Adam Carrington (Sam Underwood) isDynasty’svery own devil in disguise. Cunning, dastardly, and twisted, he fits right in with the Carrington family in their bid to dominate Atlanta. Compelled by deeply rooted psychological trauma,Adam is a character full of complexities.
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He is, first and foremost, a deviously clever mastermind. Adam spells trouble as he wreaks chaos whenever and wherever he can. However, his greatest skill is perhaps his ability to evade police custody — even after committing the most heinous of crimes.
Burning Alexis’ Face
When series regular,Nicollette Sheridan, abruptly departedDynastymidway through Season 2, writers had tofigure out how to write Alexis off without, well, writing her off. As a vital character to the series (original and reboot), the writers quickly found a way that would allow for Alexis’ return. The solution? In the sixteenth episode “Motherly Overprotectiveness,” a scorned Adam holds his mother’s face over a burning fireplace.
Adam’s anger in the scene is understandable. He just discovered Alexis had faked a DNA test, in which she declared Adam as a fraudster and claimed Hank (Brent Antonello), as her son. It would be more surprising if he wasn’t mad after a betrayal like that, but his actions that follow are totally unexpected — and unjustifiable Not only could he have killed Alexis, he indulges a pretty sadistic coping mechanism. We see how dangerously ruthless Adam can truly be. If this isn’t shocking enough, the events that follow are purely bizarre; Adam begins his manipulation of Alexis and her surgery, ensuring his secret will be kept. Even now, Adam walks free, andall seems to be forgiven (and forgotten) between mother and son.
Poisoning Jeff
Jeff Colby (Sam Adegoke) has had his fair share of Carrington drama, clashing with every single member of the family at one point or another. The self-made billionaire bites off more than can chew when his attempt to conquer Carrington Atlantic is foiled by Fallon (Elizabeth Gillies) — and on their wedding day! Apparently, the faux-marriage is not enough to deter Jeff from messing with the family. In Season 2, Jeff finds himself at odds with the eldest Carrington heir, Adam, after yet another Carrington-Colby feud breaks out.
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Adam isn’t afraid to play dirty. Just when he looks to be taking the high ground, Adam exposes Jeff to a deadly chemical. The tech genius begins acting erratically before he is diagnosed with neurotoxin poisoning that will one day render him completely immobile. While Jeff knows it was Adam who is at fault for his brain damage, all that has stemmed from the plotline is a brief rivalry. As Jeff could have died by overdosing — and for his irreversible illness — Adam is bound to have violated a bunch of laws for his involvement.
Euthanizing His Adoptive Mother
Adam is a renowned creep, that’s no secret. His introduction to the show holds a huge red flag above his head. When he meets with his birth family, Fallon uncovers some suspicious activity surrounding Adam’s life in Montana. The long-lost Carrington heir has had his medical license revoked. Why? For stealing animal tranquilizers. This alone warrants jail time for Adam, but Blake (Grant Show) is quick to let him off the hook as Adam explains the drugs were for his sick mother. He misses one tiny detail though; these are the very same narcotics he uses to euthanize his mother.
Obviously, Adam has severe mommy issues. His trigger this time is finding out that he was actually kidnapped as a baby. Naturally, the next step for him would be murder.Dynastyis no stranger to excessive drama, but the show has made it clear that there are people aware of what Adam did to his mother. He may be a master manipulator, yet he’s slipped through the steel bars far too often for it to be a coincidence. Like most of his mishaps, the incident has seemingly been brushed aside and hasn’t been spoken of again.
Attacking Liam
Fallon and Liam (Adam Huber) have had atumultuous relationship from the beginning. Then, Adam comes along and develops an immediate — and borderline incestuous — fixation on his sister, so much so that he tries to drive a wedge between the couple. When Liam retaliates and threatens to expose Adam, the latter responds by delivering a near-fatal blow to the head.
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Liam survives the ordeal. However, he is left suffering from amnesia — to Adam’s relief. Though he probably never intended to kill Liam, Adam’s impulsive rage is evident. He is willing to do whatever it takes to secure his place at the Carrington manor, even if it means wiping out whoever stands in his way. Initially, Adam has the safety net of Liam’s amnesia to protect his secret. Eventually, Liam recovers and rather than going to the police, attacks Adam. This soon becomes another tryst in the past that Liam is apparently fine with.
Letting Abbott Die
After Sam (Rafael de la Fuente) and Culhane (Robert Christopher Riley) fall into an entanglement with mob boss Leo Abbott (David Aron Damane), they find help in an unlikely ally. Of course, Adam isn’t one to do things by the book. When an opportunity presents itself and Abbott goes into cardiac arrest in hospital — Adam’s hospital to be exact —Dynasty’s good doctor steps back to watch him die.
This may be the only time when Adam’s actions are truly for a somewhat decent cause. He’s trying to protect Sam and Culhane. Nevertheless, he lets a patient die and abuses his power, as owner and boss, to orchestrate the perfect crime. With someone as influential as Abbott, police would surely have come snooping to investigate.
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