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Of all the principals (no pun) which of the main characters were most neglected by the writers during the run of DALLAS?
Most neglected core character...?
- Thread starter Snarky Oracle!
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- 22
Lucy, the writers seemed to not know what to do with her beyond the Jock years.
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I have to say Lucy as well. The Lucy of the miniseries is the Lucy I would’ve liked to have seen make a return at some point. She was at her best as the conniving little troublemaker.
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I guess I'd have to agree with the argument that it was Lucy -- I want her to return, open a youth club with Afton, and then buy out The Oil Baron's Club, so Lucy can develop bartender's ears and become more involved in "adult" business (no, not porn) which places her in the middle of the Dallas oil community.
JR enthusiastically approves -- at first.
However, I voted for Miss Ellie. Both Pam and Sue Ellen eventually came into their own, but Miss Ellie always seem squelched throughout the series, Katzman probably not wanting 'Mama' to be too assertive. Such that in the closing years, keeping her around and using her more because she was the only remaining original female character -- and the one representing the homefront -- Katzman instead used her less and then pushed her out entirely!
I suppose Lucy was sidelined even more, but I notice it a lot more with Miss Ellie because there was more they could potentially do with her.
"Barefoot and pregnant, Lucy -- that's all we ever are..."
JR enthusiastically approves -- at first.
However, I voted for Miss Ellie. Both Pam and Sue Ellen eventually came into their own, but Miss Ellie always seem squelched throughout the series, Katzman probably not wanting 'Mama' to be too assertive. Such that in the closing years, keeping her around and using her more because she was the only remaining original female character -- and the one representing the homefront -- Katzman instead used her less and then pushed her out entirely!
I suppose Lucy was sidelined even more, but I notice it a lot more with Miss Ellie because there was more they could potentially do with her.
"Barefoot and pregnant, Lucy -- that's all we ever are..."
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Donna - she was a strong, talented character in the early years. Writer, with big political connections married to Sam Culver and way above Ray's league, but then because Ray felt inferior, the writers gradually reduced her more and more into the bland housewife, stuck in that dull little house that Ray built, sat at home just wanting a baby, in a shack that no front door, just patio doors that opened into the lounge.
The Donna of seasons 2-3 would never have settled for that.
I think Donna should have gone into business with Pam after Bobby's death. Didn't she very briefly oversee Ewing Oil, when JR was forced out by Ellie, or am I dreaming that bit? If not, then she should have.
I loved Donna, even in the dream season, but they ruined her after that.
The Donna of seasons 2-3 would never have settled for that.
I think Donna should have gone into business with Pam after Bobby's death. Didn't she very briefly oversee Ewing Oil, when JR was forced out by Ellie, or am I dreaming that bit? If not, then she should have.
I loved Donna, even in the dream season, but they ruined her after that.
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I also voted for Miss Ellie. The rock that held the Ewing family together especially after the death of Jock. You could tell the instant the character arrived at the airport minus Jock there was an assertiveness about her . Just watch her berating the men from the Cartel after learning the outrageous interest rate they were charging JR. Obviously with the death of Jim Davis the character of Miss Ellie was elevated...and so it should be.
However, with the Donna Reed debacle and ultimately Barbara Bel's return it was like the writers and producers took issue with her return and Miss Ellie became a shadow of her former self.
However, with the Donna Reed debacle and ultimately Barbara Bel's return it was like the writers and producers took issue with her return and Miss Ellie became a shadow of her former self.
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Donna looked after Bobby's interests while he was recuperating from being shot...and left temporally blind. It would have been interesting if the writers had kept Bobby blind for an extended period of time and left Donna at Ewing Oil, creating further tension at home with Ray and his cows.
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I voted for Lucy, and I love @Skanky Whore! 's idea that she buy out the Oil Baron's Club and be privy to all the gossip and news. That would fit her personality and would be a gold mine for her acerbic, but perceptive, comments and troublemaker inclinations.
