Were you disappointed when Digger wasn't Pam's Father?

[LMLDallas78]

If there had been more characters around, Clayton might have been better received for stepping into Jock's shoes. He was so good when he first appeared and still having Digger around would have added so much more.

Or let's have Digger telling Pam sooner, not on his death bed?


Then we had to have Clayton not being Dusty's Father which was another blow. I felt really let down by this as well.
It allowed the introduction of mad Jessica but that could still have happened being Clayton's sister, there was no need to follow this storyline. Even Frank Crutcher was short lived, I'm surprised it wasn't discovered that he wasn't someone's Father.

I enjoyed the contrast of Father-son relationship between JR and Dusty with their Fathers. Then it was snatched away when we learned Clayton was not the Daddy.

 

[Chris2]

The real problem with Pam finding out that Digger wasn’t her biological father is that it lead to a year of stories where the character went around whining, instead of being the badass that she was in the early episodes. Strong Pam is way more interesting than Whiny Pam.

 

[Seaviewer]

I can't say I was disappointed by the Digger revelation, although it did tend to lessen the feud element if she wasn't a "real" Barnes.

I was more upset by this:

We learned just before her accident she was able to carry a baby to full term, so why not before?
We were also robbed of Pam never having a child of her own.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

But Luther Frick? Yes, definitely should have brought him back!
Someone needed to get revenge on him for putting poor Sue Ellen and everyone else through that rendition of People.

I’ve long felt they should have had a crew of the early standalone episode villains band together inexplicably and attempt to get their revenge on the Ewings years later. Led by Frick, a ragtag group with Edison Faraday Haynes, Peyton Allen, the maniacal Willie Gust, surviving fearsome kidnapper Faye, nervous corrupt records clerk Ritlin, and any other greats I’ve regrettably forgotten, could have caused some real havoc. Who needs Angelica Nero when you have these bumbling nitwits at your disposal?

 

[LMLDallas78]

I was more upset by this:

So much of Dallas at the beginning was about this as well as about Digger.


The whole thing of JR and Pam in the barn, Sue Ellen terrified of Pam beating her to produce another Ewing heir. Jock melting and talking Bobby and Pam into staying after the miscarriage.

So much of this story followed the above, a second miscarriage, Pam's mental episode and her absolute need for a baby.

So much of this torturous story only for Pam to be robbed of having her own baby anyway.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I’ve long felt they should have had a crew of the early standalone episode villains band together inexplicably and attempt to get their revenge on the Ewings years later. Led by Frick, a ragtag group with Edison Faraday Haynes, Peyton Allen, the maniacal Willie Gust, surviving fearsome kidnapper Faye, nervous corrupt records clerk Ritlin, and any other greats I’ve regrettably forgotten, could have caused some real havoc. Who needs Angelica Nero when you have these bumbling nitwits at your disposal?

Great idea - a kind of Dirty Dozen in Texas!
Jeremy Wendell should have thought of it.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

The real problem with Pam finding out that Digger wasn’t her biological father is that it lead to a year of stories where the character went around whining, instead of being the badass that she was in the early episodes. Strong Pam is way more interesting than Whiny Pam.

it opened the door to the path that led Pam to have absolutely zero trace of the feisty street-smart girl from the “wrong side of the tracks” she was as the show started. By the time she’s living in her own mansion with Christopher and a maid, lounging around the pool deciding whether she might bother dropping in to the Barnes-Wentworth office that day, it feels like she’s always been that wealthy.. At that point she strikes me as living like someone well into her 40s, not the 30-something she would have been.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Then we had to have Clayton not being Dusty's Father

I didn’t like this either. It did add to the drama and helped explain Jessica’s motives more clearly for starting the fire and killing Amy but it felt like we lost something. Once the Jessica storyline is wrapped up it’s never really alluded to again but we always know that Clayton is really Dusty’s uncle now and not his father. Something seems lost in that for me. I guess what matters though is that Clayton raised him.

I just realized that Clayton never really went after his son’s ex-lover after all. He went after his nephew’s ex-lover so maybe that’s not as bad. I’m surprised neither of them ever told Sue Ellen the truth about Dusty’s parentage. You’d think as close as they both were with her it would’ve come up at some point.

 

[LMLDallas78]

I just realized that Clayton never really went after his son’s ex-lover after all.

Indeed not! As you say perhaps that wasn't so bad after all.

I’m surprised neither of them ever told Sue Ellen the truth about Dusty’s parentage.

You would think they would have. Clayton could have told Sue Ellen and pointed out it was fine for him and her to be together.

"Just call me Uncle Clayton then our relationship will look innocent and everyone will have forgotten about it next season".

 

[lbf522]

I had always felt that they should have more Barnes in the show and not just Digger, Cliff, and Pamela. I was also not crazy about Digger not being her biological father. As for her personality, I thought she could have been more fierce when it came to the times Bobby had threatened or attack Pamela's father and brother. Instead she just stands there without comment.

 

[Karin]

I think they did that to pave the way for Rebecca and half sister Katherine. Also it rid Pam of the neurofibromatosis disease. But yeah that sure was some plottwist. I mean the first episode was called "Digger's Daughter."

