Dynasty Review: A Real Actress Could Do It (Season 5 Episode 7)

Blake takes Daniel’s reappearance in Sam’s life personally on Dynasty Season 5 Episode 7, “A Real Actress Could Do It.”

“A Real Actress Could Do It” is Dynasty’s highest-rated episode of the season, and there are no questions about why. It excels by focusing on relationships that we don’t see interact normally and giving them authentic, valuable material to tackle.

Unfortunately, when a show has a vast number of main characters, typically, a few are given filler storylines and pushed back. That’s been the case for Sam and Kirby lately, but “A Real Actress Could Do It” changes the playing field.

We get the chance to focus on Sam and his attempts at bonding with Daniel, but with a surprise twist of Blake in the mix.

Seeing an emotional, non-angry Blake Carrington is a spectacle that doesn’t happen often. So, when he does take the time to let his walls down and be open with his loved ones, it always makes for a special moment.

We see Sam showing his father around the Carrington home before he must step away to take a phone call. This is when Daniel takes it upon himself to do a little snooping before getting caught red-handed by Blake.

Blake can’t prove that Daniel is doing anything sinister, so he does what he does best and enacts a scheme to pull the truth out. But, when he fails to find anything concrete on Daniel besides how broke he is, things almost get physical when Daniel denies a bribe.

I’ve never been the fondest of Blake Carrington, but his genuine care for Sam brings me great pleasure. It would be easy for him to turn the other way and potentially let Sam be conned or taken advantage of, but Sam is like a son to him deep down, and it’s nice for him to make it known.

Blake: Where was he when you were a drug addict drifter? No offense.

Blake’s first impression of Sam is not the best, but the two have become proper family throughout the past four seasons. He’s pulled Sam out of the rut he was in, given him somewhere to live, and turned his entire life around.

Their chat towards the end of the episode is endearing, sweet, and groundbreaking. Blake rarely admits when he’s wrong, let alone when he’s jealous of another man. His admission to Sam about his jealousy brings forth one of the most heart-warming scenes of the season.

When Daniel swoops in and causes Sam to drop everything for him, it causes Blake’s fight-or-flight instincts to kick in, and he desperately tries his best not to lose Sam out of fear. He may not genetically be Sam’s father, but he sees himself in that role and can’t imagine it being taken away. It’s a side of Blake Carrington that needs to be seen more often.

Sam: I forgive you. And you will always be a father to me, no matter how many biological daddies come out of the woodwork.

However, their faux dad-son relationship does not make up for Dynasty’s inability to properly write characters off. The series seems to forget that Steven Carrington is not dead – his entire family just treats him like he is.

In the end, Blake is right to have his suspicions about Daniel. When Sam attempts to deliver an apology dinner, he catches Daniel partaking in illegal activities in the barn.

It’s yet another blow to Sam and shreds any hint of him having real happiness anytime soon in the series.

Kirby and Amanda are another dynamic duo given adequate screen time on “A Real Actress Could Do It.” Thanks to Kirby’s new agent, Charlie, she’s booked a shampoo commercial, and, naturally, the stress starts to get to her.

It takes Amanda’s reassurance, practice, and friendliness to push Kirby into overcoming her fears for the commercial. But something else is amiss. Throughout the episode, Amanda’s impromptu glances and nods to Kirby insinuate that she could be catching feelings.

Whenever Kirby mentions Charlie’s beauty Amanda can’t help but give a blank stare back. It’s clear from Amanda’s facial expressions, her hesitance to embrace a hug, and her general attitude that she likes Kirby.

If there were anyone suitable for Kirby, it would be Amanda. The two have had minimal time together on screen, but it’s been filled with laughter and good intentions every time. The two vibe exceptionally well. Initially, it seems the series is setting up the two to become best friends, which would work perfectly.

Having Amanda and Kirby become closer friends would bring Amanda deeper into the Carrington web and integrate her into another side of the show. She has minimal contact with anyone who’s not Adam, Alexis, or Kirby. There have been small scenes with other characters, but those are the main four she interacts with.

Allowing Amanda to become closer with Kirby would bring her and Sam together. Fallon and Liam would follow suit, Culhane, Jeff, etc. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Unfortunately, a potential love triangle seems to be the path the series is leading Kirby down. I’d be more excited about the possible Amanda/Kirby relationship, but it doesn’t feel real. Even if they do end up together, it more than likely won’t last.

Kirby’s character is often misused, mistreated, and only given a moment of peace before being rushed into something reckless time and time again. Her character is in a cycle of revolving storylines that all end in her being hurt and manipulated.

While there has been character progression for Kirby, it feels minute. It’s as if there’s no real goal for her, and she’s used as an instrument to inflict pain upon. While I would like to be hopeful that she’ll end the season in a better state than she began, it doesn’t seem likely.

Dynasty is a soap opera, first and foremost. So, allowing Kirby to have a simple yet meaningful storyline where she focuses on herself and runs the modeling world alongside her friends was never an option, no matter how bad I’ve wished for it.

Other Thoughts:

• Fallon is highly entertaining in this episode allowing Janelle to shadow her. Janelle firing Linda in character as Fallon is the funniest moment of “A Real Actress Could Do It.”
• I am here for Cristal’s journey to taking up for herself, putting her foot down, and demanding the things she deserves.

What did you think of this episode of Dynasty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Dynasty airs Fridays at 9/8c on The CW.

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