The Carrington family on Dynasty on The CW has had a wild five seasons, with Elizabeth Gillies and Grant Show playing Fallon and Blake Carrington, respectively. Marriages, pregnancies, kidnappings, long-lost children, and repeated offences are just a few of the intriguing behaviours we’ve seen from this set of individuals. But regrettably, the conclusion of the fifth season also heralds the show’s unavoidable demise as yet another victim of The CW’s widespread cancellation earlier this year. Fortunately, there was enough time to convert this into a fictitious series finale and tie up many loose ends, allowing this iteration of the Carrington family (and others who surround them) to come to a close with some degree of closure.
We left up in the last episode with the majordomo-in-training Graham (Dan Amboyer) knocking out Adam (Sam Underwood) and shoving him in the trunk of his car, but not before making a vow to exact revenge on all the people Adam had injured. In the meantime, Fallon (Rafael de la Fuente) is in danger of losing her job as a result of the Morell Green Energy scandal, Jeff (Sam Adegoke) finds out that his research has been stolen, Liam (Adam Huber) is being blackmailed over the manuscript he stole, and Sam (Rafael de la Fuente) officially calls things off with Ryan (Lachlan Buchanan). Oh, and Alexis (Elaine Hendrix) is unaware that her husband was one of those unlucky passengers on Blake’s jet, which makes the already strained relationship between Blake and Cristal (Daniella Alonso) even worse. Finally, Amanda’s ex-boyfriend showing up at the Carrington doorstep complicates the efforts of Kirby (Maddison Brown) and Amanda (Eliza Bennett) to mend their relationship. Clearly, there is a lot of backstory to cover in this finale, illustrating just how last-minute this cancellation was. Let’s dissect it.
Adam’s Kidnapping
Continuing from the previous episode, Adam is being taunted by the interim majordomo while being held captive in a shed on the Carrington property. But lo and behold, Graham removes a mask to show that he is actually Steven Carrington (James Mackay), the long-lost brother who has been missing ever since Adam convinced him he was going crazy and had him committed to a sanitarium back in Dynasty Season 2. Adam’s kidnapping is therefore not about the countless bad things he has done since arriving in Atlanta; rather, it is about the terrible deed he committed right after appearing on the show. It turns out that Adam had been paying the nurse to keep Steven under the influence of drugs and hold onto all of his letters, while Adam had been writing the family letters in Steven’s name requesting that they not get in touch with him ever again. Meaning that Steven lived in isolation for years before the sanitarium caught fire while the nurse was inside.
After the drugs wore off, Steven felt liberated and began to plan his retaliation, which culminated in this instance. After Steven finishes telling his tale, Adam verbally attacks him in the shed, claiming that the family didn’t even realise Steven was gone and that they preferred having Adam around. It’s easy to question whether even Adam believed his own lies, though. The brothers then start fighting, and Adam almost has the upper hand over Steven before Steven takes a weapon and almost impales Adam. But in the end, he resists Adam’s attempts to convert him become a murderer. Instead, Steven excommunicates Adam from the Carrington family tree by threatening to never see him again (especially once he reveals what Adam did to him off-screen).
Blake, Cristal, and Alexis
Blake and Alexis go out to look for Dex (Pej Vahdat), who has gone missing in the Appalachian Mountains after one of Blake’s planes crashed and lost touch. However, Blake and Cristal are having a difficult time saying goodbye, and if they don’t start cooperating rather than competing, a breakup seems imminent. When night falls and a severe storm moves in, Blake and Alexis are having no luck in the mountains, but Alexis isn’t giving up on her new husband. Despite the thunder and lightning, she keeps searching with Blake right behind her as the rest of the search group heads back to camp.
Alexis declares that she won’t stop looking since she can’t live without Dex as Blake tries to get her to give up. It’s a unique illustration of Alexis’ loyalty (in her own unique way), and it also offers Blake two intriguing opportunities for development. First, he tells Alexis that they are family, for better or worse, which puts the two of them on better terms than they had since the beginning of their marriage. Second, Blake comes to the realisation that he shares Cristal’s feelings. The two are able to resolve their differences off-screen when Cristal returns home and comes to the same realisation after learning that Blake is in danger. Soon after, Dex is discovered, and everything returns to normal.
