Dallas Top Ten Top Ten

[Kenny Coyote]

If we're voting on actions alone, my list would look very different.

But I can't even picture Peyton. Brian Dennehy brought a great deal of intensity to that role and I think he was very memorable. So he spoke to me more than Peyton did.

It's a bit like the cliffhangers. If we're doing it scientifically, then A House Divided should have had it.

But there are all kinds of variables: like how old someone was when they saw an episode; at what point someone started watching; how it was filmed; what the music score was like. You name it. Ultimately, it's all about whether each of those episodes or characters resonates with the individual.



Pam is on my list because of the threat and conflict that her presence represented to the majority of the Ewing family at the beginning of the show. Of course, the conflict with JR continued, and I could have had a whole list of people who crossed swords with JR only. But Pam's presence also threatened Jock, Ellie and Lucy, as well as extended family members like Sue Ellen.

Hey Mel, thanks for the reply. Now I understand where you're coming from. Normally, I wouldn't have said anything but it just sohappens that I saw "Winds Of vengeance" yesterday so since I have it fresh in my mind I wanted to remind you that Peyton wanted to still rape one of the Ewing women after Luther had already said he'd changed his mind based on what he'd heard Peyton say about Wanda doing that sort of thing often.

Since all the facts of the episode are so clear in my memory right now and I found Peyton to be worse since he was going to rape anyway, I thought you might possibly have forgotten that. But when you explained how you weren't making your list necessarily based on whose actions were the absolute worst but rather a combination of that along with the acting performance, well then I realize I shouldn't have interfered. If I came across as rude I honestly didn't mean to be. It was just such an amazing coincidence that I saw that episode less than 24 hours ago that I felt compelled to share about it.

I like this quote of yours: "But there are all kinds of variables: like how old someone was when they saw an episode; at what point someone started watching; how it was filmed; what the music score was like. You name it." That is an excellent point. I was barely in junior high school when I found out Kristen shot JR. i had never seen a show like it (and still haven't). When Swan Song aired and Bobby "died" after being run over, I was 16 years old and better able to understand some of the more subtle "adult remarks" that characters sometimes said, and still in awe of how great Dallas was. Little did I know I had just seen the last episode before the infamous dream season which would permanently leave a scar on the legacy of Dallas.

 

[Kenny Coyote]

However if people prefer to vote on how they think the media saw it, then who am I to question them?

For me the artistic greatness of "Who Shot JR" was how many possible suspects there were. That was just a master stroke to have so many events all hit a climax at the end of that season, giving so many characters a motive to shoot JR. That was the best thing about it to me.

As for the media, that helped get people talking about who they thought shot JR all over the place, in the cafeteria, just everywhere! With so many people talking about it and the media covering it so much, to me it created a feeling that all of us Dallas viewers were in on something larger than life and incredibly important - a phenomenon I had never seen a TV show generate!

 

[Ome]

That was just a master stroke to have so many events all hit a climax at the end of that season, giving so many characters a motive to shoot JR

I'm going to put this down to age, I was very young at the time and so I didn't always understand what was going on. Of course I noticed this more later after re-watching and I get where you're coming from. It just didn't have that big of an impact on me back then.

As for the media, that helped get people talking about who they thought shot JR all over the place, in the cafeteria, just everywhere!

Oh yes, it was a great time when people were speculating in the school playground, but again I wasn't fully understanding of all the suspects. I even remember feeling a little underwhelmed when the reveal came about.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

This wasn't high on my list because I don't rate it as a personal favourite. I don't care how much media attention it got, I don't care if it was the very first whodunit because I'm not ranking my favourites on what I believe the media (or any other person/organisation) think I should rate them.

Same here. It's just about following my heart.

Since all the facts of the episode are so clear in my memory right now and I found Peyton to be worse since he was going to rape anyway, I thought you might possibly have forgotten that.

That's such a coincidence. I haven't watched the episode for ages and actually had forgotten about that scene.

I realize I shouldn't have interfered. If I came across as rude I honestly didn't mean to be.

Nah - you didn't come across as rude at all. It's good to have a discussion around it.

I'm going to put this down to age, I was very young at the time and so I didn't always understand what was going on.

Oh yes, it was a great time when people were speculating in the school playground, but again I wasn't fully understanding of all the suspects. I even remember feeling a little underwhelmed when the reveal came about.

It was a tough choice between the two shootings for me. I was too young to watch when JR was shot so it passed me by. I remember the cultural impact that summer: the t-shirts; singles; headlines and the word of mouth seemed to be everywhere. But I wasn't really part of it (even though I remember tuning in for the first episode of the new season along with most of the country).

Bobby's shooting was the first Dallas cliffhanger I watched "live" when it aired, and it had the same impact on me as it did you. I couldn't stop thinking about it (and like you, I also worked out the suspect and her motive). It was a really exciting time.

