Dynasty - Season 8, Episode 8

Steven looks thrilled to be Blake's heir apparent

"The Testing"
Original airdate: 11/25/1987

Episode summary: Blake appoints Steven as Denver Carrington's new CEO (in the event that he's elected governor of Colorado). Sean reveals his true identity and intentions towards the Carringtons. Leslie and Jeff hook up in New York.

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Recap: Krystle wakes in the middle of the night and finds a restless Blake standing in front of the window, contemplating the wide-ranging effects of his gubernatorial run. He tells Krystle that the next four months are going to be excruciating, not least 'cause he'll have to divest himself from Denver Carrington and decide which of his children should be installed as the company's new CEO. He then reminisces about striking oil for the first time when he was a young lad...and can't help but feel sad about having to turn over the day-to-day operations of his company to someone else. He ponders aloud whether any of his kids have the cojones to be in the top job, then grimly says he's no doubt going to suffer through a lot more restless nights working through this rich person conundrum.

Over at the Carlton Hotel, Alexis and Sean are lounging in their posh suite, enjoying champagne for breakfast. Alexis starts nattering about the upcoming election and says she thinks that Ralph Dunbar should run as an Independent against Blake in the general election. Sean tells her it's prolly a good idea, then says, "I think you should forget your ex-husband and concentrate on your present one." Alexis agrees with that sentiment and gazes at him hungrily...and then he picks her up and carries her over to the bed to indulge in a morning romp. 

A UFO groupie named Miss Lindquist is waiting in on of the mansion's sitting rooms when Jeff ambles in and apologizes for acting like such a horse's ass during last episode's support group session. Miss Lindquist says she totally understands that not everyone can get their brains around extraterrestrial visitations, and therefore feels strongly that the public needs to be better educated about them. When she says she'd really really like Fallon to be a contributor for her upcoming UFO book, Jeff furrows his furry brows and accusingly asks her if she's using Fallon for her Carrington name. Miss Lindquist openly admits that, yep, having Fallon's endorsement would definitely help with book sales...then snippily adds that she really doesn't think it's any of his business. Jeff argues that since Fallon is his wife it is his business, and calls her out for taking advantage of the dumb-dumb. A few seconds later, Fallon enters the room - just as Miss Lindquist snarks that she's outa here...and when Fallon asks Jeff whaddup, he calls Miss Lindquist a con artist and reminds her that publicly acknowledging her recent spaceship adventure might hurt Blake's gubernatorial campaign. Fallon mulls that over for a few seconds, then asks Jeff if she embarrasses him...and when he just stares mutely into space, she takes that as a yes. 

Over at campaign headquarters, Blake reminds Jeff that he still needs to get a formal endorsement (for his campaign) from Ambassador Campbell...and Jeff's like, "Oops, I forgot" and promises to jet to New York tonight to meet with Campbell. When Blake asks if anything's wrong, Jeff decides to spill the beans about Fallon's alleged spaceship encounter, along with her insistence that she was abducted by aliens. Blake and Krystle stare back at him in puzzlement...and then Blake says he doubts his daughter would go around telling such a wild tale if she didn't strongly believe it had really happened. [Though why the writers continue to dig in on this idiotic subplot is anyone's guess.]

"Fallon went on a joyride with a space alien."

"Come again?"

Dex drops by ColbyCo to 1) apologize to Leslie for insulting her during their last conversation, and 2) invite her to lunch. Leslie makes it clear she's not interested in anything he has to say, then asks him what he plans to do about Alexis's weird new husband Sean. Dex says he had no idea she had remarried, then scrunches his face concernedly.

Dex makes a beeline over to Alexis's office, where he's promptly introduced to Sean. Dex expresses his deep gratitude to Sean for saving Alexis's life...and when Sean rushes off to do something or other, Dex gushes to Alexis about how radiantly happy she looks. With that said, he asks her if she maybe rushed into this marriage too quickly, and Alexis winces and admits that, yeah, against all common sense she probably did plunge into matrimony with a man she barely knows - but nonsensically insists that, because of fate, she couldn't not do it. She insists on remaining ecstatically happy with the weirdo, despite any objections anyone might have, and thanks Dex for his good wishes.

Blake stops in at Carrington manor during lunch to ask Fallon if she has any interest in taking over one of Denver Carrington's subsidiaries: the cosmetic department. He wankingly points out that he'd love her to do it 'cause she has such good business sense...but then Fallon suddenly looks suspicious and asks if he's offering her a job 'cause of something spaceship-related that Jeff may have told him. Blake admits that, yep, Jeff did tell him and Krystle that she had had some kind of delusion involving a spaceship, and Fallon angrily insists she's not crazy, hilariously declares that she can find her own damn job, and storms out of the room.