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I didn’t like this either. It did add to the drama and helped explain Jessica’s motives more clearly for starting the fire and killing Amy but it felt like we lost something. Once the Jessica storyline is wrapped up it’s never really alluded to again but we always know that Clayton is really Dusty’s uncle now and not his father. Something seems lost in that for me. I guess what matters though is that Clayton raised him.

I just realized that Clayton never really went after his son’s ex-lover after all. He went after his nephew’s ex-lover so maybe that’s not as bad. I’m surprised neither of them ever told Sue Ellen the truth about Dusty’s parentage. You’d think as close as they both were with her it would’ve come up at some point.

The most important question is did Dusty himself know that Clayton wasn't his real father?

I don't think Dallas ever addressed that.

 

[LMLDallas78]

The most important question is did Dusty himself know that Clayton wasn't his real father?

I don't think Dallas ever addressed that.

I don't think he was told was he? Clayton confided in Ray and Donna but I don't recall anyone else knowing.
Maybe I've forgotten because I was so disappointed and I showed off for ages!

"Digger's Daughter."

And that's why the whole storyline seems like a slap in the face. So much time spent telling Digger's story and all about the Barnes family then let's decide Digger isn't her Father after all and for what?

Rebecca and Katherine could still have appeared, just not on the back of Digger's deathbed confession.

Some great tension was created whenever Digger was around. Look at the time he showed up at the first bbq and at the Rodeo to see baby John.

Such great scenes with him (Digger 1 & 2) and Jock in both episodes. Always tender moments with Miss Ellie. You would think Digger would have confided in her.

Always wished for a Digger - Sue Ellen scene.

Maybe Digger should have turned out to be Sue Ellen's drunken Daddy!

 

[DallasFanForever]

The most important question is did Dusty himself know that Clayton wasn't his real father?

I don't think Dallas ever addressed that.

I’ve never thought of this to be honest. I always assumed Dusty knew but perhaps he was never told? Does that also mean he never knew Jessica was his mother and always wrongly assumed Amy was?

And that's why the whole storyline seems like a slap in the face. So much time spent telling Digger's story and all about the Barnes family then let's decide Digger isn't her Father after all and for what?

So if Pam wasn’t really Digger’s daughter then how did she carry the neurofibromatosis? I know she was diagnosed with it after the second miscarriage but she couldn’t have gotten it from Digger as we were told. Or was it a misdiagnosis? I always assumed the miscarriages were due to falling out of the hayloft and off the horse, etc. but then came the diagnosis that she’d never have children due to that disease I’m tired of typing out. I wonder what made her finally know she could have children at the end of season 10? What had changed?

 

[Crimson]

There are very few things in the first half of DALLAS that I dislike, but I hate Digger's deathbed revelation. It's bad enough that it undermines the very foundation of the show by making Pam not-a-blood-Barnes, but the writers never did anything with it. It was a narrative non-sequitur.

But, on the other hand, it's always made it easy for me to just disregard it. I write it off as Digger's booze-addled mind playing tricks on him on his deathbed.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Some great tension was created whenever Digger was around. Look at the time he showed up at the first bbq

Maybe Digger should have turned out to be Sue Ellen's drunken Daddy!

Digger did steal the show at the first barbecue. I especially liked his chemistry with J.R. in their one brief scene together at the table. I find the idea of him turning out to be Sue Ellen’s daddy a little intriguing because he’s exactly how I would’ve envisioned her father as having turned out.

 

[LMLDallas78]

Digger did steal the show at the first barbecue. I especially liked his chemistry with J.R. in their one brief scene together at the table. I find the idea of him turning out to be Sue Ellen’s daddy a little intriguing because he’s exactly how I would’ve envisioned her father as having turned out.

Imagine Patricia Shepard and Digger together. I guess they had a fling after he fathered Ciff.

OMG NO!

That could not have happened or we couldn't have had Sue Ellen and Cliff affair which was far more beautifully exciting. They would be half siblings.

Now that would have been very bad and very sick, sick, sick as Sue Ellen would say.

 

[DallasFanForever]

That could not have happened or we couldn't have had Sue Ellen and Cliff affair which was far more beautifully exciting. They would be half siblings.

Well, look at it this way. If Digger fathered Sue Ellen then he wins either way as far as John Ross being his grandson goes.

 

[Seaviewer]

I had always felt that they should have more Barnes in the show and not just Digger, Cliff, and Pamela. I was also not crazy about Digger not being her biological father. As for her personality, I thought she could have been more fierce when it came to the times Bobby had threatened or attack Pamela's father and brother. Instead she just stands there without comment.

They did have an aunt and cousin who we saw early on and were then largely forgotten.

 

[LMLDallas78]

They did have an aunt and cousin who we saw early on and were then largely forgotten.

That's true, I remember Aunt Maggie who helped raise Cliff and Pam and cousin Jimmy.
They were in a couple of episodes then hardly mentioned again.
Would've been good if they'd had more prominent roles.