| Dynasty: The Reunion | |
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Main title cards from Dynasty: The Reunion |
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| Genre | Soap opera |
| Created by | Richard & Esther Shapiro |
| Starring | John Forsythe Linda Evans John James Heather Locklear Emma Samms and Joan Collins |
| Theme music composer | Bill Conti |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Aaron Spelling Douglas S. Cramer Richard & Esther Shapiro |
| Running time | 240 minutes (inc. commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original run | October 20, 1991 – October 22, 1991 |
Dynasty: The Reunion is a 1991 miniseries reuniting the characters from the American prime time television soap opera Dynasty, a series which aired on ABC from 1981 to 1989 and was the highest-rated U.S. series in 1985.[1] The miniseries, like the series, revolves around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado.
Directed by Irving J. Moore, the four-hour Dynasty: The Reunion was first broadcast in the U.S. in two parts on October 20 and October 22, 1991.[2]
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Dynasty's cancellation had left its ninth season finale unresolved and characters in mortal peril; original cast member John Forsythe later noted, "The way we were cut off was a disgrace."[2] Executive Producer Aaron Spelling said during production of Dynasty: The Reunion that "Beethoven can leave a symphony unfinished ... We didn't think we could do that with a soap opera."[2] Eager to give the series proper closure, the cast agreed to come back "at slightly reduced salaries" and production relied on location shoots rather than the expensive sets of its heyday.[2] "We are still groomed, groomed within an inch of our lives," noted star Joan Collins, who with onscreen rival Linda Evans had 42 costumes between them in the miniseries.[2]
Original cast member Al Corley returned as gay Carrington heir Steven, despite the fact that he had left the series after two seasons and been replaced by Jack Coleman.[2][3] With Coleman unavailable due to scheduling conflicts,[2] Corley stepped in even though Steven's change in appearance with the casting of Coleman in 1983 had been attributed to plastic surgery after an oil rig explosion.[3] Long-running Dynasty star Gordon Thomson was replaced by actor Robin Sachs in the role of unscrupulous Adam Carrington for the miniseries because of similar scheduling issues. Thomson was then under contract with the NBC daytime soap opera Santa Barbara, and when that series was unable to accommodate the miniseries shooting schedule, Thomson sued ABC for their part in the problem.
Dynasty: The Reunion also reunited much of the crew who had worked on the original series, including writer/creators Richard and Esther Shapiro, Eileen and Robert Mason Pollock, Edward DeBlasio, producer Elaine Rich, cinematographer Michel Hugo and costume designer Nolan Miller.
The miniseries also featured three long-running supporting players from the original series, William Beckley as Carrington butler Gerard, Virginia Hawkins as Carrington maid Jeanette Robbins, and Betty Harford as Carrington cook Hilda Gunnerson.
The May 1989 series finale of Dynasty had left Forsythe's oil tycoon Blake Carrington shot by a corrupt policeman, his beloved wife Krystle (Evans) in an off-screen coma, and his conniving ex-wife Alexis Colby (Collins) plunging from a balcony.[2] The Reunion picks up two years later as Blake — having survived the shooting but then convicted for the death of his attacker — is pardoned and released from prison.[2]
An awakened Krystle returns to Denver and is reunited with an overjoyed Blake, whose son Steven (Corley) is now an environmental lobbyist in Washington, D.C. and in a relationship[2] with Bart Fallmont (Cameron Watson). Blake's daughter Fallon (Emma Samms) has split with Jeff Colby (John James) and reunited with Miles Colby (Maxwell Caulfield), while Sammy Jo (Heather Locklear) — having lost her fortune — is once again modeling in New York. On the catwalk for Fashion Fury she soon comes in contact with the company's newest investor: her ex-mother-in-law, a very-much-alive Alexis.
It soon becomes clear that Blake's downfall had been orchestrated by The Consortium, a mysterious organization which now controls Denver-Carrington. The most insidious part of their plan comes to fruition as Krystle, brainwashed before her return, is compelled to make an attempt on Blake's life. Her love for Blake allows her to resist and overcome the programming, but The Consortium kidnaps Jeff. Miles joins Blake's eldest son Adam (Sachs) and Jeff's ex-wife Kirby Anders (Kathleen Beller) to rescue him. Despite Adam's involvement in The Consortium's takeover, he and Blake reconcile their differences. Adam and Kirby also rekindle their past romance and Blake regains control of Denver-Carrington.
The Carringtons reunite at the mansion as secret Consortium leader Jeremy Van Dorn (Jeroen Krabbé) — romantically involved with a clueless Alexis — attempts to both gain control of her company and kill her. She is rescued by Adam as Van Dorn escapes; he is taken away by the police, who are actually members of the Consortium in disguise. Fallon realizes she loves Jeff, Adam and Kirby reconcile, and even Alexis joins the festivities as Blake toasts the family. The miniseries ends as Blake and Krystle dance together.
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