Over at Delta Rho, Sammy Jo chides Josh for sleeping in so late, then asks him if he doesn't have something he needs to go do...as in right now please. Josh says he doesn't have football practice today, and Sammy Jo's just like, "OK whatever" and says she's off to pick up Danny from school...and firmly insists that the two of them bumping uglies is not something she ever wants to happen again. Josh responds to that by declaring how deeply in love with her he is, and Sammy Jo looks unmoved by that and says he needs to skedaddle 'cause she wants him long gone when Steven returns home from his business trip. 

"Don't you have anything constructive to do with your time?"

"Other than gaze at your hotness? Not really."

Adam informs Alexis that he and Dana are having a child via surrogate, and Alexis says she's A-OK with that, but wonders aloud why Dana didn't admit that her womb was a barren wasteland before they got married. Adam explains that he was led to believe that Dana had no idea about her barrenness until very recently, and that she's super supportive of him creating a baby with another woman. He then congratulates Alexis on her new marriage and describes her husband as a very lucky man...a sentiment with which Alexis heartily agrees.

Jeff returns home, starts packing for his overnight trip to New York, and suggests to Fallon that she tag along so that they can enjoy a much needed getaway. Fallon makes it clear how completely uninterested she is in going anywhere with him, then calls him out for blabbing to Blake about her extraterrestrial encounter, which has led him to think that there's something seriously wrong with her. Jeff nonsensically rails that she's mostly mad 'cause he came between her and Blake, who's always treated her like "daddy's little spoiled girl", to which Fallon argues that he (Jeff) is the one who hasn't given her a chance to grow. She snarlingly says he can go to New York or to hell, and angrily insists, "I'm nobody's little girl anymore!" while stamping her feet on the floor.

Adam drops by Blake's office to clarify that he and Dana are having a child by way of surrogate. Blake stares back at him in befuddlement and asks if he didn't trust him enough to mention this detail earlier...and Adam responds by countering, "Do you trust me?", which prompts Blake to stare back at him mutely.

Jeff boards a private plane bound for New York...and a few seconds later, he's surprised when Leslie joins him and says she hopes he doesn't mind her hitching a ride, 'cause she has some New York-related business for Alexis she needs to attend to. She says it's her first time travelling to the Big Apple, natters about how she wants to be a more assertive person [even though she seems plenty assertive to me], then pours two glasses of champagne and flirtily toasts to "first time experiences".

Back at the mansion, Adam tells Dana that something is definitely up with the family, and that he's pretty sure Blake is in the process of deciding which of his offspring he should appoint Denver Carrington's new CEO [providing that the gubernatorial election goes his way]. He wonders if maybe Steven is the frontrunner, adding that his recent killing of Matthew Blaisdel makes him a formidable, dangerous contender for the top job at Denver Carrington. That's...a strange way to look at it, but OK.

Downstairs, Blake tells Krystle he's worried that both Fallon and Adam are too inexperienced to run his company, and floats the idea that he could look beyond people named Carrington and bring in an outside hire. Krystle tut tuts that radical idea and says that surely one of his children is capable of being in charge of Denver Carrington, then serenely adds that she's extremely confident he'll make the best decision that could possibly be made.

Sean has let himself into the Denver Mirror offices, and is tapping away on one of the computers when an editor (Penelope) arrives and informs him that the workstations are restricted to employees of the paper. Sean goes on a smarmy charm offensive and gushes about insanely attractive [the plain looking] Penelope is, then introduces himself as Alexis's latest boy toy/husband. He says that, as a special surprise for his wife, he'd like to get as much intel on her kids as possible, and a blushing Penelope gigglingly decides that that request somehow makes sense and agrees to grab some microfilm and dig up as much info on Fallon, Steven, and Adam as she possibly can.

In the lounge at the Carlton Hotel, Fallon grumbles to Dex that she's annoyed at Blake for inventing a cosmetics job for the sole purpose of diverting her attention from her extraterrestrial "delusion". She says there must be some type of non-Carrington job she could direct her time and energy towards, so Dex jokingly suggests she put on a hardhat and work with him on the pipeline project...but then nixes that and urges her to solely focus on holding her deteriorating marriage together. To that end, he urges her to call Jeff in New York to see how things are going, and she quietly mulls over the prospect.

"There must be something employment-related I'm capable of doing.."

"Or you could just fixate on your marriage 24/7."

Leslie drops by Jeff's New York hotel room to invite him to dinner, and he tells her he can't chat right now 'cause he's in a rush to get to Ambassador Campbell's office - just as the phone starts ringing. He tells Leslie he's can only assume that it's Campbell's office calling and asks her to take the call and pass along the message that he's on his way...but naturally the call turns out to be Fallon, who apparently took Dex's advice to heart. Leslie gleefully gives Fallon the impression that Jeff has no interest in taking her call right now and asks if she'd like to leave a message, and Fallon contorts her face into an incensed expression and abruptly hangs up. 

