The over-the-top drama, over-the-top acting and over-the-top hairstyles continue with the fourth season of Dynasty. Take a trip back to 1983 to see what the Carringtons and Colbys are up to this time around.
Season three left off with Krystle and Alexis trapped in a burning cabin. As the first episode opens, Mark bursts in and rescues them. This opens up the question of who set the fire? And that’s just the beginning of the high drama this season. Or should I say half season as you only get the first half of the episodes in this Volume One release
Adam is as evil and lecherous as ever, Alexis continues her conniving and a couple new characters are thrown into to the mix to shake things up. First we get Tracy who instantly hates Krystle when Blake gives her the job Tracy was expecting. Then we have Dex Dexter who starts up both business and personal relationships Alexis. And finally we have the devious Peter De Vilbis who starts a romantic tryst with Fallon, but has more sinister plans in mind.
As if that weren’t enough, Joseph, the majordomo starts losing his mind and his daughter, Kirby, continues to try and hide the true identity of her unborn babies father from the others. Fists fly left and right between many of the cast members then there is the big court battle between Blake and his son Stephen because Blake doesn’t want his grandson growing up in a gay household.
The acting seems a little worse at times in these episodes. But if you enjoyed the melodrama of the first three seasons then you are sure to enjoy what this DVD set has to offer as well.
Episodes:
Disc One:
The Arrest 9/28/1983
Krystle and Alexis are trapped in a burning cabin. Mark dramatically rescues the two women, who are rushed to the hospital. Blake meets with Steven to discuss the upbringing of little Danny; Blake remains convinced that a homosexual cannot provide a proper role model. A pregnant Kirby wrestles with the decision to tell Jeff he is not the father of her baby, while Fallon learns Adam is responsible for the mysterious illness that almost cost Jeff’s life. Blake, suspecting that Mark’s timely arrival at the burning cabin is more than coincidence, provides evidence to the police and Mark is arrested.
The Bungalow 10/5/1983
Mark is charged with attempted murder and arson; Alexis tells Blake and the police his motive was revenge. The other suspects-McVane, Hess and Adam, are questioned and released. After Alexis destroys Fallon’s relationship with Mark, Krystle suggests she is seeking revenge because Mark rejected her. Kirby breaks down and tells Krystle her baby is not Jeff’s; an unknown man in surgical garb tries to smother Alexis. Blake and Jeff receive a frantic call from Joseph, who is muttering incoherently. At the bungalow where Kirby was born, Blake and Jeff find the disturbed butler with a gun. Before they can stop him. Joseph pulls the trigger and kills himself.
The Note 10/19/1983
Alexis receives a note written by the late Joseph, stating that he indeed set the fire to kill her because of the lives she’s ruined with her manipulations. Alexis laughs it off, claiming she never intended to tell Kirby her mother was an “attic nympho.” Blake lies to protect the girl, telling Kirby her father was worried Alexis would take control of Denver-Carrington and tried to kill her out of loyalty to his employer. When the murder attempt failed, the butler tragically killed himself. Claudia is released from the sanitarium and she and Steven make love. When Steven learns of Blake’s plan to sue for custody of little Danny, he becomes enraged. Both men lose their tempers and wrestle each other to the ground.
The Hearing (Part 1) 10/26/1983
Kirby angrily demands that Alexis divulge the real motive behind her father’s murder attempt. In a fit of rage Kirby tries to strangle Alexis. Steven finds a social worker snooping around his apartment and orders her to leave. The incident later is brought up at the custody trial, and the woman describes Steven’s behavior as a typical homosexual reaction. Steven’s attorney and roommate Chris Deegan brings to the court’s attention that Blake has previously been convicted of murdering a gay man and harbors a blind prejudice against homosexuals. Alexis testifies that Blake purchased the baby from Sammy Jo. When Blake loses his composure and lashes out at Alexis, the judge orders him to control himself and adjourns the hearing
The Hearing (Part 2) 11/2/1983
Alexis arrives home from the trial to find her apartment ransacked. Police Lt. Merrill speculates there may be a connection between the break-in and the recent attempts on her life. Fallon testifies on Steven’s behalf. When she leaves for Montana, Alexis tells Adam that if her trip has anything to do with the poisoning incident, he’s on his own. On the witness stand, Sammy Jo fabricates tales of Steven’s sexual promiscuity. That night, Claudia barges into Sammy Jo’s hotel room and demands she retract her courtroom statements. Claudia tells Steven she has devised a foolproof method for him to retain custody of his son.
Disc Two:
Tender Comrades 11/9/1983
Following through on the plan to retain custody of Danny, Steven and Claudia fly to Reno and are married. When the judge receives the assurance they will jointly rear the child, the suit is dismissed. Attempting to win Krystle back, Blake offers her a public relations job at Denver-Carrington. Adam asks Alexis to sign three routine documents, but the second and third pages are positioned so only the signature line is exposed. When alone, Adam crumples the first page and carefully places the other two in his pocket. Fallon and Jeff investigate the poisoning incident in Montana. They are stunned to learn the name of the prosecuting attorney was Michael Torrance–the name Adam used before arriving in Denver.
