Dream season questions!!!!

[Pamela_E]

After the brilliance of Swan Song , I am now onto the dream season with my rewatch,

I'm only on the first episode, but wonder why did Pam hide the fact Katherine was trying to kill her? Well now I type it out loud, I can get why, she was protecting herself perhaps.

But apart from the start of this episode, I don't recall it ever being mentioned again. It feels very unDallas and unsoapy not to have a secret come out.

I would have thought the guilt would have been a bigger story, did they decide that Jenna's guilt was more important as a story?

How fun if JR had found out. I guess in some ways it's nice, like a big secret between Pam and the audience.

 

[Pamela_E]

Also I never noticed before where everyone was standing at the funeral.

Miss Ellie, JR and John Ross are sitting in chairs, with everyone else behind them standing, apart from Pam and Chrstopher, who are sitting opposite on chairs with Cliff and Jamie standing. Looks odd from the long shot. Not really fixing the feud as Miss Ellie hoped for, by sticking the four of them so far off.


Then Charlie is about a mile away from Jenna, she is with Gary. Plus where is Phyliss. Even the horse turned up. Considering Miss Ellie only gave Pam one days notice, perhaps she forgot to tell Phyliss.

I gather the positioning is probably for filming reasons, but never really paid attention to it before.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I'm only on the first episode, but wonder why did Pam hide the fact Katherine was trying to kill her?

Fear of J.R. blaming her as the reason for Bobby’s death and igniting another feud. Better to let everyone think Katherine was trying to kill Bobby directly.

Miss Ellie, JR and John Ross are sitting in chairs, with everyone else behind them standing, apart from Pam and Chrstopher, who are sitting opposite on chairs with Cliff and Jamie standing. Looks odd from the long shot. Not really fixing the feud as Miss Ellie hoped for, by sticking the four of them so far off.

It always bothered me that Pam, Cliff, Jamie and Christopher were sitting so far away from the Ewings. I thought the point of having them all there was to heal everything up.

Or maybe the point was to show that these families will always be divided somehow, no matter how hard they try and it was too soon for the healing to happen yet.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

The reason they're all sitting so far apart is because Patrick Duffy is about to push up the top of the coffin and everyone would have time to run for it as he says "Good morning! Guess who!"

In the event nothing happened which was a shame!

 

[Rove]

Looks odd from the long shot

Looking at that long shot and I think it was a masterstroke from the writers or directors perspective. On a deeper level the impression I'm left with is the 'us versus them' approach. Here we have the Ewing family and relatives on one side and the Barnes family on the other. Isn't this the premise of Dallas? The very foundation of the story was Ewing's vs Barnes. This simple funeral shot points to what is to come...well its how this season should have panned out....

....except it's just a dream.​

 

[Pamela_E]

Looking at that long shot and I think it was a masterstroke from the writers or directors perspective. On a deeper level the impression I'm left with is the 'us versus them' approach. Here we have the Ewing family and relatives on one side and the Barnes family on the other. Isn't this the premise of Dallas? The very foundation of the story was Ewing's vs Barnes. This simple funeral shot points to what is to come...well its how this season should have panned out....

....except it's just a dream.​

Yes, I think so too, only that Miss Ellie said Cliff was invited to finally heal old wounds. I gather JR did the seating plan

Those sitting in chairs are like The Dallas monarchy, all very Game of Thrones. Jenna was downgraded, she didn't get a chair.

Queen Ellie and Queen Pam.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

In many ways I think it was a shame that they made this season a dream. It was a good season. I really wish it had ended with the original cliffhanger of Ben being revealed as Jock rather than Patrick Duffy in the shower.

 

[Karin]

The reason they're all sitting so far apart is because Patrick Duffy is about to push up the top of the coffin and everyone would have time to run

You mean he turned into a vampire?

 

[Pamela_E]

Jenna is actually quite good as someone becomes slightly unhinged. She reminds me of Claudia from Dynasty.

I forgot how completely insane the latter part of this season was with the emeralds and Jack as Dimitri Marinos.

They must have been gutted to be beaten in the ratings by Dynasty on a regular basis and even the Colbys. So no surprise they took drastic action.

I was surprised to see Leonard Katzman wrote the Masquerade episode. Was he taking the pee at the time? It was insane.

What was with the weird cut with Angelica about to shoot Jack? Did JR really get introduced to Mr Pumpkin or did I mishear?

JR in that costume, it was all completely insane.

Who was this episode aimed at? Pot smokers?

Anyway back to earth I did like Jenna and Pam making up. When they hug it was a lovely moment.

Plus I really did like the scenes between Victoria and Larry. One when he says they think alike and we saw some of the old Pam humor with her reaction, and then when she sold him the shares in Ewing Oil.

It was like all that bad history had been put to one side. It was quite touching to see JR's surprise.

It's weird this season, as you did get a sense that JR had an affection for Pam.

But as I say the powers the be must have been really unhappy about the ratings.

