What more would you like Miss Ellie to do?

[Jimmy Todd]

the one that was amazing with Mickey is that Sue Ellen was kind of immediately absolved of all guilt once they found out that Driscoll was trying to get JR. Who cares that Mickey would never have been in that position, trying to prevent her from hurting herself and others, if she hadn't gotten in the car all sh*tfaced, I guess?

Lucy should have been angry with Sue Ellen for a very long time, and she should have moved out of Southfork. Then JR would have to explain why Lucy moved, and her empty seat at dinner would be a constant reminder that actions have consequences, something the Ewings didn't always accept. At some point Sue Ellen and Lucy would have to have a reckoning, especially if Miss Ellie demanded that Lucy come back.

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

I certainly would have liked her to visit Knots Landing, but I couldn't see Ellie being happy living in a cul-de-sac in California.

What about on his ranch, until he lost it? She was thinking of visiting him just before he got it, on one of the occasions he was in jail on suspicion of murder.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

What about on his ranch, until he lost it? She was thinking of visiting him just before he got it, on one of the occasions he was in jail on suspicion of murder.

Gary?

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Other reasons I don't like miss Ellie, related to Southfork

Pursued Jock to marry her, save Southfork when pregnant,
except that Digger may have been the father.

Was willing to give Southfork away to an absentee bother,
after Jock saved it, and worked on it and made it prosper

When JR collateralized Southfork and the Asian deal looked unpromising
She told Jock she didn't marry him to lose Southfork.
Seems a self-evident motive and
Threw a hissy fit about drilling on Southfork, even
though it was the only realistic option for saving it

Gave away half of Southfork to Clayton, who was a
carpetbagger from San Angelo, as JR said.

Further displayed her horrendous parenting (lack of) skills
by granting Bobby sole ownership of Southfork.
Even if she had issues with JR, there was John Ross to consider,
not to mention (possibly) Lucas Krebs, James Beaumont, Margaret Krebs,
Cally's son, Lucy, Gary's children.

And yet the writers would have us believe she was virtuous
What a self righteous hypocrite

Maybe other fans see something I don't, and they can certainly
provide explanations, perhaps better than the writers

 

[Jock's Ghost]

She could have moved to knots landing to be closer to Gary. The writers on that show were alot better at writing for female characters anyway.

Nah. Different style of acting too.

 

[Jock's Ghost]

Other reasons I don't like miss Ellie, related to Southfork

Pursued Jock to marry her, save Southfork when pregnant,
except that Digger may have been the father.

Was willing to give Southfork away to an absentee bother,
after Jock saved it, and worked on it and made it prosper

When JR collateralized Southfork and the Asian deal looked unpromising
She told Jock she didn't marry him to lose Southfork.
Seems a self-evident motive and
Threw a hissy fit about drilling on Southfork, even
though it was the only realistic option for saving it

Gave away half of Southfork to Clayton, who was a
carpetbagger from San Angelo, as JR said.

Further displayed her horrendous parenting (lack of) skills
by granting Bobby sole ownership of Southfork.
Even if she had issues with JR, there was John Ross to consider,
not to mention (possibly) Lucas Krebs, James Beaumont, Margaret Krebs,
Cally's son, Lucy, Gary's children.

And yet the writers would have us believe she was virtuous
What a self righteous hypocrite

Maybe other fans see something I don't, and they can certainly
provide explanations, perhaps better than the writers

Yes! I never liked Miss Ellie. It seems she was only as good as the story dictated. Not that she was. She really wasnt.
She played favorites! I never heard anyone say a specific child was their favorite. How awful. No wonder Gary was a black sheep. Clingy mother who caused friction and jealousy between JR and Gary. Even when JR attempted to get Gary under control, she hated him for it.
Her issues with Jock seemed to spill over with JR.
I always wanted a realistic portrayal where she defended JR. She was always in his corner and would never sell EWING OIL to hurt him or spite him. He was her first, it was almost as if there was no bond.

 

[Billy Wall]

I know Miss Ellie certainly had her faults and as some has pointed out, very hypocritical, but some of you paint a very rosy picture of JR for some reason.

 

[Willie Oleson]

I feel there's some Dallas vs. Knots mudslinging going here!

 

[Angela Channing]

I would have liked Ellie to have had a late life crisis and become one of Serena's girls or a Valentine Lingerie model.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

I would have liked Ellie to have had a late life crisis and become one of Serena's girls or a Valentine Lingerie model.

now we’re talking!

 

[Jock's Ghost]

Talk normal. Gary instead of GU-ARY
BUB-BEEE
JAY-RRRRRR
A lifelong Texan and she had no accent of any kind. Huh?

