One thing I am pretty sure would have happened with Stanwyck is that Angela would not have anchored the show almost all throughout.
Granted, the writing for Angela and FC was better than anything they gave her at The Colbys but the way she reacted over there and trashed the show tells me she wasn't the kind of actress with the patience to pull through the inevitable run of bad stories that come with being on a long-time soap.
I bet she would have bailed, which is gratuitous on my part obviously.

Barbara Stanwyck was a good 10 years older than Jane Wyman and looked it. One thing about Jane Wyman’s portrayal is that Angela seemed pretty robust and up to a good fight during most of her years on the show. Stanwyck would have played a more aged, frailer Angela. Not sure it would have worked as well.

7 hours ago, Chris 2 said:

Barbara Stanwyck was a good 10 years older than Jane Wyman and looked it. One thing about Jane Wyman’s portrayal is that Angela seemed pretty robust and up to a good fight during most of her years on the show. Stanwyck would have played a more aged, frailer Angela. Not sure it would have worked as well.

Good point, I hadn't taken that into account. Although in 1980 she would have been in better shape.

Yeah, I mean, Barbara seemed in decent shape in the Thorn Birds, unfortunately at that age it can go downhill fast.

 

It would've definitively affected her portrayal of Angela some time in the mid-80s though.

13 hours ago, FrenchBug82 said:

she wasn't the kind of actress with the patience to pull through the inevitable run of bad stories that come with being on a long-time soap.

Well she did stick around at Big Valley for 4 seasons.

3 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Well she did stick around at Big Valley for 4 seasons.

Falcon Crest was still in decent shape after four seasons

37 minutes ago, FrenchBug82 said:

Falcon Crest was still in decent shape after four seasons

I'd argue that season 4 is when it starts falling apart a bit, mostly because of network meddling over the nazi plot.

Yep - agreed. It was still watchable and recognizable in season 4, but a step down from its peak during seasons 2 and 3.

7 hours ago, te. said:

I'd argue that season 4 is when it starts falling apart a bit, mostly because of network meddling over the nazi plot.

In that case, though, I'd say the network interference was justified.

Thus, it is completely gratuituous on my part but I think BS would have walked by Season 6 at the very latest.
I don't think she had a sense of loyalty to keep powering through c**p the way JW did.
Some women feel that strength means perserving in tough situations with her head high - the JW "lady" way.
Some women felt about speaking up and standing up against garbage - more BS way. Ready to walk if things go downhill. Which would have accelerated the downfall of the show faster.
 

5 minutes ago, Khan said:

In that case, though, I'd say the network interference was justified.

It always amazes me how Dynasty recycled the whole "Nazi treasure in a mine" plotline in its Season 9. Of all the dumb plots to copy...

20 minutes ago, FrenchBug82 said:

Some women feel that strength means perserving in tough situations with her head high - the JW "lady" way.
Some women felt about speaking up and standing up against garbage - more BS way. Ready to walk if things go downhill. Which would have accelerated the downfall of the show faster.

Exactly.  "Missy" treasured working with the crews on all her projects, but not enough to put up with shitty writing.

20 minutes ago, FrenchBug82 said:

It always amazes me how Dynasty recycled the whole "Nazi treasure in a mine" plotline in its Season 9. Of all the dumb plots to copy...

It's one of those kinds of stories that I'm sure happens IRL, but just doesn't come off well on most movies and TV shows.

Slightly off topic, but I always love hearing Lee Majors and Linda Evans talk about Stanwyck and how she mentored them. A real down-to-earth, no-nonsense but caring person from the way they describe her. I read a story about Charlton Heston trying to get his Colbys costars back from lunch on time because if they were late, “Barbara will be mad.” LOL.

Just out of curiosity but exactly how old was Emma supposed to be? She acted like a perpetual 20-something year old even though Ladd was her in 40’s. 

I think Abby Dalton was playing younger than she was at the time (in her early 50s IRL). I think Julia was in her early to mid 40s. So I’d guess Emma was in her late 30s.

I mean, the reason why Emma acted the way she did was likely because she had some sort of developmental disorder, even if the show never went into specifics.