Dynasty power rankings: Is Cristal carrying the next Carrington?

Dynasty returns with a number of game-changing bombshells, including divorce papers, a pregnancy, a breakup, and a surprise appearance from Steven.

Well, well, well. Look who showed up in 2019 looking a lot like its old self. We’d previously worried that Dynasty veered off the tracks in the first half of Season 2, but the midseason premiere promised what should be a juicy second half. From Fallon’s startling realizations about Culhane to Sammy Jo’s dwindling hope regarding Steven, “A Champagne Mood” found the drama at its most scandalous, especially since we’re left to wonder about the possible bun in Cristal’s oven.

Here’s how the power struggle stacked up in the latest episode of Dynasty Season 2. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)

1. Fallon

Who else should top the hierarchy this week but Miss Fallon Carrington? Our girl had the most plates spinning, and she never managed to drop one. (Because those plates were probably super expensive fine china.) After learning and accepting the truth of Culhane’s work with Ada Stone, she jumps into fixer mode. Thinking on her feet, she turns to Liam to frame his skeevy late Uncle Max for the crimes. Even though Jeff tells her the bits Culhane omitted, Fallon still deploys the blackmail mission… but she dumps Culhane. Next, she’s setting her sights on Liam.

2. Jeff

How much power could Jeff possibly have after spending much of his time in a hospital bed at the manor? More than you’d imagine. First of all, he has dirt on basically everyone. It’s a wonder he hasn’t taken down the Carrington dynasty in one fell swoop. If he’s lucky, his deal with Blake and minds games with Fallon will set the ball in motion. Also a power move now in play, Jeff rides his wave of near-death good vibes to reach out to his mother Dominique, Blake’s half-sister. He invited a whole lot of trouble to town with one simple phone call.

3. Sammy Jo

Our sweet guy deserves a win, and for once, Sammy Jo lives up to the conniving standards of his married name. In true Carrington fashion, Sam uses Steven’s charity gala, which the man of the hour didn’t host himself, to get back at his missing-in-action husband. Turns out, Steven went on a “spiritual binge” with an Ayahuasca retreat. Sounds like Steven, but is that the truth?

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Sammy Jo receives divorce papers in the mail, leading him to donate $1 million of Steven’s money to his charity and make out with another man (Fallon slaps him!). But here’s kicker: Steven calls Sam and demands the pretend the papers never happened. James Mackay appears onscreen as Steven in a bustling city, maybe New York or Paris — markedly not Paraguay.

4. Cristal

While we’ve been duped by Dynasty before with fake babies and incorrect parentage, Cristal’s pregnancy has been confirmed. Well, until we see a sonogram and an actual bump, we shouldn’t get our hopes up. Still, Cristal’s mother of a secret comes out to Blake just in time for him to announce it to every attendee at the charity gala.

Perhaps he should seek solid proof before broadcasting news to the public… Just a thought! Cristal receives a text message from M. Jennings, who asks if he’s the father. She deletes a doubtful reply and affirms it’s Blake. Is it, or is it Mark Jennings, potential soccer star?

5. Blake

You’d think the man who’s just fathered the next heir to a billion-dollar fortune would hold more power, but it’s another week of Blake getting played and learning half-truths. He tries to best Jeff in a blackmail deal to secure the ownership of an Atlanta soccer team for Cristal, but Jeff one-ups him with a formidable compromise. Also, let’s not glaze over the fact that Cristal’s baby might not even be his. The Carringtons are awfully welcoming to children that aren’t blood, but this would be the ultimate betrayal that would finally break Blake. There’s not enough Blake time in the world.

Honorable Mentions:

• Alexis doesn’t even make the board this week. Instead, she tangles with Anders over an Alexis Carrington original painting of a dog, which Anders buys at the auction and tosses into the fire. Are these two getting closer?
• Monica isn’t happy with Jeff for extending an olive branch to their estranged mother, but it’s a breath of fresh air for the Colbys to have a rich storyline.
• Is Steven back for good, or was that a mere tease? Surely, we won’t receive the answers to the million questions that scene spawned for another few weeks.

What did you think of the latest episode? Let us know in the comments!

Dynasty airs Fridays at 8/7c on The CW.