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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Laurie Marr" data-source="post: 296677" data-attributes="member: 175">There’s a multitude of reasons for the shift in tone, I think. Many posters have made some excellent observations about the quasi-camp shift in mood. However, you’re correct to fasten upon the specific aspect of JR’s scariness.In the first few seasons Hagman could be genuinely chilling. The chuckle of self satisfaction was then used more often and eventually this became the default mode captured in a thousand freeze frames. It certainly implicated the viewer in his schemes but as JR’s popularity achieved iconic status the portrayal often became too knowing. The fourth wall was breached on many occasions and inevitably Hagman became more indulgent and somewhat mannered - and that cold sadistic cunning appeared rarely thereafter. Hagman as JR was often genuinely scary, JR playing JR less so.</blockquote>