Larry may have been "begging" for Linda's return but he was part of the problem. Larry was the highest paid actor on television in those days and that salary caused major issues. Production costs had escalated and actors had to go. Victoria of course left on her terms, brilliant move in hindsight. After the disastrous "Dream Season" debacle, viewers felt cheated and understandably began to taper off, and who could blame them. Outside influences were having a negative impact on Dallas as well. Comedies became popular again. Dallas's major competition, Dynasty, became the laughing stock of television with its "Moldavian Massacre" cliffhanger. And who could forget The Colby's answer to getting rid of Fallon - a spaceship!
When Dallas debuted it was presented as adult drama however towards the end I could no longer take J.R. seriously. Far too many times an episode would finish with his winning smile. I know most will argue he was the character "we loved to hate" however far too much humour was creeping into the show. As the main players were let go they were replaced with the likes of Cathy Podewell and Sasha Mitchell. Just awful in my opinion.
Towards its inevitable end Dallas was a shadow of its former self. Gone was Miss Ellie, Clayton, Pam, Sue Ellen, Donna, Ray and Jenna. What was the point of continuing this sorry saga. It should have ended when Pam went up in flames.
The last five years didn't need to happen in my opinion, but if Dallas was to continue beyond season 10 (DVD) then I'd resolve series like this.
Version 1: I would have the dream season as Bobby's dream while he was in a coma, he'd reunite with Pam and at the end of the series in Spring 1987, I'd have Pam give birth to their child and have Pam, Bobby, Christopher and their new born baby move away from Dallas, JR would have control over Ewing Oil and would have married Mandy Winger, Sue Ellen would make peace with them and also move away from Dallas where she would make a career in fashion in New York taking John Ross with her, Jenna would marry Jack and would be pregnant with his child rather than Bobby being the father, and Ray would finally realise that he is good enough for Donna as he follows her to Washington with their new baby, Cliff would resolve his issues with the Ewings and would learn of Afton and their baby as he decides to be with her.
Version 2: If Dallas had to continued to 1991, I wouldn't bring Bobby back to life at all, Pam and Christopher would leave Dallas in 1987 after Cliff and JR have another one of their battles and Pam is fed up and decides to leave Dallas forever, Sue Ellen would be in a wheelchair from the explosion and would want a divorce from JR, who would then Marry Mandy Winger, Jenna in her despair would kill herself leaving Charlie an orphan, JR and Mandy would adopt her as JR was fond of Jenna, I'd move the action away from oil and onto a different playing field, like politics and law, Cliff would get JR's buffoonish storylines from the later years as Cliff was a buffoon in the series anyway, JR would remain the evil git but wouldn't be infallible, Ray and Donna would leave Dallas for Washington,mans there would be no Cally, no James, no April and no Michelle either.
:bag:
