Dallas reviews aren’t a regular thing here at KSiteTV, but due to the historic nature of this week’s show, a review is going up, because there’s a lot on my mind! Beware that some spoilers for the episode will be discussed within.
Summary:
After more than 370 episodes of the Dallas canon, someone has finally caught up to J.R. Ewing, who is shot and killed in what appears to be a random mugging in Mexico. J.R.’s death brings family and friends back to Dallas and at least temporarily calms the Ewing family feuds.
Review
Since I was very, very young when the original Dallas was on, my first introduction to the series was actually the 1996 TV-movie “J.R. Returns,” which also featured a funeral for J.R. yet is no longer part of the official Dallas history, so we should probably forget about that anyway. Even with that introduction, thanks to reruns on SoapNet and a nice collection of every season on DVD, I’ve frequently been able to revisit the past of the series, especially lately, and all of those episodes have one thing in common: Larry Hagman’s J.R. was the villain you’d love to hate. He could be mean, sneaky, deceitful, adulterous… yet because of the actor who played him and the charm within, you sometimes might have even rooted for him. It was a tough role that possibly no one but Hagman could have pulled off.
Unfortunately, Larry Hagman passed away late last year after filming a few episodes of TNT’s new Dallas. That meant that some plots had to be changed, and it also meant that for the first time in the series’ 35-year history, we’d be having some Dallas without J.R.. His final episodes had some moments that audiences will probably treasure for a while, including a very nice scene between him and Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) early in Season 2. Even though he’s gone, though, I’m pretty sure the shadow of J.R. will fall on the series often, much like Jock and Miss Ellie still are involved in this show to this day.
So how was the episode? For starters, the tears started early once you’d realize that yes, J.R. is gone. Then TNT decided to twist the knife a little bit more by putting together some excellently put together memorial opening titles. It’s a bit jarring when a show goes from a somber moment right into a blasting, somewhat happy, exciting opening theme, and apparently the Dallas producers knew that. A few weeks ago, Degrassi had a character death and the usual theme song felt really out of place; I’m glad that wasn’t done here.
The show brought out great performances and moments from a lot of people, especially the veterans, but the actor who really knocked it out of the park in this episode is Linda Gray as Sue Ellen, J.R.’s ex-wife. Possibly because her character was always opposite J.R., we didn’t get to see as much of her range, and I know that real life emotions surely came in here, but… wow. Linda really is amazing, and her scene at the graveyard is particularly heartbreaking. Sue Ellen’s other love affair — booze — is also touched upon and again, it’s the little things and mannerisms that Linda Gray takes on, especially when turning down the alcohol or simply eyeing it, that makes it work. If the Emmys were given to non-pretentious dramas, Linda would be at the top of my list for an award this year. One of the best performances I’ve seen on any show recently, and one of the best in Dallas’ entire history.
Of course, the other character most affected by the episode is Patrick Duffy’s Bobby, the good brother to J.R.’s bad. To see a moment like this finally bringing out his internalized anger over Ann’s past made me sad, as I really like the couple, but I know that realistically those sorts of things do come out when you’re beaten down so far. J.R. was often a thorn in Bobby’s side, and vice versa, but they loved each other. It’s going to be weird to see Bobby without J.R. to bounce off of, but fortunately, he does have a foil in John Ross who might end up being just as much of a pain in the neck as his father was. I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Props also go to the Dallas team for bringing back a handful of classic Dallas actors. It was nice to see Steve Kanaly (Ray Krebbs) and Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing) with more than 5 lines this time around. I never thought I’d see Mandy Winger (Deborah Shelton) or Cally (Cathy Podewell) again, but I’m so glad I did, and I really liked the implication that after all these years, Mandy and Sue Ellen have finally had peace with one another. It’s also sad to realize that despite all her trying, Mandy never did get to marry J.R., but her talk about Sue Ellen “moving on” might have been the spark that lit it in Sue Ellen that she wasn’t as moved on as she thought. Cally was a rare callback to the show’s later seasons, but what I want to know is: Didn’t she have a baby with J.R.? Wouldn’t that mean another heir in his will? A new brother would surely be an annoyance to John Ross… I hope they pick up on that someday. Also on the subject of returning characters, I’m glad that Gary will still be in town for another week, though I’m disappointed that we never got to see him in a scene with J.R. upon his return.
Odds & Ends
- I liked it when the characters would talk about the things J.R. would say to them back in the day. It, too, made me feel like Larry Hagman and J.R. were still around. The continuity nod with Christopher, and his feeling of acceptance in the family, was particularly special.
Is Cliff Barnes going senile? As much as Cliff hated J.R., I don’t know that he ever would have burst into his funeral and caused a scene like that. Also, this may be in a later episode that I have never seen, but since when did Cliff hate Bobby? I always assumed they were reluctant friends considering they both loved Bobby’s first wife and Cliff’s sister, the original Pamela Barnes Ewing. Great, though, that the show continues to use Ken Kercheval.- Speaking of the original Pam, J.R.’s looking for her, which means… she could be alive! Victoria Principal has said she doesn’t want to return, but ultimately, if she doesn’t, she did get in a horrible accident and can be recast. Anyone have Jaclyn Smith’s number?
- It took a while, but I’m finally warming to Emma. She’s kind of like a modern-day Lucy, isn’t she? I say that in a very complimentary way.
- I worry that Bobby’s anger is going to push Ann toward Ryland somehow. That can’t end well.
- I loved seeing some returning faces, but the absence of some characters was a little conspicuous. In reality, I’m sure it had to do with budget and scheduling, but as an example, Susan Howard’s Donna once said, upon leaving Southfork, that she’d “even miss J.R..” Wouldn’t she return for a family outing like this, even if she is estranged from Ray for 25 years now? Or is her Ewing connection broken with the passing of Miss Ellie in 2001? James Beaumont is another who I almost would have expected to have been there. Has anyone said if Ray is still married to Jenna? They do have three Jennas to choose from, if Priscilla Presley doesn’t want to come back, after all.
- Did anyone else notice that John Ross didn’t speak at the funeral itself?
- The final scene with J.R.’s final reveals was great, though I’m very curious about the information that Bobby learned. Patrick Duffy said at the Paley Festival that he was told what it said… so why was he smiling for a moment, and saying “it was a good one?” If Hagman hadn’t died in real life I may have assumed J.R. was still alive. Since we all know he’s not, that makes it all even more curious.
- All in all, “J.R.’s Masterpiece” was just that… a masterpiece. Great work from everyone involved, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Dallas airs Monday nights at 9PM on TNT.