Tracy 11/16/1983
At the store where he bought the poisonous mercuric oxide, Adam distracts the salesman and substitutes the authentic purchase order with the document Alexis unknowingly signed. Bill Rockwell, the retiring head of Denver-Carrington’s public relations department, breaks the news to his disappointed assistant, Tracy that Krystle has been given the position she had planned on assuming. Mark proposes marriage to Krystle. When she refuses, he attacks her. Alexis is shocked to find her signature on the purchase order for the deadly chemical compound. She quickly realizes Adam has framed her. Blake threatens to call the press if she doesn’t return Jeff’s stock and cancel the corporate merger.
Dex 11/23/1983
Jeff storms into Alexis’ office and accuses her of attempting to poison him. Her claims of innocence fall on deaf ears as Jeff forces her to sign back his Colbyco stock. After an intruder attempts to enter Alexis’ apartment, Mark takes a job as her bodyguard. Adam’s doctor in Montana explains to Alexis that the drugs Adam used in his youth can distort judgment. Alexis informs the board members that the sudden merger cancellation was based on her assessment of Denver-Carrington’s lack of creative growth. Farnsworth “Dex” Dexter, the sharp-minded son of an important board member, surprises Alexis with a passionate kiss and suggests they form a business partnership
Peter de Vilbis 11/30/1983
In her new position, Krystle launches a publicity campaign to counter Alexis’ slanderous remarks against Denver-Carrington. Jeff rejoins Blake’s firm. Dex continues his campaign to win Alexis. Jeff learns Kirby was pregnant when they wed and is shocked to learn that Adam raped her. Fallon accompanies Blake and Krystle to L.A. to consult an architect about expanding La Mirage. While at the track, Fallon is swept off her feet by a millionaire playboy, Peter de Vilbis.
The Proposal 12/7/1983
At Alexis’ office, Dex discovers a confidential file marked “Tar Sand” and beats her to the contract. Later, he offers her a 60-40 split. An enraged Jeff locates Adam at the summit of the Carrington Plaza. After exchanging vicious insults and violent punches, Adam tumbles halfway over the edge. As Jeff is about to finish him off, Adam frantically explains he had no idea he fathered Kirby’s child, and Jeff allows him to crawl to safety. Jeff intercepts Kirby as she is about to leave for Paris. Blake proposes marriage to Krystle, who happily accepts.
Disc Three:
Carousel 12/21/1983
Kirby proposes that she and Jeff divorce. Adam tells her he wants to be a father to their child. Dex and Alexis make love. Jeff is jealous to see Fallon with Peter DeVilbis. Peter’s champion racehorse, Allegre, is up for sale, and Blake decides to buy the mare. At the Carousel Ball, the high point of Denver’s social season, Blake and Krystle announce their intentions to remarry. Steven warmly wishes his father the best. Blake is touched by the gesture and welcomes his son back into the family.
The Wedding 12/28/1983
Nervous about leaving her new job, Krystle gives Tracy final instructions as she prepares for her honeymoon in Rio de Janeiro. Tracy persuades Krystle to give her the company credit cards as well as the keys to the confidential files. Peter arrives at La Mirage asking for Fallon, and makes a pass at Claudia. As the wedding guests arrive, Adam demands Kirby tell their child the true identity of his father. Learning she intends to divorce Jeff, Adam asks Kirby to marry him. Krystle and Blake exchange vows and are pronounced husband and wife.
The Ring 1/4/1984
While Mrs. Gordon is walking Danny in the park, a strange man greets the child by name. Recalling little Blake’s kidnapping, Claudia moves the family into the safety of the Carrington mansion. Laird discovers Tracy scanning confidential company files. Kirby and Jeff sign their divorce papers. After shelling out over $2 million to work on one of Peter’s hotels, Ernesto the architect demands to know when he will be repaid. He wonders if the money is going toward Peter’s “habit.” Kirby’s hand suddenly begins to swell uncontrollably, making it necessary to cut off her wedding ring.
Lancelot 1/11/1984
Kirby is diagnosed as suffering from hypertension. Adam is startled to find her slumped against the piano. After learning she will accept his marriage proposal, Adam confesses raping her to a shocked and disgusted Blake. Peter offers Fallon cocaine. Tracy purposely misplaces an urgent business memo from Blake to Krystle. As an agitated Blake awaits his publicity director at an important meeting, Tracy cunningly shows up and ‘saves the day.’ Allegre the racehorse is discovered missing. Claudia receives a box of violets with a note reading, “Remember? Lancelot.” Trembling with fear, she recalls that Lancelot was her late husband’s nickname.
The show is presented in fullscreen 1:33.1. Sound is in Dolby Digital Mono. The show sounds fine but the picture gets really dirty at times. Still not enough to really distract you from the show.
Nothing.
I must sound like a broke record about this by now, but Paramount continues with their price gouging in only delivering half a season. It seems a trend that won’t quit so it’s going to be a while before this show is on DVD in its entirety. They’ll probably have replaced Blu-ray by then. However, if you like the show then you like the show and you’ll have to give in to the studio’s pricey demands.
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Paramount presents Dynasty: The Fourth Season, Volume One. Created by Richard And Esther Shapiro. Starring John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins. Running time: 656 minutes on 3 discs. Not Rated. Released on DVD: April 7, 2009. Available at Amazon.com.
