'. May 5, 2018. Georgia. Makitalo. Hidden Remote. May 25, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180526042046/https://hiddenremote.com/2018/05/05/dynasty-recap-trashy-little-tramp/. May 26, 2018.
  10. Web site: Dynasty Reboot in the Works at The CW. The Hollywood Reporter. Lesley. Goldberg. Michael. O'Connell. September 30, 2016. October 6, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161001151830/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dynasty-reboot-works-at-cw-934334. October 1, 2016.
  11. Web site: Dynasty Reboot Set At the CW With Josh Schwartz & Stephanie Savage. Nellie. Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. September 30, 2016. October 2, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161001144713/http://deadline.com/2016/09/dynasty-reboot-the-cw-josh-schwartz-stephanie-savage-1201829178/. October 1, 2016.
  12. Web site: Dynasty Reboot, Military Drama Valor Land Series Orders at CW. Holloway. Daniel. Variety. May 10, 2017. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170511001718/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/dynasty-cw-1202422808/. May 11, 2017.
  13. Web site: Dynasty Reboot Picked Up To Series At the CW. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. May 10, 2017. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170511003118/http://deadline.com/2017/05/dynasty-reboot-series-the-cw-1202089134/. May 11, 2017.
  14. Web site: Dynasty Trailer: First Look At The CW Reboot. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. May 18, 2017. May 22, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170518234847/http://deadline.com/2017/05/the-cw-dynasty-trailer-first-look-1202097206/. May 18, 2017.
  15. Web site: Dynasty: CW Previews Their Steamy Reboot Series. Cindy. McLennan. TV Series Finale. May 18, 2017. May 22, 2017.
  16. Web site: Dynasty Gets Full-Season Pickup From the CW, No Back Order For Valor. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. November 8, 2017. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171109081301/http://deadline.com/2017/11/dynasty-full-season-pickup-the-cw-valor-no-back-order-canceled-1202204622/. November 9, 2017.
  17. Web site: Dynasty: Nathalie Kelley Cast As Lead In The CW Reboot. Denise. Petski. Deadline Hollywood. January 30, 2017. May 11, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170201225020/http://deadline.com/2017/01/dynasty-nathalie-kelley-cast-lead-the-cw-reboot-1201897624/. February 1, 2017.
  18. Web site: The CW's Dynasty Reboot Casts Its Star. The Hollywood Reporter. Lesley. Goldberg. January 30, 2017. January 31, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170130221421/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/dynasty-reboot-nathalie-kelley-star-970207. January 30, 2017.
  19. Web site: Elizabeth Gillies Joins The CW's Dynasty Reboot; William Miller Cast In Searchers. Petski. Denise. Deadline Hollywood. February 10, 2017. February 11, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170210221918/http://deadline.com/2017/02/elizabeth-gillies-the-cw-dynasty-reboot-william-miller-cast-searchers-1201908469/. February 10, 2017.
  20. Web site: Dynasty: Sam Adegoke To Star In The CW Reboot. Nellie. Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. February 14, 2017. May 11, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170214202647/http://deadline.com/2017/02/dynasty-sam-adegoke-cast-the-cw-reboot-1201911599/. February 14, 2017.
  21. Web site: Dynasty: CW Reboot Casts Robert Christopher Riley; Valor Adds Charlie Barnett. Denise. Petski. February 24, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. May 11, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170225020230/http://deadline.com/2017/02/dynasty-cw-reboot-cast-robert-christopher-riley-valor-charlie-barnett-1201970567/. February 25, 2017.
  22. Web site: Dynasty: Grant Show To Star As Blake Carrington In The CW Reboot Pilot. Nellie. Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. March 2, 2017. March 3, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170302224254/http://deadline.com/2017/03/dynasty-grant-show-star-blake-carrington-the-cw-reboot-1202034650/. March 2, 2017.
  23. Web site: Empire Star Cast as Hispanic, Gay Male Version of Dynasty Sammy Jo. Daytime Confidential. Jamey. Giddens. March 8, 2017. May 11, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313182628/https://daytimeconfidential.com/2017/03/09/empire-star-cast-as-dynastys-sammy-jo. March 13, 2017.
  24. Web site: Dynasty: Rafael de la Fuente Joins The CW Pilot; W. Tré Davis In Valor. Denise. Petski. March 9, 2017. Deadline Hollywood. May 11, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170309021059/http://deadline.com/2017/03/dynasty-rafael-de-la-fuente-cw-pilot-w-tre-davis-valor-1202039712/. March 9, 2017.
  25. Web site: The do's and don'ts of reboots: Dynasty edition. Yvonne. Villarreal. Los Angeles Times. September 8, 2017. August 27, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908170252/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-fall-preview-dynasty-reboot-lessons-20170908-htmlstory.html. September 8, 2017.
  26. Web site: Dynasty Reboot Corrects Original Series' Homophobia. Entertainment Weekly. Lynette. Rice. August 2, 2017. August 27, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803042116/https://ew.com/tv/2017/08/02/dynasty-reboot-original-series-homophobia/. August 3, 2017.
  27. Web site: The O.C. Alum Alan Dale Joins CW's Dynasty Reboot. Elizabeth. Wagmeister. March 8, 2017. Variety. November 7, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170308040040/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/alan-dale-dynasty-reboot-cw-cast-anders-butler-1202004044/. March 8, 2017.
  28. Web site: Trailer For The CW's Dynasty – Nick Wechsler. Crashdown.com. May 20, 2017. May 20, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170619081211/http://crashdown.com/news/2017/05/nick-wechsler-cw-dynasty/. June 19, 2017.