I also like @Julia's Gun's ideas about Pam turning to Donna for help when she took Bobby's place at EO during the dream season. It would make total sense because Donna was smart and also savvy about the oil business. Also, Bobby always liked and trusted her. It would also have heightened the family drama aspect of the shows, which was always integral to Dallas' success. Donna is married to Ray and friends with Miss Ellie, which could draw them into any conflicts. She's a natural enemy of JR because she's smart, strong, not afraid of him and has money and power in her own right. However, she's not too powerful so going up against him would be not exactly be easy-peasy.
Then you have Pam involved and where Pam is, Cliff can't be far behind.
Combine all this with Lucy running the Oil Barron's Club and you have gold, imho.
is such a good idea that it really highlights what a missed opportunity the dream season was. However, TPTB weren't going to let too many women have such roles on Dallas.
I also like @Julia's Gun's ideas about Pam turning to Donna for help when she took Bobby's place at EO during the dream season. It would make total sense because Donna was smart and also savvy about the oil business. Also, Bobby always liked and trusted her. It would also have heightened the family drama aspect of the shows, which was always integral to Dallas' success. Donna is married to Ray and friends with Miss Ellie, which could draw them into any conflicts. She's a natural enemy of JR because she's smart, strong, not afraid of him and has money and power in her own right. However, she's not too powerful so going up against him would be not exactly be easy-peasy.
Then you have Pam involved and where Pam is, Cliff can't be far behind.
Combine all this with Lucy running the Oil Barron's Club and you have gold, imho.
is such a good idea that it really highlights what a missed opportunity the dream season was. However, TPTB weren't going to let too many women have such roles on Dallas.
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Certainly not neglected in terms of screen time, but post-suicide Cliff became much less nuanced as a character. He was the victim of neglect in terms of the lack of more ambitious writing.
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I would vote for Miss Ellie then Cliff, 2 of the best actors on Dallas
Even in 1979 on Dinah Shore show when she asks BBG what former fans of her say
She replied "Why dont you ask the producers to give you more dialogue!"
She acted her co stars off the set and was very underused although I do understand it after she suffered a heart attack and she didnt enjoy the best of health
Then Cliff. He could be such a powerful actor especially Ep 20/S1 For love of money and ending Hows that for playing the other mans game?
Wonderful - RIP BBG and KK, gone but never forgotten x
Even in 1979 on Dinah Shore show when she asks BBG what former fans of her say
She replied "Why dont you ask the producers to give you more dialogue!"
She acted her co stars off the set and was very underused although I do understand it after she suffered a heart attack and she didnt enjoy the best of health
Then Cliff. He could be such a powerful actor especially Ep 20/S1 For love of money and ending Hows that for playing the other mans game?
Wonderful - RIP BBG and KK, gone but never forgotten x
My vote was for Lucy who there were possibilities never explored with her. Before she came back the second time, I read in the National Enquirer that she was coming back to Dallas and work at Ewing Oil. That looked interesting and of course I was disappointed when that did not happen. So either The National Enquirer had it wrong or the writers dropped the idea for whatever reason. Lucy's return was wasted.
My second choice would be Ellie the family matriarch. Loved how she stood up to the Cartell like she did twice and I wanted her to be like Victoria Barkley. Remarrying her and then relegating her was awful.
My second choice would be Ellie the family matriarch. Loved how she stood up to the Cartell like she did twice and I wanted her to be like Victoria Barkley. Remarrying her and then relegating her was awful.
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Sue Ellen at the beginning until Linda Gray proved her worth.
Lucy once she became a fully fledged adult. Like so many before her she was great as that naughty, cheeky, feisty youngster but that stopped working the older she got.
Donna, she should've and could've done so much more.
Lucy once she became a fully fledged adult. Like so many before her she was great as that naughty, cheeky, feisty youngster but that stopped working the older she got.
Donna, she should've and could've done so much more.
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Surely Lucy could return with a child born from her marriage to Mitch or from some secret relationship; one alternative was to have a second marriage to one component of the Anderson. Donna was also underused. In the last period obviously also Miss Ellie.