Sue Ellen and Cally

[CeeCee72]

I have never understood that relationship. Maybe at first, Sue Ellen encouraged Cally because she knew JR wanted rid of his wife, but as time went on, I got the feeling Sue Ellen had at least a tiny bit of affection for Cally. Maybe that's normal, because John Ross came to love Cally, so maybe that influenced Sue Ellen's feelings. Having said that, the whole relationship is just so strange. The Sue Ellen from seasons 1-11 didn't seem the type to welcome another woman to Southfork as Mrs. JR Ewing and stepmother to her son.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Well, people have whispered for years about Sue Ellen and Jamie.

And by the time Cally showed up, the DALLAS relationships were making less and less sense. I mean, did Miss Ellie even ever meet her new grandson, James??

 

[Scorpienne]

I felt like she acted a little unhinged that entire season. Cally was part of it but in other things as well such as how she was so flippant about moving across the pond and leaving John Ross.

 

[Seaviewer]

he Sue Ellen from seasons 1-11 didn't seem the type to welcome another woman to Southfork as Mrs. JR Ewing and stepmother to her son.

Early Sue Ellen was bent on holding on to her marriage and her position. By the time she met Cally she was just about out the door.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

Early Sue Ellen was bent on holding on to her marriage and her position. By the time she met Cally she was just about out the door.

This. Exactly. I always liked the way she was with Cally, but I can also see how it would seem unusual.

I think Sue Ellen perhaps seemed a little off because of the fact that her character was being written out..a character that had been a huge part since the beginning(even if her name wasn't in the miniseries intro...). The writers decided to send her away from Dallas, and they needed to keep John Ross on the show, so..I do suppose she seemed a little too nonchalant about it, though..the distance, but for whatever reason it was written that way. Perhaps trying to make it okay to us? but instead it makes her come across as a little cold.

 

[pete lashmar]

One of my favourite scenes ever was at the Oil Barron's Ball when Sue Ellen is introduced to Cally as JR's new wife, just brilliant comedy timing and so damn funny. Also later in the season for the storm episode when Sue Ellen pops the balloon. I loved how their relationship evolved.

 

[Scorpienne]

One of my favourite scenes ever was at the Oil Barron's Ball when Sue Ellen is introduced to Cally as JR's new wife, just brilliant comedy timing and so damn funny. Also later in the season for the storm episode when Sue Ellen pops the balloon. I loved how their relationship evolved.

'What junior high were you cruising this time?'

 

[pete lashmar]

I know there's a lot of hate for the new characters that were introduced in the later seasons, and I loathe most of them too, but I felt differently about Cally. Like almost everyone here I hate the Haleyville storyline, but as soon as Cally gets to Dallas she becomes compulsive viewing for me....though that feeling gets lower with every episode after the balloon pop. The makeover from Lucy for the oil baron's ball was utterly hilarious, the reactions to it were just tv gold. Unfortunately the writing had gotten so bad....to match the acting of all the new characters, that the plot with Cally dried up far too quickly. Overall I think after being taken under Sue Ellen's wing, the character should have been killed off in a shock cliffhanger, leaving the Ewings really questioning JR's reaction to her. It would have also ignited Sue Ellen again who became far too lame with the stupid movie plot.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

I know there's a lot of hate for the new characters that were introduced in the later seasons, and I loathe most of them too, but I felt differently about Cally. Like almost everyone here I hate the Haleyville storyline, but as soon as Cally gets to Dallas she becomes compulsive viewing for me....though that feeling gets lower with every episode after the balloon pop. The makeover from Lucy for the oil baron's ball was utterly hilarious, the reactions to it were just tv gold. Unfortunately the writing had gotten so bad....to match the acting of all the new characters, that the plot with Cally dried up far too quickly. Overall I think after being taken under Sue Ellen's wing, the character should have been killed off in a shock cliffhanger, leaving the Ewings really questioning JR's reaction to her. It would have also ignited Sue Ellen again who became far too lame with the stupid movie plot.

I have mixed feelings on Cally. On one hand, I was pretty young during the original episodes with her, and I kind of just went along with how my mom seemed to feel, and she didn't seem to mind Cally, and I think actually enjoyed seeing JR being good to her..seeing them happy. I don't know how representative my mom was of the general Dallas fan base, but I know she had been a huge fan of the show since the beginning, so..I felt comfortable pretty much riding it out with whatever impressions she had of the newer characters.

Watching it myself as a much older adult, I'm not as fond of Cally, and find her kind of annoying, but as you said..especially in her first season, once she got to Dallas, I suppose there was a certain charm about her. Her character just seems a little out of place on Dallas, and a little silly, but she had her moments, I guess. I suppose her seeming out of place was actually part of the charm?

 

[Scorpienne]

I have mixed feelings on Cally. On one hand, I was pretty young during the original episodes with her, and I kind of just went along with how my mom seemed to feel, and she didn't seem to mind Cally, and I think actually enjoyed seeing JR being good to her..seeing them happy. I don't know how representative my mom was of the general Dallas fan base, but I know she had been a huge fan of the show since the beginning, so..I felt comfortable pretty much riding it out with whatever impressions she had of the newer characters.

Watching it myself as a much older adult, I'm not as fond of Cally, and find her kind of annoying, but as you said..especially in her first season, once she got to Dallas, I suppose there was a certain charm about her. Her character just seems a little out of place on Dallas, and a little silly, but she had her moments, I guess. I suppose her seeming out of place was actually part of the charm?

This made me think of how I felt, watching it for the first time. I didn't mind her either at the time. Later, on rewatch, I found almost all of it unbearable from there to the series finale and still do. It's usually at this point I either skip to JR Returns or start over from the beginning. LOL