‘Dynasty’ Turns Down the Heat a Bit With ‘Don’t Con a Con Artist’

It was always going to be hard to top the outstanding pool fight between Alexis (Nicollette Sheridan) and Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) on last week’s Dynasty, but this week’s episode, “Don’t Con a Con Artist,” was particularly mediocre.

The main thrust of the action centers around Steven (James Mackay) and Sam (Rafael de la Fuente) throwing an engagement party, and Alexis trying to break them up by framing Sam for shoplifting (which backfires thanks to Fallon). For whatever reason, Alexis has it out for Sam — she claims it’s because she doesn’t want to lose “another son” since he and Steven have plans to travel and then maybe settle down in South America.

The “another son” comment is a total con to get Steven to give her his money. She tells him about baby Adam being kidnapped and says that’s where all her money went, to hire people to find him. Steven falls for it hook, line, and sinker because he’s such a kindhearted soul, and he immediately vows to give his mother all the money she needs to find Adam. Oh, brother.

Fallon, who never would have fallen for that, is busy trying to take her mother down. She thwarts Alexis’ shoplifting frame-up and then tries to get her to spill her secrets by giving her champagne laced with a Molly knockoff. Unfortunately, the drugged drink ends up in Sam’s hands instead, and he gives a rather epic impromptu song-and-dance performance on the dining room table during the engagement party. But it all works out, because when Fallon accuses Alexis of drugging Sam, she has to cop to the shoplifting frame-up in order to deny the drugging charge.

None of this is terribly interesting, especially because it’s punctuated by Blake (Grant Show) having tantrums over his staff helping Alexis, which culminates in Anders (Alan Dale) telling Blake to figure out how he feels about Alexis and stop being such a baby.

What is actually much more interesting in the episode is the fact that Michael’s father has a rare form of leukemia and their family home is out in Clarke County, a place where Carrington Atlantic covered up something that most likely caused Michael’s father’s cancer. Cristal (Nathalie Kelley) figures this out on her own and is going to tell the Culhanes the truth, but Blake gets to them first, and you know he’s going to do everything he can to keep a lid on this.

That should be fun to watch. It’s also a good way to keep Michael involved in the Carringtons’ affairs now that he has quit his job. And speaking of affairs, things got just the tiniest bit steamy between Liam (Adam Huber) and Fallon after he saw what lengths she would go to to protect her brother. She’s definitely intrigued by her fake husband, which means it will be all the juicier when the other shoe drops and it turns out he’s this mysterious “Chad” person.

(photos via The CW)

I don’t want to say that I didn’t appreciate The O.C. when it aired in real time in 2003, because I really did. I knew from the moment those haunting Phantom Planet lyrics started playing from my TV screen that I had something special. I knew from the moment that Ryan Atwood and Marissa Cooper locked eyes for the first time that I was about to witness a teen drama love story unlike any other one I’d seen. If I sound extra, it’s because I mean to be! As an awkward middle schooler, The O.C.‘s quippy dialogue and emotional scenes gave me an outlet for my adolescent emotions, and its top-notch soundtracks set the stage for teary nights in my room.

I recently embarked on my first binge-watch of the first season as an adult, and I was fascinated by the extent to which a little grown-up perspective changed my colorful Orange County world. Once totally enamored with Marissa and Summer’s wardrobes, I was now more concerned with the subtle relationship dynamics playing out on screen (okay, the fashion is still pretty incredible). Once too in love with Seth to see his flaws, I was now tuned into the way his social faux pas and self-absorption made him kind of a bad catch. The O.C. has plenty to teach tweens and adults, but here are just 10 of the life lessons I learned from my recent rewatch of the show's first season.

Life Lessons From "The O.C."

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

1. A homemade breakfast can cure anything that ails you — and is pretty much guaranteed to make you more popular in any situation

A major tension in the first few episodes is the conflict between Sandy and Kirsten Cohen about whether or not Ryan should be allowed to stay in that beautiful pool house on a more permanent basis. True to form, Sandy the “Crusader for Justice” wants to give the kid from Chino a shot, while Kirsten thinks he’d be better off in foster care. While Ryan’s homemade breakfast doesn’t mark the final conclusion to this conflict, it definitely eases tensions between him and Kirsten. It just goes to show — there are few things that perfectly scrambled eggs can’t fix!

