I have started to believe it was a writing problem. In the later seasons it seems that writers lacked creativity and began following formula. "Ray doesn't have Donna now ...we can't do that! Who can we put him with?" Ditto Jenna. Why couldn't people have developed stories while single?
Dallas Couples Ray and Donna - Appreciation Thread
DallasFanForever
Telly Talk Supreme
I guess they might’ve figured well, they’re both single now and in need of a partner so why not throw them together? Personally I was hoping for a Jenna and Bobby reunion after Pam left but I think I’m in the minority there. Not sure where that leaves Ray though. Maybe write him off then and say he went to Washington to be with Donna to give things another chance, I don’t know.
Mrs Bobby James Ewing
Telly Talk Well-Known Member
Happy Memorial Day weekend. 
I love this awesome thread dedicated to Ray&Donna and their amazing lovestory. I love orginal Dallas and it rocks.
I love this awesome thread dedicated to Ray&Donna and their amazing lovestory. I love orginal Dallas and it rocks. Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
Ray and Donna were an underrated part of Dallas' success.
Susan Howard's departure from the series was a major loss, that was not properly acknowledged.
Susan Howard's departure from the series was a major loss, that was not properly acknowledged.
Soaplover
Telly Talk Fan
A story that could have been given to Jenna post Bobby would have been why she seemed to resigned to settling for being second choice... first with Bobby and then with Ray.
Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
I think both SK and PP were under contract and the showrunners couldn't figure on anything else to do with them
I think that Ray was written into a certain role by necessity.
His brothers, JR and Bobby were capable businessmen, and Donna was well accomplished.
Someone had to be...less accomplished, and Ray was never really allowed to develop as a businessman
JR once said something to the effect that "he's a foreman and that is it"
JR wasn't being mean-spirited, it was just the narrative.
Donna didn't seem to object too strongly.
I have wondered about a Bobby/Donna pairing
It could have led to some great drama involving all the characters
JR being concerned about such a strong alliance
Ray and Pam being ...really unhappy
Cliff and Jeremy W manipulating the situation
Ray and Pam did have a similar story - both with flawed fathers (although Digger seems to have been a loving father
despite his issues), absentee Mothers, Aunts who were there for them and Ewing influences.
Would they have rekindled? Probably not, but it was a possibility
Having said all that, I liked Ray and Donna.
I always thought that they were an underrated strength in the show,
doing a great deal to stabilize it
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DallasFanForever
Telly Talk Supreme
Yes, I would agree with this. Jenna was so tied to Bobby and Ray to Donna that once those relationships ended there really weren’t many other options for them. To me it always felt like Ray and Jenna were thrown together rather hastily.
Well, at least she was always Naldo’s first choice.
Mrs Bobby James Ewing
Telly Talk Well-Known Member
Happy 4th of July everyone. I love this awesome thread dedicated to Ray&Donna and their amazing love story. I really love original Dallas as well and it rocks.
I love this awesome thread dedicated to Ray&Donna and their amazing love story. I really love original Dallas as well and it rocks. DallasFanForever
Telly Talk Supreme
I remember someone around here calling them the conscience of the show when they were together and I think that’s a good way of putting it. Donna was always highly intuitive and so good at reading people. Ray, despite his faults, was usually about trying to do the right thing for family and helping others as well.
Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
Well said.
I have always thought that Donna was the strongest female on the show. Intelligent, Accomplished, Attractive and a kind, thoughtful person.
Ray was a good man, with some flaws, who tried to do what he thought was right.
Billy Wall
Telly Talk Dream Maker
Ray was the most polarizing man on the show. At times, he could be the best male character, and other times, he could be the biggest douch ever.
DallasFanForever
Telly Talk Supreme
Yes, very easy to like at times yet other times his own worst enemy, especially the way he treated Donna and her career.
Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
I think that those layers helped Ray's character to develop over time, both positively and not-so-much.
I think it was LH's suggestion that Ray be Jock's son.
For story purposes, I think Ray has to be written as you describe.
His brothers were business savvy and his wife was well-accomplished.
It made narrative sense to have a character like Ray, who was less adept at such things.
There has been speculation over time that Digger may have been JR's father
What if Digger was Ray' father?
That could have opened some stories with Ray having divided loyalties.
Unfortunately, many such scenarios that may or may not have been considered
never materialized as a result of Jim Davis' passing
DallasFanForever
Telly Talk Supreme
If this were to happen then I’d say it’s a good thing Pam turned out not to be Digger’s daughter.
Jock Ewing Fan
Telly Talk Star
Ray seemed to be the "tough luck" Ewing (Krebs)
I think Ray gets a sometimes undeserved criticism for being too rigid
No he was not perfect, but compared to the self-indulgence, avarice and hypocrisy
of the other Ewings, he was nowhere near that level.
I think Ray had to be written as the less-savvy businessman, the partial outsider and
the more Cowboy/Old West character in order to give his character a clearer function.
Despite his faults, he was a better husband to Donna than JR was to Sue Ellen,
granted not the highest bar.
Having said this, I always liked Ray and Donna together.
The were the underrated strength of the show.
I think Ray gets a sometimes undeserved criticism for being too rigid
No he was not perfect, but compared to the self-indulgence, avarice and hypocrisy
of the other Ewings, he was nowhere near that level.
I think Ray had to be written as the less-savvy businessman, the partial outsider and
the more Cowboy/Old West character in order to give his character a clearer function.
Despite his faults, he was a better husband to Donna than JR was to Sue Ellen,
granted not the highest bar.
Having said this, I always liked Ray and Donna together.
The were the underrated strength of the show.
DallasFanForever
Telly Talk Supreme
I feel they were under appreciated as a couple compared to the others. When we look back on Dallas I think we talk a lot more about Bobby & Pam or Sue Ellen & J.R. than we do them. I understand why that is but Ray & Donna were just as much a backbone of the show when it came to couples.
Mrs Bobby James Ewing
Telly Talk Well-Known Member
Happy Birthday Susan Howard aka Donna Culver Krebbs. I hope you are having a wonderful day with your family and friends. I love this awesome thread dedicated to Ray&Donna and I miss chatting with everyone about them and their amazing love story.
I hope you are having a wonderful day with your family and friends. I love this awesome thread dedicated to Ray&Donna and I miss chatting with everyone about them and their amazing love story.