Storylines You'd Have Liked

[Ray_Krebbs]

Are there any stories you'd have liked that never occurred? One I wanted to see was this. Cliff uncovers a letter that Aaron left Henry Barnes Southfork as a favor for saving his life. He fights the Ewings in a legal battle and eventually wins. He kicks everyone out, but he asks Pam to stay. She slaps him and tells him to go to hell. The Ewings pull sneaky maneuvers, learn Aaron and Henry were drunk and had no recollection of that transfer of ownership, and get the ranch from Cliff, who was about to drill.

 

[the-lost-son]

I think toying around with a series' homebase is a major no-go.

Angela Chaning kicked out of Falcon Crest or Krystle&Blake of Carrington Mansion are both iconic scenes. But they don't have a longterm effect. They just had to get it back (even if it was burnt down in Falcon Crest). It's rather pointless

But I get your point. Dallas is best at giving us these storylines where shadows of the past are haunting decades later. I just love this storyline with Lady Jessica-Clayton-Amy-Southern Cross, just perfect.
They achieved sth. similar with the Hutch McKinney storylune (despite the final minutes).

Therefor I would have loved more of that kind of storylines where events of the past come back. The obvious choice is anything regarding Southfork, especially Miss Ellie or Gary. I can see an heir of Garrison claiming Southfork (with JR pulling the strings) but only to get joint ownership after Bobby got it all, nothing more .

But beware - I don't like these cheap maternity/paternity changes for shock value (Richard Channing, the Colbys etc.)

 

[pete lashmar]

The big one that Dallas missed out on was Wes being Jock. That would have thrown everything up in the air and given the limping show much more ammunition for the final couple of seasons.

Fights for Southfork, fights for Ewing Oil and all kinds of twists and turns could have happened, much like they did after Jock's death.

It beggars belief that they allowed this plot to just die an instant death, hell they could have killed him off 2 series down the line, but his presence would have been such a positive for the show.

 

[Monzo]

Mitch would have gotten a great job at a Dallas hospital by the end of season 11, so Lucy returns with him and they both initially live on Southfork.

In Season 12, Lucy would have felt neglected by the hard-working Mitch and fallen for Casey Denault, who was financially exploiting her. After the affair became public, she eventually reconciled with Mitch. Afton's return with daughter makes Lucy & Mitch realize they want a child of their own.

In season 13, Lucy & Mitch would have tried to have a child, unfortunately without success. A hot surrogate mother would have been hired, who begins an affair with J.R. and gives J.R.'s child to the unsuspecting Lucy & Mitch.

With a little effort, Lucy could have been given good stories when she returned.

 

[pete lashmar]

Lucy was completely wasted when she came back, in season 12 (13 DVD) she was given nothing to do at all except buy an art gallery.

The writers had really lost their way by this point - murder mysteries, doppelganger Pam, Cliff running for office again, JR having no real story even with James turning up. Michelle being nasty to just about everyone, The series seemed to be clunked down with no ideas.

Lucy could have done so much more, Charlene was a much better actress by this point and yet they missed out on so many opportunities with her.

That said, by this point they were struggling to come up with any meaty storylines and plots for any of the characters.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

The big one that Dallas missed out on was Wes being Jock. That would have thrown everything up in the air and given the limping show much more ammunition for the final couple of seasons.

Fights for Southfork, fights for Ewing Oil and all kinds of twists and turns could have happened, much like they did after Jock's death.

It beggars belief that they allowed this plot to just die an instant death, hell they could have killed him off 2 series down the line, but his presence would have been such a positive for the show.

Yeah it was a crying shame after all the build up, the X rays, the polygraph test, the nightmare about the crash that they'd just jettison the storyline so quickly.

The Producers had a great opportunity to alter the dynamic of the show for the better by making Wes Jock but instead squandered it.

Whilst I have the utmost respect for the memory of Jim Davis having the character of Jock back would've opened so much scope for storylines. If they had just taken care with the storyline it would've worked. I would've had Steve Forrest in tears staring at the portrait of Jim Davis. A shot of Wes tenderly touching his face as a tear runs down his face.

Sadly it wasn't to be but I would've loved to have seen Steve Forrest in the title sequence as Jock.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I was never a Miss Ellie Fan. What if Lady Jessica had eliminated Miss Ellie (since BBG was leaving) leading to a Ewing-Farlow war with Cliff Barnes and
Jeremy Wendell maneuvering events. and an increased role for Morgan Woodward, a fine underused actor in Dallas.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Dallas is best at giving us these storylines where shadows of the past are haunting decades later.

I actually think most of these shows work better that way. Looming backstory, and refining/adding to it over the years can be so effective. And these programs get into trouble when they forget that, as they often do.

