Falcon Crest

[All My Shadows]

Finished the first season over the weekend, and it was probably my favorite first season out of all the big 4 soaps. Perfect amount of time spent developing the characters and the dynamics of the inner circle of the family before weaving in other important characters, culminating in an exciting cliffhanger - which is also my favorite type of cliffhanger, one that’s less about “what happens next?” and more about “how will it happen?” We know Angela isn’t gonna just split FC without a fight, but oh, how is that devious old cnt gonna do it?! I feel like Melissa’s introduction happened very quickly, but I’m okay with that bc she really was one of the missing pieces that had to fall right into place to take the show to the next level. Can’t wait to see Richard in S2. 

[kalbir]

@All My Shadows Seasons 2 and 3 were the best.

[adrnyc]

I'm also a first-time Season 6 viewer. Didn't know the soaps are now on Prime - will definitely check that out for the no commercial versions.

I'm 10 episodes in and Season 6 is...interesting. I hated the Richard Wainwright story in Season 5 and assumed he'd be killed in the earthquake. I did not enjoy having to sit through another 6-7 episodes of him and his disturbing relationship with Vicky. 

Kim Novak isn't the best actress, is she? I'm starting to at least enjoy her character though as the episodes progress.

The show feels like almost a different show now with Cole gone, the Stravros men and Brett Cullen, not to forget Dana Sparks as a recast Vicky. The only thing I can say about her is that both the character and actress are as annoying as the first version in Seasons 1-2 so at least there's consistency. 

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Am missing Simon McCorkindale and Morgan Fairchild and, surprisingly, Emma's trucker boyfriend. At least Emma was happy for once!

[kalbir]

If we're keeping it real, after watching Falcon Crest episodes I was surprised it made it past season 5. That season tanking was cemented (signs of tanking were showing during the last 10 episodes of season 4) and the storylines were so start and stop plus most of them didn't really work. Season 6 was an improvement but it was still tanking. Season 7 it started going off the rails and that should have been the end. Seasons 8 and 9 were not necessary and I feel they only happened because CBS was in their third place primetime mess era.

When Falcon Crest ended in May 1990, it was CBS's 8th longest-running primetime drama series, after Gunsmoke, Lassie, Dallas, original Hawaii Five-O, Knots Landing, Perry Mason, The Waltons. Since Falcon Crest ended, 12 CBS primetime drama series have had equal or longer runs: NCIS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, Blue Bloods; Murder, She Wrote; CSI: Miami, Hawaii Five-0 reboot; Walker, Texas Ranger; Touched by an Angel, JAG, CSI: NY.

Time slot hit or not, it's notable that Falcon Crest had the longest run of a CBS primetime drama series that premiered in the 1980s which was not named Murder, She Wrote.

 

[j swift]

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A picture is worth a thousand words, Susan Sullivan & Ana Alicia…

Edited December 31, 2024 by j swift

[All My Shadows]

Making my way through S2, and I guess I never realized how "young" Falcon Crest is compared to Dallas and KL. Lance, Melissa, and Cole aren't just supporting characters in a triangle on the outskirts of the main action, they're actually there right as important parts of everything. Then, at the very same time on Dallas, you can see that they were already completely lost with what to do with Lucy.

Another difference that's coming in loud and clear is how on Dallas, those people have to pretend to like each other because they're family. Miss Ellie gets JR out of Ewing Oil, but "you're still Jock's son." JR vs. Bobby for control, but "that's still your brother." Rebecca's out to take down the Ewings, but "Bobby is a Ewing, too, momma!" But out in the Tuscany Valley, no one hides their hatred because yes, they're "family," but not really.

Edited January 2 by All My Shadows

[Soaplovers]

I liked that Jane Wyman didn't play Angela as this over the top person... she played her as decisive/confident.. focusing on family honor over being affectonate/attentive to her children/family.

Chase/Maggie/Cole/Vicky were a nice contrast in season 1/2 because the four had a love and genuine affection for one another even when they were having conflicts... plus they had more relatable 'middle/upper middle class' events like Maggie doing chores in casual clothes, getting their place ready for guests, etc.

