Biggest Drop in Quality

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Not to mention a family show.. The Cosby show of Friday nights! Or was it that Cosby was the Dallas of Thursday nights..I dunno. Now I'm so confused.

“Cosby turned out to be worse than JR when it came to women” wasn’t on many people’s bingo cards in the day…

 

[CeeCee72]

I agree with a lot of the others that feel that season 9 started out promisingly enough. They were just too quick to put Pam right back into Mark's arms, and out of the Ewing Oil conflict. I don't think the quality of season 9 was all that different from 8..it might even be a little more interesting, but neither season is a favorite of mine. I just felt bringing Mark back that fast just seemed kinda tacky, when Pam supposedly just lost the love of her life.

Was it as offensively handled as Bobby's stubborn coolness towards Pam in season 11? Heck no, but she didn't need to have a man that fast.

For me, season 9 actually seems kind of like a season for a series that's coming to a close, at least in some respects. I know that was nowhere in the game plan at that point, but the way a lot of the main characters started being kinder to one another..I dunno. I could have seen this being the last season, but then had it been, that might make one just wish they had ended it with "Swan Song". So, if Swan Song wasn't going to be the ending, I'm glad season 9 didn't end up being the closing season. That said, the way the show proceeded forward, we had to do some major suspension of disbelief.

When I watched Dallas with my child (who was watching for the first time) they were adamant that if Dallas had ended after season nine it would have been the perfect ending. JR finally got everything he wanted, Sue Ellen was finally sober, Pam had moved on with her life, and the family was all getting along. Would have been a happy ending.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

When I watched Dallas with my child (who was watching for the first time) they were adamant that if Dallas had ended after season nine it would have been the perfect ending. JR finally got everything he wanted, Sue Ellen was finally sober, Pam had moved on with her life, and the family was all getting along. Would have been a happy ending.

I can totally see that, and let's face it, the way some of these things took place, like Sue Ellen and the sobriety, were so much better executed than when they needed to 'just make them happen again' the following season. Only, I truly think Sue Ellen deserved better than J.R., and to have her morph into someone he could respect in the dream season.. I like that, but would have rather she try it on her own, or with someone new, not fall, once again, back into the vicious cycle. Granted, was that realistic? Probably

While I do think the 9th year could have been a good last season for the show, I would have much rather have the show end with Bobby and Pam reuniting(in Swan Song), than her and Mark Marrying. However, as it stands, the show didn't ultimately end with either being the case, Soo.. What a mess.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

When Paulsen left. Both times.

I could do a little research, but refresh my memory..when did he leave the first time? With Katzman in '85?

 

[CeeCee72]

I can totally see that, and let's face it, the way some of these things took place, like Sue Ellen and the sobriety, were so much better executed than when they needed to 'just make them happen again' the following season. Only, I truly think Sue Ellen deserved better than J.R., and to have her morph into someone he could respect in the dream season.. I like that, but would have rather she try it on her own, or with someone new, not fall, once again, back into the vicious cycle. Granted, was that realistic? Probably

While I do think the 9th year could have been a good last season for the show, I would have much rather have the show end with Bobby and Pam reuniting(in Swan Song), than her and Mark Marrying. However, as it stands, the show didn't ultimately end with either being the case, Soo.. What a mess.

To be fair, we skipped the dream season and then went back and watched it at the very end. Did a thread about it.

Rewatching Dallas with a newbie

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am re-watching Dallas from the beginning and am now a few episodes into season 10 (I skipped season 9 Dream Season). This time though, I am watching with my 21 year old daughter who has never seen Dallas before. My daughter is "special needs"...

www.tellytalk.net

 

[Rove]

I think the first major drop was season 9

And to think this should have been when Dallas went scorched Earth with those legacy characters. We witnessed the death of Bobby, the rightful Miss Ellie was back and the writers cleverly weaved Pam into Ewing Oil. The story was right there...sitting in their lap.

I'm fast approaching this season as I continue to binge-watch Dallas on Amazon Prime Australia. Perhaps I'm judging Dallas too harshly but thus far I'm enjoying the ride so I'll be curious what my reaction will be as I continue viewing.

I still hate Jamie Ewing. Actually I like the introduction of the character just cannot warm to the actress.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I could do a little research, but refresh my memory..when did he leave the first time? With Katzman in '85?

Yes, Paulsen left in 1985 (along with Katzman, Patrick, Charlene and Art Lweis) and then KNOTS' Peter Dunne came in for a year. Lenny, Paulsen and Patrick came back in '86, Art Lewis came back in '87, and Paulsen left again in '88.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

To be fair, we skipped the dream season and then went back and watched it at the very end. Did a thread about it.

Rewatching Dallas with a newbie

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am re-watching Dallas from the beginning and am now a few episodes into season 10 (I skipped season 9 Dream Season). This time though, I am watching with my 21 year old daughter who has never seen Dallas before. My daughter is "special needs"...

www.tellytalk.net

Thank you for sharing this thread. I will check it out. I remember discovering Dallas while it was still on, and my mom was a big fan. She had watched from the beginning, and I was kinda born with it(January of '78.). So, I remember all these shows(Dallas, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, and Dynasty) that I couldn't stand for the longest time, but finally at some point in 4th grade they started peaking my interest, and a distant local channel started airing reruns of Dallas. We didn't have cable. The channel was very fuzzy at times, if there was reception at all, and I was hooked when I saw the old Dallas. JR has brown hair? Jock? The theme tune. I loved everything about those early years.

So, your daughter made it through all 14 seasons? I am definitely curious to see how she felt about those last few years.

 

[CeeCee72]

They HATED ever

So, your daughter made it through all 14 seasons? I am definitely curious to see how she felt about those last few years.

Absolutely HATED seasons 11-14. Pam, Donna, and Sue Ellen all gone and Ellie down to basically cameos.