By 
Today marks a day I never thought would come. Like millions of others, I strongly felt that the original primetime classic Dallas never received the ending it rightfully deserved after changing television back in 1978. With the new, “continued” series airing tonight on TNT, the series has the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and make a new impact in the television landscape.
Today marks a day I never thought would come. Like millions of others, I strongly felt that the original primetime classic Dallas never received the ending it rightfully deserved after changing television back in 1978. With the new, “continued” series airing tonight on TNT, the series has the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and make a new impact in the television landscape.
Dallas started as just another show. A Texas oil family – just like any other family, except…they REALLY had problems and were filthy rich. Jock Ewing, the patriarch, ruled the family with love and toughness. Well, ruled is not the right word for him. It was his wife, Miss Ellie who truly was the head of the family. She ruled Southfork Ranch with an iron fist. The only thing she loved more than her home was her family, and she’d go above and beyond many times to prove it.
She and Jock, and later her second husband, Clayton Farlow, spent 14 seasons trying their best to keep the Ewing family from blowing itself apart. Most of time, with help from other family members, they kept their children doing right for the most part. Well, almost all of them. There’s always that one fly in the ointment. Or, as Time magazine called him, “That human oil slick.”
J.R. Ewing, played with wonderful child-like gusto by Emmy winner Larry Hagman, was the one Ewing who thought of himself first and everyone else a very distant 1,000th. His thinking? If they would just give him what he wants, he wouldn’t have to blackmail, cheat and destroy everyone in his path. No one was spared in JR’s quest for power. Not his wives, mother, father, brothers, niece, nephew, not even his own son John Ross. He mortgaged Southfork without telling his parents, he threatened to have his late sister-in-law, Kristin, arrested for prostitution if she didn’t get out of town, staged a coup in a foreign country to nationalize their oil wells (just to save Ewing Oil mind you), succeeded in causing the divorce with his youngest brother, Bobby, and “That Barnes Woman”, Pamela….the list goes on and on. The one thing he never considered though is that his youngest offspring would be such a chip off the old block.
The new continuation, Dallas, which premieres tonight on TNT, is going to finally tell the story of what the most powerful oil family in the state of Texas has been up to. Focused on the next generation of Ewings – the sons of brothers JR and Bobby Ewing – old rivalries will be renewed with a vengeance, new battles will be waged, secrets will be kept…and revealed, and new alliances will be formed. The questions will be asked – is John Ross more ruthless than his father? Will Christopher take after Bobby or will he realize in his own mind that Bobby is just not up to lead the Ewing family? Will Sue Ellen battle along with her son so can gain what is rightfully his, or will Ann, Bobby’s wife and the new Lady of Southfork slam her foot down and tell her family “Not on this land…and not in my home!”?
Find out on tonight when Dallas makes its legendary return on TNT!
{jathumbnail off}
Comments