Fair warning: If you’re reading this review, I’m going to assume that you’ve seen the April 15 second season finale of TNT’s new Dallas. If you haven’t, you’re likely to get spoiled, and I apologize for that. With that out of the way, what did this big Dallas fan think? Was it worth the wait?
Here are a few points that I’ve been thinking about since the finale has aired.
Is Pamela Barnes Ewing alive? Taking advantage of one scene from near the end of Dallas’ original run, we find out that Pamela did indeed fall in love with and marry her plastic surgeon… and, as was hinted in that episodes something like 24 years ago, Pamela was indeed dying at the time. Cliff paid her doctor and nurse to not reveal Pam’s death over all these years, so that she’d be considered still alive and Christopher would never inherit her third of Barnes Global.
You can see the original scenes that inspired Pam’s fate here:
While I do love this callback and clever bit of storytelling, it does disappoint me a little bit as well, mostly because, even though the actress has denied that she will return, I would love to see Victoria Principal back as Pam. She’s as much of the show as the rest of the surviving cast, and her return would really put a wrench in things. Alas, I think it’s safe to say she’s as dead as April Stevens… for now.
Who Killed J.R.? This is another storyline that guided the season’s final two episodes. Being a longtime Dallas fan, while I think it was a brilliant piece of work, I also am not sure how okay I am with the idea that the Ewings would do what they did to Cliff Barnes, no matter what he had done to the family and what J.R.’s wishes had been. Is this the same man that Sue Ellen would have had an affair with, that Bobby would have brought along to meet with someone named Jeanne who he thought to be “Pam?” (Moreso, does this mean Cliff knew Pam was really dead at the time this happened?) As the episode pointed out, Bobby Ewing is a decent guy; no matter what Cliff threw at the family, I’m not sure he’d resort to framing the guy.
This will lead to some juicy and possibly nasty moments when and if Pamela Rebecca realizes she’s been played.
In the end, I liked what Bum had to do with J.R.’s death, and I do like the notion that even J.R. would try to turn his own death into something advantageous. It does make his letter to Sue Ellen even more touching, knowing that he was a man in his last days, and I will admit that yet again Dallas has made me sad, when I thought “J.R.’s Masterpiece” took all of that emotion out of me.
Emma. She’s like a little Lucy Ewing clone, just a foot taller, isn’t she? She’s so conflicted, but a huge surprise. I can’t wait to see more of her in Season 3, assuming the annoying Rylands stay far away.
I’m not sure I like the idea of her shacking up with John Ross, though. Call me naive, but I kind of wanted a happy Barnes-Ewing union. Fat chance of that, I know.
Elena’s cliffhanger. Not surprised that J.R. would screw over Elena’s family, but, man. I’m not sure I’m going to like the Elena scorned story, if the show lasts long enough to see it.
Unfortunately, TNT hasn’t renewed Dallas yet for Season 3. I’m assuming they will, as it’s doing all right and has done well internationally. I feel the story of the Ewings is just heating up, and it’d be a shame to jump off now, especially after a season that started fairly poorly, rebounded with the funeral, and then became something really great in recent weeks. Maybe next year they can bring back the triple-split-screen credits and the freeze frame at the end? We can only hope. If there is a Season 3, though, I will be watching.
3 Comments
Me too. I fell in love with the show since the first minute of the pilot. Hopefully it will be renewed for a third season. Otherwise I will never ever watch a TNT’s show again.
a great great show! the last 1/2 wasnt too bad w/o jr ewing. even though his legend carried the show. im eager for season 3
I thought the writing was brilliant. I wanted a happily every after for Pamela Rebecca and John Ross too and was sad that they didn’t get it but it certainly was in keeping with John Ross’ personality and I kept on wondering if the tryst with Emma would be revisited. I love that the character of Pamela Rebecca is so smart and conniving. The character of Elena had been a bit bland the entire second season and the last episode made her more interesting. I am fascinated that they are writing a plot insipired by Texas history. The last few episodes were as tight as a drum. I appreciate the fact that the writers assume that the viewing audience is smart. That little plastic briefcase with the methane patent was corny. At first I didn’t like the character of Emma but when she turned out to be a whole mess of trouble I liked her a lot better. I hope Pamela Rebecca gives her what for.