Fallon Carrington Colby

Fallon Carrington Colby is a fictional character from the ABC television series Dynasty, its spin-off The Colbys, and The CW's 2017 reboot series. Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro, the role of Fallon was originated by Pamela Sue Martin in the show's first episode in 1981, and Martin left at the end of the fourth season in 1984. Fallon was recast with Emma Samms in 1985, and the character was spun off onto a companion series called The Colbys. After the cancellation of the second series, Fallon (portrayed by Samms) returned to Dynasty in 1987, and remained on the series until its finale in 1989. Samms later reprised the role for the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion. Elizabeth Gillies will play Fallon in the 2017 reboot series Dynasty.

Fallon is the daughter of oil baron Blake Carrington and his first wife, Alexis, portrayed by John Forsythe and Joan Collins in the original series. Initially a self-indulgent troublemaker constantly at odds with her father's second wife, Krystle (Linda Evans), in the 1980s series, Fallon navigates a series of romantic entanglements that includes marriages to Jeff Colby (John James) and his half-brother and cousin, Miles Colby (Maxwell Caulfield).

Characterization

Fallon is introduced as a fiery heiress as intelligent and business savvy as her millionaire father Blake Carrington, but not taken seriously by him because she is a woman.^[1] With a place at the family company Denver-Carrington unavailable to her, Fallon instead indulges herself with multiple lovers and torturing her new stepmother Krystle (Linda Evans).^[1][2] David Hofstede described Martin's Fallon as "a spoiled bitch with an acid tongue whose idea of fun was to sleep with her father's chauffeur".^[3] Martin told People in 1982, "Fallon has lovers, but they don't mean anything to her".^[4] Actor John James said of the relationship between Fallon and his character, her "loving-but-unloved" husband Jeff Colby, "There's an attraction there in two people who know they're wrong for each other".^[4]

Alex Mar wrote for Slate:

The idea of Fallon as a stifled modern woman had no place in the series once Joan Collins joined the cast. With the introduction of Collins as Blake's exuberantly wicked, two-faced ex-wife Alexis, potentially nuanced female characters were reduced to a Madonna/whore dichotomy: You can either be a Krystle (gentle, soft-spoken, essentially good) or an Alexis (scheming, sexual, essentially evil).^[1]

Emma Samms said at the time of her hiring, "I'm always going for the sympathetic aspect of a character."^[3] She also noted, "I'm not going to sit and watch hours of Pamela Sue so I can reproduce the kind of performance she gave. I want to be accepted as me."^[5] According to Samms, before Dynasty's final season, producer David Paulsen asked her what she would like to do with Fallon. She explained in 1989, "I said, 'I'd like to do more humorous stuff and be a bit more realistic character, not always the victim.' And that`s what he did. This year I was allowed to be a more real character."^[6]

Appearances

Dynasty debuted in January 1981, with Pamela Sue Martin portraying Fallon.^[7] She said in 2007 that because of her thin hair, producers insisted she wear a wig when the series began.^[8] Martin said, "I put up with this for a while, but a few months later I saw a picture of myself on a magazine cover. The wig made me look like a country and western star. I refused to wear it any more."^[8] In 2006, she said of Forsythe, "He really was like a father to me. I asked John to walk me down the aisle when I got married in real life, but he said, 'I think maybe you should ask your real dad.' I was just so attached to him."^[9]

Martin left the series at the end of the fourth season in May 1984.^[7] In the storyline, a troubled Fallon leaves Jeff at the altar, and is later presumed dead in an offscreen plane crash.^[5] At the time, New York quoted Martin as calling television "limiting".^[10] USA Today reported in 2006 that Martin "left Dynasty and acting when she felt her 'glib' character ... had been reduced to 'a victim'."^[9] In 2011, she said "I became extremely famous during that time, and it was a little discomforting".^[11] Executive producer Aaron Spelling wrote in his 1996 autobiography, "After three seasons, Pamela Sue Martin wanted to leave Dynasty to get married and we didn't stand in her way."^[12] The Daily Mail reported in 2007 that Martin had suffered from painful interstitial cystitis, which precipitated her departure from the series.^[8]

The role was later recast with British actress Emma Samms, and Fallon reappears at the end of the fifth season in the April 1985 episode "Kidnap", with amnesia.^[5] In his 2004 television history book What Were They Thinking?, David Hofstede recounted that Samms had been suggested to Spelling by his young daughter, Tori, who was a fan of Samms in her role of Holly Scorpio on the daytime soap opera General Hospital.^[3] Samms appeared in eight episodes of the sixth season of Dynasty, and the character was spun off onto a separate series called The Colbys.^[5] A main character on The Colbys, Fallon continued to guest star on Dynasty, with Samms appearing in one episode at the end of the sixth season and two episodes of the seventh season. After the cancellation of The Colbys, Fallon (played by Samms) returned to Dynasty in the September 1987 season premiere episode "The Siege - Part 1", and remained on the show until its finale in 1989. Samms later reprised the role for the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.^[13]

In the 1989 episode "Blasts From The Past", Cheyenne Fitch portrayed Fallon as a child.

