Season 4(5 DVD)

[Bobby Southworth]

Does anyone else have a hard time getting through the first half of season 4(5DVD)? My goodness; it's so slow. Jock left a huge void. Even if he wasn't always upfront and center in those first 4 years, there was just something about his presence on the show, and it never was quite the same, The episode where Bobby brings Christopher home for the first time to confront JR, and then Pam thinks he's their adopted baby is the first episode of the season that seemed to kick things more into gear, and then the episode "The Search" was very well done. The rest of the season slowly picks up, but those early episodes with Sue Ellen at the Southern Cross.... There was so much time spent there, and for some reason, I find it so dull. Seasons 3 and and the first half of season 4 were just so entertaining and action packed. Admittedly, the last half of season 4 loses some steam, but it still beats Dusty, Clayton, and the Southern Cross. Anyone else feel this way?

 

[bmasters9]

Does anyone else have a hard time getting through the first half of season 4(5DVD)? My goodness; it's so slow. Jock left a huge void. Even if he wasn't always upfront and center in those first 4 years, there was just something about his presence on the show, and it never was quite the same, The episode where Bobby brings Christopher home for the first time to confront JR, and then Pam thinks he's their adopted baby is the first episode of the season that seemed to kick things more into gear, and then the episode "The Search" was very well done. The rest of the season slowly picks up, but those early episodes with Sue Ellen at the Southern Cross.... There was so much time spent there, and for some reason, I find it so dull. Seasons 3 and and the first half of season 4 were just so entertaining and action packed. Admittedly, the last half of season 4 loses some steam, but it still beats Dusty, Clayton, and the Southern Cross. Anyone else feel this way?

You bet-- right on the money! I had that fifth go on DVD at one time, and it went at a snail's pace; incredibly hard to enjoy.

 

[DallasFanForever]

You bet-- right on the money! I had that fifth go on DVD at one time, and it went at a snail's pace; incredibly hard to enjoy.

I guess I never felt that way about this season. It’s one of my favorites right from the start. I don’t feel it moving slowly at all but that’s just me.

 

[bmasters9]

I guess I never felt that way about this season. It’s one of my favorites right from the start. I don’t feel it moving slowly at all but that’s just me.

That's why I go by the philosophy of YMMV-- if you thought it was good and a favorite, you're welcome to feel that way; I just never did.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Does anyone else have a hard time getting through the first half of season 4(5DVD)? My goodness; it's so slow. Jock left a huge void. Even if he wasn't always upfront and center in those first 4 years, there was just something about his presence on the show, and it never was quite the same, The episode where Bobby brings Christopher home for the first time to confront JR, and then Pam thinks he's their adopted baby is the first episode of the season that seemed to kick things more into gear, and then the episode "The Search" was very well done. The rest of the season slowly picks up, but those early episodes with Sue Ellen at the Southern Cross.... There was so much time spent there, and for some reason, I find it so dull. Seasons 3 and and the first half of season 4 were just so entertaining and action packed. Admittedly, the last half of season 4 loses some steam, but it still beats Dusty, Clayton, and the Southern Cross. Anyone else feel this way?

I think that you have a point. The untimely death of Jim Davis meant that major storyline(s) had to be dropped/rewritten. I think that Linda Gray may have said (in an interview) that at least one episode was padded with an extended dance sequence (Ewing Barbecue?). My memory may not be entirely accurate - this was decades ago.
I always thought that Jock should have been recast, simply because there would have been more story material. I realize that Jim Davis would be a hard act to follow, but a good story would have helped.

 

[Barbara Fan]

oh no, I loved the start - all of it really - of S4 - dvd 5 - people knew that Jim Davis was dying so the script was written to accomodate his death but I think they knew that he wouldnt be back on the show.

It was a great season with plots and storylines and sad to say but Dallas was much better this year (compared to year before) amd sadly Jims death gave Dallas some great storylines

Its a season I can watch again and again, and the run of 4-6 original was Dalals finest hour.

I did not want Jock to be recast / i feel it insults viewers intelligence - he was established as Jock so I wouldnt accept someone else in the role and S4 original has so many great scenes for all memebers of the cast

I dint find it slow in any way, I just wish I didnt need to wait a week to see what happened next!!

