Dynasty - Season Three, Vol. 1

It is unfortunate that the decision was made to split the seasons. The only reason is to charge more for the DVD sets. However even with this annoying sales pitch Dynasty is still a winner. I was a fan from the begining because of Steven's character being gay, when he went off after season two to find himself and work on an oil rig (oh, really gay proffession? go figure) I kind of went off Dynasty and hence missed most of this season. I am very pleased to be able to catch up on how Adam turned up, how he poisoned Jeff, how Kirby came back home and where La Mirage came from.There are quite a few set ups in the first part of this season and a few story arcs that are constanly referred to in later seasons. It is nice to understand the whole back story to these. Krystal and Alexis are as always resplendant in the clothes they wear. Krystle's hair was never practicle. Unlike Alexis' who changed her style often. I must admit I had to laugh at the whole wedding in the hospital thing, could Cecil be that dumb. You could nearly see Alexis salivating at the idea of controling a company big enough to beat Blake at his own game.Sammy Jo comes out of the wood work with a baby she claims to be Steven's. Steven is seen in shadow working on an oil rig as he was destined to get blown up and as Al Corley bowed out of he role to be replaced with a very young Jack Coleman who turned up years later in Heroes as Noah Bennett.And speaking of youth. It's interesting to see Heather Locklear prior to her Melrose Place days. It is obvious her acting talent improved and she lost that small town annoying voice of hers. So I can't wait till part two arives in a few days so I can see how the new Steven is revealed, how Adam gets away with trying to kill Jeff, who Kirby sleeps with first, Jeff or Adam, and whats in store for Blake and Krystle. Roll on season four

The unforgettable court room entrance of Alexis Carrington in the previous season inevitably altered not only the already complex dynamics of the beleagured Carringtons but for better and worse the series' plotting and pace. This season ups the ante with nearly every episode having at least one jaw dropping moment - from the abduction of Fallon's baby climaxing on a roof over Denver all the way to (season 3 volume 2) the burning cabin season finale. This season provides many pivotal moments: Alexis gradually assumes the shoulder padded mantle of powerful businesswoman, yet another lost Carrington heir pops up to cause more trouble, Fallon opens La Mirage with a jazz age party Fitzgerald would've killed to attend, Jeff is poisoned by paint fumes, Steven returns with a reconstructed mug and a smidgen less antagonistic attitude, Kirby does Sabrina with disastrous results. And let's not forget the brawl in the lilly pond! Some scenes are positively operatic: when Cecil Colby has a fatal heart attack with Alexis standing by his hospital bedside in bridal white (!) - the score plays strings each time they try to defibrillate him and crescendos when he flatlines, closing with a distraught Alexis bowed head weeping behind white veil - ah, good times that! - Maria Callas as Lucia di Lamermoor couldn't have done any better. Kidding. Arguably the other primetime serials were better written or had more fleshed out characterizations - yet none of them compares to the stylized histrionics of Denver's first family. With liberal paraphrasing of a quote from our favorite villainess: After Alexis throws a party, all the world will know it's been done.

This was a great first half season, sucks it was split up like that, but not shocking... seems everyone is trying to make a buck nowawdays with our crappy economy huh! As for the actual first half, I loved it as I knew I would.The basis of this first half is all about Adam coming into the picture. I was shocked how poorly his arrival was written in. There was NO suspense whatsoever, it was like he found out he was a Carrington and in an episode or two he was working with Alexis at Colby Co. I was hoping for a more dramatic entrance, and whatever happened to the DNA test, I know those existed back then and its not like Blake couldn't afford it! Not really realistically written if you ask me. Still Adam is a chilling character, he definitely would play the perfect "Cain" to any "Abel" with those evil looking glares. Him raping Kirby was so cold but what made it odd was her reactiom after it was done. Kind of similar to when Blake raped Crystal in season 1.Alexis manages to find Crystal's husband who Crystal thinks is her ex husband. Nothing really turns out like Alexis would have hoped and the way the first half ended looks like Alexis and Crystal's ex will be getting it on, that is of course after Falon already had a taste! I guess a foreshadow of what would come with Alexis' other daughter Amanda!The first half ends with Steven's supposed death which we all know isn't a fact but still great drama as Blake becomes a madman to find his boy. Falon actually becomes human to Crystal and befriends her and of course Sammy Jo or as she likes to be called Samantha is back with Steven's supposed child and Heather doesn't dissapoint in the bitch department at all lol.Overall great first half, feel jipped I have to wait months for the next half but what the heck, this show is WORTH IT!

Yes good value for money, works fine good picture.