Storylines

Original series (1981–1989)

Season 1

As Dynasty begins, spoiled Carrington heiress Fallon is underestimated by—and considered little more than a trophy to—her father, oil baron Blake. Though she is as cunning and intelligent as he is, there are no women in the family business. Still, Fallon is devoted to Blake, and is wary and disdainful of his new wife (and former secretary) Krystle. Fallon is also close to her younger brother Steven, who is struggling with his sexual orientation. A promiscuous Fallon resumes her past affair with her father's chauffeur Michael Culhane. She has a flirtatious relationship with Blake's friend and business rival, Cecil Colby, and later agrees to marry Cecil's nephew, Jeff, to secure Cecil's assistance when her father's company runs into financial trouble. A jealous Michael tells Blake about Fallon's arrangement, causing friction between father and daughter. When Jeff learns that his marriage is just part of a business deal, he embarrasses Fallon by drunkenly broadcasting the details to a room full of party guests. Fallon is sympathetic to Jeff, but still does not feel she can return his love. Trying to protect Steven from Blake's wrath, she tries to keep Steven's ex-boyfriend Ted Dinard from contacting him, but is unable to keep them apart. When Blake comes upon the two men in an embrace, he pushes Ted away from Steven. Ted falls, hits his head, and dies. Blake is arrested and charged with murder. Fallon lies about her father's mental state on the witness stand, in an attempt to protect him. When a mystery woman is called into the courtroom, Fallon recognizes the witness as her mother.

Season 2

The surprise witness for the prosecution is Fallon's long-absent mother, Alexis. Fallon is furious as Alexis testifies against Blake, who is found guilty but does not have to serve jail time. Fallon is icy and, jealous of her daughter's love for Blake, a spiteful Alexis begins to spread the rumor that he is not Fallon's father. When Krystle announces she is pregnant, Fallon decides that she and Jeff should have a baby as well. Fallon begins an affair with Dr. Nick Toscanni, and Krystle is thrown from a horse in "Viva Las Vegas" and loses her baby. Fallon learns that she is pregnant in "The Mid-East Meeting", but decides to have divorce Jeff and have an abortion. Blake finds out and rushes to stop her, but when he arrives he learns that she could not go through with it. Hiding a longstanding grudge against Blake, Nick tries to seduce Krystle while he romances Fallon. His overtures toward Krystle do not go unnoticed by Fallon, who becomes petulant and jealous. She continues to rebuff Alexis despite their mutual dislike of Krystle. In "The Party", Fallon confronts her mother about the rumor that Blake is not her father. While driving together, Alexis reveals that she believes Cecil Colby is Fallon's father, and a horrified Fallon crashes the car. At the hospital, Fallon goes into premature labor and delivers a boy in "The Baby". In "The Gun", Blake demands a blood test which proves that he, not Cecil, is Fallon's father. Fallon and Jeff name their son Blake Carrington Colby, called "Little Blake", but in the 1982 season finale "The Cliff", Fallon discovers that the baby has been kidnapped.

Season 3

Claudia Blaisdel, an unstable woman who lost her own child, becomes the primary suspect in Little Blake's kidnapping. The baby's nanny, however, also has ties to the disgraced Nick. In a televised plea to return their grandson, Alexis and Blake reveal the shocking secret that their eldest child, Adam, had been kidnapped as an infant and was never returned. The kidnapper turns out to be Alfred Grimes, the father of the man whose affair with Alexis prompted Blake to exile her. Fallon asks for control of Blake's struggling hotel, La Mirada, which she remodels and renames La Mirage. Jeff is upset by Fallon's decision to work and accuses her of neglecting their child. Fallon flirts with Michael Torrance, a handsome stranger who is staying at the hotel, and they share a kiss. In "The Siblings", she is horrified to learn from Alexis that Michael is actually Adam, Fallon's long lost brother. Fallon hires Mark Jennings as her tennis instructor in "Mark", only to learn that he is Krystle's ex-husband, brought to Denver by Alexis to cause trouble for Blake. Fallon soon begins an affair with Mark, not knowing that he is also sleeping with her mother. Meanwhile, finally realizing that Krystle truly loves Blake, Fallon reaches out to her stepmother, and the two mend fences in "Samantha". Fallon hires Joseph's daughter, Kirby, to be her son's nanny. As Fallon's marriage to Jeff deteriorates, she is annoyed by Kirby's obvious designs on Jeff. His behavior becomes more erratic and violent, and he attacks Fallon after finding her in Mark's hotel room. Angry and upset, Fallon decides her marriage is finally over, and flies to Haiti for a divorce. She continues her relationship with Mark, while Jeff marries Kirby on the rebound. Alexis tries to coerce Mark to end things with Fallon in "The Vote", but he refuses. In "The Dinner", however, Alexis arranges for Fallon to discover her in Mark's bed. Fallon learns that Jeff's odd behavior was caused by inhaling toxic chemicals in the paint used in his office, and comes to suspect Adam of deliberately causing it.