So if Patrick had not returned I would imagine heads would have rolled anyway and some drastic changes put in place.

I can't imagine Phil Capice would have made it to the next season regardless of Larry's intervention.

 

[Rove]

They must have been gutted to be beaten in the ratings by Dynasty

Hence why The Dream Season was given a sprinkle of Dynasty influence and it didn't need to be. Dallas should have stuck to its roots but obviously there was panic on the dance floor. How else do we explain the over the top Angelica Nero. Can you imagine someone like this walking down the main street of Dallas?

​

Even JR looks a little bemused by it all and was possibly questioning if he had walked onto the wrong Hollywood set. Today I can see why Angelica was introduced. It was their version of Alexis Carrington but Alexis had a connection to the Carrington family. Her backstory was built in. Angelica was a shot out of the blue and distracted from what should have been the main story during The Dream Season; the relationship between JR and Pam.​

 

[DallasFanForever]

Jenna is actually quite good as someone becomes slightly unhinged

I know most don’t agree but I liked Jenna this season. I thought her grief and the fact that she was acting irrationally gave the character another much needed layer. We always think of Pam first and rightfully so when it comes to Bobby’s death but Jenna’s season long grief is a reminder of just how much she loved him too.

I forgot how completely insane the latter part of this season was with the emeralds and Jack as Dimitri Marinos.

It’s the reason I’m not too crazy about this season. It just wasn’t Dallas. It was Dallasty as I call it. Yet there is another part of me that thinks it was pretty interesting seeing them take these chances with the show. It was a huge risk to basically change gears after all those years and try to reinvent themselves and I have to respect that, whether it worked or not.

I did like Jenna and Pam making up. When they hug it was a lovely moment.

One of my favorite scenes of the season. They had been adversaries for so long so to see them finally bury the hatchet was nice to see. And to my point above, another thing we got to see this season that we would never see in any other season of Dallas.

 

[Pamela_E]

Hence why The Dream Season was given a sprinkle of Dynasty influence and it didn't need to be. Dallas should have stuck to its roots but obviously there was panic on the dance floor. How else do we explain the over the top Angelica Nero. Can you imagine someone like this walking down the main street of Dallas?

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Even JR looks a little bemused by it all and was possibly questioning if he had walked onto the wrong Hollywood set. Today I can see why Angelica was introduced. It was their version of Alexis Carrington but Alexis had a connection to the Carrington family. Her backstory was built in. Angelica was a shot out of the blue and distracted from what should have been the main story during The Dream Season; the relationship between JR and Pam.​

So did Dynasty best Dallas two years in a row? It's not every week this season but some weeks Dynasty was way ahead.

The cliffhanger in Dallas managed to add another 10 million viewers, so it got them back up there. So bringing PD back was clearly a celebration in regards to ratings.

Did they tease his return prior to the episode? Anyone recall? Because that episode had a HUGE boost.

 

[Pamela_E]

I know most don’t agree but I liked Jenna this season. I thought her grief and the fact that she was acting irrationally gave the character another much needed layer. We always think of Pam first and rightfully so when it comes to Bobby’s death but Jenna’s season long grief is a reminder of just how much she loved him too.


It’s the reason I’m not too crazy about this season. It just wasn’t Dallas. It was Dallasty as I call it. Yet there is another part of me that thinks it was pretty interesting seeing them take these chances with the show. It was a huge risk to basically change gears after all those years and try to reinvent themselves and I have to respect that, whether it worked or not.


One of my favorite scenes of the season. They had been adversaries for so long so to see them finally bury the hatchet was nice to see. And to my point above, another thing we got to see this season that we would never see in any other season of Dallas.

I didn't mind Jenna either this season. I liked her friendship with Donna, it grounded Jenna quite nicely.

The season didn't start off too badly and was OK when Angelica's scheme was over and the emeralds were done with.

The best thing about this season is how totally stunning Victoria Principal looks.

I do wonder what would have happened if Patrick had not returned. Due to the ratings decline, I think any threads we saw, may have well been thrown out the window.

 

[Pamela_E]

What a lovely scene between Miss Ellie and JR in Thrice in a lifetime. Its the first time this season I felt an emotional punch regarding Bobby's death.

Barbara is brilliant and displays a real vulnerability regarding her fear that the family are forgetting Bobby and how much she misses him.

I didn't remember this scene at all.

 

[DallasFanForever]

The season didn't start off too badly and was OK when Angelica's scheme was over and the emeralds were done with.

I agree with this. I love the beginning of the season watching everyone deal with Bobby’s death and the end of the season becomes must watch again. It feels like everything is finally starting to get back on track. The middle of the season is the problem for me. The never ending Angelica plot followed by the emerald mine is where everything gets sidetracked for me.

The best thing about this season is how totally stunning Victoria Principal looks

No argument here

Barbara is brilliant and displays a real vulnerability regarding her fear that the family are forgetting Bobby and how much she misses him

It’s one of Miss Ellie and J.R.’s best scenes together. Barbara was great playing the grieving mother all season long. From the very first episode every time she discussed Bobby’s death I felt like I was feeling her pain also.

