The nephew of Cristal Flores (Nathalie Kelley), a Hispanic version of the original series' Krystle, Sam is a "cute schemer" who is romantically connected to Steven Carrington (James Mackay). Executive producer Stephanie Savage said, "With Steven Carrington out and proud, it makes sense for Sammy Jo to be a man." Executive Producer Sallie Patrick said that Sam has "every bit of the pot-stirring troublemaker vibe that Heather Locklear had on the original." De la Fuente said of the character, "His heart is in the right place, but he's had a rough upbringing and he's had to figure out how to survive. Sometimes he's a little bit naughty, a little bit of a schemer, but he's not a bad guy. He's not trying to harm anyone." According to de la Fuente, "He's not really a villain, but he does naughty stuff. I think audiences are going to like him because he has a way about doing the things he does that is just very funny and charming. He uses his natural sexuality and charm to get away with murder, and it's fun to watch because he's a little bit outrageous sometimes. A lot outrageous." Sam is also devoted to his aunt Cristal, with whom he shares a mysterious past in Venezuela.