dynasty Episode 194 - The Trial

I hate being technical and all but the custody hearing for Adam and Karen's child is really a hearing and not a trial.  Then again, the producers cannot name the episode The Hearing since that was already done.  If only that was the only inconsistency/issue in this episode or season everything would be fine.  Anyway, Adam is pumped about this custody hearing since he will finally get his son.  Dana seems to waiver and is afraid Adam may lose.  Dana is weird throughout this.  Sometimes you think she wants to win and other times you don't.  Yes, she is not a big fan of having a custody hearing, but she has no problem telling off Karen and Jesse for what they are doing.  Dana needs to get it together.

Even though Sean is supposedly dead, Mr. Hess continues to investigate him and has some news for Alexis.  It appears that Mr. Hess has learned that Sean specifically brought Jesse to Denver in order to initiate a custody suit to take Adam's child away.  I wonder how Mr. Hess learned that, but Alexis finds the development to be positive, and wants all the hard evidence he can find so that she can prove this in court.

As for the hearing itself, the witnesses appear to be called in no particular order and the questioning is totally random for full dramatic effect.  At one point, Karen's attorney calls a witness and then Adam's attorney does so and then back to Karen's attorney.  Hell, at one part Adam's attorney calls Jesse to stand even before the questioning of Dana is finished.  But, my all time favorite moment from this hearing, and just because of the liberties taken with legal matters on soap operas, is when Karen's attorney goes on a diatribe and claims that the contract that Adam and Karen signed is not only illegal and immoral, but unconstitutional.  I would love to know what part of the Constitution a private contract between two individuals violates.  It's a shame such a question never appeared on any law school exam I took.

You have to appreciate how the judge just randomly admonishes people for breaking court etiquette and then allow it nonetheless.  Threatening counsel with contempt of court charges is just perfect.  I guess I should talk a little about what is said at the hearing.  Dana is forced to testify about how she became sterile after aborting Adam's child years ago.  Karen plays dumb over knowing what contract she actually signed.  Adam focuses on his rights as the father and Jesse is forced to admit that he only wants Karen back and really does not care about the child.  The questioning of Jesse devastates Karen and this makes Dana waiver towards Karen's side.  All the while, Krystle and Alexis (in mourning black) watch.

We will come back to the hearing, but let's cover some other stuff.  Jeff returns to Denver and is instantly met with the final divorce papers which he brings to the Carlton with him.  Since Leslie has nothing better to do, she happens to see Jeff at the Hunt Bar in the Carlton and learns that his divorce from Fallon is official.  This fact somehow leads Leslie to believe that she can act a complete idiot and Jeff will buy into it.  Without seeing if Jeff is interested in her, Leslie moves out of Dex's place and tries to bully her way into Jeff's apartment.  Jeff takes this for the crazy move it is and informs Leslie that there is nothing between the two of them.  Well, duh.  Leslie must have realized that she made a complete ass of herself because she did.  Leslie takes her two pieces of luggage and tells Jeff she will not bother him again.  Dumb ass.

Side note - when Leslie contacts Krystle to find Jeff, Krystle tells Leslie that Jeff is in apartment 8B, but when Leslie goes to Jeff's place, the number on his door is 17E.  Not even close.  Besides, I though Jeff was in a penthouse.

Jeff then goes to make amends with Blake.  Blake is now mired in a gun smuggling scandal and his campaign manager quit as a result.  Gee, it is only one week until the election.  Besides, what is the point of being a campaign manager if you run off with the first sign of scandal.  Does he not know the Carrington family?  Good thing that Jeff is looking for a job because he is not too occupied running half of Colby Enterprises and forcing his way into Denver Carrington.  Jeff and Blake make up and they are a team again.  First point of order is to get Blake out from under that gun smuggling scandal.

Fortunately for Jeff and Blake, Fallon and Steven have that all taken care of.  When Steven is unable to get a hold of Harry Thresher, he tells Fallon that he is going to Natumbe.  No need for that since Fallon has already made arrangements.  In Natumbe, Steven and Fallon learn that the government is well aware that Blake had nothing to do with the gun smuggling to rebels but need to be delicate in releasing this information.  Steven and Fallon need immediate action in order to save Blake's campaign.  Natumbe officials oblige out of great respect for Blake.  Steven and Fallon return from Natumbe triumphant and Blake is ready to bring the facts forward.  

While that is great news for Blake, Krystle seems to be having problems of her own.  Similar to Fallon at the end of Season 4, Krystle is starting to have headaches.  First, she experiences some pain while giving Leslie the wrong address to Jeff's apartment.  Then, she has another one when Fallon gives Blake the information to clear his name.  Krystle assures the family that it is nothing, but we all know this is never a good sign.  Word of advice Krystle, do not ride any carousels and do not feel the need to go for a drive in rainy conditions.

Back at court, Karen decides it may actually be a smart idea for the baby to be brought before Solomon - I mean the judge.  It is another highly irregular move for which the judge chastises Karen.  But, the move finally moves Dana to speak out and this time, the judge allows it.  Wracked with guilt, Dana tells the court that the baby belongs with Karen.  Well, I am sure Adam will take this well.  At least Adam did not kick Dana out of the mansion, he is just going to move to another room.  This is the second child that Dana has taken from Adam.  Maybe Adam needs to reconsider who he marries.

Now that Sean is believed to be dead, Dex takes it upon himself to comfort Alexis.  Gee, horn dog, allow Alexis some time for some faux mourning.  Also, I wonder how this is explained on the campaign.  Blake is forced to answer to gun smuggling charges while Alexis gets a free pass over her husband being killed in Natumbe.  Did I miss something?  Another thing I must have missed is the fact that Alexis and Dex forget why their marriage fell apart in the first place - he was banging Amanda.  Anyway, when a reporter questions Dex about Alexis to write a hatchet piece, Dex feels compelled to tell Alexis that she should drop out of the race.  Why?  There is one week left.  I guess Dex is just being over protective of Alexis.

There may be a need for that protection.  After returning from Natumbe, Steven goes to see his mother and tells her that the body with the watch was not Sean Rowan, but Harry Thresher, who had been shot in the head.  The authorities have not found Sean's body but Steven assures his mother that Sean died since no one could survive such an explosion.  Who knows, maybe Sean is on some island getting plastic surgery?  Oh, my bad.  Actually, Sean is on some island, Great Britain.  And Sean is having such a great time in London that he decides to crank call Alexis.  Now, Alexis is scared.

Memorable Dialogue

Dex:  I'm concerned about you.
Alexis:  Why?  Because I'm stubborn, because I take chances, because I go after what I want.  I'm not going to change, Dex.

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