Dynasty Top Scenes - Fallon and Adam Kiss

Incest was a common theme in Dynasty. Fallon had married her second cousin Jeff (which really is not incest). In Season 2, Fallon learns that Cecil may be her father which is a little creepy since Fallon had pursued Cecil in Season 1 and it would make her and Jeff first cousins (which I consider incest). But. things got more intense for Fallon in Season 3.

Idyllic

Fallon’s older brother who was kidnapped as a child, Adam, returns to Denver to claim his birthright. Going by Michael Torrence, Adam checks into Fallon’s new hotel. He meets his sister and there is instant chemistry between the two. The only problem is that Fallon is unwilling to tell him her name. If she did, this storyline would have ended right away. Despite not knowing Fallon’s name, Adam is more than willing to woo Fallon and try to bed her. And Fallon is enjoying the flirtation. But, for some reason, Fallon holds off (that’s a new one for her).

In this scene, Adam and Fallon actually kiss while enjoying a romantic boat ride. The scenery is beautiful (and Fallon is appropriately dressed for the setting) but the viewer knows what the two characters do not and there is always the thought of how far these two will go. It is a good thing that Adam and Fallon hold off because they learn they are siblings just before having a romantic dinner that would inevitably lead to the bedroom.

The Fallon/Adam incest story makes a return on Season 1 of the Colbys when Fallon’s amnesia is explained by Fallon being triggered by Adam and her fear of almost sleeping with him. It really was a weak reason, but at least it was a reason. Fallon would not be the only one in the series to have incest issues. Leslie and Clay found out that they could have been half siblings after they had sex (both the child of Ben Carrington). And, Monica and Jeff are accused of incest before Monica learns that she is not Jason Colby’s daughter (they still would be first cousins though).

The truth comes out!

Dynasty Storyline Miss: Claudia's Oil Well

Okay, I admit that I am a little bit apprehensive about making this a storyline miss because I love Claudia and this did provide many entertaining scenes. (Claudia buying the furs, Claudia telling off Krystle, Claudia setting La Mirage on fire). However, the premise of the storyline is ridiculous and the writers totally changed Claudia.

Claudia was on the outs with Blake when Steven left her for a man (Blake probably blamed Claudia and her affair for this) and Claudia started carrying on with Adam (who was really persistent in bedding Claudia). To be fair to Claudia, Blake did her dirty by putting Prince Michael in charge of La Mirage after Claudia had been running it in Fallon’s absence. After surviving the wedding massacre in Moldova, Claudia succumbed to Adam and the two married even though Claudia refused to move back into the mansion.

Sammy Jo finally has the advantage

To make matters worse, Sammy Jo just inherited a ton of money (isn’t that nice) and rubbed it in Claudia’s face. Claudia will always be the poor Carrington dependent on others. As luck would have it, Claudia learned that Walter left her Blaidsel-Lankershim One, an oil well, in his will. Claudia is ecstatic that she will no longer be the poor Carrington. Claudia finally has her own source of wealth. (Go U.S.A.). There is just one problem, Walter had sold the well to Blake years ago. Blake lost it when Denver Carrington went bankrupt and he repurchased it. Walter had nothing to give Claudia.

That does not stop Claudia from obsessing about that well and how it belongs to her. Blake, of course, will not just give it to her. In order to get the independence that Claudia craves, she will become just as deceptive as others to get her oil well. It is a good thing she is married to the master of it. Adam tricks an ill Blake to sign over power of attorney to him. A power Adam will use to take Denver Carrington. Still, Adam will not give the well to Claudia until she blackmails him - she will tell Blake what Adam did. Adam secretly transfers the well to Claudia.

How many furs can one person own?

Now that Claudia has her well, she is done with all the Carringtons. What exactly Claudia will do with this well is a mystery? I guess Denver Carrington will operate it and Claudia just collects royalties. Further, before she leaves Adam, she purchases several furs and other expensive items to be charged to Adam. Alas, poor Claudia’s independence will not last long - he well is drying up. (Wow that was quick!). Claudia feels she is being cheated and tells Blake what Adam did and then holds a candle light vigil for all the Carringtons who done her wrong (the liars). Unfortunately for poor Claudia, the vigil sets her room on fire and she perishes.

By Season 6 of Dynasty, everyone was greedy and stabbing someone in the back. Also, it seems that wealth just lands in the lap of people - Sammy Jo, Michael Culhane, Jeff (again) - heck even Blake got bailed out from a half sister who showed up at an opportune time. Why should Claudia be left out in the cold? But, Claudia had to change her nature to get that wealth - I guess being married to Adam will do that to you. It’s a shame that it did not work out for poor Claudia who caused her own death. The writers ruined Claudia to make her like the others, and over an oil well that she had no right to.

Claudia’s last vigil

Why Use Rape Without Consequences?

A common plot in soap operas is the rape of a character, and usually by a character who faces no consequences for his actions. This was more common back in the 1980s (and before) than today because of how we view and treat rape/sexual assault today. Even though we would be horrified by such treatment of rape today on television, it was horrible back then.

There were three rapes on Dynasty/The Colbys and none of the perpetrators faced any consequences for his action. Further, the rape itself did not drive any sort of plotline. It seems that it happened just to have something happen.

In Episode 7 of Dynasty “Krystle’s Lie” - Blake becomes angry with Krystle because he wanted to have a baby and he learns that Krystle has been hiding the fact that she has been taking birth control. The angry Blake rapes Krystle as a result of her deception. (Note, how the episode is entitled Krystle’s Lie and not Blake’s Assault) The following day, Blake feels guilty for what he has done and apologizes to Krystle. It is referenced here and there (particularly after Adam rapes Kirby). Regardless, the question remains, why have Blake rape Krystle?

Blake tries to apologize to Krystle after raping her

In reality, the rape could have explored the larger issue of marital rape which at the time was not illegal in many states - including Colorado (if the husband and wife were not separated). Before the mid 1970s, a husband could not be criminally liable for sexually assaulting his spouse. (assuming they were together in some states, other states had no exceptions). Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, the laws were changed to recognize marital rape as a crime but there were still loopholes in the statutes that were eventually cleaned up. However, that discussion did not happen. Basically, Blake raped Krystle (even if not a crime at the time), she eventually forgave him and that was it.

Similar to Blake, Miles raped Fallon while they were married. At that time, the act was likely a crime in California since Fallon resisted (a requirement for California).. Still, the only consequence Miles faced was physical violence from Jeff which became more intense when there was the prospect that Fallon could have become pregnant as a result of the rape. At least this time, all the characters involved referred to it what it was - rape. Still, Sable did not seem to care that Miles raped Fallon when she learned that it could have resulted in Fallon’s pregnancy. Miles being the father of Fallon’s baby was more important the act of conception.

Finally, we have Adam and Kirby. Adam’s rape of Kirby was the most violent (not that violence matters) and everyone in the family seemed to not care - other than Jeff who of course got into a fight with Adam. Kirby never went the police and no one forced her to do so (there are probably class issues involved here). In fact, when Kirby discovered that the rape resulted in her pregnancy, Adam wanted to do the the right thing by marrying Kirby - which is what Adam wanted all along. Basically, by raping Kirby, Adam almost got what he had wanted.

In the end, these rapes seemed gratuitous and are actually harmful. Yes, it was a different time, but to allow three main characters rape three other main characters and have nothing happen (other than the occasional chastisement or feelings of guilt) really does a disservice to any discussion of sexual assault. Obviously, you cannot ship Blake, Miles or Adam off to jail. Then, don’t have them be rapists.