  29. Web site: The CW's Dynasty Pilot: Devious Maids Brianna Brown Guest-Stars as Claudia. Matt Webb. Mitovich. TVLine. March 22, 2017. May 11, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170322083124/http://tvline.com/2017/03/21/dynasty-pilot-brianna-brown-cast-claudia/. March 22, 2017.
  30. Web site: Dynasty Casts Nicollette Sheridan as Alexis Carrington. TVLine. Andy. Swift. November 28, 2017. November 28, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201001438/http://tvline.com/2017/11/28/dynasty-nicollette-sheridan-cast-alexis-carrington-spoilers/. December 1, 2017.
  31. Web site: Dynasty Episode Description: 'Rotten Things'. The CW Press. December 6, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171207013208/https://cwtvpr.com/the-cw/shows/dynasty/photos/?episode=12455. December 7, 2017.
  32. Web site: Hakeem Kae-Kazim to Play Cesil Colby in Dynasty. Variety. Stewart. Clarke. November 24, 2017. December 6, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171124200304/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/hakeem-kae-kazim-cesil-colby-dynasty-the-cw-1202622577/. November 24, 2017.
  33. Web site: This Dynasty Character Is Not Returning For Season 2. E! Online. Ashley. Spencer. June 21, 2018. June 21, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180622060729/https://www.eonline.com/news/945898/spoiler-is-not-returning-for-dynasty-season-2. June 22, 2018.
  34. Web site: Dynasty Adds Ana Brenda Contreras as "Real" Cristal for Season 2. The Hollywood Reporter. Rick. Porter. August 6, 2018. August 6, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180806215716/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ana-brenda-contreras-joins-dynasty-season-2-1132406. August 6, 2018.
  35. Web site: Dynasty Surprise: Ana Brenda Contreras Joins the CW Series As 'Real Cristal'. Nellie. Andreeva. Deadline Hollywood. August 6, 2018. August 6, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180806191252/https://deadline.com/2018/08/dynasty-ana-brenda-contreras-cast-real-cristal-the-cw-nathalie-kelley-1202440782/. August 6, 2018.
  36. Web site: Dynasty Boss Confirms Cristal Is Getting Killed Off and 'Resurrected'. Michael. Ausiello. TVLine. August 6, 2018. August 6, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180806191113/https://tvline.com/2018/08/06/nathalie-kelley-leaving-dynasty-season-2-cristal-recast/. August 6, 2018.
  37. Web site: What's filming in Atlanta now? Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok, Dynasty, plus every made-in-Georgia Comic-Con trailer. July 26, 2017. Matt. Walljasper. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170727050322/http://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/whats-filming-in-atlanta-now-avengers-infinity-war-thor-ragnarok-dynasty-plus-every-comic-con-trailer-made-in-georgia/. July 27, 2017.
  38. Web site: Dynasty showrunner takes you behind the scenes of that drama-filled gala. Entertainment Weekly. Sallie. Patrick. October 25, 2017. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171026060451/http://ew.com/tv/2017/10/25/dynasty-episode-3-blog-sallie-patrick/. October 26, 2017.
  39. Web site: Watch the Opening Credits for the CW's Dynasty Reboot. Maria Elena. Fernandez. Vulture. October 25, 2017. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171025233901/http://www.vulture.com/2017/10/dynasty-reboot-opening-credits.html. October 25, 2017.
  40. Web site: The CW Sets Fall 2017 Premiere Dates For Dynasty & Valor And Returning Series. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. June 8, 2017. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170611132346/http://deadline.com/2017/06/the-cw-fall-premiere-dates-dynasty-valor-the-flash-1202109659/. June 11, 2017.
  41. Web site: Dynasty: Netflix To Distribute The CW Reboot Internationally Via Deal With CBS Studios Int'l. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. June 22, 2017. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623040129/http://deadline.com/2017/06/dynasty-netflix-international-distribution-rights-the-cw-drama-global-launch-1202118871/. June 23, 2017.
  42. Web site: (#114) "The Gospel According to Blake Carrington". The Futon Critic. April 16, 2018.
  43. Web site: Catch The CW's Season Finales This April and May!. The Futon Critic. March 15, 2018. April 16, 2018.
  44. Web site: Cancel Bear vs. The CW, week 3: Dynasty's slow start won't matter. October 17, 2017. TV by the Numbers. April 16, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171020070003/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/renewcancel/cancel-bear-vs-the-cw-week-3-dynastys-slow-start-wont-matter/. October 20, 2017.
  45. Web site: Dynasty: Season 1. Rotten Tomatoes. November 24, 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190420042831/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dynasty/s01. April 20, 2019.
  46. Web site: Dynasty (2017) Reviews. Metacritic. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180818161621/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/dynasty-2017. August 18, 2018.
  47. Web site: The Dynasty reboot tries to take the guilt out of guilty pleasure, and suffers for it. Chavez. Danette. The A.V. Club. October 11, 2018. April 16, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171204105856/https://www.avclub.com/the-dynasty-reboot-tries-to-take-the-guilt-out-of-guilt-1819318427. December 4, 2017.
  48. Web site: Call Me by Your Name Leads Dorian Award Nominations. The Hollywood Reporter. Gregg. Kilday. January 29, 2018. March 13, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180314175641/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2018-gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-dorian-award-nominees-970377/item/film-year-1079824. March 14, 2018.