Well, remember, even though he wasn't a "Ewing" by birth, he still was John Ross' biological cousin, through Sue Ellen. So, realistically, there should have been some physical resemblance between those two.
And add me to the list of people who never had a problem with Metcalf as an actor, I just think his character wasn't written as well or as compelling as he could have been (and as John Ross often was).
Yes, I think the show's main premise should have been John Ross and Christopher running Ewing Oil (possibly renamed Ewing Energies now) together, with competing visions of how the company should move forward, remaining focused on oil or exploring alternative energy sources. Except I would switch their motivations around, with John Ross being the "good" one, who wants to develop clean energy (to make up for all the evil he saw his father do) with Christopher (in his obsession to prove that he's a "real Ewing") being the "bad" one, wanting to be the biggest and best oil-man ever (like his grandpa Jock).
I would have started by not wiping it more original stories and kept the movies with West Star merged into Ewing Industries (like Koch Industries with the Koch Brothers) and Ewing Oil a subsidiary (back story of how JR took it from Bobby and Sue Ellen but Bobby ended up with a share and the company private 42% each Ewing Brother, 16% the Harwood heir’s). JR as Chairman and retired day to day to a ship in gulf. Bobby running the ranch. Christoper working at Ewing Alternative Energy, another subsidiary. Sue Ellen running the Ewing-Farlow Foundation (explaining where all of Miss Ellie and Clayton’s money went). John Ross off wild catting with Elena.
Then they could have proceeded pretty much as they did. Carmen being Teresa’s sister, Harris being a Wendell running Wendell Trade and Transport, LLC and Judith Brown one of Jeremy’s wives (minus “momma likes”).
Then proceed with their story. John Ross arrives in Dallas to drill, his own man like Jock, Ewing-Ramos Oil and Gas. Start with Miss Ellie’s will reveals she never fully turned over Southfork to Bobby but instead left it under his control. She left it to Bobby to look after for John Ross as her eldest grandson. He received 1/2 on his 30th birthday. Show he inherited money from Clayton too. Show him return to drill on the land.
Get rid of no one knew about Becky being Pamela - that was stupid. Add Christopher really was JRs son to add to the drama. Talk about Charlie was Bobby’s daughter after all and mention so is Lucas, both being raised by Ray.
Add Cliff is mentally sick.
Add when JR dies John Ross gets his shares in Cyberbyte from Jock along with 21% of Ewing Industries. Don’t totally forget James (illigetimate) and Calley’s son with 21%
Much of what they had worked on just with some “respectful” fixes would have worked well.
John Ross with 21% of Ewing Industries, 1/2 the ranch, a friend in “Senator” Brown - Jock like character, a bit of Greg Sumner.
Pamela a marriage of business, each in love with the other from the start but never trusting the other - a Miss Ellie meets Angela Channing meets Abby Ewing Character.
Chris fighting to prove himself and control his patents on his own, a JR like character, his big brother having his back, wanting to live up to him, but falling short, a bit of Richard Channing.
Elena, weak and tossed away by John Ross, a Digger character, latching on to Chris, with a little Rebecca Wentworth tossed in.
Ellie Harwood, JR’s secret family with Holly (not to Holly’s likening), who inherits 16% of Ewing Indusrties from her mother and shows up at the start of season 4 adding 16% to John Ross and Cally’s son’s 42% - control.
These aren’t major changes at all really. Just enough to have made it work.