Worst Dallas storyline in the show's run

[Spooky Owl!]

No my dear Snarky Oracle, I obviously followed all these conversations but I was only stating all the points that I disliked in this season, including the image in addition to certain plots.

You called me "dear" and I appreciate it. Beginning in 1986, Lorimar started to use a new, cheapy post-production process in which the 35mm film pieces were dubbed down to low-grade 1 inch video prior to editing, tossing out those film pieces and leaving the blurry, washed-out prints the permanent version. Apparently, old timers in the film lab were appalled (as were the viewers) but the brass felt it was worth the savings.

They looked awful, as if DALLAS was now shot with a crappy camcorder.

Over on DYNASTY, Aaron Spelling refused to use the new technology because it looked so bad. And yet he embraced something just as bad, such that the original Spring 1986 to 1988 broadcast prints were so ruddy, grainy and splotchy that the image was virtually lost, which couldn't have helped the already-dropping ratings. Fortunately, though, the negative was pristine, so they were able to use those with which to strike fresh prints for Region 1 DVSs for Seasons 6, 7 and 8 (although the Region 2 discs didn't do so).

Warners, however, has been remastering the Season 10 DVDs for DALLAS using the latest technology, so they'll look as crisp as possible. And the improvement seems to be significant.

The dream explanation they're not able to do anything about -- but my A.I. hopes are high!

 

[Sea - Boo! - Er]

The dream explanation they're not able to do anything about -- but my A.I. hopes are high!

I'm not sure how serious you are about that, but I would not be at all surprised if they do that one day - money rules. I'd buy an alt-Dallas special or season retconning the dream as long as they don't do a George Lucas and ban the original at the same time.

 

[Chase Gioberti]

Because Haleyville was an unincorporated hick community.

A lot of land in the USA is made up of unincorporated rural places. A lot of these places are very insular and extremely small town, and they are not subject to normal laws. Unincorporated communities are not governed by any municipal corporation or council. People in incorporated areas of the US (i.e. cities, towns, suburbs), or people in other countries (where everything is incorporated) wouldn't really understand it. Baltimore County in Maryland even has its entire territory as formally unincorporated, even though it's right next to a big US city in Baltimore City.

In the US, all the land in 5 states is incorporated (New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island), and nearly all the land is incorporated in another 3 US states (Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire). The other 42 US states have plenty of unincorporated land parts.

J.R. Ewing is from the fictional Braddock County, Texas (obviously based on real life Collin County, in the small city of Parker, where Southfork is located), and he works in the city of Dallas some miles down the road in Dallas County. Both are incorporated areas.

The sheriff literally showed up at Ewing Oil offices. In Dallas. Where JR has a lot of power.

JR should have had him sleeping with the fishes at that point.

 

[Chase Gioberti]

1. JR in this Sanatorium
2. BD Calhoun
3. Sue Ellen Stupid Movie
4. Jenna & Ray
5. A spirit named Adam... Unbearable.
6. The Mafia Story
7. Lisa Alden.
8. Lucie & Eddie story line.
9. All about Pamela's accident, her Egyptian mummy wraps, and her pseudo replacement by Margaret Michaels.
10. Kimberly Crider.
11. The Valentine Lingerie story, boring.

Agree with all but the Lucy and Eddie story wasn’t as horrible as any story involving Lucy after she returned from Atlanta. Lucy and Eddie > Lucy and Casey Denault.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Agree with all but the Lucy and Eddie story wasn’t as horrible as any story involving Lucy after she returned from Atlanta. Lucy and Eddie > Lucy and Casey Denault.

Yeah that was more a rehash of the original storyline when Casey tried to dupe both Lucy and April.

It's amazing how the writers managed to sugarcoat similar plots over and over again!

 

[lbf522]

When a show starts repeating storylines, you know its near its end.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

As one of the EMPIRE producers pointed out: once you go for the evil twin plot, you've lost your way.

As I have often pointed out: once you neglect the nazi treasure plot, you've lost your way.

It's waiting out in Section 40, just where Jock buried it.

And so nunuDALLAS begins...

 

[southfork88]

As one of the EMPIRE producers pointed out: once you go for the evil twin plot, you've lost your way.

As I have often pointed out: once you neglect the nazi treasure plot, you've lost your way.

It's waiting out in Section 40, just where Jock buried it.

And so nunuDALLAS begins...

View attachment 47327

I agree.
But Josh Henderson was really good in his role. It's enough for me to hear the word 'dad' three times with three different acting inflections, when JR is killed, to consider Josh a great performer. And the list would continue with the comparison John Ross vs. Sue Ellen, the scene in elevator listening his father's voice, many scenes with his women, etc.