 

[Bobby Southworth]

The season is good. There's just too much time spent away from Southfork, and on the Southern Cross. Dusty is somewhat depressing. Pam and Dr. Conrad...... I really think the season picks up right before they find out Jock is dead.JR holding their oil didn't seem to have any impact on the Farlows's, and after a while is barely mentioned.. That plot just didn't seem to go anywhere.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

No. I never felt on rewatchs that this particular season was slow.

They had to have Jock's death mid season because they already had the storylines mapped out.

Very sad that we lost Jim Davis. I'm glad that they didn't attempt a recast at this point although they could've done so if they had really wanted to keep the character of Jock Ewing on the show. Jim Davis was a lovely actor, may he Rest In Peace.

 

[CeeCee72]

The last half of this season was one of Dalla's best, but yes, the first half is a little dull and slow.

 

[Grangehill1]

There are far far fuller seasons. Season 2 is a snooze fest

 

[bmasters9]

There are far far fuller seasons. Season 2 is a snooze fest

Why is the second go so slow?

 

[Grangehill1]

For me it’s a mixture of the incidental music and the fact Dallas hadn’t found its feet yet. Was just very slow

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

For me it’s a mixture of the incidental music and the fact Dallas hadn’t found its feet yet. Was just very slow

There is too much John Parker and not enough serial flow yet, it's true.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

I can see this about season 2, at least the episodes leading up to "The Red File". I think from "The Red File On", it managed to have plenty of action, outside of the first episode with Donna. "The Outsiders". That's not to say that earlier episodes didn't have plenty of action or weren't worthwhile. It's just that they were mixed in with episodes that were kind of slow, or were possibly, dare I say,somewhat mediocre? "Runaway" comes to mind. Dallas really began to come alive when it became more of a serial, and I guess the format started with "The Red File". One might argue even as far back as "Act Of Love", but there were still several self contained episodes after that one.

However, it's hard, as a true Dallas fan not to just simply enjoy the true authenticity of the earlier episodes of season 2. We see the real Southfork ranch for the first time, and even the real interior of the Ewing home(at another residence, but still). We see a lot of Dallas in those first 7 episodes.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I can see this about season 2, at least the episodes leading up to "The Red File". I think from "The Red File On", it managed to have plenty of action, outside of the first episode with Donna. "The Outsiders". That's not to say that earlier episodes didn't have plenty of action or weren't worthwhile. It's just that they were mixed in with episodes that were kind of slow, or were possibly, dare I say,somewhat mediocre? "Runaway" comes to mind. Dallas really began to come alive when it became more of a serial, and I guess the format started with "The Red File". One might argue even as far back as "Act Of Love", but there were still several self contained episodes after that one.

However, it's hard, as a true Dallas fan not to just simply enjoy the true authenticity of the earlier episodes of season 2. We see the real Southfork ranch for the first time, and even the real interior of the Ewing home(at another residence, but still). We see a lot of Dallas in those first 7 episodes.

I would agree, in part. I think that the early episodes had a freshness and creativity because the saga was in progress and we didn't know what to expect. There was more of a feel of the post industrial west, which I thought was a major strength of the story's depth. Part of the fun was watching the showrunners build on the early episodes, to what became a huge success.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I would agree, in part. I think that the early episodes had a freshness and creativity because the saga was in progress and we didn't know what to expect. There was more of a feel of the post industrial west, which I thought was a major strength of the story's depth. Part of the fun was watching the showrunners build on the early episodes, to what became a huge success.

I mean pre-industrial west! Typo LOL!

 

[TheDeadBobby]

They could have spruced that season up where Pam woke up and heard her shower running and it was Jock in there showing because his shower had busted and he needed to get out to Ft Worth early in the morning. To Pam's groggy amazement, Jock was alive, the helicopter crash was simply a dream!!!:eck: and actually Jock being old and wrinkled was a part of the dream too! So the real Jock was actually only in his early 40s, 6'6" and built like a tank! Well, Pam knew that already but it would take a while to get over the horror of the dream (which would have been the last 4 seasons or so) ...

So this could have been doable because then they could get any buffed actor they wanted that could be a new powerhouse Jock that nobody would dare sass or double cross! They could set it up too where he eventually dumped Miss Ellie because she just couldn't keep up with him and his ramblin cowboy ways.... actually, he could possibly take the spotlight away from JR by just punching him out every time he got out of hand. The possibilities are endless and would be no more silly than what they did with Bobby coming back in the shower.