A Writer of Dubious Talent

**A Writer of Dubious Talent** is the eighteenth episode of the fifth season, and the one hundredth and fourth episode overall of the drama television series, *Dynasty* on The CW. It aired on August 5, 2022.

## Synopsis

ROOM 428– With Liam’s deadline quickly approaching, he turns to his mentor for advice, but Liam’s writer’s block finally seems to get the better of him. Culhane works side-by-side with Nina to promote Liam’s movie, a situation fraught with challenges. Cristal believes she can be of help in a very precarious situation and takes matters into her own hands, without discussing with Blake. Amanda finds herself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Adam asks Fallon for help, which culminates in surprising results.

## Plot Summary

Six months have passed. Liam struggles to meet the deadline on his book so he checks into La Mirage where he gains film noir nightmares but no new pages. Culhane and Nina resume their adversarial relationship at *The Biggest Payday* premiere until Dominique pushes them to realize they are actually in love. Jeff hacks into PPA's mainframe to force Blake to sell back ColbyCo assets (which Cristal and Amanda arrange without Blake's approval). Adam's intense romance with Stacey warps him into risking her pregnancy so Fallon will help reinstate him at the hospital. Professor Kingston suddenly dies leaving behind a brilliant, unpublished manuscript that Liam considers claiming as his own work.

## Cast

* Daniella Alonso as Cristal Carrington
* Elaine Hendrix as Alexis Dexter *(credit only)*
* Rafael de La Fuente as Sam Jones
* Sam Underwood as Adam Carrington
* Michael Michele as Dominique Deveraux
* Robert Christopher Riley as Michael Culhane
* Sam Adegoke as Jeff Colby
* Maddison Brown as Kirby Anders *(credit only)*
* Adam Huber as Liam Ridley
* Eliza Bennett as Amanda Carrington
* Grant Show as Blake Carrington
* Danny Nucci as Professor Kingston
* Samantha Massell as Stacey Moore

Co-Starring* Roxy Rivera as Clara Lucia
* Candi Vandizandi as Toni
* Shaun Maclean as Ronnie
* RJ Orr as Driver
* Spence Maughon as Partygoer

## Notes and Spoilers

* As part of the main cast, Elaine Hendrix and Maddison Brown are credited despite their absence from this episode.

## Trivia

* Six Months have passed since the events of *There's No One Around to Watch You Drown*.
* This Special Episode was based on 1980(s) horror movie, *The Shinning*.
* During the dream sequence, Adam's counterpart had a British accent. Sam Underwood is British in real life.
	+ It could be an callback to Adam pretending to be an British Guy in order to gaslight Steven back in Season 2.
* This episode marks the death of Professor Kingston, and the 4th death in season 5.
* Dominique mentions *The Love Boat*. The show was produced by Aaron Spelling, who was also the producer of the original Dynasty and features some of its actors.

## Soundtrack

* Babyface - "Every Time I Close My Eyes"
	+ Scene: Culhane makes a declaration of love to Nina.
* Sam Fonteyn - "Love in June"
	+ Scene: Liam attempts to find room 428 and ends back up in the bar.
* Christopher Timothy White - "Air Breaks"
	+ Scene: Nina and Culhane at the beginning of the premier party together.

## Quotes

**Liam**: Don't worry, alright? This is perfect. I just need a quiet place to write without distractions.

**Sam**: You mean, without Fallon. Which, by the way, she already called asking for your room number. I told her you were in 428.

**Liam**: Yeah, but this isn't... Alright, yeah. Good call.

**Michael**: None of this matters, Dom. Just because... we made one... great mistake upstairs does not change the fact that she has been mad at me from the day we met.

**Dominique**: Did you just... lick your fingers?

**Michael**: Oh. Yeah, I'm sorry. I-I must have caught that from... You're right. She's the one! I got to go.

**Nina**: Wrong car, dummy. But right words. I stopped when I got a text from Dominique. She told me it's obvious I was head over heels for you.

**Michael**: And what else did she say?

**Nina**: That you're one of the most amazing men she knows. And that if I leave, I would be walking away from the best thing that ever happened to me. Which is debatable. But I am willing to be persuaded.

**Amanda**: For someone so smart, you should realize that Blake isn't the only one in charge there.

**Jeff**: Fair point, but I don't know if Cristal's willing to negotiate.

(*Cristal enters the room.*)

**Cristal**: She is.

**Jeff** *(to **Amanda**)*: Security didn't tell me you brought a friend.

**Cristal**: We all want this over before there's anymore damage.

**Jeff**: I can definitely make a fair offer to buy back the companies.

**Cristal**: After what you did, I'm not sure fair is part of the equation. I want market value plus 20%.

**Jeff**: I'm liking this new, savvier Cristal Carrington, so I'll go to 15. But what about Blake? Is he going to try and quash this?

**Cristal**: Don't worry about Blake. I'll handle him.

## Multimedia

### Images

* Promotional
* Behind the Scenes

### Videos

Dynasty - Season 5 Episode 18 - A Writer Of Dubious Talent Promo - The CW
## References

1. ↑ This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).