 

[Brian Kinney]

But Josh Henderson was really good in his role.

He was and I wish he gets other roles with an impact that bring him back in the spotlight.

 

[southfork88]

He was and I wish he gets other roles with an impact that bring him back in the spotlight.

To digress ... since dubbing in Italy has a tradition consolidated over time by professionals recognized throughout the world, normally the acting of the best Anglo-American actors is maintained entirely by dubbing.

If there are good, but not excellent, actors, the Italian dubbing has significantly improved them.

Pamela has a more charming and powerful voice than the original, while April has a softer voice.

In Italy Miss Ellie (Barbara not Donna) has the same tone and voice inflections as the original actress. This have required a huge effort for the talented Italian voice actress who maintained the same very high quality level of Barbara's acting.

All the actors of the final seasons in Italy seem much better.

As for Josh Henderson, despite his very good voice actor, it was not easy to reach the level of pathos conveyed by Josh who ranges well between all acting registers.

 

[Piggyrella Sanderson]

Yeah that was more a rehash of the original storyline when Casey tried to dupe both Lucy and April.

It's amazing how the writers managed to sugarcoat similar plots over and over again!

Actually both were a rehash of season 3's triangle with Lucy-Alan-Betty Lou. Nothing's new under the sun (of Texas)...

 

[mrpitkin]

Just rewatching season 13, and hands down this Mallory nonsense with Clayton and Ellie storyline!
What absolute garbage.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Just rewatching season 13, and hands down this Mallory nonsense with Clayton and Ellie storyline!
What absolute garbage.

Yes Murder, Miss Ellie Wrote as I always called it was kind of head scratching. Two terrific actors that deserved a much better storyline at this point.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Yes Murder, Miss Ellie Wrote as I always called it was kind of head scratching. Two terrific actors that deserved a much better storyline at this point.

Howard Keel said BBG, like Eve in Eden, tried to nudge him into pressing Katzman and the writers to give them better scenes at that point in the show; Keel politely refused, viewing it as unwise.

As I've said, Lady Jessica's return should have been a major story arc that year, her murder spree done like a horror movie -- and played absolutely straight; she's killing what's left of the cartel whom she's been extorting for 40 years over their alleged parenting of Dusty (just as Kristin had done with Jordan Lee).

And they eventually matched stories. And stopped paying.

 

[CryptCreeper72]

Yes Murder, Miss Ellie Wrote as I always called it was kind of head scratching. Two terrific actors that deserved a much better storyline at this point.

No one was getting good storylines at this point though. The whole show was just awful. I love Dallas so much and it infuriates me how they destroyed one of the best dramatic TV series of all time with utter nonsense.

 

[DallasFanForever]

As I've said, Lady Jessica's return should have been a major story arc that year, her murder spree done like a horror movie -- and played absolutely straight; she's killing what's left of the cartel whom she's been extorting for 40 years over their alleged parenting of Dusty (just as Kristin had done with Jordan Lee).

Jessica and her return was the only part of that storyline worth watching so I’m definitely on board with this idea. It would’ve worked a lot better than what we ended up getting.

 

[CryptCreeper72]

If they were going to bring Jessica back, they should have done it earlier (before Sue Ellen left Dallas). I would have liked to have seen this in season 12, used as a way to reunite SE and Dusty. Once the rampage was over, SE could have left with Dusty instead of dull Don.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Howard Keel said BBG, like Eve in Eden, tried to nudge him into pressing Katzman and the writers to give them better scenes at that point in the show; Keel politely refused, viewing it as unwise.

As I've said, Lady Jessica's return should have been a major story arc that year, her murder spree done like a horror movie -- and played absolutely straight; she's killing what's left of the cartel whom she's been extorting for 40 years over their alleged parenting of Dusty (just as Kristin had done with Jordan Lee).

And they eventually matched stories. And stopped paying.

Howard Keel was smart, considering what occurred onscreen

Yes Murder, Miss Ellie Wrote as I always called it was kind of head scratching. Two terrific actors that deserved a much better storyline at this point.

Just guessing that the "Murder She Wrote " production team and Angela Lansbury had some good laughs over that story, if they even knew about it.

So many contenders for worst story. No surprise that most were after season 10

 

[mrpitkin]

Jessica and her return was the only part of that storyline worth watching so I’m definitely on board with this idea. It would’ve worked a lot better than what we ended up getting.

I've just finished watching season 13 and I still don't understand why Dusty couldn't have the Weststar voting stock?

 

[Piggyrella Sanderson]

I've just finished watching season 13 and I still don't understand why Dusty couldn't have the Weststar voting stock?

Because he would feed his horses with it?

"I´d love to try some Ewing shares for a change..."​