Watching in more recent years, separating the episodes from the hype, I've had more appreciation for just how well-executed Who Shot JR? was. The final two episodes of Season Two and those first four episodes of Season Three up to the reveal feel really special whenever I watch. The comparative simplicity and the less polished feel of the show really work in its favour.

I tried to factor in how meaningful they were to me back then and how I feel about them now. It really could have gone either way though.

 

[Presea]

1. Katherine Wentworth 2. Kristin Sheppard 3. Alan Beam 4. Angelica Nero 5. Jeremy Wendell 6. Cliff Barnes 7. Stephanie Rogers 8. Marilee Stone 9. Walt Driscoll 10. Jessica Montford

 

[Ome]

1. Cliff Barnes
2. Jeremy Wendell
3. Carter McKay
4. BD Calhoun
5. Digger Barnes
6. Vaughan Leland
7. Hillary Taylor
8. Rebecca Wentworth
9. Angelica Nero
10. Michelle Stevens

 

[Ome]

After a week of votes

The results are in

8 voted on 29 Ewing Adversaries
​

1. Cliff Barnes = 74

2. Jeremy Wendell = 60

3. Digger Barnes = 41

4. Carter McKay = 30

5. Vaughan Leland = 29

6. Pamela Ewing = 25

7. Katherine Wentworth = 22

8. Rebecca Wentworth = 19

9. BD Calhoun = 17

10. Kristin Shepard = 14

11. Angelica Nero = 13

12. Jeb Ames = 10

13. Valene Ewing = 9

14. Stephanie Rogers / Hillary Taylor / Alan Beam = 8

15. Dusty Farlow = 7

16. Donna Krebbs / Gary Ewing = 6

17. Willie Joe Garr / Michelle Stevens = 5

18. LeeAnn de la Vega / Luther Frick = 4

19. Marilee Stone = 3

20. Mrs Scottfield / Walt Driscoll = 2

21. Seth Stone / Sue Ellen Ewing / Jessica Montford = 1

 

[Ome]

Up next

Favourite Storylines

Please vote for your ten favourite stories from across the whole series.
If possible try and keep the details down to a few simple words.


Totals Saturday 26th November​

 

[Toni]

After a week of votes

The results are in

8 voted on 29 Ewing Adversaries
​

1. Cliff Barnes = 74

2. Jeremy Wendell = 60

3. Digger Barnes = 41

4. Carter McKay = 30

5. Vaughan Leland = 29

6. Pamela Ewing = 25

7. Katherine Wentworth = 22

8. Rebecca Wentworth = 19

9. BD Calhoun = 17

10. Kristin Shepard = 14

11. Angelica Nero = 13

12. Jeb Ames = 10

13. Valene Ewing = 9

14. Stephanie Rogers / Hillary Taylor / Alan Beam = 8

15. Dusty Farlow = 7

16. Donna Krebbs / Gary Ewing = 6

17. Willie Joe Garr / Michelle Stevens = 5

18. LeeAnn de la Vega / Luther Frick = 4

19. Marilee Stone = 3

20. Mrs Scottfield / Walt Driscoll = 2

21. Seth Stone / Sue Ellen Ewing / Jessica Montford = 1

You go boy! We are proud of you son! Signed, Digger and Rebecca. Sent from: Soap Hell.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Favourite Storylines

1. Mastectomy - BBG at her brilliant best, heart rending, emotional, poignant and reliving her real life experience - it turned me from Dallas fan into an addict
2. the shooting of JR and the lead up to it, 1980 was a fab dallas year
   
3. Jocks will, The fight for Ewing Oil by JR and Bobby and Miss Ellie going to court to break Jocks will, pam taking her side and a rift in the family
   
4. Bobby bringing new bride Pamela home to SF - everyone jaw dropping from ray to Jock and JR
   
5. the Barnes Ewing feud - Digger, Cliff Pam V Jock JR and Bobby caught in the middle
6. Miss Ellie and Claytons friendship turning to love over S5/6 original ending in their marriage - love them both
   
7. katherine manipulating and splitting up Bobby and Pam with the letter and Bobbys poignant Im letting you go speech in Thanksgiving square
8. Bobby and pam getting back together at ending up on the chaise longe in swan song before he is run over by a mad woman in a blonde wig
   
9. The shooting of Bobby at end of s6
10. Introduction of Wes parmalee - is he Jock or not, Steve Forrest was great

 

[Ome]

1. Pam & Bobby – The Letter

2. Jock’s Will – The Fight

3. Wes Parmelee – Is he or isn’t he?

4. Who Shot JR

5. Jenna framed for murder

6. The Shooting of Bobby

7. Ray & Mickey – Euthanasia

8. Sue Ellen on the street

9. Jamie’s arrival

10. Sue Ellen’s business in lingerie

 

[Karin]

This is gonna be a difficult one, I need to really think about it.

