Dynasty power rankings: Is Blake or Mark Jennings the father of Cristal’s baby?

While Fallon and Sam get duped by an Instagram influencer, Dynasty stirs up some more Carrington paternity drama thanks to Alexis’ scheming.

Another day, another paternity scandal on Dynasty. While the last parentage snafu dropped the bomb that Blake isn’t Steven’s father and resulted in Steven’s exit from the series, the latest baby daddy dispute could unearth skeletons from Cristal’s closet. Since she majored in the “filthy games” of psychological warfare, Alexis just might have tracked those skeletons by the name of Mark Jennings down. Is Blake or Cristal’s ex-husband the real father?

Elsewhere, Fallon rises from Liam’s rejection and throws herself into faking it until she makes it. But thanks to the Insta-scammer Sammy Jo invited into the manor, faking it nearly costs everyone a small fortune and some dignity. From powerful to powerless, we’re ranking Carrington manor’s best and brightest on their quest for control.

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

1. Kirby

Even though Kirby doesn’t have anything special going on in her own life (no shade, just facts), she certainly held the most power this week as she took down a devilish Instagram influencer. As mentioned last week, Kirby’s “good girl” rebrand takes its final form this week when she swoops in to save Sam and Fallon from losing millions to a con artist lifestyle “guru.”

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Lady Monk convinces her clients to ditch their material belongings, which she sells for cash. She nearly cons Fallon into a business deal, but Kirby confirms her suspicions and crashes the party with the truth (something she’s pretty good at). Seriously, Kirby should really hone her craft and become a Mr. Robot-level hacker or something. Take these talents to the bank.

2. Blake

Ol’ Blake Carrington has so much on the burners this week that scheduling Blake Time (trademark pending) would be impossible. First, he’s in the thick of melding minds with Culhane, the new co-owner of the soccer team, though it’s actually more like butting heads. During a pitch meeting, Blake takes Culhane’s idea for the marketing of their team without giving him credit. While that’s a power move, Culhane finds the moxie to push back. (Not wise!) Next, he’s dealing with the leaked paternity scandal (we’ll get to that), then he’s forcing Fallon and Culhane to work together. Checkmate.

3. Alexis

You always have to give Alexis credit for picking herself up from rock bottom and playing the long game. Also, she’s super resourceful and wily when it comes to her chosen past time: Taking down Cristal. Sniffing out the plot holes in Cristal’s backstory (we’re with you there, girl!), Alexis blackmails the gardener into snooping on the future Mrs. Carrington.

He tracks down the mail-in paternity test and swaps the cotton swab carrying Carrington DNA (Fallon’s) with non-Carrington DNA to ensure a misfire. The dimwit uses the dog’s DNA. Next, Alexis transfers a call from the clinic to Blake, who’s hearing the paternity test news for the first time, and arranges for the imminent arrival Cristal’s ex-husband, Mark Jennings.

4. Fallon

Let’s be clear: The only reason Fallon didn’t rank in dead last again this week is because her self esteem would never recover if she knew. And besides, she’s at least trying to reclaim not only her time but her power. After spending days in bed watching old movies, drinking gin martinis, and boycotting boys, Fallon rises like a phoenix from the ashes to wow Kenneth Desai, a reporter penning a day-in-the-life magazine article about the successful businesswoman. Yikes.

Without a business to her name, Fallon commandeers Monica’s game night at Club Colby to fabricate a false image of her life and, honestly, to buy time. She grills strangers on their ideas, trying to find one good enough to bogart, but Lady Monk sidles up to Fallon and Kenneth at the right time. Unfortunately, the reporter overheard Fallon’s fight with Culhane and witnessed the mortifying reality of her under-construction life.

5. Cristal

Last week’s No. 1 falls to the bottom of the leaderboard, and while that might be a matter of opinion, you have to admit Miss Cristal sure dropped the ball. She didn’t heed Fallon’s advice and tell Blake the truth right away, and what happened? Alexis beat her to the punch. However, Cristal does beg and plead and make a case for herself when Blake lays it bare that his trust has been battered. She admits that Mark Jennings was a player for her parents’ soccer team, but they forbade Cristal and Mark’s relationship. She insists their recent fling was a mistake. She swears that it’s over. Something’s not adding up, Cristal.

Honorable Mentions:

• Sam turns the Instagram fame that Kirby finagled for him into his own influencer career, complete with daily affirmations. It’s unclear how much power he’ll have as an online personality, but that power could have landed in the wrong hands in a weirdly good way.
• Culhane thinks he’s killing it and standing up to Blake, but twice his new partner bamboozles him. How will Fallon and Culhane manage to work together?
• Do we think Kenneth Desai will write a flattering spin on Fallon’s mess of a personal and professional life? Will Liam read it and swoon over her reinvigorated passion? She was using the piece as her real-life “just wanted to pop up here and show y’all how I’m doing” meme… but it backfired.

What did you think of the latest episode? Sound off in the comments!

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