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

2. Hiding from a problem is typically not the best solution

As any group of high schoolers — or, at least, any group of high schoolers with easy access to empty mansions — would do, Seth and Marissa decide that the best way to avoid having Ryan sent to foster care is to hide him in one of Kirsten and Caleb’s model homes. Great idea, right? Wrong! I’ll spare you the dramatic details of the fight, the fire, and the awkward revelations about the history between Marissa’s dad and Kirsten, but suffice to say that hiding from potential consequences is rarely the answer...even if you are planning to do it in a mansion.

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

3. Share your dreams with the people you love

While Seth is open with Ryan early in the season about his dream to sail alone to Tahiti, it’s unclear whether or not he’s been as clear with his parents about it. This comes back to bite him in the you-know-where later in the season (and into The O.C. season 2), when he decides to flee Newport in pursuit of his lone journey. Don’t you think it would’ve been handy for people to know his dreams so they could support him in a more meaningful way?

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

4. Be open about your exes

Oh, where do I begin with this one? There are countless instances in this series where untold secrets about a previous relationship rear their ugly head at very inopportune times for the people involved, but let’s call Ryan, Marissa, and Theresa Exhibit A. If Ryan had been honest with new flame Marissa about his romantic past in Chino from the get-go, he would have avoided an extremely uncomfortable Thanksgiving encounter...and who knows what else? If you’ve had a tendency to be cagey about your exes with a current bae, watching Ryan’s example should make you want to be more honest.

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

5. People are rarely as intimidating as you think they are

For years, Seth was so enamored with Summer that all he could do was pine for her and secretly bestow her name on his boat, but when they finally met and start flirting, he learns that he’s not the only student at The Harbor School who sleeps with a toy horse next to their bed. (Princess Sparkle and Captain Oats are still so meant to be.) Think of how much less time our boy Cohen would have spent feeling sorry for himself if he’d thought for even one second that Summer was potentially his own kind of dork.

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

6. It’s important to know when to bring in an expert

Marissa got in way over her head in The O.C. when she tried to tackle Oliver’s health issues on her own, and while she probably needed a real grown up, even adults can learn from the cautionary tale that played out in the penthouse of that fancy hotel. It’s important to learn what you can handle and what’s above your pay grade. There’s no shame in admitting that you can’t get through something on your own. Rather, there’s only shame in knowing that a problem exists and that you didn’t seek the help that’s really needed.

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

7. Making a choice is almost always necessary, even if it seems like you can have it all

Teenagers everywhere swooned at the thought of being in Seth’s shoes (Chuck Taylors, obviously) and having twoseemingly perfect suitors vying for their attention. Remember those awesome Chrismukkah gifts Seth got from both Summer and Anna? Well, it seemed too good to be true at the time…and it was, because in the end, Seth had to make a choice, and his inability to do so in the first place really damaged his credibility.

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

8. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time

Sandy and Kirsten spend a lot of time in The O.C. season 1 trying to put their faith in Caleb, even though he continually proved he couldn't be trusted. While it’s nice to give people the benefit of the doubt, this dysfunctional family dynamic should serve as a reminder to all of us that people’s actions speak a whole lot louder than their words.

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

9. It takes a lot longer to rebuild trust than it does to destroy it

Ryan is basically the poster child for trust issues, and every time he’s let down by one of his friends (ahem, Marissa), we get a front row seat to the inevitably long process of the aforementioned disappointing friend trying to win him back. Life would be much easier — and TV much less interesting, I guess — if we didn’t tamper with people’s trust in the first place.

Image via Warner Bros./IMDb

10. Appreciate family members and all of their quirks

No relationship better demonstrates this truth in The O.C. than that between the Cohen family and The Nana. By the time Sandy’s mother has arrived in Newport, we’ve already been treated to tons of family folklore about how intimidating and, well, mean she is. So when we find out later in the episode (spoiler alert!) that she actually has cancer, it’s like a punch to the gut for us too. This particular emotional roller coaster should serve as a lesson to us all that it’s important to appreciate the good, the bad, and the ugly in our family members because our time with them isn’t guaranteed.

What life lessons did you take from The O.C. and the other shows you loved most as a teenager? Follow us on Facebook and TikTok for more thoughtful takes on your favorite pop culture.

Lead photo via Warner Bros./IMDb

Trader Joe’s current lineup of Easter goodies is better than ever. They’ve got so many sweets on deck – including chocolate bunnies, of course – as well as festive spring snacks that simply make the perfectEaster basket additions! This year, there’s really no shortage of fun TJ’s finds to brighten up your season.

