Money, Power, and a lot of Drama

I would be lying if I told you that I don't love drama. Ever since I was a teen, I have taken pleasure in knowing the latest piece of gossip, exaggerated fights, fancy possessions, and a great story. If you are anything like me and you cannot get enough of family secrets and disputes, lavish dresses and jewellery, unexpected plot twists, and a whole lot of drama, you have come to the right place.

A few years ago I was mindlessly scrolling through Netflix when I came across a show named Revenge. It caught my eye, and after the first couple of episodes, I was absolutely hooked on the series. I adored every single aspect of it: the cast, the storyline, the drama... It actually introduced me to the type of productions that feature money, power, and family feuds, and I could not be more thrilled that I chose to watch it.

A few years later, a friend of mine recommended that I start a new show called Dynasty. Just by hearing the name I was seduced and enticed, and because I can't say no to a good drama, I started the series that same afternoon.

And oh boy was I in for a binge-watching session.

The show was so good that I actually finished the first season in just a couple of days, and I was all in for the ride. So here are all the reasons why I absolutely adore Dynasty and why you should watch it too if you fancied Revenge, enjoy dramas, money and power disputes.

About Revenge

Revenge is a drama inspired by Alexandre Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo, published in 1844.

It tells the story of a young woman - Emily Thorne - who arrives at the Hamptons and moves into a house next door to the Graysons - a rich family. Emily's father was framed for treason by this wealthy family; and, after being imprisoned for life, he was murdered in jail. Because of that, Emily - whose real name is Amanda - was separated from him most of her life and after many years she now seeks revenge. The show focuses on Emily's plot to destroy every individual who played a role in her father's incarceration, all while showcasing her challenges to keep emotionally detached in her plans, her discovery of unknown truths, and struggles to keep her sense of identity.

What is Dynasty?

Dynasty is a reboot of the show Dynasty - yes, they kept the same name -, which aired in 1981. That show is based on the soap Dallas, set in a similarly flashy world of wealthy families and their scheming children, lovers, spouses, and workers.

Dynasty follows the extravagant and moneyed Carrington family as that wealth builds up only for drama and family vendettas to tear them down. The show features most of the relatives and their allies while battling their inner - and outer - demons. Fallon, the determined daughter of Blake, comes back to the manor after hearing that her father is engaged to Krystal, so she will try to break them apart in an attempt to win back her power and pride. Later in the show, more Carringtons return to Atlanta with agendas of their own, including Blake's ex-wife Alexis; Adam, Blake and Alexis's long-missing son; and Dominique, Blake's half-sister who will try to gain a piece of the empire for herself.

What makes Dynasty great?

There are many elements that make Dynasty noted; after all, the show's addictive blend of trashy melodrama and money feuds proved to be too good to leave in the past, as Netflix decided to resurface it.

As nonsensical as it may seem, one of the attributes that I admired the most about Dynasty is how pertinent it is. The first episode starts with a voiceover that declares, "Like it or not, we live in an age of dynasties", all while playing clips of the Kardashians and the Trumps flaunting their wealth across the screen. Despite Dynasty being kind of a soap opera, it tackles very real issues and concerns that we constantly see in today's day and age. The series is about a thousand ways that the rich and the power-hungry battle it out for domination and success - sound familiar? With that being said, it feels strangely relatable and ordinary, which is something that took me by surprise and that I actually pretty much loved.

Dynasty has some great actors and actresses as well, which makes the story come to life. As good as Emily VanCamp played the role of Emily in Revenge, it doesn't come close to the main character in Dynasty. The role of the ambitious and charismatic Fallon Carrington - the scheming daughter - is played by Elizabeth Gillies, which does an outstanding job at channelling everyone's inner bitch. She has a sharp tongue and a witty and devilish attitude, which makes it ten times more entertaining and amusing to watch. In addition, Grant Show - playing the father -, and Nicolette Sheridan - playing the mad ex-wife, also make excellent appearances. All in all, the cast takes an average plot and makes it more enjoyable by expanding and exaggerating the personalities of the characters but without it feeling forced or staged.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved fashion and pretty dresses, and Dynasty has taken luxury and lavish garments to the next level. While watching the show - yes, in my mismatched socks and boring PJs - I could not get enough of the outfits, the shoes, and the accessories, as they are carefully tailored to every single one of the characters and it makes the show a lot more genuine. Dynasty is like a fashion show in a world of opulence and excess, which means chich haute couture outfits and extravagant jewellery 24/7. I mean, what more can you need?

Multiculturalism is something that I always look for in TV shows or movies, and Dynasty is a clear example of how real issues can be used to create an informed and conscious show. This series is multicultural as many people in the cast are Hispanic and African-American, which present people of different ethnicities and genders in positions of power. For instance, Blake's new wife and her nephew are both Latinos, and the Colbys - another powerful and influential family - are black. Dynasty is also LGBTQ+-friendly and very vocal about some of the issues that this collective faces. Thus, making the show a great way to educate while entertaining the viewer, which I utterly treasure.

However, it would not be a good soap opera without top-tier drama, fights and scandal. The amount of tension that you can find in this series is endless, especially the Alexis and Krystle fights. You name it: clothes-ripping, rolling around the floor, furniture-braking, hair-pulling; whatever you come up with, I guarantee that you will see it. But do not worry, if you are not into catfights and you like somewhat of a more realistic - approach, the show also highlights some feuding between the men. For instance, Jeff Colby and Blake Carrington make a brilliant duo as well. So whether it is inside the manor, at a major event, or in a foreign and exotic country, the drama is always there, which I found engaging and very delightful.

Despite all the show and sometimes silly fighting, Dynasty has several hidden depths that make it worth watching - not just for pure entertainment reasons. Beneath the shallow exterior, Dynasty gives us some wisdom and opportunities to reflect on matters. The series is basically a horror story of the pitfalls and drawbacks of extreme wealth, as it features characters having everything they could ever need but lacking the most basic things - real love, happiness, affection, and peace of mind. That gives plenty of room for the viewer to really take a deep look at what we have always at some point desired: unlimited money; and it shows a part of that life that nobody talks about.

I'm not going to lie though, there is one thing that I did not quite love, and that is the main plot. Even though it has many - many, many - plot twists and completely unexpected outcomes to situations, in some aspects, the show is quite predictable and it falls flat, which bored me when the following seasons came.

All in all, if you loved the feuding, power, wealth, drama, and sudden plot twists in Revenge, you will absolutely adore Dynasty. It has all you could ever ask for in a soap opera type-of-show, plus some extra bitchiness, weaponised manicures, and fancy outfits that are to die for. Because between long-lost siblings to literal new faces, anything is possible in the world of the Carringtons.

What if you love Dynasty?

If after you watch Dynasty you still crave more, I have three extra recommendations that will keep your Netflix queue full.

Empire is the perfect show if you like intensity, funds, and music. As the title hints, this musical drama takes you on the journey of their characters as a hip-hop mogul tries to figure out who the successor of his empire will be, thus getting the keys to his multi-million dollar company.

If you cannot get enough of the drama and gossip, Gossip Girl is the perfect show for you. It features younger characters as they try to find their way into society and secure power in the one and only New York City. This show is also full of animosities, feuding, petty fighting, gorgeous fashion, and wealthy families.

On the other hand, if you are more old-school and have not yet seen the original Dynasty or Dallas, you should definitely check them out, as they are filled with emotion, power dynamics, moneyd families, and a lot of surprising turns as well.