A Ewing... is a Ewing... is a Ewing.

[Jock's Ghost]

I'm pretty sure it was Cliff who said, "A Ewing is a Ewing is a Ewing." It was during the fight for Ewing Oil, around the time Bobby was pressuring the cartel over the Wellington oil field.

Sue Ellen said, "A Ewing is a Ewing is a Krebbs" just after Pam woke up in 'Return to Camelot' (not that I'm suggesting for a second that everybody doesn't already know that).

Cliff said it once. He meant nothing ever changes no matter what Ewing said it.

 

[Mustard]

Does anyone know if the storyline was going to have Jock and Ellie divorce? Had they planned that far ahead, especially with Jim's illness slowly creeping in this season? The more episodes he's in sitting down, you can tell he gets more ill.

I doubt it. Throughout most of Season 4 DVD, they are clearly working around Jim Davis' illness, not knowing what he can physically do or how long he will be around. He only looks close to 100% in the first 2 episodes of the season, perhaps a couple more. After that, his appearance and voice starts subtly changing, the confident Jock Ewing demeanour declines, and later on he is sitting down a lot. Jim Davis seemed to put every last ounce of acting ability that he had left into that scene where Jock and Miss Ellie make up. He only had one more appearance after that, sat down in a car as Jock and Miss Ellie leave Southfork.

 

[Guzzler’s Frightening Hair]

I doubt it. Throughout most of Season 4 DVD, they are clearly working around Jim Davis' illness, not knowing what he can physically do or how long he will be around. He only looks close to 100% in the first 2 episodes of the season, perhaps a couple more. After that, his appearance and voice starts subtly changing, the confident Jock Ewing demeanour declines, and later on he is sitting down a lot. Jim Davis seemed to put every last ounce of acting ability that he had left into that scene where Jock and Miss Ellie make up. He only had one more appearance after that, sat down in a car as Jock and Miss Ellie leave Southfork.

yep, it’s sad, but I think it really took the “starch” out of the season.. which was already in a weird place because of the composers’ strike for the first third or so of the season.

As for Jock and Ellie having marital troubles.. I know it’s a “nighttime drama” and relationship troubles are probably the easiest way to introduce drama, but why exactly does *every single couple* have to have some sort of major crisis at least once a season? That’s just predictable and boring after a while.. seriously, just let the couple who’ve been married for decades be stable. Did anyone really derive any entertainment from seeing them separated?