BRBTV News Blog: I've gotta just say it: The CW's "Dynasty" remake is an underappreciated gem

Friday, November 21, 2025

I've gotta just say it: The CW's "Dynasty" remake is an underappreciated gem

This author just may happen to accidentally be rewatching the CW's "Dynasty" remake that ran for five seasons -- rather recently, 2017-2022. And that rewatching is for a particular purpose that has heretofore been unmentioned, but perhaps you can guess. But that's for a future post. This post is about how much I am truly loving this show all over again. And I feel compelled to write it after the episode I rewatched just now, Season 3's “Something Desperate,” a musical episode originally airing in November 2019. Yes, if you're unfamiliar with the show, they did a musical episode, kinda like another CW show, "Riverdale," and probably quite a few others. Musical numbers have been a part of this modern "Dynasty" series here and there, but to have several of them in one episode is truly a delight: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Against All Odds," “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Burning Down the House.”

From the synopsis for this episode I wrote for the Kindle edition of "Dynasty High" (soon to be incorporated into the print edition as well -- ooops, did I say that out loud?):

The soundtrack of the show has been classic pop tunes – heavy on the ‘80s – and this episode really cements it. The whole cast shines in the musical numbers, but Sam Underwood just kills it. His chemistry with Grant Show during the first number is palpable as the two open up their own boys’ club in front of Fallon at the piano. And he’s got the moves during “Burning Down the House.” He earns the MVP award for this episode. The framework of Fallon slowly getting dosed from the leaking gas in her bedroom and thereby hearing others breaking out in song (when they’re evidently not) or breaking out into song herself is clever. BRBTV votes this one best episode of the season (so far, and we think it will stick).

Daniella Alonso as Cristal and Grant Show as Blake.

I mean, seriously, Grant Show? Whom we knew chiefly as the rugged biker Jake on the '90s "Melrose Place" before he took on the role of Blake Carrington??? They got him to friggin' sing in this episode??? I had already been impressed with how Show carved his own Blake out of this series -- so different from John Forsythe of the original series but so commanding in his own right -- call him highly dignified and hunky.

And the younger cast members, just so talented. Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon steals the show, rather overtly, from the first episode and from her top billing, and she is a talented songstress, crooning in several episodes over the five seasons. She has all the tartness of the original Fallon (the original-original Fallon, if you're a fan of the show and know what I mean), but she takes it further. Narcissism is so glam with her -- and somehow OK.

But Sam Underwood ... ooooohhhh, Sam Underwood. I hope he has gone on to other great roles, because he deserves it. It occurs to me that he demonstrates just how hard it is to make it in Hollywood -- you're competing against guys like this, so you better really be talented and better really bring it, all you prospects out there. It's not enough to be able to act well -- sometimes you've got to be able to sing and have the moves to get a role! Underwood as Adam has the creep factor mastered, and I say that in a good way! Frankly, Adam is my favorite character on the show.

Sam Underwood as Adam.

Yes, this is not the original "Dynasty." And I know some hard-core "Dynasty" fans can't stand the remake series. But I found myself continually and increasingly enthralled from the very first ep in 2017, appreciating it for what it was. A fresh take. A modern telling. A twist on the original. A tribute.