Perhaps Miss Ellie realized that, as dramatic as Clayton was about his feelings for Sue Ellen, it was really more of a hopeless puppy dog fantasy crush, as opposed to him being head over heels in love with her. He certainly had his opportunities if he was seriously going to act on his feelings for Sue Ellen and he never did. When it came down to it, he chose a total package of style and substance and Miss Ellie knew that his feelings and intentions toward her were genuine in a way they weren't for Sue Ellen.
I'm not sure about the hopeless puppy dog bit, Clayton saw Sue Ellen as a daughter which he didn't have and she saw him as a Father figure. Then those lines got blurred because Clayton was a lonely soul and thought Sue Ellen was the same. It took Afton and JR to reinforce to Clayton how he felt which were genuine albeit confused feelings.
He never acted on those opportunities because he was a gent and tried to work out his feelings and was then made to feel as though it was wrong and dirty. JR called him a fraud and accused him of wanting Sue Ellen for himself and not for his son (as we thought then). Clayton ran away to think things over and told Sue Ellen this. They did share a lingering look which was clever in getting the audience to wonder if they would kiss and what feelings they really did have for each other.
he never found any similar satisfaction away from that, beyond the chase after a woman
I guess that relationship with Ewing Oil stemmed from wanting to make Jock proud and the desire to be more ruthless than Jock in business because he was allowed that free reign and Jock approved of most of his bad behaviour. It's a shame Miss Ellie and Jock didn't ever step in before to try and stop JR's abusive behaviour. Miss Ellie did a couple of times, but Jock only tried once Sue Ellen was providing a grandchild and then it was because Miss Ellie said he should.
Why couldn't JR learn from his parents about a loving marriage, why did he view Sue Ellen as his property and feel it was his right to lie and sleep around and yet expect her to stay faithful to him?
Could J.R. have coped with someone like Miss Ellie, Pam or Donna as his wife? I doubt it.
I agree. However dysfunctional and toxic they were, Sue Ellen loved JR and that love was her weakness. She did manage to stand up to him numerous times and could also give as good as she got. She kept him on his toes and was the only one he could really confide in.
made worse by the fact that she was brought up to expect love from a husband,
Actually she was brought up to accept love didn't have to come with the wealth and position provided from a suitable husband. Status even without love was more important to Momma Sheperd and this was passed on to her daughters. Sue Ellen accepted this until Bobby brought Pam home then she realised what real love was and what was missing from her own marriage.
Sue Ellen didn't want Clayton that way. That's it.
Maybe she would have without the reappearance of Cliff and interference from JR. She may have turned to him more and more and then developed feelings for him. She was relieved though when Clayton denied having feelings for her. He said he loved her but in a different way than anyone else would. Of course later a drunk Sue Ellen would throw herself at him, maybe that was HER real feelings coming out this time?
I always found it a little odd that Clayton was going to propose to Sue Ellen so quickly.
For him maybe it wasn't quick, he'd had time to come to terms with how he felt and maybe wanted to risk taking the chance. I was so sad when he didn't go through with it as soon as he heard she was back with JR. I was so cross with him.
Those two together even for a short time would have provided some great drama although probably frowned upon by viewers. Miss Ellie with Frank or Wes as Wes would've been nice.
Going back to sack dresses, Miss Ellie always looked knockout for special occasions. It's a shame we never got to see her and Jock at an Oil Barons Ball together.