Season 4

Fallon and Jeff travel to Billings, Montana to investigate Adam's past, and wind up sleeping together. They learn that Adam once tried a case in which a worker was poisoned by toxic paint fumes. She reveals the truth to Blake, but Adam has framed Alexis for the crime. Fallon becomes romantically involved with European tycoon Peter De Vilbis, and they soon become engaged. Blake, Jeff, and even Steven's wife Claudia warn her off the smarmy Peter. When one of Blake's prize race horses is "kidnapped" and held for ransom, Fallon learns that Peter set it up in order to extort money from Blake. Upset and confused by Peter's betrayal, a despondent Fallon is hit by a car in "The Accident". Suffering a head injury, she is temporarily paralyzed. Fallon suddenly regains her ability to walk in time to save Little Blake from falling into the swimming pool. Although able to walk again, she is plagued by painful headaches and occasional seizures. Fallon and Jeff decide to remarry in "Birthday", but on the eve of her wedding in "The Nightmare", Fallon suffers a particularly severe headache. After she fails to appear at the altar, Jeff goes to her room to investigate, only to find her wedding dress crumpled in the corner and the room empty. He glances out the window in time to see Fallon's car speeding off into the night. As Fallon speeds down the rainy highway, she screams as she barrels toward an oncoming truck.

Season 5

Jeff discovers the wreckage of Fallon's car, but no sign of her. He finds a trucker who gave her a ride to Portland and continues to search for her, suspecting that she is traveling with Peter. In "Fallon", Jeff learns that Peter died when his small twin-engine plane crashed. Investigators tell Jeff that the badly burned remains of a woman were found with him. Jeff goes to make an identification of the body and recognizes Fallon's engagement ring. Heartbroken, Jeff lashes out at her memorial service. Months later, in "Kidnap", an amnesiac Fallon appears at a Los Angeles police station, calling herself Randall Adams. Desperately trying to learn her identity, she asks about missing persons reports and disheartened to learn that no one is looking for her. In the season finale, "Randall" decides to leave Los Angeles, telling a sympathetic police detective that she feels drawn to the mountains—perhaps Denver.

Season 6

In "The Aftermath", Fallon notices the name "Miles Colby" in the newspaper and feels a glimmer of recognition. She tracks down and meets Miles, an irresponsible playboy, who is also Jeff's cousin. Miles has no idea that "Randall" is really the presumed-dead Fallon, and he quickly falls in love with her. Blake, in a new business deal with Miles' father Jason Colby, invites the Colbys of California to Denver to celebrate in "The Titans". Fallon has a strong reaction as she and Miles arrive at the Carrington mansion, and she insists that they leave immediately. They drive off without going inside, but not before Jeff, who has long suspected that Fallon might be alive, sees her in the courtyard. In the November 20, 1985 episode "The Decision", Jeff vows to find Fallon and never let her go.

The Colbys

A newly married Miles and Fallon arrive at the Colby mansion in the November 20, 1985 premiere of the spin-off series The Colbys. Jeff is there, but an amnesiac Fallon shows no recognition for him, or her father Blake, in "Conspiracy of Silence". The family decides not to tell Fallon her true identity, and to let her memory return on its own. Jeff, however, tries to subtly jog her memory, and introduces her to her young son L.B. In "Family Album", she sees herself in a photo album, and L.B. identifies her as "Mommy". Realizing that she is Fallon, she confronts Miles and Jeff. A psychiatrist helps her regain her memory in "A House Divided", and she is torn between her feelings for Miles and Jeff. A patient Miles, also upset by his father's apparent extramarital love for Jeff's mother, finally explodes and forces himself on Fallon in "Thursday's Child". Fallon flees to Denver in the February 1986 Dynasty episode "Souvenirs", and Miles follows, seeking her forgiveness. Fallon and Miles sign papers annulling their marriage in The Colbys episode "The Pact", and Jeff and Fallon are brought closer when L.B. is hospitalized. She agrees to marry Jeff in "Fallon's Choice", and a devastated Miles uses evidence provided by his mother Sable to remove Jeff from Colby Enterprises by proving in court that his father is not Philip Colby. The plan backfires in "Burden of Proof" when Miles' own father Jason declares in open court that he is Jeff's father as well. Fallon and Jeff remarry in "The Wedding", and Miles and Jeff call a truce. In the season one finale "Checkmate", Fallon tells Jeff that she is pregnant, but is soon alarmed to realize that the baby may have been fathered by Miles during the rape.

