Was J.R. Addicted to Money or the Game?

[kenneth]

I've been thinking about something that Dallas never really seemed to explore in depth: what does J.R. actually want from his wealth?

Obviously, he enjoys the lifestyle that comes with being rich. But he always seems far more interested when there's a deal to make, a rival to outmaneuver, a company to acquire, or someone to manipulate. Simply having money doesn't seem to excite him nearly as much as using it to gain an advantage.

Which makes me wonder: if J.R. suddenly had unlimited wealth, no business rivals and nothing left to prove, would he actually be happy? Or would he become bored and find another battle to fight?

In other words, was getting rich really J.R.'s ultimate goal, or was money mainly the tool that allowed him to play the game he loved?

I don't think the show ever really answered that question. What do you think?

 

[Bobby Southworth]

I've been thinking about something that Dallas never really seemed to explore in depth: what does J.R. actually want from his wealth?

Obviously, he enjoys the lifestyle that comes with being rich. But he always seems far more interested when there's a deal to make, a rival to outmaneuver, a company to acquire, or someone to manipulate. Simply having money doesn't seem to excite him nearly as much as using it to gain an advantage.

Which makes me wonder: if J.R. suddenly had unlimited wealth, no business rivals and nothing left to prove, would he actually be happy? Or would he become bored and find another battle to fight?

In other words, was getting rich really J.R.'s ultimate goal, or was money mainly the tool that allowed him to play the game he loved?

I don't think the show ever really answered that question. What do you think?

I would go with it was the tool that allowed him to play the game he loved. I'm no expert, but J.R. seemed to have a personality disorder. He liked a challenge, and obviously to win that challenge-whether it was a business deal, or a lover.

As far as the personality disorder, it could have stemmed from feeling like he had to earn his love from Ellie, and especially Jock, and he still wasn't either's favorite. I know others have brought this fact up, and I'm not looking to steal anyone's earlier observations.

In the beginning, JR was the victim(hard to believe), but people ultimately have a choice on how to handle trauma, at least externally.

He could have seen the error of the ways of his parents, and never wanted to be like them, or ..he could act out in the ways that he continuously did. In a way, it seemed like he did kinda try not to be like them, at least as far as showing John Ross how much he was loved, but John Ross never had any competition until...James, and look how J.R. was towards John Ross in the last few episodes.. In fairness, this behavior could have just been because he was still adjusting to finding out he had another son, and at this point, a grandchild, but..I kinda just see him as repeating history, only on steroids, pertaining to how he tried to be like Jock. I also want to clarify that I'm not saying Jock and Ellie didn't show him love, but it appears they showed more to his siblings.

Yes, he loved the money and lifestyle, but it was about power. Playing the game and manipulation.

 

[James from London]

I've been thinking about something that Dallas never really seemed to explore in depth: what does J.R. actually want from his wealth?

I always thought it was pretty clear. JR wanted Jock's approval, "even in death" as Angela Channing might have out it. Sexually, we know that he was addicted to the chase and obviously that applied to other areas of his life as well. But, ultimately, "everything he does he does for his daddy."

 

[Crimson]

I always thought it was pretty clear.

Right. Didn't Ellie even directly point out that Jock never taught JR when to quit? JR was motivated by the pursuit not the accomplishment. To his credit, it's also probably why he wasn't discouraged by defeats either.

 

[James from London]

Jock: "I trained JR, taught him everything he knows, gave him the fever for big business. But I never taught him when to stop."

 

[CeeCee72]

JR was obsessed with pleasing Jock. He was also addicted to power. Money gave him power, so that's why he chased it. Sex gave him power, so that's why he chased it. In JR's mind, more power meant more approval from Daddy.

 

[Crimson]

Jock: "I trained JR, taught him everything he knows, gave him the fever for big business. But I never taught him when to stop."

Well there you go, I misremembered it as a quote from Ellie. Good ol' Jock was more self-aware about his influence on JR than I recalled.

 

[Billy Wall]

Power was JR ultimate excitement. Even his adulterous behavior towards Sue Ellen had something to do with power. How many times did JR hear Jock's "POWER" speech?

But to answer the main question directly, JR was way more addicted to the game. But to play the game on his level, you need money, which gives you power.

 

[Seaviewer]

I'd say the game. But money is how you keep score.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

It's kind of all of the above. There are any number of people who have JR's experiences and family dynamic who don't become like he was. Some of it is in-born, probably.

What creates narcissism in some when others escape it?

But being born into wealth, and being denied a certain affection or approval, often creates -- as has been said before -- the phenomenon of those adult children winding up running down the street naked with their hair on fire.