It was definitely risky for the Dallas writers to say that everything that happened in season 9 was all of Pam’s dream. Sure, that way Patrick Duffy and his character, Bobby Ewing, could return to the show. But it would also make it obvious to everyone that Dallas had worn out its welcome and run out of ideas. If you could ever say that a television series truly “jumped the shark,” you could say that after the ninth season of Dallas. But now that season nine is supposedly a distant memory, season ten is the season that was supposed to bring the series back to its glory days. The question is could fans of the show actually forgive the writers for the it-was-all-a-dream explanation?
If you don’t know, Dallas centers on the Ewing family, who live on the Southfork Ranch, just outside of Dallas, Texas. The Ewing family consisted of patriarch Jock Ewing, who started Ewing Oil, the family’s corporation; Miss Ellie, his wife who managed Southfork Ranch – the family home; and their three sons: J.R., the oldest and ruthless CEO of Ewing Oil, married to former Miss Texas Sue Ellen Shepard; Bobby, the youngest and the nice guy, who married Pamela Barnes, daughter of the Ewing’s chief business rival; and Gary, the middle son who was considered an outcast by his father and eventually moved to California with his wife Valene. The basic premise of the show was like a cross between Romeo and Juliet and Bonanza. Never before had Americans seen so much drama, or melodrama depending on how you look at it, at night in primetime.
Season ten was supposed to hit the reset button on the series. The audience was supposed to go back to the end of season eight and pick up where that season left off. At first, there were high hopes that season ten would be just as great as the early seasons. The major storyline in the first half of season ten was the return of Jock Ewing or at least who everyone thought might be Jock Ewing. The character of Wes Parmalee (played by Steve Forrest) sure did seem like Jock Ewing, and there was some definite intrigue for the first part of the season. But that entire storyline and character got dropped halfway through the season without any warning. Other major storylines from this season included J.R. expanded his meddling to the middle-east where he made more enemies and deals, in hopes of cutting off the Arab oil supply; Mandy and Sue Ellen fought for JR’s affections; numerous romantic difficulties including Bobby and Pam who continued to have problems over Jennal; Miss Ellie and Clayton having their problems; Donna and Ray as well; and Jamie dying and leaving her 10% of Ewing Oil up for grabs with the Department of Justice stepping in to investigate JR and his dealings. Sure, lots of storylines seemed to be recycled from previous seasons, but every start at a good and interesting storyline would be cut short halfway through the season, ending any momentum the show might have had.
At least, all of the actors tried their hardest to make this season work. Larry Hagman is still the most beloved TV villain during this season, but you start to grow tired of his act. Steve Forrest was brought in as the “dead Jock Ewing”, and he definitely added some new energy to the show. But unfortunately, he never got a proper send-off and just disappeared one day. One new addition to the cast was Sheree J. Wilson, who played April Stevens, the hot ex-wife of Jack Ewing. She definitely was another bright spot in the cast this season. She had remarkable chemistry with everyone she was on screen with. Patrick Duffy was also his usual best. There weren’t too many guest stars this year, which should tell you which direction Dallas was going after this season. But despite the storylines not being as strong as in the past, every member of the cast made the most of them.
The tenth season of Dallas is really the last one that was “must-watch” for fans of the show. Hardcore fans would continue to watch the final seasons of the series, but the show had really lost its charm by this point. The first half of season 10 started off well, and showed promise that everyone could actually forget the “it was all a dream” ninth season. That all ended halfway through the season, when all of the most intriguing storylines of this season were cut short with little pay off. The acting was still strong this season, but everything that occured later in the season had a “been there, done that” feel to it. Even the season-ending cliffhanger, which Dallas had become infamous for, was weaker and really not enough to keep fans around for any more. Everyone should really leave Dallas after this season, if they can even make it that far.
Episodes:
Disc One (Side A):
Episode 1 – Return to Camelot Part 1
It was all a dream. Bobby’s alive, and most everything – schemes, dreams and danger – is as it was one year earlier. Ewing Oil Field 12 explodes, and Sue Ellen and Mandy unsheathe their claws over J.R..
Episode 2 – Return to Camelot Part 2
J.R hopes to get Donna away from Dallas; Jenna has problems with Charlie; a disaster strikes Ewing 12; Sue Ellen tracks J.R. and Mandy; a new ranch hand is hired at Southfork.
Episode 3 – Pari Per Sue
Mandy gets the feeling she’s being followed. Cliff’s itching to grab Jack’s 10% share of Ewing Oil.
Episode 4 – Once and Future King
The global oil patch: with a little paramilitary help, J.R. plots to cut of the world’s supply of Arab crude.
Episode 5 – Enigma
“Jock is dead! He died over five years ago in South America.” Or did he? Wes Parmalee claims he’s the missing Ewing patriarch.
Disc One (Side B):
Episode 6 – Trompe L’Oeil
The Ewing sons tell West to buy himself a one-way ticket out of Dallas. April, Jack’s greedy ex, come to town.
