Someone on Instagram is documenting every freeze frame from just before the credits rolled. I thought it'd be interesting to have a look at them and see how the styles changed over the course of the show and who got the most face time as characters grew in popularity as the show progressed. https://www.instagram.com/dynastyfreezeframe/ Season 1's closing scenes were mostly dark and shadowy. There was a lot of nighttime action going on there. Season 2 is a bit brighter but the style is still quite 70's miniseries and the fashions haven't descended into OTT Nolan Miller madness just yet. Below is the tally of what they've posted so far and who has gotten the most freeze frame action. SEASON ONE 1 - Krystle 2 - Fallon 3 - Krystle 4 - Fallon 5 - Claudia and Steven 6 - Matthew 7 - Blake and Krystle 8 - Steven 9 - Matthew 10 - Krystle 11 - Blake 12 - Steven 13 - Blake Krystle - 3.5 Steven - 2.5 Blake - 2.5 Matthew - 2 Fallon - 2 Claudia - 0.5 SEASON TWO 1 - Krystle 2 - Alexis 3 - Nick 4 - Krystle 5 - Alexis 6 - Krystle and Blake 7 - Fallon 8 - Fallon 9 - Krystle and Nick 10 - Krystle 11 - Blake 12 - Alexis 13 - Blake 14 - Nick 15 - Fallon 16 - Alexis 17 - Claudia 18 - Nick 19 - Krystle 20 - Alexis 21 - Claudia 22 - Blake Krystle - 5 Alexis - 5 Nick - 3.5 Blake - 3.5 Fallon - 3 Claudia - 2 It's interesting to see that it is the leading ladies rather than Blake who are getting the most closing shot action so far. I remember an interview where someone (probably Joan) said that John Forsythe insisted that he be in every opening scene and closing scene of the show. The tally above doesn't suggest this but maybe it's something that came into play in later years. Also, interesting to see that two years into the show and poor old Jeff still hasn't had a look in yet when it came to the dramatic closers.
While we're on the subject of Instagram, this account is also a delight. https://www.instagram.com/whatalexiswore/
Actually it was Esther Shapiro. She said that he came to her and said he wanted to be discussing the script with her, and she was hesitant about the kind of suggestions he would have, but all he cared about was that he be the character in the opening and last scene. I think even if the freeze frame ends with some other character it doesn't preclude him being in that scene.
Interesting tally, and it makes sense that the two most sympathetic characters Krystle and Steven should have more freeze frames in the first season for audience empathy to carry onto the next episode. James Farentino had so much screen time in Season 2, he has the 'And Starring' spot at the end of the credits and more freeze frames - even more than the 2 Carrington children. Unfortunately Steven's character decline leaves him with none. I always thought that Alexis had too many freeze frames as the seasons wore on, so it will be interesting to see how the tally progresses.