Dynasty 3×02 Review: A Few Hearts Get Broken In “Caution Never Won A War”

Blake’s mouth got him into trouble yet again this week on Dynasty. Seriously, doesn’t he ever know when to keep his lip zipped?! All he had to do was play it cool until his bail hearing and then he could’ve gone home to be with his family. But nope, this is Blake Carrington. He couldn’t resist the urge to exert his wealth and run his mouth like a bigshot. Culhane played him like a fiddle! Blake is losing his touch.

Once Culhane was placed in the same jail cell as Blake, you knew that tensions were going to flare up. Culhane had every reason to hate Blake, especially being framed for the crime that landed him in jail. But the master plan of setting Blake up to admit the truth of killing Mac was positively genius! For someone who didn’t know how to play chess, he sure did set up the pieces for this plan to work. In hindsight, Culhane preyed on Blake’s fears and insecurities to extort the information he needed: he let Blake think he was a bigshot, he threw him off his game when someone challenged him, and he tried pushing Blake into a metaphorical corner. Blake doesn’t do well when he feels inferior, so he snapped.

Plus, when you add in Dominique’s side-involvement to the weekly events, it made the satisfaction so much sweeter. She’s easily adaptable and turned around her frustrations to get the upper-hand on her own family. The Dynasty characters should learn quickly to not stop her from seeking her status and power – she has major ambitions. Dominique is peak Slytherin.

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It’s interesting that their battle was framed around the progression of their love lives. Both started “Caution Never Won A War” with the fear of distance separating them from their relationships, but Kirby and Cristal still protected and treasured them. However, by the end, each went their separate ways with Culhane ending his relationship and Blake entering marriage. Dynasty, yet again, reinforced the similarities between these characters; they may approach the world differently, but their stubbornness and path are much the same.

When it came to Blake’s marriage, much of it stemmed from being a powerplay. Sure, Cristal loves Blake and wants to be with him, but she rushed the nuptials for the sole purpose of dethroning Adam from the presidential chair. It seems like we’ll be in store for more Carrington business battles between Adam and Cristal fighting it out to seize control. I’m not completely captivated by this storyline since they’re approaching it like petty squabbles, essentially nipping at the power until Blake comes back. The Carrington business isn’t as powerful as it once was during Dynasty Season 1, but if this is the filler plot to keep them business, let’s hope that it will be exciting and offer some salacious drama.

Adam’s involvement in Fallon’s story is still a cheeky addition. I forgot that he used to hook up with Liam’s mother and they plotted together. Their reunion was equal parts cringeworthy and funny; it’s like they wanted to jump each other right then and there. Thankfully, Liam was in the room, so we didn’t have to sit through the hook-up between these two villains. No doubt they’ll reignite their passion now that they’re back in the same city again.

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Poor Fallon! She tried desperately to jog Liam’s memory and all she could muster was a few hazy moments from the first time they met. Originally, I had thought that Dynasty planned a fake-out where Liam’s memory suddenly returned and he would takedown his mother, Ashley, and Adam. “Caution Never Won A War” even set up a moment where I thought it happened: when Fallon jumped over Liam’s bed and they stared at each other; the movement and music suddenly slowed down to emphasize a point. Unfortunately, that twist did not come to be. Liam is still stuck in his coma spiral.

The restraining order and Fallon’s probation will become a problem as she tries to get closer to Liam again. But, we’re talking about Fallon here – that’s not going to stop her; she’s going to keep trying until his memory is back. Everything she said as she left the hospital will no doubt happen: Liam will return to Fallon and he’ll never forgive his mother for the fraud. Does his mother even have an endgame? She can’t keep the lie going forever.

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Sam and Anders will need to do whatever it takes to stop the legacy ceremony. They don’t need that bad press if they’re planning to open up the new and improved hotel. But, whoever the head of the committee is, they sound like a real challenge who will ignore what’s right in favor of tradition and notoriety. This could be a big battle brewing that focuses more on the city.

“Caution Never Won A War” threw huge wrenches into the love lives of most of the characters. Some prospered while the majority hit hurdles that some didn’t survive. In fact, there wasn’t much good news all around. This episode felt more “challenging” for the characters, but it had some light-hearted fun a long way.

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