Am I the only one who cannot tolerate the Mark Graison character?

[Ladies Of Southfork]

I absolutely hate this character. Nothing against the actor. I think the writer's failed with this one. He started out a creepy, aggressive stalker. He matured into a full blown narcissist and has zero respect for other people's boundaries. Namely Pamela's. I don't know why the writer's thought Pamela needed to be 'forced' into a relationship with a man like this. A man who disregards her and takes all of her control. He thinks he knows what's best for her, and completely dismisses her opinions and/or needs. He's too in your face and manipulative. He tries to influence her opinions by manipulating her into thinking his ideas were hers. He makes Pamela's character weaker. I can not for the life of me understand the appeal. Not by Pamela (the writer's) or any viewer having to sit through this. It's like slowly being tortured to death during his scenes. Now, I remember why Dallas started losing it's appeal to me (when it originally aired). It is because of characters like Mark, Jamie, Jack, and Donna Reed as Miss Ellie. I am currently re-watching the entire series, movies and re-boot. I am at the 'Dream Season'. I can barely sit through it. I actually cheered when this character was killed off and was so disappointed when I remembered they brought him back.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I go through differing opinions with Mark. One minute I warm to him the next I dislike him nearly as much as Clayton (LOL)

Can't blame Mark for how he was. Pam was a strongish woman who could’ve easily told Mark to back off but she chose not to so he's going to behave as she allows him to.

I think she enjoyed him chasing her and enjoyed the fact that Mark got along with her brother where as Bobby's relationship with Cliff caused too many problems for her.

Loved when he punched JR.

Really liked him in the dream season.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I didn’t like the Mark character at first. I mean, he went after a married woman after all, but as pointed out Pam didn’t exactly discourage him. Maybe at their second meeting she did but after that she certainly loosened up with the disdain.

I think Mark came along at a time when she and Bobby were definitely on the outs, and Mark seemed to genuinely care for her. His heart was in the right place. As Pam even pointed out to Bobby once, Mark reminded her of him when they first met.

I didn’t like how Mark could be a little pushy with Pam at times. During Ray’s trial he expected her to stay away from the Ewings and I think that’s unrealistic. Even after divorce, people don’t stop caring for and being there for former family members in a crisis if the situation allows.

Overall though I did like Mark. It was hard for me to see Pam with anyone other than Bobby but I felt Mark made a good second choice.

 

[Billy Wall]

You kinda described Bobby. Lol But Mark did start out as somewhat of a stalker. Instead of giving Miss Ellie his answer on whether his personal attorney can represent her, he instead invites Pam to breakfast. He shows up at her aerobics business. He then shows up at her condo. He had no business doing all of that just because he thought Pam was having marital problems. But if you want to blame someone, blame Pam because she allowed it.

Other than that, I thought Mark was a good guy. She would have ultimately been happier with him than Bobby IMO.

 

[Ladies Of Southfork]

I think she enjoyed him chasing her and enjoyed the fact that Mark got along with her brother where as Bobby's relationship with Cliff caused too many problems for her.

I think Mark and Cliff are very similar in the way they manipulate Pamela. They treat her like a 'dumb blonde', for lack of a better term, and it's like she turns into a helpless, little girl when dealing with either of them. I don't like how Mark just wants her as far away from Bobby and the Ewing's as possible. Regardless of how it will effect her. I think his similarities to Cliff are what rubs me the wrong way. I can't find any redeeming qualities in either of them.

I didn’t like the Mark character at first. I mean, he went after a married woman after all, but as pointed out Pam didn’t exactly discourage him. Maybe at their second meeting she did but after that she certainly loosened up with the disdain.

I think Mark came along at a time when she and Bobby were definitely on the outs, and Mark seemed to genuinely care for her. His heart was in the right place. As Pam even pointed out to Bobby once, Mark reminded her of him when they first met.

I didn’t like how Mark could be a little pushy with Pam at times. During Ray’s trial he expected her to stay away from the Ewings and I think that’s unrealistic. Even after divorce, people don’t stop caring for and being there for former family members in a crisis if the situation allows.

Overall though I did like Mark. It was hard for me to see Pam with anyone other than Bobby but I felt Mark made a good second choice.

