dynasty Episode 147 - The Victory

Blake really is not doing the best job of strangling Alexis because she is still able to cry out for help.  Ben has no intention of helping Alexis.  At least Krystle is finally able to get out of Ben's grasp and stop Blake from killing Alexis.  Blake is not through though.  He clocks his brother and is about to continue his attack until Krystle convinces Blake just to leave.  At least Blake has the good sense to remember to get Kristina.  

Blake wants to stay at La Mirage as he plots his plan to regain his house, but there is only one problem, La Mirage is burning to the ground.   Wow, did that fire spread quickly.  So quickly that these morons are trapped in the hotel.  There is mayhem everywhere.  And those fools Sammy Jo and Amanda had gone back into the hotel to change into dry clothing.  Bad move.  Besides, both were still wearing the same outfits they wore in the pool.

Dominique is upset that she cannot find Jackie.  Dex, being the hero, returns into the blaze and finds Jackie.  Sammy Jo, meanwhile, does not need a man to help her and actually helps guide Clay out of the blaze.  Then, there is Amanda.  It seems that the fire has changed Amanda's look and has made her American.  Who knew that could happen?  A chair, while trying to escape the blaze, landed on top of Amanda and knocked her unconscious.  Fortunate for her, Michael Culhane, Blake's old chauffeur happened to be at La Mirage and happened to save Amanda.  Fortunate for Michael, he realizes that the actress playing Amanda had been switched.

When Blake learns of the fire, he sends Krystle to stay at The Carlton (that makes sense).  Blake rushes over to La Mirage to see how he can help.  He does find Amanda and Amanda tells Blake of this mysterious man who saved her life.  Blake wants to find that man and personally thank him for saving Amanda's life.   Considering the popularity of the Amanda switch, should we really be thanking Michael.  Anyway, while attending to Amanda, some strange guy comes up to Blake and accuses him of killing his wife who died in the fire.  Call me crazy, but who does that?  Call me crazier, but how did the television news camera crew make it there so quickly to film that scene. 

The fire and losing his holdings must have made Blake soft because he questions himself as to whether he is responsible for the fire and the death of that man's wife.  Krystle assures him that he had nothing to do with the fire.  That is true - it was crazy Claudia (not that they know it yet).  What of Claudia?  Well, all you need to do is see the opening credits to know that Claudia is not around.  Adam, the following day, tells his father - because he has no one else - that he identified Claudia at the morgue.  Even though Blake is not thrilled with Adam, he kind of gives support.  At least Blake tells Adam that he needs to make funeral arrangements.  There will be no funeral, Claudia told Adam that she did not want one.  Well, that is a proper send off for Claudia who had been on the show for the past six years.  It's been real Pamela Bellwood.

Alexis is savoring her victory over Blake and there is nothing that will ruin it.  Not even Ben who had hoped to celebrate personally with Alexis.  Alexis has no time for such adventures.  Ben is welcome to stay at the mansion and can have any room, just not the room Alexis is in.  Ben has no choice but to accept.  Besides, Ben receives a call from a mysterious woman from Australia.  Apparently, the newspapers in Australia covered the fact that Alexis has kicked Blake out of his home and that Ben moved in because she knew where to call.  Who is this woman?  Ben does not want us to know and wants the phone number of the mansion made unlisted.  You mean to tell me it was not before.  I guess the staff would be there to screen calls.

Oh the staff, now it looks like they will be working for Alexis.  Not all of them.  When Alexis learns that Jeannette drove with Krystle to the Carlton and helped her unpack, she fires her for being a traitor.  It's not that Jeannette wanted to work for Alexis anyway.  No worries for Jeannette, Krystle hires her.  

Amanda sees Alexis fire Jeannette and she is very pissed with her mother.  So pissed, that she is determined to move out and she even gets a job at Denver Carrington.  Poor Alexis, first she thought she would get the house and then would use that leverage to get the children (sans Fallon) to be hers.  Amanda wants nothing to do with her.  Steven is also not thrilled but he will not leave the mansion because he is going to nag the hell out of Alexis about what a horrible thing she did.  Fortunately for Alexis, Adam is too busy grieving for the wife he could barely tolerate to chastise his mother.

Amanda actually finds the man who saved her life based on the embroidered handkerchief that Michael had left behind.  Luckily for Michael, he happened to be wrapped only in a towel when Amanda came knocking.  Amanda tells Michael she wants him to meet her father and Michael agrees without telling Amanda that he has a history with Blake.  For some reason, the producers decide to have a flashback scene between Michael and Fallon (now re-shot with Emma Samms) from the first season (I think the first episode) where Michael tries to blackmail Fallon and Fallon will have none of it (wow has Fallon changed).  The flashback only serves to reinforce that Emma Samms (as good as an actress that she is) really could not replace Pamela Sue Martin.

Blake is not thrilled to learn that Michael is the one who saved Amanda.  Blake, rightly, also suspects that Michael is still an opportunist and offers Michael money to stay away from Amanda.  Michael does not want Blake's money (or lack thereof) just yet.  Besides, Michael seems to have money of his own as he asks to have $5 million transferred to his Denver account.  Yay America, where even a disgraced chauffeur can leave for five-six years and come back a multi-millionaire.

Even though Dex rescued Jackie, Jackie is pretty badly burned and the staff at Cheney Hospital randomly put cream on her body to soothe her burns.  They love randomly places cream at the hospital, I remember the same kind of treatment Alexis got after the cabin fire.  Anyway, when Jackie awakes she asks Dominique about Garrett.  Dominique tells her daughter that she is not going to marry Garrett because of his lie but that she can see Garrett anytime she wants because Garrett loves her.  Apparently, Garrett does not love Jackie so much to actually be at her bedside in the hospital.

While watching the news, Alexis sees the scene of the man accusing Blake of murder and she will not let it slide.  She watches the scene over and over again as she tries to come up with a plot to use that to further harm Blake.  After her daily obsession with the scene, Alexis makes her move.  She purchases the Denver Mirror and is going to use the paper to destroy Blake by making him responsible for murder.  First step, change the editorial content of coverage of the fire to place blame squarely on Blake.  Nothing like kicking a man while he is down, Alexis.

Memorable Dialogue

Blake [to Alexis]:  You can thank Krystle for your life, I would have killed you.

Alexis:  Steven, Adam, Amanda - you belong to me and we all belong here together and that's how it's going to be.

Alexis:  I do not shelter or feed traitors, Amanda, and I don't talk about them, either.

Ben:  Say what you want, she's a very beautiful woman [referring to Krystle]
Alexis:  Only when she smiles.

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