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Talk normal. Gary instead of GU-ARY
BUB-BEEE
JAY-RRRRRR
A lifelong Texan and she had no accent of any kind. Huh?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Linda once theorized that Ellie had been sent back east by Aaron Southworth for some Ivy League schooling -- although I'd guess she'd deliberately gotten expelled for smoking so she could return to her beloved horses. But in that brief time, she lost her Texan twang.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Linda once theorized that Ellie had been sent back east by Aaron Southworth for some Ivy League schooling -- although I'd guess she'd deliberately gotten expelled for smoking so she could return to her beloved horses. But in that brief time, she lost her Texan twang.

I was thinking ‘prep school’ and ‘assaulting the headmaster with a horsewhip’ myself

 

[J. R.'s Piece]

Gary?

Yes. Knots Landing season four. Towards the end of the season, Abby Cunningham has a one-way phone call with an offscreen Miss Ellie.

 

[Toni]

Yes. Knots Landing season four. Towards the end of the season, Abby Cunningham has a one-way phone call with an offscreen Miss Ellie.

Someone should edit that scene with clips of both Miss Ellies at the phone, talking to the Abster. I´d KILL to see that!!

BBG: "You better treat my son right or I´ll take my horsewhip!"
DR: "Oh what a perm. And what lipstick are you wearing?"​

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I know Miss Ellie certainly had her faults and as some has pointed out, very hypocritical, but some of you paint a very rosy picture of JR for some reason.

I don't know about others, I don't intend to paint a rosy picture of JR.
From my perspective, I think the point should be made that JR didn't develop into a
ruthless, manipulative businessman in a vacuum. Jock taught him the oil business, and Jock could be just as ruthless.
JR went out of his way to please his father, and both his parents favored other siblings.
There is a psychological context to JR's behavior, and it seems that Jock
and (especially) Miss Ellie did not ever take responsibility for
creating so much of the person that JR became.

 

[Billy Wall]

I don't know about others, I don't intend to paint a rosy picture of JR.
From my perspective, I think the point should be made that JR didn't develop into a
ruthless, manipulative businessman in a vacuum. Jock taught him the oil business, and Jock could be just as ruthless.
JR went out of his way to please his father, and both his parents favored other siblings.
There is a psychological context to JR's behavior, and it seems that Jock
and (especially) Miss Ellie did not ever take responsibility for
creating so much of the person that JR became.

Jock did somewhat take responsibility for JR when he told Bobby, “maybe it is my fault. I taught JR everything he knows. But I never taught him when to stop.” But JR is a full grown man. You can’t continue to blame your parents when you’re doing bad deeds in your 40’s. He treated his wife like crap. Was that Jock’s and Mill Ellie’s fault too? He got involved with a terrorist which could have started WW3. That’s Jock’s and Miss Ellie’s fault too.

As for Miss Ellie. She even admitted that she let JR go too soon. She also said that JR and Bobby was more Jock’s and Gary was hers. She also told Jock that “you might have loved Gary, but you never cared for him.” You get on Miss Ellie about not caring for JR, which isn’t true, but what about Jock seemingly not giving a damn about Gary?

 

[lbf522]

I think they missed the boat in later years as they practically beatified Ellie and Jock. They were interesting, flawed characters, who became less interesting as the others lionized them. I didn’t like, for example, how Valene thanked Ellie for raising Lucy. What Valene should have done was look at her and say, “I will never be able to forgive you and your family for stealing my daughter from me.” Or how about when Donna was all deferential to Ellie when she discovered that Jock and Sam Culver instituted Sam’s Uncle Jonas to grab his land (leading to Jonas’ suicide). Donna should have said “I’m publishing the truth, whether you like it or not. Go ahead and sue - you’re the one who will be embarrassed.”

Having the Ewing chickens come home to roost would have made for some good storylines. But I suppose this was back when people often deferred to their elders and didn’t hold them accountable.

I had always thought they should have made Ellie like Victoria Barkley after Jock's death. I was not crazy about her and Clayton myself. I agreed with JR when he referred to Clayton as an outsider. Because he was.

Now it was never spoken on the show but I have always felt that Jock and/or Ellie told JR to get Lucy, their then only grandchild on Southfork. Otherwise, I don't see JR wanting to get Lucy on his own. As for Donna's book, I did not have a problem with Ellie being angry. She is dealing with her husband's recent passing and Donna comes with a negative story about him. Of course Ellie like any recent widow would be upset.

 

[Billy Wall]

I had always thought they should have made Ellie like Victoria Barkley after Jock's death. I was not crazy about her and Clayton myself. I agreed with JR when he referred to Clayton as an outsider. Because he was.

Now it was never spoken on the show but I have always felt that Jock and/or Ellie told JR to get Lucy, their then only grandchild on Southfork. Otherwise, I don't see JR wanting to get Lucy on his own. As for Donna's book, I did not have a problem with Ellie being angry. She is dealing with her husband's recent passing and Donna comes with a negative story about him. Of course Ellie like any recent widow would be upset.

I agree with everything you said, but the part that Clayton was an outsider. Is Miss Ellie never supposed to re-marry?