Jeff and Fallon tell Miles about their baby in the season 2 premiere "The Gathering Storm", and Fallon admits to a furious Jeff that Miles could be the father in "No Exit". Miles marries a reporter, Channing Carter, who is threatened by Miles' lingering feelings for Fallon. Visiting Denver in the Dynasty episode "Romance", Fallon warns her younger sister Amanda, who is romantically involved with Fallon's former lover Michael Culhane, that Michael is not to be trusted. Sable discovers that Miles may be the father of Fallon's baby in "Bloodlines", and tells him in "Deceptions". Miles and Jeff have a brutal fight, during which Miles is almost killed by falling off the roof of the Colby Tower in "And Baby Makes Four". After Fallon threatens an abortion to end the rivalry between Jeff and Miles, she and Jeff resolve to acknowledge Miles' rights should he prove to be the father. Fallon has a medical emergency at the Colby lodge in "Reaching Out", and Channing pretends the phone line is down in hopes that Fallon will lose her baby. The women remain at odds, but just when Channing is trying to make amends in "All Fall Down", Fallon falls down the stairs in a manner which looks like Channing pushed her. Miles is by Fallon's side as she gives birth to a daughter in "Guilty Party"; after a medical scare, the baby is determined to be Jeff's in "Fallon's Baby". Fallon makes friends with Channing and tries to help her with Miles, as Fallon and Jeff are finally happy. In the series finale "Crossroads", Fallon's car suddenly shuts down while she is driving down a deserted road. Leaving her car, she sees a UFO, which she boards before it takes off with her inside.

Season 8

In the Dynasty season premiere "The Siege - Part 1", Jeff finds Fallon miles from her car. In Denver, she eventually confides her UFO story to Jeff, but his disbelief puts a strain on their marriage. Their relationship is put under further pressure as Jeff becomes Blake's campaign manager in his run for governor of Colorado. Jeff's growing closeness to Fallon's cousin Leslie Carrington finally pushes Fallon to ask for a divorce in "The Fair". Blake puts Adam, Fallon, and Steven jointly in charge of Denver-Carrington during his gubernatorial race, and the siblings are soon at odds. Blake is implicated in an illegal weapons deal, but Fallon and Steven retrieve proof that he is innocent in "The Trial". Jeff has been secretly dating Steven's ex-wife Sammy Jo Carrington, and asks her to marry him in "The Proposal". Fallon confronts Jeff and they fall into bed in "Colorado Roulette", after which Sammy Jo arrives with champagne to accept Jeff's proposal.

Season 9

Jeff moves forward with his engagement to Sammy Jo, but is conflicted over his feelings for Fallon. A body is discovered in a lake on the Carrington property, which turns out to be the decades-old corpse of Alexis' lover, Roger Grimes. In "Alexis in Blunderland", Sammy Jo finds out about Jeff and Fallon's one night stand. She confronts Fallon and they fight in the mud, eventually realizing that neither of them wants Jeff anymore. Fallon becomes romantically involved with John Zorelli, the police detective investigating the Grimes case. This puts her at odds with Blake, but Zorelli's investigation also makes it difficult for Fallon and the detective to trust each other. In "Blasts From The Past", Fallon recalls that as a child, she killed Grimes to prevent him from attacking an unconscious Alexis. Her grandfather, Tom Carrington, had disposed of the body in a mine under the lake to protect her. In the series finale "Catch 22", Fallon and her half-sister Krystina are trapped in a cave-in inside the mine.^[6]

The Reunion (1991)

Three years later in Dynasty: The Reunion, Fallon is living in California with Miles. After Jeff helps the Carringtons defeat the insidious Consortium, he and Fallon reconcile.

Reboot (2017)

A pilot for a Dynasty reboot for The CW was announced in September 2016,^[14][15] and Elizabeth Gillies was cast as Fallon in February 2017.^[16] The project received a series order in May 2017,^[17][18] and a preview trailer was released on May 18, 2017.^[19][20] The Dynasty reboot is set to premiere on October 11, 2017.^[21]

Reception

People praised Samms as a successful replacement in 1985,^[5] but David Hofstede called her the "Worst. Recast. Ever." in 2004, blaming the producers rather than Samms.^[3] A 1985 article in The Hollywood Reporter criticized the recast, and a spokesman for the show told Redbook, "People have gotten hung up on the fact that Emma doesn't look anything like Pamela Sue. But the creators said, 'Look, that's not what we wanted to do. We needed someone who could capture the character.'"^[3] Hofstede wrote that "Samms never settled into the role, and could only make the best of a bad situation as her character was dropped into one ridiculous plotline after another."^[3]

References