Episode 7 – Territorial Imperative
Two plots thicken: J.R.’s to invade Arab oil fields and Wes’s to muscle his way into the family.
Episode 8 – The Second Time Around
Pam and Bobby’s wedding has everything: music, flowers, a radiant bride…and a groom with a pregnant girlfriend.
Episode 9 – Bells Are Ringing
J.R., bless his heart, knows how to save his brother’s wedding; same groom, different bride!
Episode 10 – Who’s Who at the Oil Baron’s Ball?
Wes stirs up a Texas tornado when he takes the stage at the Oil Baron’s Ball to announce he’s really Jock Ewing.
Disc Two (Side A):
Episode 11 – Proof Positive
Testing, testing. Wes takes a polygraph, Pam pushes the limit with Jenna, Clayton gauges the strength of his marriage.
Episode 12 – Something Old, Something New
Play with fire, expect to get burned. J.R.’s in deep with the Feds when news of his Saudi adventure gets out.
Episode 13 – Bar-B-Qued
Is Wes truly Jock Ewing – or the lyingest polecat to hit Dallas since J.R.? Bobby finds out.
Episode 14 – The Fire Next Time
Clayton wants Wes Parmalee’s hide. Jeremy Wendell wants Ewing Oil. Donna wants out of her marriage.
Episode 15 – So Shall Ye Reap
J.R. walks into his office and finds a man waiting for him. A dead man. Must be a message from B.D. Calhoun.
Disc Two (Side B):
Episode 16 – Tick, Tock
Ray and Clayton go into business together. Sue Ellen meets an attractive man who has an ominous tie to J.R..
Episode 17 – Night Visitor
Wake up, J.R.! That tick-tick-ticking beside your bed is definitely not a clock.
Episode 18 – Cat and Mouse
Nice to see you: Ray visits Donna, Cliff and Wendell meet up and Sue Ellen spends the night with someone she can’t remember.
Episode 19 – High Noon for Calhoun
J.R. finds himself and John Ross facing death when B.D. Calhoun seeks revenge – with a gun.
Episode 20 – Olio
In California, J.R. recuperates from his wound while the police keep Bobby and Ray cooling their heels.
Disc Three (Side A):
Episode 21 – A Death in the Family
Jamie’s death has some folks grieving – and J.R. hankering after her 10% share of Ewing Oil.
Episode 22 – Revenge of the Nerd
Cliff has a tough time playing heartbroken widower – and an easy time trying to cash in on Jamie’s estate.
Episode 23 – The Ten Percent Solution
Jamie may have been murdered and Cliff’s a suspect. How nice, and it isn’t even J.R.’s birthday.
Episode 24 – Some Good, Some Bad
Bobby and Ray come to blows over Jenna. Pam and Cliff part ways over the Wendell deal.
Episode 25 – War and Peace
As Mrs. Scottfield schemes against the Ewings, the court decides the ownership of Jamie’s share of Ewing Oil.
Disc Three (Side B):
Episode 26 – Ruthless People
Revenge has always been the name of the game in Dallas. Now Wendell wants to be a player.
Episode 27 – The Dark at the End of the Tunnel
Break out the single-barrel bourbon! At last J.R. gains control of Ewing Oil – just in time for a big DOJ investigation.
Episode 28 – Two-Fifty
With Bobby’s help, J.R. battles the Justice Department in a bid to save the empire his daddy built.
Episode 29 – Fall of the House of Ewing
Ewing Oil teeters on the brink, Clayton faces a medical crisis and Pam drives straight into a fiery tragedy.
The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The transfer is decent, but not great since there are some episodes that look just as good as the original broadcast, while there are others that have significant graininess to them. There is even one episode that looks to be shorter than all the rest, and sub-par in quality compared to the other episodes. Just like season nine, not the best video quality for a show this popular.
The audio included is in English 1.0 Mono sound. There are subtitles available in English as well. The dialogue and music come out loud and clear. The audio is basic, but once again it’s more consistent than the video quality. No major problems here.
There are no extras for this season’s DVD set. Really after 9 seasons, what more could they add to a declining show’s popularity.
There are some episodes that should be watched, mainly in the first half of the season, but overall the tenth season is not “must-buy” material for fans of the show. It’s really not even “must-rent”. If you love Patrick Duffy and want to see him back on Dallas, then go ahead and rent this. It’s nowhere near as good as the early seasons of the series, but extreme hardcore fans of Dallas may enjoy this season nonetheless. Only those who want to complete their Dallas DVD set will want to buy this. But really there is no replay value here, and things would only get worse from here.
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Warner Home Video presents Dallas – Season 10. Created by David Jacobs. Starring Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, Barbara Bel Geddes, Linda Gray, Victoria Principal, Ken Kerchevel, Steve Kanaly, and Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. Running time: 1375 minutes. Rated: NOT RATED. Released on DVD: January 13, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