[All My Shadows]

Yes, I generally love all the Gioberti house scenes because of that everyday realness. I figured that would have gone away early on (like Angela being called "Angie," which I think is actually kinda funny now lol), but they maintain the Gioberties as salt-of-the-earth for a nice little while. Vicky's already showing signs of uselessness as she's getting involved with another old man. I have to say that the grossest thing about the classic primetime soaps is the need to have this dusty old men be lusted over by young women. I think one of the things that makes Melissa an easy favorite is that she's chasing after the two hottest pieces of ass in the valley.

[Khan]

I chalk that up to their realizing that they had cast for looks and not for talent, lol.

Which is ironic, because Earl Hamner, Jr. was the force behind the original show about family togetherness, "The Waltons."

In that way, Angela Channing was not unlike my own mother: "Why do you need me to reassure you every minute of the day that I love you?  I've given you a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food to fill your stomach.  If that doesn't prove that I love you, what does?"  And just like with Angela, any time me or my brother disobeyed her or ignored her advice, we usually paid the price, lol.

As I've said before, what made Angela Channing different from Alexis Colby and J.R. Ewing was how her motivations were rooted in something that most people could relate to.  Angela spoke to that part of all of us that believes there is something greater than ourselves that's worth preserving.  For Angela, that was her grandfather's legacy.  People come and go, "but the land, always the land."

True, but I hate how it was so easy after awhile to write her off as unbalanced, especially when that never played to Ana-Alicia's strongest suit as an actor.  (To put it another way: she was terrible at playing crazy!)

Edited January 3 by Khan

[kalbir]

 

Angela may have been a business-minded messy matriarch, but she was all about preserving her family's legacy. I also loved that she took down her enemies with words and not with bitch slaps.

[Khan]

Exactly.  Her loyalty was with Falcon Crest and Falcon Crest only.  If any of her family objected to her actions, "well, they'll come around eventually."

Now, contrast that with Alexis, who never had any motivation beyond getting even with Blake (while looking gorgeous); and J.R., who SAID he was all about preserving Jock's legacy, but who would've sold out the entire family in a minute if it meant getting richer.

The only other primetime soap "villain" I could root for was KL's Abby Ewing, because she was, at heart, a woman who'd come of age during the women's liberation movement and now was determined to be a major player in a world dominated by men (and who was willing to use even her own sexuality to get her there).  It was feminism run amok, but again, totally relatable.

[All My Shadows]

See, and the thing is, I like Charlene Tilton best when she's lounging around the den at Southwork, trading barbs with JR. I'm not saying she would have been great in a more Melissa-type role, but right now, I'm in S6, and I know she would be better than Audrey Landers, who is downright embarrassing as Afton at this point. I do not need Lucy running after Cliff Barnes, but now that Mickey Trotter's in town, why not have them get their bitch kicks on and try to make some real waves. (I'm watching completely spoilerless, so I have no clue what's going to actually happen lol)

[Khan]

When is a Landers sister NOT downright embarrassing, lol?

[Soaplovers]

Afton was an interesting character..who knew how to read people..even better than JR at times.

Melissa going crazy could have worked if it happened during the earlier seasons when Hamner was still involved in the show.  

[te.]

I guess the difference is that early on they positioned Angela as angling for Lance to carry the Falcon Crest legacy - or in a pinch, Cole and Vicky would do. So they pretty much skipped that middle aged generation and got the early 20-somethings involved in the action straight away. 

On Dallas, it's more clear that Lucy was never seen as a potential heir to the throne by anyone (putting aside acting abilities). It was clear that the ones with the actual power were the middle aged generation who were going to one day turn it over to their kids (who were just toddlers when the show started). So there was really no room for a bunch of young late teens / 20-somethings. Even if they had given JR and Swellin' a teenaged kid, it's obvious he wasn't going to turn over reigns of Ewing Oil for the next 25+ years if he had anything to do with it. Angela on the other hand, being in her 60s, had to start setting up for retirement as the show started. 

Or to put it another way - if Jock had been in charge when the show started, maybe the younger generation still could've been in play. But as it was, the decision was already made which generation were carrying the torch after him and that left power struggles between that generation with no time for Lucy. 

Edited January 6 by te.