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List Price: $39.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 16779
Released: August 14, 2007 |
| Our Price: $17.10 |
| Used Price: $18.99 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
This hugely popular prime-time soap opera follows the exploits of the Carringtons and Colbys, both "oilrich" family dynasties in Denver, CO, as they accrue and manipulate power and wealth.
Description of Dynasty - The Second Season:
"That's a lie," an outraged Blake Carrington, on trial for murder, insists to his attorney, "She's lying." "She" is Blake's despised ex-wife, who has resurfaced in court to testify against him. And Blake, you'd better get used to it, because as Dynasty's second season unfolds, perjury will be the least of her offenses. Joan Collins joined the cast as the vengeful, scheming and manipulative Alexis Carrington and immediately put Dynasty on the map as a formidable ratings rival to Dallas. It doesn't take long for Alexis to literally make herself right at home. She moves back into her former art studio on the Carrington estate and insinuates herself in the tumultuous lives of her ruthless ex-husband ("'Don't' and 'Can't' are not in my vocabulary," he proclaims), his "ever so noble" new wife, Krystle (Linda Evans), her sexually confused son, Steven (Al Corley), and her spoiled, resentful daughter, Fallon (Pamela Sue Martin).
Events transpire in this instantly addictive sophomore season at a fast and furious pace beginning with Alexis's divisive return and the verdict in Blake's trial, and proceeding with familial estrangement; calamitous accidents; shocking revelations; pregnancies; sexual shenanigans; infidelity; temporary blindness; a suicide attempt; and a kidnapping. And did we mention the introduction of luscious Heather Locklear as golddigger Sammy Jo, who marries Steven, or Alexis and Krystle's first "cat fight," a pillow-walloping, vase-throwing, furniture-crashing smackdown? The writers oblige their game cast with delicious, menacing exit lines along the manner of "I won't rest until I pay you back." Another collateral pleasure is Brian Dennehy, devouring the scenery as the prosecutor out to get Blake (the line forms behind Alexis). For all its scandalous goings-on, Dynasty seems almost quaint today (in the courtroom, the word, "homosexual" triggers a maelstrom of shocked murmuring). A blast from the "Greed Is Good" decade, Dynasty has lost little of its luster. It's wicked fun. --Donald Liebenson
Dynasty - The Second Season Reviews:
"Dynasty" #2: the beginning of Alexis 
2009-12-16 - This is a review of the second season's worth of
"Dynasty," ABC's classic prime serial, from 1981-
82. As the title implies, this is the beginning of
the run of Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter
Rowan (here, just Alexis Morrell Carrington), one
of television's classic villainesses, played by the
great English actress Joan Collins. She came in at
the close of the first season and the opening of
this season to testify in the trial of Blake
Carrington, her ex-husband, who was on trial for
murdering Ted Dinard, homosexual lover of their son
Steven. Over the course of this season and the 22
episodes contained therein, you will witness Alexis
at her very best and wickedest, and she has many
defining scenes. In one of them, Alexis and Krystle
have a catfight in Alexis' studio because of
Krystle's anger at having lost her child. When it's
all over, the studio is in shambles. That was just
one of the defining moments of this season, of
which there are many (and all the other characters
have plenty, too).
Video:
The full-screen video that this season is presented
in is top-notch. There is some grain, and sometimes
the title sequence of each episode shows some
reprinting, but overall, CBS/Paramount did a
remarkable job cleaning up these episodes.
Audio:
CBS/Paramount also did a remarkable turn with the
audio presentation. The opening theme comes through
loud and clear, and so does the body of each
episode, as well as the closing theme. There is
English, Spanish and Portuguese audio, and there
are also subtitles in each language.
Bonuses:
Unfortunately, there is only one bonus (on Disc 6),
but it's quite disappointing. It is a text-only
family tree of some of the major players (Blake,
Krystle, Fallon, Alexis, Sammy Jo, etc.).
Interviews with the people who played these
characters (Forsythe, Evans, Locklear, Collins,
etc.) would have added a lot more depth.
Packaging:
The 22 episodes of this season are on 6 discs (four
episodes each on the first 5 discs, and the last
two on disc 6, plus the bonus). The discs are the
standard CBS/Paramount silver variety, and are
contained in a clear Amaray package, with the first
and last discs on the bottom left and top right
respectively, and the middle four on two trays,
with one disc on top on one side, and the other on
the bottom on the other side. The episode listings
are inside the case, but are covered somewhat by
the first and last discs. On the front of the
package, there is a group image of Blake and his
women, with the title "DYNASTY: The Second Season"
at the bottom; the title is in a different typeface
(probably a block style) from the series title font
of Aurora. On the back, there is a huge photo of
Alexis, the defining character of this season and
of seasons to come, and a description of what's to
come in the season. There are also smaller images
of scenes from the episodes, and at the top, an
image of the mansion. At the bottom is some
technical information.
Menus:
The menus are somewhat bland still pictures, with
the episodes listed at right (Disc 6 has those and
an option for the bonus), plus a setup option below
and a "play all" option as well. Each menu has a
large image of one or two of the major characters,
and the "Y" image that opened each episode is seen
in the background.
Overall, this is (outside of #9) the greatest
season of "Dynasty" (mainly because of Alexis), and
CBS/Paramount's presentation is quite satisfactory,
but the impact of the episodes contained therein is
blunted somewhat by the lackluster family tree
bonus feature. Still, this second season's worth
comes quite highly recommended.
Missed the original series, love it now
2009-07-20 - This is a great series. I watched "Dallas" and missed "Dynasty" when it originally aired, just catching a couple of episodes. I honestly enjoy these more than Dallas. "Alexis" is much easier to tolerate than "JR". Enjoyable series. I hope that "Falcon Crest" will also be on DVD soon.
Dynasty Series
2008-10-29 - It is what it is - a well written and executed drama series that has a great many twists and turns to keep you coming back for more. Top notch acting and beautifuly photographed - a great additon to any clasic tv collection.
Good fun 
2008-09-17 - This 2nd season sees the arrival in the serie of Joan Collins. A lot of fun to view it again.
Dynasty Season Two Introduces Two New Surprises!
2008-08-26 - The second season of Dynasty introduces two new surprises that turn the Carrington household upside down and they will NEVER be the same.
The first surprise is Blake Carrington's estranged first wife, Alexis Carrington (Joan Collins). She is called in as a character witness in Blake's murder trial. She testifies about the years of neglect and abuse at the hands of Blake Carrington. What she does NOT testify about is the lifetime of secrets,lies, and personal vendettas to get even with Blake after all these years.
The second surprise is Krystle's estranged niece, Sammy Jo Dean (Heather Locklear). She is basically dumped on the Carrington doorstep by her father (who was married to Krystle's now deceased sister). What she brings with her is a lifetime of experience from learning how to survive on the "wrong side of the tracks".
Both women are shunned and openly criticized by everyone even the household servants. They both find a friend and solace in Steven Carrington. Alexis from a maternal instinct and Sammy Jo from a survival instinct. By the end of the season, both women's fate is hanging in the balance as to how to get what they really want from the Carrington household. Will the two women be able to complete their plans for what they really want from the Carrington household? Sorry, you will have to wait until season 3 to find out.
This Season is also the last season that the original Carrington children actors work together. Al Corley leaves at the end of this season and Pamela Sue Martin follows suit a few seasons later. Although the characters were eventually replaced with good actors, these actors will always remain the originals in the true Dynasty fans' hearts.