Scroll on for 11 Trader Joe’s Easter finds that are totally worth grabbing before they’re gone!

Trader Joe's

Milk Chocolate Bunny Bar

This adorable bunny-shaped chocolate bar is topped with tons of bright candy gems and rainbow nonpareils (which are crafted with dyes from natural ingredients) to liven up your Easter snack collection! This limited-time item will definitely not last long on shelves, so run to TJ's soon!

Trader Joe's

Peas & Carrots Sour Gummy Candies

Shaped like tiny little peas and carrots, these bites are far from actual veggies. In fact, they're made of a delicious gummy candy tinged with just the right amount of sourness that balances out the sugary goodness.

Trader Joe's

Break Apart Bunny

This is not your average chocolate bunny. While still hollow like most traditional treats, this one's actually loaded up with a handful of carrot-shaped gummy candies – like a perfect little (and edible!) Easter-themed piñata. Your Easter basket recipients won't be able to resist breaking it open!

Trader Joe's

Chocolate Truffle Eggs

Ooh, fancy. Perfectly packaged for Eastertime gifting, this collection of egg-shaped chocolate truffles boats 7 distinctive flavors that feel oh-so bougie. You're def going to want to grab one for yourself – we're absolutely eyeing that pistachio egg. 👀

Trader Joe's

Raspberry Mousse Cakes

These lil' cakes are almost too cute to eat! Each one starts with a base of moist vanilla cake that's topped with raspberry-flavored mousse. The batch then is covered in a sweet confectionary coating (including an edible leaf!) to emulate the sheer magic of raspberries on one easy-to-eat treat.

Trader Joe's

Italian Chocolate Eggs

Add these eggs to your Easter candy bowl, stat! This pack comes with 4 decadent flavor pairings encased in colorful coatings so you can easily sneak in a bite of springtime joy throughout the day.

Trader Joe's

Sea Salt Brownie Bites

We are obsessed with these brownie bites. The added sea salt on top of 'em adds some extra flavor oomph that feels super elevated and perfectly fancy for a special occasion such as Easter.

Trader Joe's

Teensy Candy Bars

Basically like 'teensy' versions of a Snickers bar, these micro-sized candy bars are dangerously easy to snack on. Your little ones will adore them!

Trader Joe's

Chocolatey Drizzled Strawberry Kettle Popcorn

Drizzled with freeze-dried strawberries and chocolate, this kettle corn is unlike anything you've tried before. The fruity notes most definitely qualify it as a great spring snack, while the chocolate adds Eastertime decadence.

Trader Joe's

Organic Sparkling Rosé Tea Beverage

For something to sip on, this can is the epitome of spring flavors. It's made with a blend of four teas along with white grape juice, hibiscus flowers, orange peel, and rose hips for some insanely good floral and citrusy notes!

Trader Joe's

Tangerine Probiotic Sparkling Beverage

Crafted with probiotics, this bubbly bev contains a "light, refreshing, sweet-tart flavor" that'll have you hooked from first gulp.

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more epic Trader Joe's items!

It seems like a lifetime ago that we were watching season 23 Bachelor star Colton Underwood roam the Portugal countryside after being rejected by the one woman he apparently loves. But according to the laws of time and Chris Harrison, it was yesterday. Still, we’ve all seen and been through a lot since then, so let’s start from the beginning — or, as it were, the beginning of the end.

(Warning: This post contains spoilers from the Tuesday, March 12, episode of The Bachelor. If you have not seen the season 23 finale and don’t want to know what happens, stop reading here.)

Unlike with past seasons, the question tonight wasn’t who Colton would pick or even whether he was engaged, since that seemed like a long-shot. Instead, it was whether the woman he had already chosen would choose him back.

Going into Tuesday’s finale, Colton was completely single, having broken up with both Tayshia Adams and Hannah Godwin in order to pursue Cassie Randolph, who left the show after telling him she wasn’t in love with him. In the final moments of Monday’s episode, we saw him approach her door — right before the cameras cut away to host Chris Harrison.

Fortunately, the show jumped immediately back into the action on Tuesday. Cassie answered the door, visibly shocked to see Colton, and agreed to talk outside, where he revealed that he had broken up with Tayshia and Hannah on the off-chance that she would give their relationship another chance. “I’m not telling you that I love you. I want to show you,” he declared.

