In the premiere episode "I Hardly Recognized You", Sam has a one-night stand with Steven, and helps himself to some of the cash in Steven's pocket. Later, they meet again as both men realize that Sam's aunt Cristal is Steven's new stepmother. Steven tries to uncomplicate matters by keeping his distance from Sam, who is staying at the mansion, but is won over by Sam's compulsive honesty and thoughtfulness. Meanwhile, Sam's mother Iris is in trouble and needs money, but Cristal is unable to send any without Blake finding out. To secure the money, Sam arranges for a friend to steal Cristal's engagement ring and other valuables during a charity gala in "Guilt is for Insecure People". An incriminating phone that had been in Blake's possession is stolen as well, and Sam goes to Steven for help retrieving it in "Private as a Circus". Sam gets mad when Steven involves the police without telling him, but just as they are about to reconcile, a repentant Sam admits his complicity in the robbery to a furious Steven. In "Company Slut", Carrington majordomo Anders manipulates Sam into the path of Steven's ex-boyfriend Ted Dinard. Steven is thrown to find that Ted and Sam have slept together, and a remorseful Sam explains to Steven that he has struggled so much to survive that he has trouble turning down opportunities. In "The Best Things in Life", Cristal remembers how Sam's abusive father Alejandro caused her miscarriage when she tried to protect Iris from him. Iris comes to Atlanta for the holidays in "Rotten Things", and Sam is shocked by the revelation that Cristal killed his father Alejandro while defending Iris in Venezuela. In "A Well-Dressed Tarantula", Sam is icy to Cristal for letting him believe that his father abandoned the family. Alive and scheming with Iris, Alejandro reveals himself to an emotional Sam, who has no idea that his parents are extorting Cristal to push through their shady deal with Carrington Atlantic. Sam helps Cristal and the Carringtons turn the tables on Alejandro and Iris by taking his father's phone and impersonating him to his minions.