dynasty Episode 158 - Fear

Now that Blake got everything back, the season can switch gears.  Alexis seems to take her loss well, but we all know it is killing her to give back the mansion.  That does not stop Alexis from using her newspaper to spin the recent events.  Gee, it is not suspicious at all that Alexis gave Blake Denver Carrington back and "sold" him the mansion.  Alexis's star reporter has questions, and Alexis has a simple answer - she fires him.  Alexis does confide in Adam the truth and Adam supports her.  Of course he does, he's a psychopath.  

Now that things have returned to normal, Alexis can finally rid herself of Ben.  Oh, but it will not be that simple.  Ben is not going anywhere.  In fact, he is going to run Colby Co since Alexis seems to have little interest in it.  Just in case Alexis does not want Ben's help, he blackmails her into accepting his good graces.  Ben has no problem going to jail for perjury (he mentioned it being like 10 years, which I am pretty sure is crazy - maybe a couple of years at most) but is Alexis willing to go back to jail.  Still traumatized by her time in jail while awaiting the trial for Mark Jennings murder, Alexis feels she has no choice but to keep Ben in her life.

Neither Adam nor Dex likes Ben hanging around.  Dex claims he has never seen Alexis so afraid in her life.  I am pretty sure she was more scared when everyone was trying to kill her in Seasons 2-4.  Alexis will not tell Dex about Ben's blackmailing of her but she does tell Adam.  She asks Adam if there is anything he learned about Ben while working together at Denver Carrington that she can use against him.  Adam recalls that Ben was scared of some calls he was getting from Australia.  Well Adam, you have just bought yourself a trip to the Outback to discover Ben's secret.

Blake is eager to return to Denver Carrington and he is eager to have Dana return as his assistant.  Dana feels she is not worthy to work for Blake and tells him that she is the one responsible for the leak of the crater project.  Blake respects her honesty and still wants her to return.  Dana agrees.  This does not sit well with Adam who had expected Dana to come with him over to Colby Co.  Dana does not want to work with Alexis and until Adam understands that, she wants nothing to do with him.  Wait a minute, Dana had been stalking Adam (probably for years) and is now willing to throw it away so as not to work with Alexis.  Go figure.

Speaking of stalking, Steven returns home drunk.  He must have gone to some bar or something after the ball.  Wow, was it that traumatic to be hit on.  Who is there?  Claire.  What kind of hours does this woman work?  Anyway, Claire feels that the responsible thing to do is to take advantage of a passed out Steven.  This woman really is clueless.  Steven wakes the next morning to find Claire in his bed.  Steven, in the most indirect way possible, tells Claire that he is gay.  If only she would have read a newspaper.  At least Steven agrees to keep Danny in her school.  

Sammy Jo cannot believe she is not pregnant.  In fact, she refuses to believe it.  Why else would she try to call a lab in the middle of the night?  The following day, she goes to the lab and demands to see the results.  The person at that lab refuses to turn over the results and lays it down for Sammy Jo - if the doctors tell her she is not pregnant, she is not pregnant.  What will Sammy Jo do?

Why the hell is Michael still around (at least we only see Amanda in one scene when Blake welcomes the family back to the mansion)?  He refuses to sell his interest in Alexis in the crater project, but he does have another business opportunity for the two of them to work together.  Alexis accepts the deal on the condition that Michael sues Blake for shutting down the crater project.  Michael agrees.  Ben is not happy about this deal and is determined to shut it down.  He knows what is best for Colby Co, not Alexis.  

There is one final matter between Alexis, Blake and Ben that needs to be taken care of - the transfer of the South China Sea oil leases.  This time, Blake is going to extract a penalty from the lying two.  He wants them all - no one quarter share for Alexis.  Further, Blake wants the two of them to be prepared to fly to Hong Kong on a minutes notice.  Alexis is not thrilled, but it is better than jail.  Minister Han finally agrees to meet with the trio.  Blake wishes Krystle would come with him but Krystle has too much to take care of around the mansion.

It is interesting that Blake and Krystle have now become this super couple.  It is almost annoying.  Blake swears he could not have gotten his empire back had it not been for Krystle's love.  Maybe it is the power of her Forever Krystle perfume.  Who knows?  It does give an opportunity to watch the two prepare to make love (wearing more clothes than I wear during the day) to the Dynasty theme.

Finally, the writers have decided to rekindle the tension between Dominique and Alexis in one of the most tenuous ways possible.  Dominique is quick to leave the Carlton now that Alexis is looking to purchase it.  Of course, everyone is wondering why would Alexis move into the Carlton.  What ever happened to that beautiful penthouse.  Oh well.  As Dominique finalizes plans on her home, she will move into the mansion and finally settle into Denver with her new recording studio.

Alexis's response - she gets a critic to write a scathing critique of Dominique and her talent.  Ben really does have a point about Alexis not running Colby Co.  At breakfast, Dominique notices the review and is pissed.  She is, in fact, so pissed that she goes over to the Carlton and threatens to sue Alexis if she does not retract that review.  Alexis has a better idea, and the two brawl in the bedroom.  As far as cat fights go, this seems the most contrived, but it is still excellent.  The best part is when Adam finally separates the two and gets the servant to escort Dominique out, she continues to shout "Slap her! Slap her!"  Dominique is a street brawler.  Bravo to Diahann Carroll on that!

Memorable Dialogue

Alexis:  The only reason you are here my dear, Krystle, is that your husband blackmailed me.  And he's going to pay for that and so is everyone in his life.

Alexis:  And I'm negotiating to buy the Carlton hotel.
Dominique:  I've heard.  That's why I was in such a hurry to move out.
Alexis:  Yes, well, it was never meant to be a hotel for transients.

Alexis:  Doing just fine, Dex, has never been at the top of my list of priorities.

Alexis:  Everyone knows that you're nothing but a second rate lounge act.
Dominique:  I don't care what you say to my face. . . you viper!  Retract this or I'll cram it down your throat.

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