And just like that, they were seemingly back on track. Cassie said she still had some reservations and didn’t know what she was ready for, which is why she had broken up with him in the first place, but she was clearly moved by his gesture and agreed to travel to Spain to meet his family.

Understandably, though, there was some apprehension on both sides — Cassie’s and his family’s — about the unexpected change in plans. Cassie worried what his family would think of the situation, since she had (very recently) dumped Colton, and his family worried that he was setting himself up to be hurt by her again. (Honestly, same.) They had a lot of questions for her, particularly about what his mom called her “decision to bail,” but to her credit, she answered them honestly, admitting she didn’t know what the future held for them and wasn’t totally on the same page with Colton yet.

Colton, for his part, tried to reassure his parents that she was worth it and he had every hope that she would eventually fall in love with him. But it seemed like he was trying to convince himself and Cassie, too.

Fortunately, he had one more date to get her fully on board. After driving around Mallorca, Spain, for a bit, they arrived at the shore, where they rappelled down an oceanside cliff to get to a picnic, as Colton mused, in voiceover, about taking risks for love, even when there’s no safety net. (A little on the nose, ABC.)

Once they were back on solid ground again, Cassie confessed some of her fears about relationships. (Apparently, she had a college boyfriend who became controlling.) She said she worried she wouldn’t have the freedom to be herself anymore, but Colton said he loved her because she was herself. “More than ever, I feel how much Colton loves me,” she said in a confessional after the fact. “And I think I’m starting to kind of accept it.” Not the most romantic response, but okay.

Later that night, at dinner, Colton pulled out the invitation to the Fantasy Suite. To no one’s surprise, she said yes, and after a few minutes of on-camera kissing, Colton broke the fourth wall, told the crew members he loved them, and then promptly kicked them out — only to emerge a few minutes later to ask them to de-mic him. As the sound engineers walked away, one of them wished Colton good luck, and then he and Cassie disappeared behind closed doors.

At this point in the episode, the show took a break and invited Ben Higgins, Jason Tartick, Chris Randone, and season 23 contestants Onyeka, Demi, and Sydney to discuss what Colton and Cassie may or may not have done in the Fantasy Suite. (Note to Bachelor producers: Please don’t do this in the future.) Thankfully, most of them seemed to agree that the question of Colton’s virginity was not nearly as important as the question of Cassie’s commitment.

Which brings us to the next morning. Colton kept the details of their night together private, saying only that they did what was best for their relationship. And in case you were worried — we were! — that relationship is still going strong.

Colton and Cassie made their first appearance as a couple during the live portion of the finale, and a giggly, giddy Cassie told everyone they’re “super in love.” They’ve even talked about getting engaged. Cassie said nothing’s holding her back now, but Colton said they’re just enjoying dating, so there’s no ring yet, but it sounds like there might be one in the not-too-distant future.

For now, he’s living near her in LA and they’re making plans to travel over the next year. “I feel like the luckiest girl in the world,” she gushed to Chris.

That would have been a good place to end the show, but Chris couldn’t let them go without asking point-blank whether Colton had lost his virginity. He declined to share — honestly, good for him — so Chris ended the interview by introducing a performance from Air Supply, which… made about as much sense as anything else this season. See you next time, friends!

RELATED: Which ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelorette’ Couples Are Still Together?

(Photos via ABC/Josh Vertucci + ABC/John Fleenor)

One Tree Hill fans were heartbroken (and a little bit confused) when season 6 ended and Peyton (Hilarie Burton) and Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) left without a trace. It had been a season of danger, life-threatening situations, and literal murder, and for two of the show's leads to just fall off the face of the earth felt inconsistent with how tight-knit the friend group had always been. And viewers weren't the only ones to think so.

"This is the problem: They didn't give us enough to make where our friends went make sense," Drama Queens host Sophia Bush said of the "unfortunate" decision to write Hilarie and Chad out of the show. (Hilarie has said in a previous episode of the rewatch podcast that both her and Chad were "treated badly, and he defended me...Chad was my teammate.")

Keep reading for what Sophia Bush, Bethany Joy Lenz, and Robert Buckley's thoughts on Peyton and Lucas leaving One Tree Hill.

Sophia Bush thought Peyton and Lucas leaving 'One Tree Hill' was "really weird."

Warner Bros. TV

One Tree Hill season 6 ended after Peyton almost died giving birth to her and Lucas' daughter, and after introducing baby Sawyer to the rest of the crew, they just...drive off into the sunset.