Pamela definitely let others (Cliff, Katherine and Mark) interfere in hers and Bobby's relationship entirely too much. I never warmed up to Mark. His character has rubbed me the wrong way from day one and I can't shake it, even as I'm re-watching the 'Dream Season'.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I think his similarities to Cliff

He's nothing like Cliff. Mark was capable of real love towards Pam, Cliff only ever loved himself and his hatred for the Ewings.
Mark was nowhere near as self absorbed as Cliff.

Early seasons Cliff could be sensitive but it was short lived.

 

[Ladies Of Southfork]

You kinda described Bobby. Lol But Mark did start out as somewhat of a stalker. Instead of giving Miss Ellie his answer on whether his personal attorney can represent her, he instead invites Pam to breakfast. He shows up at her aerobics business. He then shows up at her condo. He had no business doing all of that just because he thought Pam was having marital problems. But if you want to blame someone, blame Pam because she allowed it.

Other than that, I thought Mark was a good guy. She would have ultimately been happier with him than Bobby IMO.

I agree with Pam holding the blame. But, I think Mark is about as nice of a guy as Cliff or JR. Two people who only need you when they can use you.

He's nothing like Cliff. Mark was capable of real love towards Pam, Cliff only ever loved himself and his hatred for the Ewings.
Mark was nowhere near as self absorbed as Cliff.

Early seasons Cliff could be sensitive but it was short lived.

We see Mark completely different. I don't see any of that in Mark.

He's nothing like Cliff. Mark was capable of real love towards Pam, Cliff only ever loved himself and his hatred for the Ewings.
Mark was nowhere near as self absorbed as Cliff.

I think Pam was just another conquest for Mark. Another thing to accomplish. She was a trophy for him to win. That's not love. That's self-absorption.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Pamela definitely let others (Cliff, Katherine and Mark) interfere in hers and Bobby's relationship entirely too much. I never warmed up to Mark. His character has rubbed me the wrong way from day one and I can't shake it, even as I'm re-watching the 'Dream Season'.

I totally understand. A lot of people never seemed to warm up to Mark and I get that. As far as the Dream Season goes, without Bobby around reuniting Pam with Mark was the most logical choice imo. I do like their story overall. He contracts a fatal disease, kills himself as a result and is presumed dead. Then Pam starts seeing signs he might still be alive and goes on her search, eventually not finding him. She reunited with Bobby, only briefly, and then Mark is resurrected the next season after Bobby’s death. It all made for great drama, even if most of what I posted didn’t even happen. Mark was a tragic story in the end, and much like Bobby and Pam so were he and Pam also.

 

[Billy Wall]

But, I think Mark is about as nice of a guy as Cliff or JR. Two people who only need you when they can use you.

Please explain how Mark is anyway like Cliff or JR?

 

[DallasFanForever]

I think Pam was just another conquest for Mark. Another thing to accomplish. She was a trophy for him to win. That's not love. That's self-absorption.

Maybe at first she was. After all, Mark was a known playboy with a reputation. But I don’t think it stayed that way for long. I think he truly did care for Pam.

As far as Mark and Cliff being similar goes, I think Mark was a much better all around human being than Cliff. They were friends, and they did both want Pam far away from the Ewings. They agreed on that and tried to help each other sway Pam at times but ultimately I think they were two completely different men in how they treated people.

I don’t think you’re wrong for feeling that way though. We all perceive these characters differently, whether we agree or not, and those perceptions often change or become even sharper as we rewatch.

 

[Chris2]

I don’t care whether or not Pam encouraged him. She was a married woman. A standup guy would have said, “I’m interested but not while you’re married.”

I wouldn’t trust the Pornstache as far as I could throw him.

 

[Billy Wall]

Come on, admit it. Most of you don't like him simply because he threw a wrench into Bobby and Pam getting back together. Lol

 

[Ladies Of Southfork]

Come on, admit it. Most of you don't like him simply because he threw a wrench into Bobby and Pam getting back together. Lol

No. I don't like him because of every reason I have already stated. You know exactly what to expect out of JR and Cliff. They have no shame. Mark is the type that will screw you over behind your back and try to convince you that's not what he did.

