The Contrast In Marriage Between Miss Ellie And Donna.

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

I agreed with everything up until JR and Haleyville. JR created the mess

nah, while JR likely pushed behind the scenes for more ‘comedy’ and a younger love interest, the blame for that abject abomination of a storyline still falls fully on the shoulders of Uncle Lenny Katzman!

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Miss Ellie was indeed a complex character. I never bought the cosy grandma vibe. She was perhaps the most dangerous Ewing of them all (to adapt a quote from crazy Claudia in Dynasty).

An interesting perspective by Claudia
It seems like a variation of a trope/trope like description, something like 'the most unlikely villain is the one that is least suspected'.
(the butler did it LOL)
Put another way, something like 'the best friend can do more damage than the worst enemy' because the best friend/good(presumably) character is the trusted one.

I don't know if "Dallas" had a good guy character. Maybe Bobby in the early years or Bobby/Pam as a duo (again, in the early years.)
Over time ,every character became more flawed.

"Dynasty" - I suppose Krystle, Jeff and Steven were the good ones, in general

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Donna, IMHO, was really the only strong woman on Dallas
Granted, she benefitted from Sam Culver, but Donna didn't just coast on that.
Donna actively continued to grow with several projects and was successful with them.
I thought that as a couple, Donna and Ray were the underrated stabilizing force on the show.
Donna was intelligent, successful, accomplished, beautiful and far more ethical than the other main characters

Sue Ellen grew and evolved as the series as the series progressed, to be fair

 

[Laurie Marr]

Yep, Miss Ellie and Krystle. The two greatest soap kunts of all time.

People tend to be more sympathetic towards characters who remind them of themselves -- or remind them of what they'd like to be. And blame goes to whomever doesn't fit in to that.

Hence, Jock and JR are worthy of holy admiration. While well-intentioned Miss Ellie and Krystle, unable to navigate their respective corrupt environments (or be sufficiently written by dramatist disinterested in them), become "dangerous" and "an awful person".

Fascinating.



"Who are we gonna murder next, Krystle...?"
"Ooooh, just anybody, Miss Ellie -- I'm up for

Jock and JR were contemptible, but I also know an enabler when I see one.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Jock and JR were contemptible, but I also know an enabler when I see one.

Yes. Ellie ignored Jock/JR methods as long as her life of wealth and privilege remained undisturbed, that is enabling.
When thinking about a matriarch who was strong, intelligent, compassionate and ethical,
Victoria Barkley wins hands down every time