Dallas Best Seasons

[DallasFan1978]

I’m a long time Dallas fan and have been thinking about the best seasons of Dallas. I’ve come up with my top 3 and it would be interesting to hear everyone’s thoughts.

1. Season 2 (79-80): This is the season that Dallas really came into its own. The buildup to Who Shot JR was great, I really liked the Asian oil lease/mortgaging of Southfork/drilling on Section 40 storyline, and JR was at his best this season.

2. Season 5 (82-83): I think this is the best written season of the show with the aftermath of Jock’s death, the reading of his will, and JR and Bobby’s fight for control of Ewing oil. The writers did an amazing job of intertwining all of the season’s storylines, and it was Dallas at its best.

3. Season 6 (83-84): To me, this was the best produced Dallas season by far. This was when they brought in Bradford May and the photography, music, directing, etc. was outstanding. I never understood why they didn’t stick with it in the following seasons. I really liked most of they storylines as well including JR setting up Cliff with Gold Canyon 340, Cliff trying to be like JR by using Sly as a spy, and JR and Katherine working together to breakup Pam and Bobby’s marriage (they had great scenes together). I didn’t care for the Peter Richards storyline though. Overall, this season stands out due to the production value.

 

[the-lost-son]

Hello DallasFan 1978,
Welcome to the forum.

My favorite season is season 6 (DVD7):
I loved everything about it, the show firing on all cylinders from start to finish. I loved the LadyJessica storyline and I really enjoyed the Peter Richards. There was so much going on for JR, it was quite believable he didn't see that affair coming.

3. Season 6 (83-84): To me, this was the best produced Dallas season by far. This was when they brought in Bradford May and the photography, music, directing, etc. was outstanding. I never understood why they didn’t stick with it in the following seasons.

You're right. Dallas never looked better. I have no clue why they lost Bradford May. Does anyone know?

Close behind is Season 5 (DVD 6) with Miss Ellie going to court, the battle for Ewing Oil and Holly Harwood. It's perfectly written, all storylines come together climaxing at season's end. The acting was outstanding but the writing was perfect. It's so implausible to divide a company in two halves, but they made it work for sure.

Number 3 in my list is season 4 (DVD 5). The season started strong with the divorce of JR and Sue Ellen, and I could watch the episodes about Jock's crash, the search for him and the family dealing with that loss endlessly.

 

[Victoriafan3]

Hi DallasFan1978

1. 84-85. Except for the temporary Miss Ellie, this was a beautiful season. I loved Pam’s storyline’s, the wild goose chase, her look. I loved the clothes in this season, Pam and Bobby had such longing and sadness in their love. Everyone had really grown into there roles here. It was a fantastic, established, super show

2. 83-84. Bobby and Pam everyone wanted them together again but they weren’t. Katherine was so scheming. The show was still number one on the ratings and on a roll

3. 82-83. Every character got a story from the will all season long. It was well done

I did enjoy the first six or so episodes of 85-86 and the last episode of this season. I thought they were splendid. This would’ve been my second favourite season based on these 7 episodes but the rest of the silly ott stories (except Donna and Ray who had their greatest moments ever this season) pulled the rest of this season down. At least Miss Ellie was Miss Ellie again

 

[DallasFanForever]

This has always been a tough question for me because I love so many different seasons for so many different storylines and reasons. I’ve always thought that the absolute best season from a writing standpoint was season 5 (6 DVD). The battle for Ewing Oil, the aftermath of Jock’s will, Miss Ellie going to court and trying to break the will, the drama with Pam and Bobby ending up on opposite sides, the death of Rebecca, Pam leaving Southfork, Sue Ellen’s accident and Mickey’s sad fate, the Southfork fire, I will always say it was the best season of Dallas.

But I’m also partial to season 6(7 DVD) because it’s the first season I can remember watching as a kid. As much as I love Bobby and Pam, their divorce was so well written and the aftermath of seeing them with other people while obviously still being so much in love with one another made for great drama. I loved the Lady Jessica storyline. It was so very un-Dallas at the time but great actors like BBG, Howard Keel and Alexis Smith somehow made it work. The surprise of Bobby being the one shot in the cliffhanger instead of J.R. was a reveal I will never forget.

However, season 7 (8DVD) also holds a very special place for me. Swan Song will always be my favorite episode ever. The emotional rollercoaster of Bobby and Pam reuniting to Bobby’s “death” was so well-written. The season does have its flaws, like Jenna’s never ending trial, and I know most will say BBG not being there definitely hurts. But I find it a very enjoyable season nonetheless. To me it was the last great season of original Dallas.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

1 to 10 are great.

After that when Leonard Katzman took complete control the quality is questionable.

 

[Victoriafan3]

Like you DallasFanForever, absolutely Swan Song will always be my favourite episode of this show aswell and one of my favourite episodes of any show ever. Being seperated bought something out in Victoria and Patrick’s acting that we hadn’t seen before. Even though we wanted them back together, being apart brought a whole new level of greatness to watch. This was the last truly great season of Dallas indeed

 

[Chris2]

Season 6 (83-84) for me. It’s marvelous and looks beautiful to boot.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

Season 5 (82-83): I think this is the best written season of the show with the aftermath of Jock’s death, the reading of his will, and JR and Bobby’s fight for control of Ewing oil. The writers did an amazing job of intertwining all of the season’s storylines, and it was Dallas at its best

I agree that Jock's will and the contest for Ewing Oil was an amazing season. The pacing was just perfect!

A couple of years ago, we did a rewatch of the series. During this season, we had to force ourselves to stop at one episode per day. We could barely wait for the following episodes to see what would happen next!

Some of you may remember. That was the summer when I just HAD to discuss the show, and posted on here multiple times per day.

Good times. . .

 

[Jon Ewing Jr.]

I really liked season 6-7 into the first part of season 8.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I have a soft spot for the early seasons with Jim Davis as Jock, and for obvious reason's I love season ten for Steve Forrest's Wes Parmalee Jock Ewing storyline.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I always say the best years are, per DVD count:

Season 3 (79/80)
Season 6 (82/23)
Season 7 (83/84)
Season 10 (86/87)

I instinctively view Season 13 (1989/90) as the phantom last great year which never happened; the show was so off-the-rails by this point, that potential greatness simply couldn't materialize (If only Katzman had succeeded in getting Paulsen back after DYNASTY ended in 1989).