I'm midway through the 9th season and I can't wait until he's gone. Every time he comes on the screen, my husband says, "There's Mr. Slick! That guy's like a sleazy used car salesman." And I completely agree.

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

Loved the Dallas times when Pam, Mark, Cliff and Afton were friends and did things together. That was like genuine friendship between those four, best years of the show.
Really liked Mark and was disappointed, when his comeback was just a dream.
I think it would have been a lot better for the show and it's overall reputation, if Mark stayed around and Bobby remained dead.
Dallas jumped the shark with that big time, and never recovered from it and went from great night time drama to a barely standable comedic clownshow with infant storylines that were an insult and slap in the face to loyal fans.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I liked how Mark appeared and at least he had no long lost nasty clichéd sister or brother or family members turning up. Infact we didn't know anything about his family, only a bit about his business reputation and offering an attorney to help Miss Ellie overturn Jock's will.

The character certainly had some poor writing and was named here by a famous critic as That fella with the ferret under his nose.

Back then no one was going to replace Bobby, it's easy to say now but Bobby was too loved at the time so accepting someone else for Pam wasn't ever going to come easy.

Mark had nothing to prove, he had his own wealth. He was perhaps a bit of a loner, but had no backstory of being a playboy with an endless list of conquests.


Without Mark we wouldn't have had his lovely Doctor friend Jerry Kenderson either.

 

[Richard Channing]

I don’t care whether or not Pam encouraged him. She was a married woman. A standup guy would have said, “I’m interested but not while you’re married.”

I wouldn’t trust the Pornstache as far as I could throw him.

It's interesting, Dusty also got involved with a married woman but I never see him and his morals being dragged over the coals on here. Mark seems to get unfairly targeted when all he did was pursue the woman he loved.

Come on, admit it. Most of you don't like him simply because he threw a wrench into Bobby and Pam getting back together. Lol

And this is why in a nutshell! It's always Pam and Bobby shippers who basically just resent him for contributing to their break up and them staying apart and then start finding reasons to hate him, when really he was for the most part a pretty decent, nice guy.

 

[LMLDallas78]

he instead invites Pam to breakfast.

Nothing wrong in inviting a beautiful woman for breakfast. Maybe he was testing the water or pushing his luck a bit but why not?

He shows up at her aerobics business

Most men would given half a chance.

He was trying to make the most of the opportunity before that business stretched into thin air and completely disappeared.

But if you want to blame someone, blame Pam because she allowed it.

Agreed. Exactly what I said. If Pam didn't want his attention, she should've told him.

Sad when she kisses Mark and sleeps with him just because Bobby kissed Jenna at that mechanical Rodeo thing.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I never cared for the Mark Graison character, no disrespect to John Beck as an actor.
He seemed like an opportunist, hovering around Pam when the marriage was having difficulties.
Couldn't stand that mustache.
And he should have realized that Pam would never love him like she did Bobbie

 

[Chris2]

Mark also suffered from the same problem Clayton Farlow did - he merely existed to be paired with one of the show’s leading ladies. We knew very little about him and he had little to no family or friends to complicate matters. He was just dull. The most interesting thing about him was that dumb mustache.

He was worse in the dream season to me, because the producers could have used the opportunity to develop another character and another romance for Pam which should have made for a good story. Instead, the Pornstache is back and within 5 minutes, it’s like he never left. And Mark is with Pam even though he knows that he’ll always be second best to Bobby (he even says this out loud!). It’s hard to respect a character like that.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

You kinda described Bobby.

As far as the Dream Season goes, without Bobby around reuniting Pam with Mark was the most logical choice imo. I do like their story overall.

Mark also suffered from the same problem Clayton Farlow did - he merely existed to be paired with one of the show’s leading ladies.

You all make very good points here, and Patrick Duffy made a comment that backs you up. He was talking about the Mark Graison character and said that you can't just plug in one character (Mark) in place of another character (Bobby) and think the audience will accept that.

Loved the Dallas times when Pam, Mark, Cliff and Afton were friends and did things together.

I agree that it was nice seeing Cliff happy for a change.