The dialogue between Krystle and Blake was always beautifully and tenderly written. Even though it was a soap, the sentiments were very warm and superbly acted between them. Their tv marriage had almost the quality of lush 1950s soaps like Peyton Place in the treatment of the screenplay with those drawn and telling silences reminiscent of old fashioned teleplays like the TV western 'The Big Valley' (1965-1969) in which Linda Evans got her big career break playing Barbara Stanwyck's daughter. Evans and Forsythe cut their acting teeth working alongside some of the most accomplished old studio system actors of the 20th century and their skill and stagecraft as performers shows in this scene. The Big Valley genre always had similar long scenes (shot in one take with one actor in the background and the other in the foreground without looking at each other for most of the scene) of almost whisper-quiet dialogue with noticeably absent soundtrack which created a heightened tension rarely seen today in television scripted dialogue. In that way, Blake's and krystle's scenes together always had a very different feel than those with Alexis, where Collins's barging, noisy, starry and campy kinesthetics mostly degenerated into satire, or absurdist, kitschy, cartoon-like comedy, and as the series progressed - blatant hysteria and high-camp. When Alexis threatened and tortured her enemies, Joan could often become overly shrill ( like Elizabeth Taylor would) and sometimes a too-campy and draggy screen presence. At other times when the tension was more subtle it was brilliant. Perhaps it was these stylistic extremes which appealed to soap audiences whereby the genre calls for a certain staginess and theatricality which was a hallmark of Dynasty but hardly new. Dynasty was both very comfortingly melodramatic and old fashioned like a 1940s George Cukor "woman's film" in its creation by the Shapiros, and at the same time very racy and modernist (perhaps more thanks to Aaron Spelling). It was almost like there were two separate series going on within the one show: the quasi-1950s dreamy Dynasty of Vaseline-lensed & soapsudded telenovellas and then the queer postmodern pastiche of the gay 80s "Alexis Show." Certainly the first and second seasons possessed less of the Collinsesque camp which she single-wristedly injected into the series. Having said that, Joan did make that role memorable and in many ways twisted it into a very postmodern soap with her diamond-cut characterisation of Alexis Colby-Carrington. But when I look back now, I can see there were some gorgeous sub-plots within the narrative that were sublimely written and masterfully produced and conceived by the Spelling-Shapiro powerhouse. With the end of Dynasty not only was it the end of the 1980s but really the end of a certain kind of grace, pace and old world mid-century class as epitomised by John & Linda's measured acting in this scene. Perhaps sadder still, it was also the end of the unparalleled style of the 20th century.
Wow! What a superb comment, probably the best I've ever read on Dynasty, thank you! The only thing I'd take issue with is your dismissal of the Alexis/Joan "kinesthetics"/"absurdities". Yes, of course Alexis was an exaggerated character (most villains tend to be) but it was her very combination of presence and physicality that made her so addictive, in my opinion at least. Look at her very first scene with Krystle, the way she quite unnecessarily picks up a decorative dish and nonchalantly examines it (cigarette in hand) with her back turned to Krystle while Krystle quietly reprimands her for her dishonest testimony at the Ted Dinard trial. Then without warning, she spins round, we hear (off-screen) the clang of the dish on the table before she suddenly and viciously hurls abuse at Krystle through snarling white teeth in their first violent verbal confrontation. Her abrupt loss of interest in the dish is almost savage in its severity but more importantly it represents a climactic shift in the tone of both the scene and its participants from one of passive distaste to contemptuous hostility. This scene was admittedly, one of the greatest Dynasty ever filmed. Nonetheless for the next decade or so Joan peppered her performance with thousands of these subtle dramatic signifiers and they are a big part of what made her and Alexis such a joy to watch.
What a fantastic writeup on John and Linda's background and how you intertwined it with their performances in Dynasty. I never watched television as a child so it was very interesting to see how the techniques of past work so convincing in this masterpiece. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Absolutely hate scene that preceded this - it is so horrible to watch , poor Krystle 😣 I am so glad his character went on to change. Season 1 Blake wasn’t very likeable at all 😔
The great Blake Carrington is so small at this moment... He's talking and talking and hoping that everything could be allright again... Wonderfull John Forsythe's acting! 💕
This scene has pissed me off for 40 years. "Oh Blake. It's okay that you violently assaulted me. You brought me flowers and an apology, so we're good." Come on!!! 🤬 I never could stand Blake. He was a homophobic misogynist and a tyrannical bully.
Blake is accustomed to buying everything. Unfortunately, Crystal falls into the trap of abuse, followed by gifts and beautiful, remorseful talk. They had a dysfunctional, abusive relationship. I guess, back in the 80s, it was romantic. How little we expected from men and how we thought accepting and forgiving abuse was the mark of a good wife. Yikes!
There was something so beautifully sad and tragic about the writing and characters in the first season; it was very personable and special. I understand the economics and the need for changing the format later on; it was do or die! But still, the first season was indeed very lovely and unique!
In fact by looking at Adam he looks like a mix between Alexis and Blake. Slim like Alexis, her cheek, but more Blake's smile. Blake's highth, though. In his mind, he was calculated. Rotten trics like Alexis, despite Alexis would never have poisened Jeff though. He could be cruel and regretting like Blake. I don't remember him buying gifts like Blake, but Alexis never did, she didn't even admit doing anything wrong like when she saw Krystle riding the horse and fired the shotgun so Krystle fell of the horse and lost her baby. Adam was also nice sometimes especially in the beginning. He was calmed and friendly, just like Blake is when things goes his way. But as soon anyone means or do otherwise than what they want themselves, they both show their true colour.
Because money makes the world go round. You'd never guess what jerks women are willing to accept and stay married to just for the benefit of a luxury life.
