Showdown: Dream Season vs. Post-Dream Season

[xab]

Jock leaving his family, his wife, his sons, his ranch, his company ? He had been missing for what ? Four years ? It's not a late return 20 years later. What are four years in an old man life ? Are we talking about THE Jock Ewing ? The tough and once ruthless Jock Ewing ? Are we supposed to believe he behaves like Margaret Michaels Pam Ewing ? This scene made no sense to me ("my love for them for them is all I really need" blah blah... ) but Jock Ewing vanishing into thin air to let Mr and Mrs Farlow be happy ever after would be worse : an insult to the character of Jock and Jim Davis.

 

[Grangehill1]

Yes but this was season 10 of Dallas where all rules of logic went out the window.

 

[Mustard]

This shows how they also changed Pam's character from the early seasons. During the Mark Griason season, Pam noticed she was being followed. Mark showed up and told her, "That was me sending guardian angels to look out for you."

Pam from the early seasons did not need (nor would have accepted) guardian angels to look out for her.

Pam had changed herself though. Her relationship with Bobby became more complex after he first took over Ewing Oil after J.R. was shot, not as rock solid as before. I remember Victoria Principal herself saying that she'd have never have put up with what Bobby was putting Pam through at that time. Pam was not quite as scathing as that, but it definitely changed things in the marriage a bit.

The Battle of Ewing Oil in Season 6 DVD was a very crazy time for Pam, her world falling to bits and seemingly powerless to stop it. Siding with Miss Ellie to break Jock's will and end the madness, failed, and threatened her marriage anyway. The Battle of Ewing Oil did wreck her marriage, with help from Katherine, and killed her mother with whom she had only recently reconciled, having believed her dead for a long time.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Again, Season 10 had flaws, but the dream season is almost unwatchable for me.

That's it for me -- after the first few goodish episodes, the dream season is just so hard to sit through... cluttered, unfocused, smuggy in an '80s way.

Then they go and visit children with special needs and Dallas shows the world that a Down's Syndrome child is a blessing.

Yeah, but not enough of a blessing to actually adopt one. Although deaf boy Tony was precious and I wanted him in my house (nothing illegal, mind you).

Jock leaving his family, his wife, his sons, his ranch, his company ? He had been missing for what ? Four years ? It's not a late return 20 years later. What are four years in an old man life ? Are we talking about THE Jock Ewing ? The tough and once ruthless Jock Ewing ? Are we supposed to believe he behaves like Margaret Michaels Pam Ewing ? This scene made no sense to me ("my love for them for them is all I really need" blah blah... ) but Jock Ewing vanishing into thin air to let Mr and Mrs Farlow be happy ever after would be worse : an insult to the character of Jock and Jim Davis.

Why does everybody think neither burnt Pam nor refried Jock would react the way they did and ultimately take off? Head-to-toe body scars are no fun at all.

And was it really an insult to Jim Davis?? Whether Wes was Jock or not (and I rather like not knowing for sure) the plotline evoked the memory of Jock more vividly than DALLAS ever had since Davis died.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Jock leaving his family, his wife, his sons, his ranch, his company ? He had been missing for what ? Four years ? It's not a late return 20 years later. What are four years in an old man life ? Are we talking about THE Jock Ewing ? The tough and once ruthless Jock Ewing ? Are we supposed to believe he behaves like Margaret Michaels Pam Ewing ? This scene made no sense to me ("my love for them for them is all I really need" blah blah... ) but Jock Ewing vanishing into thin air to let Mr and Mrs Farlow be happy ever after would be worse : an insult to the character of Jock and Jim Davis.

Totally agree. THE Jock Ewing would come back and say, My Wife my family, Ewing Oil and Southfork are mine!!
He would have have chased the Clayton, a man who pretended to have honor but lusted after his son's love interest, away.
I would loved to have seen Jock best Clayton

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

I picked the dream season, (s9 DVD) the 1985-1986 season was the reset the show and audiences needed, the previous season was repeating older storylines and seemed to be in a rut.

by 1985 something big had to change in order to reset the show plus there had to be a big main character death and Bobby’s death was the answer, it had the potential to change the dynamic between JR and Pam, they could be bitter enemies or put their differences aside to face off a bigger enemy, yes Angelica Nero was too Dynasty to belong in Dallas but was she worse than what came years later? We’re Cally, James and Michelle better than Angelica Nero? I say no on both accounts.

Bobby returning was the beginning of the shows slow demise, the show may well have still ended in 1991 even if Bobby had stayed dead but the original cast may have hung around a bit longer than 1987/88 and storylines would have been better and the dynamics between characters would have been more interesting in my opinion.

 

[auhin4]

Dream for sure. There were some great plots in 9 but 8 was more interesting. Ray and Donna breaking up in 9 and Ray and Bobby fighting over Jenna/Lucas was too painful for me. The blue collar worker family suing Ewing Oil was incredible. Felt very real.

 

[Snowcat]

Agree. Prefer Bobby to Mark.
Season 10 also had the Calhoun story, Jeremy Wendell manipulating events, and the almost Jock return. I wish that Steve Forrest was Jock. It could have led to some
great shows.

I really wanted him to be Jock too. But Miss Ellie would have been torn apart choosing between him and Clayton. The viewers, including me, would have never accepted her staying with Clayton over Jock

 

[wvugirl2007]

I liked Mark Graison so much I would have been thrilled if he was really back and Pam was really with him in 9. I found Ray and Donna’s break up sad and Jenna’s whole storyline in 10 boring. The way Pam’s departure was handled hurt the show for me more than Bobby’s return. Things just started going downhill.

