- Awards
- 6
Honestly, the whole thing left me disappointed. It was so bad that by the end, I actually didn't care if he was alive or dead.
K
Karin Schill
Guest
We watched this episode 2 ½ years after the US. At that time I had already heard a spoiler that JR was going to shoot himself in the end. I hoped it wasn't true.
Dallas really deserved a better ending than what we got. I don't like open ended endings either.
Dallas really deserved a better ending than what we got. I don't like open ended endings either.
- Awards
- 15
This was Katzman's fault. He couldn't or wouldn't move with the times.
The show needed to be creative but Katzman just wanted to play it safe & recycle as many of the previous storylines as much as possible!
I honestly think he was burnt out, the show should've gotten another Executive Producer/Showrunner on board who maybe could've turned the show around creatively. Dallas suffered because Katzman stayed in control of Dallas for too long.
- Awards
- 24
"Dallas" was always the jewel in the crown for Lorimar and CBS. There were a lot of financial interests at stake and the show, as we all know, became more and more expensive every year, partly because of the cast´s salaries. I agree with you all about Mr. Katzman being burnt out and wanting to stay for too long, but he was a very talented director and writer too, aside from a now legendary producer (think of the "Swan Song" episode which was HIS masterpiece, though his other season finales were half-cooked, see "Ewing-Gate", "The Fat Lady Singeth" or "333").
Also, on his behalf I must say that there always were (failed) attempts at renewing things since he came back (that allegedly "New Dallas" thing for season 11, the introduction of another family, the McKays, or the youth-oriented two final seasons). To be even more honest, the other Lorimar shows did try the same things but using different show-runners or producers, changing their styles with different results ("Knots" managed to reach its 14th year and "Falcon" its 9th, and chaotic, last season).
Back to "Conundrum", I knew all about it one year before its airing in Spain, and didn´t expect anything good from it. It was nice to see the former actors again, esp. Mary Crosby, but the penultimate episode was indeed much more fitting for a series end. If they had hinted at Pam´s return, it would have been the "perfect" open finale and kept the show´s dignity. But letting us believe J.R. had committed suicide for 5 long years was a cop-out and a big letdown, and also an incentive for so many fans to write their own "Dallas" fanfics, retcons and all.
Here is the press ad of the "Conundrum" airing on the Catalan TV.
"You´ll miss me when I´m gone", he says.
Also, on his behalf I must say that there always were (failed) attempts at renewing things since he came back (that allegedly "New Dallas" thing for season 11, the introduction of another family, the McKays, or the youth-oriented two final seasons). To be even more honest, the other Lorimar shows did try the same things but using different show-runners or producers, changing their styles with different results ("Knots" managed to reach its 14th year and "Falcon" its 9th, and chaotic, last season).
Back to "Conundrum", I knew all about it one year before its airing in Spain, and didn´t expect anything good from it. It was nice to see the former actors again, esp. Mary Crosby, but the penultimate episode was indeed much more fitting for a series end. If they had hinted at Pam´s return, it would have been the "perfect" open finale and kept the show´s dignity. But letting us believe J.R. had committed suicide for 5 long years was a cop-out and a big letdown, and also an incentive for so many fans to write their own "Dallas" fanfics, retcons and all.
Here is the press ad of the "Conundrum" airing on the Catalan TV.
"You´ll miss me when I´m gone", he says.
I remember reading an old newspaper article a couple of months ago. Larry was being interviewed and he said that he wanted out after season 11. However, the head of Lorimar was going to pay him a substantial amount of money. They were going to make him executive producer, just to give him more money. Looking back , those last seasons were pitiful.
- Awards
- 15
I don't blame him wanting to leave after Linda did, but dear God I would take him leaving to be with Sue Ellen and a Dallas-free JR over the arrival of the Beaumonts and Michelle Stevens thinking she owned Southfork.
- Awards
- 6
Dallas wasn't Dallas from season 11 on.
No Pam, no Donna, hardly any Miss Ellie, and then the total destruction of Sue Ellen which led up to her exit. The country bumpkin and the lip smacking lizard, the repeated defeat of JR by cartoon characters, on an on and on.
If JR had left, not sure it would have mattered by that point .
The last 3 seasons seemed like a dream!!!!!!
- Awards
- 6
More like a nightmare.
EVEN BETTER!!!
- Awards
- 6
In many way I guess, Conundrum was a fitting end to the last three seasons. Ridiculous and contrived and blowing the chance to really focus on the returning characters in favor of focusing on the devil.
And that's what makes me so angry about it. Such a missed opportunity.
And that's what makes me so angry about it. Such a missed opportunity.
- Awards
- 15
It was (well a very significant part of it was) a nightmare that continued for more than 20 years - with occasional flashbacks.
To this day I can't forgive those writers and although I would have liked to have seen people like Miss Ellie and Clayton, Donna, Ray, Lucy return and all be as it was, and although I wouldn't have objected to Pam's return for a short while, I am completely opposed to this notion that hinting at her coming back would have somehow saved us all from hell. Dallas wasn't about just her, and it's an ongoing fantasy that I have just never understood or could be on board with.
- Awards
- 17
I adore Pam more than anyone but I don’t think her return would’ve saved anything at that point. It could’ve given closure to Bobby and Pam but I don’t think it saves the show. It was too late.
- Awards
- 21
If DALLAS had to end with "Conundrum," then once JR appears to shoot himself, the camera ripples, blurs and fades into the same old footage from five years earlier when Pam wakes up and hears someone in her shower, goes to open the shower door, sees only a pink tile wall, and the camera pans down to see Mark Graison lying dead on the floor of that shower --- Pam sees it, screams, "Maaaaaaaaaarkk!!" in heavy reverb, and the camera moves in on the drain, fade to black.
Series over.
At least it allows the remaining ambivalence over the 1986 dream scenario to be briefly revisited, permitting the viewers to renegotiate whether the later seasons ever actually happened.
Sure, we can't undo Donna Reed, but I guess that's what the It's a Wonderful Life theme of "Conundrum" was all about.
Series over.
At least it allows the remaining ambivalence over the 1986 dream scenario to be briefly revisited, permitting the viewers to renegotiate whether the later seasons ever actually happened.
Sure, we can't undo Donna Reed, but I guess that's what the It's a Wonderful Life theme of "Conundrum" was all about.
- Awards
- 11
I never thought of the Donna Reed- It's a Wonderful Life connection!If DALLAS had to end with "Conundrum," then once JR appears to shoot himself, the camera ripples, blurs and fades into the same old footage from five years earlier when Pam wakes up and hears someone in her shower, goes to open the shower door, sees only a pink tile wall, and the camera pans down to see Mark Graison lying dead on the floor of that shower --- Pam sees it, screams, "Maaaaaaaaaarkk!!" in heavy reverb, and the camera moves in on the drain, fade to black.
Series over.
At least it allows the remaining ambivalence over the 1986 dream scenario to be briefly revisited, permitting the viewers to renegotiate whether the later seasons ever actually happened.
Sure, we can't undo Donna Reed, but I guess that's what the It's a Wonderful Life theme of "Conundrum" was all about.
- Awards
- 20
I never believed that. I always thought that shooting the mirror was the more likely outcome.
- Awards
- 17
I actually believed he did. And I thought that until they announced the first reunion movie. Only then did I realize that (gladly) he was still alive.
They should have kept that a secret somehow!!
- Awards
- 12
they would have had to call it JR Doesn’t Return!