Dallas

WellI just want to publish my very own personal review about this global smash hit. And keep it that way.

Liked it A lot when it was on screen here in Sweden during the years about 1981-1993(?). (Some 2-3 year delay from U.S prime time.) That was a usual standard for American TV shows for European watchers by then.... (National television was Russian in Sweden tooyou know.) Got curious when my mother got hooked on the Ewing/Barnes feudmyself being just seven years old at the time. (I naturally didn't get so much out of it then.)

What was meant by the creators of "DALLAS" to be a five act drama TV show with the troublesome marriage between Bobby Ewing and Pamela Barnes in centergrows to be the major series of the 80's. (The response from the viewers after some episodes were so good that the producers called for an extension.)

We were allowed to get into the flesh of a familywith sons and daughters always fought each other for power and wellness. Office suits mixed with rancher blue jeans. Oil business and kettle care in the same sweet melody.

When the DALLAS show was released over here on DVD in a "two season per year-plan" in the early 00'sIt was time to take the trip all over again. During a six year periodI consistently dug deeply into it season by season during free timeand enjoyed it to the fullest.

The Southfork Ranch almost became my own living room.

Not A member of A fan baseI want to share my own profit of taking the trip from start to finish:

"The Jock Ewing Years" are/were DALLAS at it's best. Jim Davis was the Brando of the Ewingswithout doubt. The plot of the whole show was more centered and interesting while he was present. The screen writers re-grouped the three sons of an oil-mafia matriarchsurly in a "godfather" . Late Larry Hagman (R.I.P) was the senior son J.Rthe natural heir of the throne. Always thinking businessbesides the hunger for women as a pleasure. Stone cold and calculatinghe smashed every fly that came around him trying to steal his limelight.

2nd son Gary was placed beside in scriptfor several reasons. (Fans aware of "Knots Landing"uh?)

Baby brother Bobby eventually took the fight with his older brother for the captain's seat; after having his "easy living"-years he rapidly learn the businessbut a little too late to ever compete with his way too superior brotherwho were always one step ahead.

(Actor Patrick Duffy once said that an early take with Larry Hagmanwhich included some physical actingending up with Hagman laughing at his opponent's bad actingwas a real boost to shape upand never feel minor in acting skills to Larry in a scene ever again.)

Cowboy Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly)the janitor of SF ranchgrows highly during this long history of the Ewings. Starting as kind of a youth manservant to themhe turns out to be more family than anybody of the Ewings ever dreamed of. (My personal favorite down to earth personality figure during the whole saga.) Forced into a world he never wanted to be part of.

On the opposite sideOne Cliff Barnes always moaning of his father's stolen piece in the Ewings wealthhim being a partner to Jock Ewing in their oil "teen-years". (But drank it away.) Cliff B builds his own castlebut keeps up having hard time to compete with old J.R Ewing as Texas Oil Baron no. 1. Some good strikes on the way for Cliffordfrom time to timealways gave the series some fresh air and a forward push.

The family drama went on for years and years. People comes and goes. Weddingsbarbecue partiesand some good fist fights at the annual Oil Baron's Ball. Liquor for breakfastcoffee for lunch. Heavy fuel for hard people.

Halfway the series gets a little stalledbut the writers kept on finding new and sometimes cheer ways to keep the story going on.

Yesthere's alcoholic intoxicated wives on the way.

It's getting kind of silly around the "dream-season" alright. (A solution created because of the actors big egos $....)

But I kept on watching it after that anywaydidn't I?

And did I love the ride?

YES. To the final "shot".

This show literally changed prime-time television for the better. The show centers around the livesloves and scandals of the Ewingsa family of oil-rich barons who reside in-where else?-Dallas. When the

show started on CBS in the spring of 1978the show centered around the "Romeo & Juliet" love story of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and Pamela Barnes Ewing (Victoria Principal)the daughter of the Ewings' arch enemy Digger Barnes. Story linesand ratings. changed for the better when DALLAS refocused on the devilish dealings of Bobby's oldest brother John Ross "JR" EwingJr. (Larry Hagman. DALLAS reached the peak of its' popularity when JR was shot in the spring of 1980. For yearsthe show would remain at the top of the ratings until it started getting competition first from ABC's "Dynasty" and then NBC's "The Cosby Show". DALLAS' ratings was never the same after 1986 when Pam dreamed the entire 1985-1986 season. The show ran until 1991when low ratings virtually killed it. It also spun off the longest-running prime-time soap everKNOTS LANDING.

to see Dallas for an East European is always a strange experience. under the Communist regimeit was a fairy tale. under the democratic regime - a promise. butalwaysin a strange waymore than fiction. because Larry Hagman creates a spectacular bad guysplendid mixture between Shere Khan and Darth Vader. because it has the gift to be more than one of many soap opera from the same period but a phenomenon. becauseits spectacular longevity transforms the viewer in part of story. sureall is a fiction . but the dose of reality is right for discover the trace of series in every day life. it has the right story and the right actors. this is its success roots. and the seal for a period looking the perfect story for understand the reality escaping from it.

It had great actors and beautiful settings. Powerwealthand suspensethis show had it all. Larry Hagman was great as the evil J.R Ewingyou just really love hating him. Patrick Duffy known as Bobby Ewing played as J.R younger brotherhe was a nice guy compared to J.R in the shows. Victoria Principal was terrific as Pam Barns Ewing known as Bobby Ewing wifeshe was a good character that stood her ground. Jim Davis known as Jock Ewing J.R and Bobby's dad was a eager and strong hearted personit was sad that he passed away before the 4th season. Dallas Kept you in suspense through the whole especially when J.R got shot after the 3rd season. The Ewing family always kept people in the community about what went on at Southport Ranch.

"Dallas" is without question one of the most compulsively enjoyable television programs of all time. I watched it when it was first telecast and still watch the reruns.

Along with "Dynasty""Dallas" defined '80s excessRepublican valuesbig hair and everything else. But "Dallas" was also a smartly written programunlike "Dynasty"which was basically a cartoon (albeit a fun one). The miracle of "Dallas" was how it managed to retain it's major characters for nearly a decadekeep strong storyline pumping for themunlike most soap operaswhich drop characters left and right. But "Dallas" had some of the strongest-written characters in television history: ambitious J.R.dependant Sue Ellengood-guy Bobbyprim-and-proper Pamenvious Cliffunassuming Rayand so many otherswhose memory I cherish--Miss EllieDonnaKatherineMickey Trotteretc....

Additionallywith the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger in 1980"Dallas" created a new marketing tool the television continues to use to this day to retain audiences. Not just soap operas use the season ending cliffhanger; it's been effectively used by such shows as "Friends" and "Will & Grace" recently.

"Dallas" was for many years the most watched program on TVand continues to be watched by devoted fansmany of them discovering its greatness thru reruns. One episodeand you'll be hookedtoo.