Over at ColbyCo, Alexis giddily presents Sean with a plaque for his door, which names him Executive Vice President for Internal Affairs. Sounds very intense. When he asks her if he deserves the weighty title, she insists he does...then proceeds to back pedal and coos that the lofty, made up job title is also a wedding present. Sean says he also has a present for her - but will have to keep her in suspense, 'cause he's off to the airport to meet a friend. 

Over dinner at a fancy looking restaurant, Jeff tells Leslie he got Ambassador Campbell's endorsement for Blake's gubernatorial candidacy, then admits to being in a blah mood. Leslie says that if he's lonely for Fallon he should go ahead and call her - but he just changes the subject and asks her if she went for a run in Central Park this morning. She happily says she did...and that she had one of those big salted pretzels (slathered with mustard!) for breakfast. 

Steven has summoned Josh to his Denver Carrington office to berate him about his subpar performances on the football field lately, and that it seems as though he's lost his edge. He bellows about how he wants leadership, not arrogance...then snappishly orders him to perform at his optimal level at every practice and every game. Josh absorbs that stern edict before storming out of the office - just as Blake appears in the doorway and asks Steven if he might be pushing Josh too hard. Steven firmly says he's not, and that, as the quarterback, Josh needs to smarten the fuck up or fuck the fuck off. Blake reacts to that tough talk by staring back at his son with a look of admiration.

​Later at Delta Rho, Steven tells Sammy Jo he had it out with Josh...and she assumes that Josh got chewed out 'cause of their earlier smoochfest. She complains about being accused of illicit hanky panky and races out of the house, leaving Steven staring after her, his face scrunched confusedly.

Back at the New York restaurant, Jeff decides he'd like to call Fallon to say hey, and asks a waiter to bring a telephone to the table. Fallon responds to him coldly...and when he says they need to talk through their problems and that he's willing to put certain things aside, she shrieks, "I'll bet you are!" and slams down the receiver. Jeff weakly smiles at Leslie and says he's no longer in the mood to stay for dinner, and Leslie informs the waiter that they're going to take their dinners to go.

Sammy Jo arrives at Josh's apartment, and he's pleasantly surprised to see her and leans in for a big smooch. Sammy Jo pushes him away and tells him she's suddenly very confused and doesn't want to be here after all...and a few seconds after she races off, Josh gets a visit from his coke dealer and immediately starts snorting the white powder.

In Jeff's hotel room, Jeff and Leslie gigglingly enjoy some champagne, and Leslie sheepishly apologizes to Jeff for suggesting he make the disastrous call to Fallon. She half-heartedly offers to head back to her own room for some shut-eye - but Jeff urges her to stay, 'cause he feels so wanked and wonderful in her presence. He leans in for a smooch...and soon the two are fully going at it atop the couch.

"I can either go back to my room alone, or stay here and enjoy an illicit boning by my cousin's husband."

"The latter. The latter."

Sean is inside the bungalow where Joseph Anders once lived (and killed himself), a house that has remained uninhabited and abandoned ever since Season 4. Sean is there with his (unnamed) sister, recalling that their father (yep, Joseph) shot himself in this very room...and then not one Carrington [or recapper, for that matter] mourned his passing. The sister says she had phoned him at the Carlton Hotel to ask him how, in the name of all that is holy, he could have married Alexis Colby, and Sean tells her he thought it wouldn't be truly fucking bizarre to marry the woman who drove their pa to kill himself...and who's also the mother of Adam, the psycho who raped Kirby. The sister reminds him that these storylines all happened many years ago, so then Sean points out that if he hadn't been locked up in a Dublin prison for the last several years, he surely would have sought revenge long before now. The sister urges him to let Joseph's soul to rest in peace, and informs him that she recently went to Paris and saw Kirby, who's apparently resigned herself to being so abruptly written off the show. Sean argues that since Kirby has never sold this bungalow (which she inherited from Joseph), so she clearly hasn't forgiven the Carringtons...and that it's going to give him great pleasure to stick around and watch these rich SOBs destroy each other.  

Blake has summoned Steven, Fallon, and Adam to the mansion's study in order to announce which of them he's selected to run Denver Carrington in the event that he becomes governor. He says that after careful thought, and watching Steven rip Josh a new one earlier, he's appointing Steven to be Blake 2.0. The camera then pans around the room to reveal the shocked - and, in the case of Adam, pissed off - expressions. Steven, meanwhile, stares glumly into space as he mulls over the prospect of being his father's heir apparent.

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