Oh yes I love the entire mini-series. Each stand alone episode establishes the characters so well and build character depth.
Bar-B-Que is definitely a sad episode for Bobby and Pam. It starts out so well and there's even hope that their father's will bury the hatches for the sake of their grandchild. The scene where Digger and Jock shake hands speaks volumes. Everything seems to be going Bobby and Pam's way then.
Then later on we have Lucy telling Ray that Pam is pregnant. It hurts him since she used to be his girl. Also I guess Ray has a longing for a family since his mother is dead and he is estranged from the man who he thinks is his dad. So all he's got is an aunt and a cousin he hasn't seen in years.
Of course things goes sour. Jock gets on Diggers nerves and he starts drinking again.
Sue Ellen also drinks and is jealous that Pam is having a baby and not her.
Then because Bobby takes care of his brother's drunk wife instead of looking for his own, Pam ends up falling off the hay loft. It was JR's fault of course. Even if he didn't push her. He sure as hell went up there to talk to her. He cornered her. If he hadn't done that, Pam wouldn't have fallen.
Then at the end we have Jock who begs Pam not to alienate Bobby from his family.
Yes the first BBQ episode is damn near perfect. Oh and it was written by David Jacobs too. That man is a genius when it comes to writing compelling drama series. Just look at Knots Landing. That show was awesome!
