Do You Think JR Was A Good Businessman?

[Billy Wall]

It was business. If J.R. doesn't offload those wells, Ewing Oil takes a massive financial hit and is practically ruined.


J.R. actually expressed surprise that Vaughn Leland was buying into the wells, and briefly tried to direct him away from it, but Vaughn was like "Are you kidding? I want my share, J.R.".


Yes, J.R. noted the irony of Vaughn's situation and that contrasting with Vaughn demanding that J.R. mortgage Southfork before.

As Tom said to Sonny in The Godfather "Even the attempted murder of your father was business, not personal, Sonny". Drug kingpin Sollozzo had a meeting with Vito Corleone about getting protection from the police on Vito's payroll, with Sonny Corleone also in the meeting. Vito refused Sollozzo's request, but Sonny was objecting. Sollozzo concludes "Bump off Vito, and I can do business with his son when he takes over".

What JR did wasn't "just business." It was practically insider trading as he inside information that the wells were going to be nationalized. Then he offloaded them on his allies. If this was a real world scenario, I don't see how the cartel doesn't sue Ewing Oil. JR made a deal with the cartel under false pretenses.

 

[Mustard]

What JR did wasn't "just business." It was practically insider trading as he inside information that the wells were going to be nationalized. Then he offloaded them on his allies. If this was a real world scenario, I don't see how the cartel doesn't sue Ewing Oil. JR made a deal with the cartel under false pretenses.

Donald Trump is doing far, far worse today in the real world. He is at it every bloody week!

What proof would the Cartel have against J.R. Ewing knowing that the wells were going to be nationalized? They haven't got the proof. J.R. had a mercenary, Hank Johnson, tipping him off at all times.

 

[Billy Wall]

Donald Trump is doing far, far worse today in the real world. He is at it every bloody week!

What proof would the Cartel have against J.R. Ewing knowing that the wells were going to be nationalized? They haven't got the proof. J.R. had a mercenary, Hank Johnson, tipping him off at all times.

Trump has a bunch of cowardly minions sitting up on the hill in Washington. That's why he's getting away with what he's getting away with. A better comparison is Richard Nixon. He did far less and was forced to resign. It was a different time.



Back to JR. That's why the cartel would hire investigators that specialize in that sort of thing. Kristen knew about Hank. That's a start. We'd see just how loyal Hank is to JR because they'd put the screws to him.

Yes, that's Trump shining JR's shoes. Lol

 

[CeeCee72]

I can understand why the cartel didn't sue. The case would be very difficult to prove and the legal expenses would be through the roof. What I don't get is why they all continued to do business with JR.

 

[Mustard]

I can understand why the cartel didn't sue. The case would be very difficult to prove and the legal expenses would be through the roof. What I don't get is why they all continued to do business with JR.

J.R.: There's nothing realer than oil, that's for sure
Sue Ellen: Not to you darling, except perhaps money
J.R.: Same thing honey, same thing.

Of course, there was a time in Season 4 DVD where the Cartel didn't want to work with Ewing Oil, even when Bobby was now in charge. As time passes, money always becomes the most important thing again to these people.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Some thoughts about the Asian Wells deal

This is why it could only happen on TV
In real life, there would be endless litigation against EO,
assuming that the Cartel could afford it.
Although without this Hank Johnson, maybe the Cartel would conclude that they could not win.


It is curious that these people continued to do business with JR
Maybe all that proves is that if the deal is good enough, people can compartmentalize past history.

Jock had to know that JR knew.

I don't remember all the events, but Bobby seemed to be the only one who had anything close
to distrust/remorse/disgust in the family
I suppose that all the Ewings, not just JR could rationalize that this was the oil business,
and it was not exactly overflowing with ethics. Other Oil persons were just as avaricious,
and would not hesitate to use similar tactics.
Vaughn Leland wasn't giving the Ewings an extension when they asked for one.
At the end of the day it is business
The Ewings were no different from many, many business owners with regard
to their business practices.
The only real difference was that the Ewings were much wealthier


It was good tv. A great lead in to the famous cliffhanger.

 

[lbf522]

I think that's it in a nutshell. JR won mainly by intimidation, less so with any real business acumen - at least going by what was portrayed on screen, which may be skewed to the more dramatic deals.

Its funny you should say that. I remember that scene where Bobby asks JR why he always resorts to strong arm tactics. Unfortunately, the question was never answered. I would have liked to have known what it was it was like for JR when he first stared at Ewing Oil. I had always hoped for either a flashback or in JR's own words.

 

[Chase Gioberti]

At least at the beginning of the series, we have to acknowledge JR as a good businessman.
Ewing Oil was doing quite well. Jock wanted JR to teach Bobby the business, so we have to infer
that Jock had confidence in JR's ability.
Of course having Jock present prevented JR from doing anything too drastic,
at least until the Asian wells. Having said that, the Asian wells represented a huge opportunity,
and JR took a risk, and it worked out.
Was it a wise risk?
It is an old story - when a business person takes a risk and it works, that person is a genius
When the risk fails, the person is... not

Bobby won the Battle for Ewing Oil but JR still made a huge profit

Much like Jock, Bobby had the effect of stopping JR from making a major error,
at least until the Calhoun fiasco.


In season 11, JR comes close to taking over Westar, that had to require business acumen.
JR does eventually regain the Ewing Assets from Wendell

I don't know what to say about seasons 13-14. Those seasons seem to be another show, not Dallas,
and JR seems mostly absent from leading Ewing Oil.

If" JR Returns" is any indicator, Westar named him as President. Presumably, they thought he was a good businessman.

So there is a somewhat complicated history about JR as a businessman.
Maybe it depends on what season is being discussed

I think that was the beginning of the end, season 11. They semi-recovered from the ridiculous Pam situation and the dream and JR taking over Weststar was a good storyline and they thought it would be better if he got his comeuppance once again. He should have had that win.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

I think that was the beginning of the end, season 11. They semi-recovered from the ridiculous Pam situation and the dream and JR taking over Weststar was a good storyline and they thought it would be better if he got his comeuppance once again. He should have had that win.

absolutely - that would have breathed life back into the show. The “bad guy” has to win sometimes, and this was the time.

 

[CeeCee72]

I think that was the beginning of the end, season 11. They semi-recovered from the ridiculous Pam situation and the dream and JR taking over Weststar was a good storyline and they thought it would be better if he got his comeuppance once again. He should have had that win.

I always felt like the story would have worked much better if Sue Ellen had double crossed Wedell and Cryder and voted for JR. She would have gotten back at Cryder for destroying her marriage and back at JR as well because she could have held those shares over his head with him knowing she could turn against him and remove him at any moment. She could have walked out of that office the ultimate winner and then divorced JR once and for all.