Was there actually an outcry among fans after Julia’s supposed death by fire, similar to the reaction following Melissa’s death in season 8? I’ve always wondered why they brought Julia back to the show so quickly. It was a clever move not to find a body, leaving the door open for her return—presumably when a ratings boost was needed a couple of seasons down the line, rather than immediately in the very next one. For me, Julia’s journey in season 3 was okay; I appreciated that they didn't go the route of diagnosing her with a brain tumor—which would have cured her and effectively excused her crimes—but her storyline isn't among my favorites from that season.
Given the effort put into ensuring Julia could lead a happy life—only for her to face a sort of cosmic punishment in the form of blindness (a condition that could have been cured at any time)—I was surprised that none of the later showrunners showed any interest in bringing her back, either for a specific arc or as a regular cast member. By season 6, they couldn't get rid of her fast enough. In season 9, Julia could have really cleaned the house by getting rid of Charley, Ian, Michael, and Genele. It would have been spectacular if she had reawakened her dark side during a visit to save Falcon Crest from its enemies.
Is there any information on how satisfied (or not) Earl Hamner was with the direction Julia’s character took? In the first two seasons, she was more like a Californian version of Olivia Walton—a single mom with just one child. I wonder if Earl Hamner liked the fact that an Olivia Walton-esque character turned into a psychopath?