But beware - I don't like these cheap maternity/paternity changes for shock value (Richard Channing, the Colbys etc.)

Just for shock value, yes. Otherwise, I'm fine with maternity/paternity issues when they flesh it out logically or cohesively.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Just for laughs.

JR is drugged, and in his hazy state, all his past mistresses confront him
Inspired by an episode of Two and a Half Men, where Charley sees all of his past girlfriens.

More seriously.
Katherine Wentworth gains sole control of Wentworth Industries, outmaneuvers Jeremy Wendell and gains control of Westar,
declares war on Ewing Oil, forcing an uneasy alliance between JR/Bobby and Cliff
(Of course Pam, being the whiny, self obssessed hypocrite that she is , is totally useless in this fight, and takes up with Mark Grayson)
Ray and Donna are brought into this fight when Katherine tries to split them, and use Ray's suppressed
feelings of inferiority to the Ewings and his wife, Lucy decides to change her life and fights alongside
her uncles, Miss Ellie and Clayton argue about (Well who really cares) the unrest that it causes
with Clayton supporting Ray, and Miss Ellie actually supporting her sons for a change.

 

[Chris2]

But beware - I don't like these cheap maternity/paternity changes for shock value (Richard Channing, the Colbys etc.)

Me too. Cheezy and too much like daytime soap operas. The Richard Channing one made zero sense . Why would Jacqueline Perrault, who had previously been established as his birth mother, have treated him so lovingly during her seasons on the show? Or why would Douglas Channing, whom it was established in the first still loved Angela, secretly steal Richard away from her because he “hated her so much”? Character assassination for the sake of plot convenience, and cheap, lazy writing.

At least the Ray reveal didn’t directly contradict what came before.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I would've liked to have heard the TARDIS dematerialisation sound and Southfork fades as it takes off!

We see Steve Forrest as Jock standing in the console room with Miss Ellie.

"How do you like your new incarnation Jock?" Ellie asks. "I wasn't fond of mine, so I regenerated again!"

"Just fine, Miss Ellie,," Jock replies, scratching his chin. "At least we've gotten the TARDIS off Earth before those developers attempt to bulldoze Southfork down. They're not destroying our home, Ellie!"

Miss Ellie smiles up at him as the time rotor pumps up and down in the centre of the console.

"Where are we going?" Ellie asks.

"Cabot Cove in Maine. I want you to meet one of my favourite authors!"

 

[Michelle Stevens]

For Dallas had better writing into the 1990's and made Michelle Stevens claw her way into a powerful position at Weststar to be worthy nemesis of the Ewings. Carter McKay had respect for her going back to season 13 and her brief ownership of Ewing Oil would have given her contacts in the industry. After season 14 she had reason to seek revenge on JR, James and Cliff.

Not really a story-line but an idea that could have created many stories over many seasons.

 

[Chris2]

The TARDIS explanation is the only way I would have accepted Steve Forrest as Jock. At least that would have explained why he was 15 years younger than the previous Jock.

 

[Billy Wall]

I wish they kept Mark Grayson around longer. We never got a chance to see just how good a business man he was. He could have butted heads with both JR and Bobby and maybe even Jeremy Windell.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

The TARDIS explanation is the only way I would have accepted Steve Forrest as Jock. At least that would have explained why he was 15 years younger than the previous Jock.

They did dye Steve Forrest's natural hair white to make him look older you know.

 

[ClassyCo]

With a little effort, Lucy could have been given good stories when she returned.

Poor Lucy was underutilized at every turn.​

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I still think that after Wes Parmalee disappeared Miss Ellie should've discovered she was pregnant with quadruplets!!

 

[CeeCee72]

Katherine brought back as being behind Pam leaving the hospital and running away from Bobby.

Aftermath of the Wes Parmelee debacle with real closure. Clayton hunting him down and getting revenge only to find out he was really Jock.

Sue Ellen and JR teaming up to take down Wendell and Kimberly. Sue Ellen actually working as a partner in Ewing Oil and being in constant warfare with Marilee Stone.

Lucy divorcing Mitch, moving back to Southfork and demanding her share of Ewing Oil, causing tons of family friction.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Katherine brought back as being behind Pam leaving the hospital and running away from Bobby.

Aftermath of the Wes Parmelee debacle with real closure. Clayton hunting him down and getting revenge only to find out he was really Jock.

Sue Ellen and JR teaming up to take down Wendell and Kimberly. Sue Ellen actually working as a partner in Ewing Oil and being in constant warfare with Marilee Stone.

Lucy divorcing Mitch, moving back to Southfork and demanding her share of Ewing Oil, causing tons of family friction.

"Get away from me Farlow or you'll feel the real power in my fist!! "