Fallon’s Next Moves
At the conclusion of the prior episode, Ellen (Grace Junot), a member of the Fallon Unlimited board, devised a scheme to depose Fallon as the company’s CEO. This season, Fallon set out to leave a lasting legacy for her unborn child. She achieved this aim by investing again in Morell Green Energy and integrating it into the Fallon Unlimited universe. Now that the vote to fire her as CEO is just a day away, Ellen is attempting to take all of this away from her. Fallon is thus frantically attempting to come up with fresh suggestions for how to prevail in this hopeless battle. First, Dominique (Michael Michele) resigns from her role on Fallon’s shopping network in an effort to get Fallon to reinstate her and highlight her value as CEO. Unfortunately, things don’t turn out as expected, and Dominique’s decision to leave merely provides the board with a reason to completely eliminate the shopping network, which has already suffered as a result of Alexis’ departure. What should Fallon do?
She returns home to discover Steven playing the piano, a reunion that has been far too long in coming, which fortunately gives her some clarity. Steven’s worries about being forgotten are allayed by Fallon, who assures him that she thinks of him daily. Even though the would-be gratifying revelation of Adam’s betrayal is not shown, Fallon recognises right away that Adam was involved in what happened to Steven. The long-awaited moment has finally arrived: Fallon and Liam’s surrogate is giving birth. The two sing a song, showcasing the lovely bond that we didn’t see nearly enough of.
All three are prepared for this moment after intense hospital preparations, such as Fallon painting the ceiling to resemble the night sky. However, they could not have known that when the moment arrived, they would be snarled in traffic on their way to the hospital. As their loved ones wait for word, they give up and turn around to deliver the baby at home after sending the doctor out on a helicopter. When their daughter is finally born, she is healthy and joyful, and the couple tells everyone her name is Lauren Morell Carrington-Ridley. Additionally, in typical Fallon manner, her daughter’s birth and Steven’s homecoming give her a plan of action for how to deal with her professional problem. Therefore, even though it is certain Fallon would be removed as CEO by the board, Fallon’s family intervenes and uses their overwhelming riches to acquire the shares of the board members at a doubled price in order to restore Fallon Unlimited back into a private, family corporation.
Sam, Culhane, Kirby, Amanda, and Jeff
Changes are afoot at the hotel as a result of Culhane (Robert Christopher Riley) getting married. Sam’s efforts to franchise his hotel are derailed by Culhane and Nina’s (Felisha Terrell) relocation to Los Angeles, which forces Culhane to give up his part. But before Sam receives a much-needed visit from Steven, he panics and purposefully ruins the talks with possible investors. Sam confides in Steven about his abandonment issues, which came about as a result of his ex-husband leaving, while still believing that Steven is Graham. Then, after Steven tells Sam what Adam had done to him, he offers Sam some counsel and makes himself known, reigniting their romance.
Her connection with Amanda is strained when it comes to Kirby. When Amanda’s ex-girlfriend Florence offers her a dream job in London, things only get worse because Kirby and Florence already couldn’t agree on what their future together should entail. But in a brave sign of Kirby’s development, she exhorts Amanda to pursue her goals at all costs. The data from Jeff’s stolen hard discs gets leaked elsewhere, but he also tells Dominique that he has exposed other data. What was he trying to accomplish? To find the greatest candidates to work for his organisation, he should observe how people use and enhance his projects.
Six Months Later
The Carringtons and others around them have undergone a number of changes by the time we pick up. Fallon has a name change planned now that Fallon Unlimited is entirely owned by the family. Thus, Carrington United would be the name of the business. But Fallon, Blake, and Liam need to head home from work to get ready for a wedding before we can see that resolved. Sam and Steven are reunited at the estate and getting ready for Sam to officiate the wedding on the big day. Wow, what a ruse! Everyone has gathered for Culhane and Nina’s wedding even if Steven and Sam aren’t getting married again (yet).
Before the wedding, we find out that Amanda ultimately accepted the job offer, ended her relationship with Kirby to make things simpler, and returned to London to pursue her goal. However, it becomes evident that nothing is simpler when the two women cross paths again. Six months apart has changed things, at least for Kirby, because before they were unable to align their different lives. She declares her love for Amanda and says she won’t stay in Atlanta if Amanda isn’t there, so the two decide to have Kirby travel to London. They then kiss passionately.
Concerning the others, Jeff’s strategy for revitalising his business was a complete success, Dominique is opening her first store in New York, Alexis is opening her first store right next to Dominique’s (causing a catfight), Steven wants to run Fallon’s foundation, and Blake is already considering a hostile takeover of Fallon’s business. We follow up with Adam in the meanwhile, who has been completely cut off from the family. Adam is now working as a veterinarian in London while posing as someone else, a throwback to his life in Montana before he discovered his true paternity. As we picture the future of the lives of these adored characters, the conclusion makes sure we understand that some things never change.