Then as for the Cliffhangers, I know the reason I didn't vote "Who Shot JR" higher was because I saw it in reruns and then I already knew JR was going to get shot so it wasn't a big thing for me. I found Bobby's shooting more of an OMG moment since I hadn't heard any spoilers about it before watching it in reruns. I ranked Pam driving into the oil tanker highest because that was the moment that hooked me on the show.

 

[Kenny Coyote]

We need to define something here: Would "J.R Ewing Gas" count as a storyline? I would think so. There were plenty of good storylines within the fight for Ewing Oil regarding Jock's will. But some might say everything done to win Ewing Oil as per Jock's will would all be part of one storyline. I'd say "The Fight Over Ewing Oil As Per Jock's Will" is a collection of good storylines- not just one storyline. So what is the time limit for what constitutes a storyline? Was JR just involved in one storyline during the year of time for the fight for the company?

 

[Ome]

We need to define something here:

It comes down to how the viewer perceives this.

A storyline can last all season, all series or simply narrowed down to one episode.


My reasoning for choosing Jock's Will is because I haven't seen the show in a long time and my memories are fading so I couldn't single out parts of that story to form another entry in my ten.

However if anyone wants to really break a story down and highlight what part, then that's fine also.

 

[Kenny Coyote]

There Are So Many Good Storylines That I'm Going With Ome's Advice And Jock's Will As One Big Storyline

1. Jock's Will - The Fight
2. Who Shot J.R.
3. JR Sets Cliff Up - Offshore Oil Bidding And Blackmailing Edgar Randolph
4. J.R. Courts Sue Ellen - While Cliff Goes Broke Buying Useless Land And Tries Suicide
5. The Sting - Range War And Wendell Goes To Jail
6. Wallace Windham Saves The Day In Court - Jamie's Claim On Ewing Oil Is No Longer Valid
7. The Mickey Trotter Story - Ray's Decision
8. Takapa - Especially Jock's "Real Power" Speech To Bobby (Best Dallas Monologue Ever!)
9. Mastectomy
10. JR Makes The Ewings Billionaires After Ellie Saves The Day

 

[Victoriafan3]

This is gonna be a difficult one, I need to really think about it.

Then as for the Cliffhangers, I know the reason I didn't vote "Who Shot JR" higher was because I saw it in reruns and then I already knew JR was going to get shot so it wasn't a big thing for me. I found Bobby's shooting more of an OMG moment since I hadn't heard any spoilers about it before watching it in reruns. I ranked Pam driving into the oil tanker highest because that was the moment that hooked me on the show.

It is a question than needs some pondering. So many good stories. Sadly pams tanker was what switched me off

 

[Willie Oleson]

It is a question than needs some pondering

Indeed. I've just ordered the complete boxset from amazon, so I will answer this question after I've finished my re-watch.

 

[Toni]

My top ten fav storylines:

1- Who Shot JR?
2- Bobby & Pam´s separation and reconciliation (years 5 thru 7)
3- Ellie´s Mastectomy
4- Mickey Trotter Saga (years 5 thru 6)
5- Battle for Ewing Oil (years 5 thru 6)
6- Ellie´s denial and acceptance of Jock´s death
7- Jessica Montford´s first visit
8- Who is John Ross´s father?
9- Who Shot Bobby?
10- Pam´s search for Mark Graison

 

[Sarah]

Not really in any particular order but:

Sue Ellen and JR's storyline in the Dream Season (sah-woon!)
JR courting Sue Ellen after the divorce
Sue Ellen's takeover of Valentines
Miss Ellie's kidnapping
BD Calhoun saga and John Ross' kidnapping and Sue Ellen and JR's subsequent reconciliation
Mad Connie stalking Ray
Bobby admitting his love to Pam and then having to tell Jenna (same in dream but sadly he doesn't make it)
The search for Jock
Katherine Wentworth's obsession with Bobby
Peter Richards Storyline

 

[Victoriafan3]

This was difficult to compose. Most of my favourite stories happened from 1983-1985 and some sadly didn't actually happen

1. Pam and Bobby reconciling and his death and all the angst of them separated
2 Pam Bobby Katherine the letter
3 Pam searching for Mark
4 Mark returns to Pam in dream season
5 Pam engaging to Mark because he was dying
6 Donna and Ray adopting Tony process (that so should have really occurred!)
7 Donna and Ray and the downes baby story (another brilliant story lost)
8 Mickey and Lucy's romance
9 Sue Ellen on the street and her alcoholic deterioration in the dream and recovery
10 Jenna goes to jail (yay!)

Are you going to have a favourite scene list after this? That'd be much easier!