Dynasty on Netflix: A Soapy Lens on Women in Power – Still Worth a Watch in 2025?

Picture this: it’s 2025, and I’m curled up on my couch, scrolling Netflix, when I stumble across Dynasty—the glitzy, drama-soaked reboot that ran from 2017 to 2022 on The CW before landing its full five-season run on the streaming giant. The final episode aired on September 16, 2022, yet here I am, nearly three years later, diving back into the world of the Carringtons and Colbys.

Why revisit a series that’s been off the air for over two years? Simple: Dynasty offers a time capsule of women navigating power, ambition, and betrayal in a way that still feels electric—and, frankly, relevant—especially for anyone intrigued by the evolving role of women in business. Let’s unpack this soapy saga, focusing on its fierce female leads, and figure out why it’s still worth talking about today.

The Women of Dynasty: More Than Just Glamour

At its core, Dynasty is a modern reimagining of the 1980s soap opera, centered on two ultra-wealthy Atlanta families—the Carringtons and the Colbys—locked in a relentless feud over fortune and legacy. But what sets this reboot apart is its unapologetic spotlight on women driving the narrative. Leading the charge is Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies), the razor-sharp heiress who’s equal parts cunning and vulnerable. She’s not just Daddy’s little girl; she’s a businesswoman clawing her way to the top of Carrington Atlantic, her father Blake’s energy empire.

Then there’s Cristal Flores (initially Nathalie Kelley, later Daniella Alonso), Blake’s fiancée and later wife, who evolves from a PR maven to a formidable player in her own right. And let’s not forget Alexis Carrington (Nicollette Sheridan, then Elaine Hendrix), the scheming ex-wife whose return in Season 1 flips the board upside down.

These women aren’t ornaments in a man’s world—they’re the chess players. Fallon starts the series expecting a promotion to COO, only to be blindsided by her father’s engagement to Cristal. Her response? She doesn’t sulk; she teams up with rival Jeff Colby (Sam Adegoke) to strike out on her own. Cristal, meanwhile, isn’t the gold-digger Fallon paints her as—she’s a principled strategist who challenges the Carringtons’ elitism.

Alexis, with her venomous wit, turns every scene into a masterclass on manipulation. Add in Dominique Deveraux (Michael Michele), Blake’s glamorous half-sister, and Kirby Anders (Maddison Brown), the wildcard with a rebellious streak, and you’ve got a lineup of women who don’t just survive in this cutthroat world—they dominate it.

Why Review This Now? A Mirror to Today’s Ambitions

So, why dust off Dynasty in March 2025? For one, it’s a binge-worthy escape that’s aged like a fine champagne—effervescent, a little over-the-top, but still intoxicating. More importantly, though, it’s a fascinating lens on women in power at a time when gender dynamics in business are under a microscope. In 2022, when the series wrapped, women held just 8.8% of CEO roles in Fortune 500 companies, per Fortune. Fast forward to today, and while progress has crept forward—let’s say optimistically to 10%—the glass ceiling still looms large. Dynasty might be fiction, but its women wrestle with the same grit, bias, and ambition real-world leaders face.

Take Fallon. She’s a millennial mogul who’d fit right into a 2025 boardroom—savvy, irreverent, and unafraid to call out patriarchy. In Season 1, when Blake chooses Cristal over her for a leadership role, it’s not just a family slight; it’s a gendered power play that echoes the “prove it twice as hard” reality many women encounter. Yet Fallon doesn’t crumble—she pivots, launching her own ventures and outmaneuvering her detractors. It’s a fantasy, sure, but one that resonates with anyone who’s ever had to hustle harder to be taken seriously.

Cristal’s arc, especially in later seasons under Alonso’s portrayal, offers another angle. She inherits her family’s company in Season 5, rebuilding her confidence after personal losses. It’s a nod to resilience, showing a woman stepping into her own legacy—not just riding her husband’s coattails. Even Alexis, for all her flaws, embodies a twisted empowerment: she’s a self-made survivor who thrives by bending the rules men wrote.

Relevance for Women in Business: A Double-Edged Sword

Does Dynasty hold lessons for women in business today? Yes and no—it’s a mixed bag, and that’s what makes it so gripping. On one hand, it’s inspiring to watch Fallon negotiate multimillion-dollar deals with a smirk or Cristal turn a PR crisis into a win. These are women who don’t wait for permission—they seize control. In a 2025 landscape where hybrid work, AI, and ESG (environmental, social, governance) priorities dominate, their adaptability feels timely. Fallon’s knack for reinvention could be a playbook for navigating today’s volatile markets.

But here’s the rub: Dynasty often leans into stereotypes to juice up the drama. Fallon’s catfights with Alexis or Cristal’s “sleeping her way up” reputation (a rumor she debunks) can feel like soap opera shorthand rather than nuanced commentary. The show revels in backstabbing and betrayal—women tearing each other down as much as they lift themselves up. It’s entertaining as hell, but it’s not exactly a feminist manifesto. Real-world women in business often succeed through collaboration, not just competition, a dynamic Dynasty rarely explores.

Still, there’s value in its excess. It’s a heightened mirror reflecting the pressures—external and self-imposed—women face in high-stakes environments. The Carrington women juggle ambition with identity, a tightrope walk that’s painfully relatable whether you’re a CEO or a startup founder in 2025.

Read: How to Start a Startup: A Comprehensive Guide for Entrepreneurs

The Catch: It’s Not Perfect, and That’s Okay

Let’s be real: Dynasty isn’t flawless. The revolving door of cast changes—three Cristals, two Alexis-es—sometimes jars the story. By Season 5, the plotlines veer into absurdity (a psychic at dinner? A musical episode?), diluting the focus on its women. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave Season 1 an 88% approval, praising its campy charm, but later seasons lost steam, with some calling it “overwhelming” or “baffling.” It’s a fair critique—the show sacrifices depth for dazzle too often.

Yet that’s also its strength. Dynasty doesn’t pretend to be a documentary—it’s a guilty pleasure with a pulse. For every eye-rolling twist, there’s a moment where Fallon or Cristal lands a line so sharp it could cut glass. It’s not a blueprint for success; it’s a fantasy that lets you root for women who refuse to lose, even when the deck’s stacked against them.

The Verdict: A 2025 Must-Stream?

So, should you fire up Dynasty on Netflix tonight? If you’re craving a dose of escapist fun with a side of fierce female energy, absolutely. It’s a reminder that women in power—fictional or not—can be messy, brilliant, and unapologetic, a vibe that still hits in 2025. For women in business, it’s less a guidebook and more a spark—proof that ambition doesn’t have to play nice. Just don’t expect it to solve the gender gap. Pour a glass of something bubbly, hit play, and enjoy the ride. The Carrington women are still worth rooting for, flaws and all.

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