"I don't even remember where they moved. Where did they go?" Bethany Joy Lenz says, to which Robert Buckley replies, "They left in a convertible, so I'm gonna guess maybe the West Coast where it's a bit warmer and less rainy."

But no matter where Peyton and Lucas moved, the One Tree Hill cast can't quite wrap their heads around the fact that, in the story, Brooke literally never hears from Peyton again. "I used to ask, 'Why can't Brooke [Davis] be getting text messages from Peyton? Why can't you see them texting? Like, why am I not getting photo updates of this baby? It feels really weird.'"

And while Lucas returns for an episode in season 9, he was also radio silent for his three-season absence, as was his mom Karen. "Everybody, they just faded off into the distance," Bethany says. "I do wish they had kept that up in some more clear way. I don't think it would have been hard."

While Bethany Joy Lenz think is was because of "personal beef" behind the scenes.


But Bethany theorizes the onscreen confusion boils down to behind-the-scenes drama with creator Mark Schwann, whom the cast accused of sexual harassment in 2017. The women of the show wrote an open letter explaining how “many of us were, to varying degrees, manipulated psychologically and emotionally," and how "more than one of us is still in treatment for post-traumatic stress."

"I think it was some sort of personal beef behind the scenes," Bethany adds in the Drama Queens episode. "He was hoping the audience would just forget about them."

"Which seems so stupid because it's a choice rooted in ego," Sophia adds. "It's like, 'Dude, you wrote those characters, so you knew they were great. So why are we suddenly pretending they're not?'"

Fred Norris/Warner Bros. TV

Hopefully we'll see all our favorite Tree Hill Ravens return for a One Tree Hill sequel series. While the show hasn't been officially greenlit at Netflix yet, Hilarie Burton exclusively told Brit + Co that everyone involved in the show is "really proud of the work that we did back then too. And so to see the public support this little show we made 20 years later, that's so special and it's so rare."

You can stream all of One Tree Hill on Hulu now — and read up on Chad Michael Murray's Perfect Idea For The One Tree Hill Reunion.

Colleen Hoover (and her books) aren't afraid to make a statement. BookTok is still reeling from Verity, while the rest of the internet can't stop talking about all the It Ends With Us behind-the-scenes drama. and Hoover's newest adaptation, Regretting You, is just as gripping and emotional as all her other stories. The movie is based on the 2019 novel of the same name, and while It Ends With Us centers around romantic relationships, Regretting You is all about mother-daughter relationships.

What's 'Regretting You' about?

Amazon

Regretting You follows Morgan Grant (played by Allison Williams), who put her dreams on hold years ago when she got pregnant with her daughter Clara (McKenna Grace). Their age gap mirrors the one we see we see between Lorelai and Rory in Gilmore Girls, but instead of the Gilmores' close bond, Morgan and Clara's relationship becomes more strained the older Clara gets — especially when Morgan's husband Chris passes away in a tragic accident, revealing a secret that could change Clara's life forever.

While It Ends With Us is a larger production from Sony, Regretting You will be an indie production. Stay tuned for official production details!

Who's in the 'Regretting You' cast?

Monica Schipper/Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Allison Williams (Get Out) and McKenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) lead the Regretting You cast. These two are joined by Dave Franco (Now You See Me), Mason Thames (The Black Phone), Willa Fitzgerald (The Fall of the House of Usher), and Scott Eastwood (Wind River: Rising).

The movie will be directed by The Fault in Our Stars' Josh Boone and written by Susan McMartin.

When does 'Regretting You' come out?

JESHOOTS.com/Pexels

Regretting You comes out on October 24, and it's easily one of our most-anticipated movies for 2025!

Is 'Regretting You' a spicy book?

Pixabay/Pexels

Regretting You definitely has less spice than Colleen Hoover's other books. In fact, this TikToker ranks it as her least-spicy book! Since the story focuses on Morgan and Clara, instead of a romantic relationship, this is a good pick for any readers who prefer less spicy books.

What's the message of 'Regretting You'?

Alexander Grey/Pexels

Regretting You is all about life, which I know sounds like a huge message! But the story introduces us to an established family rather than two people who want to begin a family. Chris, Morgan, and Clara already have relationships with each other, and as time passes in the story, Regretting You shows us how circumstances can change, how overwhelming our emotions can feel, and how strong our family bonds can become.

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