The cliffhangers in the early seasons of Dynasty were very interesting and engaging - better than the later years when Alexis’s life was always put in peril. After a complicated pregnancy (including an almost abortion), Fallon finally brings her son, L.B., home. With Stephen running off, L.B. will become the new heir to the dynasty. But, it will not be easy for the new child as he is kidnapped from his crib and the frantic search for the child begins.
Would Claudia have worn gloves??
All fingers point to Dr. Nick Toscani who happens to have a connection with L.B.’s nurse, Susan. And, coincidentally, Susan happened to be in town to buy some salve for L.B. Susan is cleared (after drinking plenty of wine from the Carrington wine cellar) and eyes turn to Faruk Ahmed after a somewhat lucid Claudia recalls a car with some sort of flag with some Arabic writing. Blake confront Ahmed but that goes no where.
Now, it gets good as Claudia becomes the suspect. Claudia had been regressing after she learned that Lindsey was dead (and Cecil hid it from her) and has been acting weird (even weird for Claudia). Further, Claudia has ran off so as not to be put into the sanitarium. Wouldn’t you know it, Claudia is running around with a bundle wrapped in L.B.’s blanket. When the police flash her picture on the TV screen, the nosy woman running the hotel Claudia is staying at calls it, and everyone races to the hotel to get Claudia who runs onto the roof with “Lindsey.”
This results in one of the best scene’s in the show. Blake tries to reason with Claudia to return the baby to Fallon. Meanwhile, the police get in place to apprehend Claudia. Tipped off, Claudia makes a move, trips and the baby goes tumbling off the building. The family is horrified (Pamela Sue Martin was great here). But, horror turns to a sense of relief. Claudia didn’t have L.B., she had a doll that she thought was Lindsey. How awesome is that!
That’s a whole lot of blanket!
Now, there is the problem of who actually kidnapped L.B. Jeff, who should have figured this out earlier, remembers an Alfred Grimes, the caretaker at the cemetery where Phillip Colby is interred (supposedly), taking an interest in the child. Grimes also mentioned Dr. Nick Toscani (why would those two be connected). Blake instantly recognizes the name Grimes, Alfred is Roger’s father, the man Blake crippled (or did something to, Blake downplayed it) when he caught him with Alexis. Grimes is found with the child and L.B. is returned.
What makes the storyline great is the whole thing with Claudia. It also acts as a perfect lead in for another kidnapping, of Alexis and Blake’s first son, Adam (who was hinted at in Season 2). And with perfect timing, Adam returns to claim his stake in the Carrington family. These two things makes up for the obvious questions as to why Dr. Toscani wanted to kidnap L.B. and what his plan was? Since James Farentino did not come back for Season 3, those questions remained unanswered.