 

[Pamela_E]

I agree with this. I love the beginning of the season watching everyone deal with Bobby’s death and the end of the season becomes must watch again. It feels like everything is finally starting to get back on track. The middle of the season is the problem for me. The never ending Angelica plot followed by the emerald mine is where everything gets sidetracked for me.


No argument here


It’s one of Miss Ellie and J.R.’s best scenes together. Barbara was great playing the grieving mother all season long. From the very first episode every time she discussed Bobby’s death I felt like I was feeling her pain also.

I never felt that about Miss Ellie in the earlier episodes, I never have. This was the first scene I thought came across emotional. Even when she broke down in the first episode, I just never felt it.

There was something different about this scene, I think it was her vulnerability, that she seemed alone in that moment of grief. There was something a bit more subtle in Barbara's performance

Plus I wasn't a fan of the background music in Family Ewing, I felt it detracted somewhat from the emotion.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I never felt that about Miss Ellie in the earlier episodes, I never have. This was the first scene I thought came across emotional. Even when she broke down in the first episode, I just never felt it.

There was something different about this scene, I think it was her vulnerability, that she seemed alone in that moment of grief. There was something a bit more subtle in Barbara's performance

Plus I wasn't a fan of the background music in Family Ewing, I felt it detracted somewhat from the emotion.

I see ur point. I guess I always liked how she played it a little stoic in those earlier episodes. I liked that she mostly remained strong yet still made me feel sorry for her without being over emotional.

 

[Pamela_E]

I see ur point. I guess I always liked how she played it a little stoic in those earlier episodes. I liked that she mostly remained strong yet still made me feel sorry for her without being over emotional.

It was her youngest child, so I didn't really buy into her being stoic. I wasn't expecting another plate smashing session but something more, I wanted more from Barbara in those scenes, it just never came. But if they did want stoic, you can do that with a tragic sadness attached. I just didn't see it.

Most of this season was spent with her worried about someone else - Sue Ellen, Donna, Jenna, Ewing Oil etc etc. She never really had a moment to shine with her grief, instead she just spent the season looking pained about everyone else.

It may not have helped that she was out of it for a year, so maybe that impacted the flow somewhat.

 

[James from London]

There was something different about this scene, I think it was her vulnerability, that she seemed alone in that moment of grief. There was something a bit more subtle in Barbara's performance

Plus I wasn't a fan of the background music in Family Ewing, I felt it detracted somewhat from the emotion.

I agree. “I feel as if I were standing at the edge of my life, looking back at all the wonderful things that aren’t there anymore." It's a very poignant scene, all the more so for being so unexpected.

The music's nice in 'Family Ewing', but distractingly Spanish.

It was her youngest child, so I didn't really buy into her being stoic. I wasn't expecting another plate smashing session but something more, I wanted more from Barbara in those scenes, it just never came. But if they did want stoic, you can do that with a tragic sadness attached. I just didn't see it.

I don't think it's just Ellie. I think it's the whole of that season opening episode. Only an hour or two have passed since the events of 'Swan Song', yet it feels more like days or even longer. There's a lack of raw emotion, of anguish and amazement at what has just happened. Sue Ellen doesn't even ask how Bobby died. This is TV movie grief: it doesn't transcend the soap genre the way key moments in 'Swan Song' did or the way KNOTS LANDING habitually did when portraying extreme emotions. Pam's hysteria comes closest to cutting through the gloss, but there's still something muted about it. There's nothing wrong with Victoria Principal's performance exactly, but somehow the immediacy of the pain she conveyed in 'Swan Song' isn't there. It's hard not to notice, too, given all that Pam has been through that day, that her makeup is too perfect and her outfit too immaculately white.

Miss Ellie has that scene with Clayton by Bobby's tree house where she fondly, smilingly reminisces about her sons growing up. It's a lovely scene, but you don't get the sense this is a mother whose son was murdered less than twenty-four hours earlier. I understand that grief takes many forms, but where's the rage, the shock, the sheer disbelief? When Gary finally breaks down over Bobby's death on KNOTS a few weeks later, he seems truly devastated in a way that none of the Dallas Ewings quite do.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

I agree with the points made about Miss Ellie. It always felt to me that I was waiting for her to have some catharsis that felt real.
As @Pamela_E said, she spends much of the time worrying about someone else. Which makes sense because she's needed and because it would perhaps help her cope with her own grief. When Sue Ellen falls off the wagon she puts her energy into helping her and getting J.R. to take some responsibility. I would have liked later on in the season for Miss Ellie to have her moment of grieving. Maybe when they are all together after Sue Ellen’s fundraiser and everyone is toasting Sue Ellen for the success and getting sober, Miss Ellie could say in that calm but fierce way of hers, "Alright, now that everyone's getting along and Sue Ellen has been showered with attention and praise, does anyone mind if I take a few moments and MOURN MY SON?!!!