 

[CeeCee72]

I prefer season 9 (dream). Sue Ellen's recovery was so well done. We saw her hit rock bottom and climb out of alcoholism in a realistic and heart wrenching way. In season 10, she just "decided" to stop drinking because Mandy pissed her off by calling her old in a restaurant.

Also, JR and Sue Ellen's reconciliation was a slow burn, with both coming to terms with the state of their marriage and their feelings for each other gradually. Season 10 was just like, "okay, BD Calhoun happens and BAM - back in love."

The scenes of Miss Ellie dealing with her grief were so powerful.

Pam and JR at Ewing Oil was incredible.

Donna and Ray and Tony were so heart warming. Then in season 10, boom! Contrived breakup and Jenna shoved down our throats.

Yes, I could have done without Nero and the diamond mine. And Jenna's nervous breakdown wore on my nerves . But season nine is the only season I recall where Dallas let the fans into the MINDS of the characters. We knew WHAT was motivating them emotionally. Season ten was just this is how they act and you don't get to know why.

I do love the Wes story in season 10 (except for the abrupt ending), but it looks like we were going to get that with Ben anyway.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

The scenes of Miss Ellie dealing with her grief were so powerful.

That is one good thing about the later seasons. Once Barbara Bel Geddes returned, she was given some great scenes and of course she nailed them perfectly.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

That's it for me -- after the first few goodish episodes, the dream season is just so hard to sit through... cluttered, unfocused, smuggy in an '80s way.



Yeah, but not enough of a blessing to actually adopt one. Although deaf boy Tony was precious and I wanted him in my house (nothing illegal, mind you).



Why does everybody think neither burnt Pam nor refried Jock would react the way they did and ultimately take off? Head-to-toe body scars are no fun at all.

And was it really an insult to Jim Davis?? Whether Wes was Jock or not (and I rather like not knowing for sure) the plotline evoked the memory of Jock more vividly than DALLAS ever had since Davis died.

That entire Wes Parmalee Jock Ewing storyline was a tribute to Jim Davis and Jock Ewing.

It showed us just how much the character and the actor was missed.

Yeah Jock had flaws and he was no angel but that character defined Dallas, at least until we sadly lost the actor due to a brain cancer.

The character and the actor will never be forgotten and neither will Steve Forrest's interpretation of Jock Ewing either.

Two fabulous actors, Dallas was lucky to have them.

Rest In Peace to both of them. Jim Davis & Steve Forrest, sleep eternal you guys.

I love you both.

 

[wvugirl2007]

I agree Steve Forrest and Jim Davis both were amazing on this show. I also loved Howard Keel on here. They all showed their wonderful skills as actors. If you can try to watch all of them in any of their other work. They all play these amazing cowboys. It is a joy to see them young in other work too.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I prefer season 9 (dream). Sue Ellen's recovery was so well done. We saw her hit rock bottom and climb out of alcoholism in a realistic and heart wrenching way. In season 10, she just "decided" to stop drinking because Mandy pissed her off by calling her old in a restaurant.

Also, JR and Sue Ellen's reconciliation was a slow burn, with both coming to terms with the state of their marriage and their feelings for each other gradually. Season 10 was just like, "okay, BD Calhoun happens and BAM - back in love."

The scenes of Miss Ellie dealing with her grief were so powerful.

Pam and JR at Ewing Oil was incredible.

Donna and Ray and Tony were so heart warming. Then in season 10, boom! Contrived breakup and Jenna shoved down our throats.

Yes, I could have done without Nero and the diamond mine. And Jenna's nervous breakdown wore on my nerves . But season nine is the only season I recall where Dallas let the fans into the MINDS of the characters. We knew WHAT was motivating them emotionally. Season ten was just this is how they act and you don't get to know why.

I do love the Wes story in season 10 (except for the abrupt ending), but it looks like we were going to get that with Ben anyway.

No, Ben would've really turned out to be Jock if it wasn't for Patrick Duffy's return.

They did try again with Wes but the fan backlash sealed this storyline's fate.

At least we can enjoy Steve Forrest's powerful performance as both Ben Stivers & Wes Parmalee the Jock Ewing wanabee.

A shame it all got reneged because Jock's return would've been great for the show as it badly needed a lift after season ten with the departures of both Susan Howard and Victoria Principal. Leonard Katzman was as I've said before creatively burnt out.

 

[Barbara Fan]

The viewers, including me, would have never accepted her staying with Clayton over Jock

I differ on that one, I would have hoped she would choose Clayton as he was a much nicer, kinder person x

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I differ on that one, I would have hoped she would choose Clayton as he was a much nicer, kinder person x

Maybe, maybe not.

She loved Jock very much.

If it had've been proven absolutely that Wes was Jock Miss Ellie would've gone back to him and of that I have no doubt.

 

[Grangehill1]

No, Ben would've really turned out to be Jock if it wasn't for Patrick Duffy's return.

They did try again with Wes but the fan backlash sealed this storyline's fate.

At least we can enjoy Steve Forrest's powerful performance as both Ben Stivers & Wes Parmalee the Jock Ewing wanabee.

A shame it all got reneged because Jock's return would've been great for the show as it badly needed a lift after season ten with the departures of both Susan Howard and Victoria Principal. Leonard Katzman was as I've said before creatively burnt out.

How many times. THERE WAS NO FAN BACKLASH

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

How many times. THERE WAS NO FAN BACKLASH

Many more times won't be enough, as he lives in his own weird reality.

The backlash that year, of course, was over the dream explanation which opened the season. But the Wes Parmalee plotline had wrapped up shooting by the time the episodes aired, so fan reaction didn't impact the storyline at all (plus, Forrest had another job he had to go do).

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

How many times. THERE WAS NO FAN BACKLASH

I've answered this before there was a fan backlash in the US.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I've answered this before there was a fan backlash in the US.

There was definitely fan backlash, I agree