Re this matter, I have eventually reduced the subject to the basics: my enjoyment of every Dallas-based fiction hour. Only the first full 8 years of the original series were non-stop fun and excitement, despite such mistakes as "amnesiac" Sue Ellen returning to JR´s "loving" arms, the miscasting of Donna Reed, and getting rid of family members like Bobby and Lucy (or great secondary characters like Dusty, Katherine or Mickey).
I would have bought the shower scene and dream scenario if done more intelligently and coherently. Even so, I did like some plots from that year, and even more, were fun to watch, which was basic to me. And also importantly, the following year, Paulsen´s swan song, despite the nonsense way to let Pam go, was very close to the classic "Dallas". Which I cannot say of the two following years...But surprise, the last season was decadent and grittier, which fit the decline of the show, and enjoyed almost everything.
About the TVM´s, no matter what, JR would have never made John Ross believe he was dead. It was cruel and out-of-character. Aside from that, it also was fun to watch, more than "War of the Ewings", which looked bigger-budgeted and suspenseful, but only on the outside. It was milking the old Texan cow, but seeing Ray again was good.
I have talked a lot here about my opinion on TNT Dallas. I´ll sum it up to a couple of facts: the beautifully produced Pilot was above average, maybe because its script had to be reworked (remember that Chris´s wedding initially welcomed the likes of a recast Jack, Donna and Jenna?).
That is one of the problems in this case: there might be a lot of people in the infamous writers´ duckpond, but the rest of the show really needed a lot of reworking and continuity check-up. And let´s be honest: they didn´t do their homework, just read all the posts above. And no, Cidrians: eternally selfish bastard JR was not Vito Corleone or someone to pay homage to, or to customize things for. It was Larry who deserved that kind of homages.
Another fact: despite everything, TNT, Warner and Cider House gave us 40 plus hours of Ewing shenanigans. We can take or not the Mexican saga, or any other thing, but it was enjoyable to me, at least up to the "Mama likes" scene. Something that seems "gone with the wind" with the site crash is the fact of how much we enjoyed A LOT of scenes of the last season, and not only our favorite "kitchen" one with Sue Ellen and son.
So, all in all, the whole ride was very enjoyable and nobody can make us re-watch it if we don´t want to. But all of it is there, including that gem of a spin-off that is "Knots Landing" and the valuable but somewhat confusing prequel that was "The Early Years". That´s it.
"Moi, doing an artistic performance to show
Toni´s condition after posting this thread..."
