J. R. Ewing and the family that ruled the 80’s evening “soap-opera” television market return to DVD with Dallas – The Complete Fifth Season. The five disc set collects all 26 episodes from the fifth season which follows a year of tragedy and double cross at Ewing Oil and the Southfork Ranch.
The hugely successful Dallas followed the exploits of the wealthy Texas oil millionaires the Ewing family (who all seem to drink a lot of alcohol and wear really big cowboy hats). The success of the series was often due to the shady business dealings of son J. R. (Larry Hagman), and his clashes with other members of the family – including his wife Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and his wife Pamela Barnes Ewing (Victoria Principal), his half brother Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly), his mother “Miss Ellie” (Barbara Bel Geddes), his niece Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton), and his longtime nemesis Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval).
Although the series (which is now being developed into a movie for the big screen) lasted until 1991, it was already starting to show some signs of fatigue by the fifth season. The series also suffered from the loss of Jim Davis – who played the family patriarch 'Jock' Ewing. Much of the first the fifth season focuses on his death (though no body was found) and how it affects the family and business.
Other focuses of the season include J.R.’s divorce from Sue Ellen; Bobby and Pam’s adoption of a baby; J.R. and Cliff’s continued struggle to show who is the better man; and the power struggle between the brothers – made worse by a legal decree by Jock dividing up the shares of Ewing Oil so that everyone has a vote.
J.R. and Bobby have a civilized discussion about Ewing Oil
Disc One kicks off episode 1: Missing Heir - a cliffhanger from last season as Kristin Shepard (Sue Ellen’s sister) is found dead in the Southfork pool and it looks like J.R. or Cliff Barnes did it. Episode 2: Gone, But Not Forgotten – Sue Ellen wants out of her marriage to J.R., but he wants custody of their son John Ross. Episode 3: Showdown At San Angelo – J.R. attempts to use Miss Ellie as a pawn to get John Ross from Sue Ellen. Episode 4: Little Boy Lost – J.R and Sue Ellen head to court to find out who gets custody of John Ross, and we find out something about her new man Dusty. Episode 5: The Sweet Smell of Revenge – While J.R. is scheming to get John Ross from Sue Ellen, Bobby is forced to deal with Pam’s continued mental break (she really wants a baby). Episode 6: The Big Shut Down – J.R. gambles with Ewing Oil when he buys up oil as a bargaining chip against Sue Ellen.
Disc Two episode 7: Blocked – sees oil prices dropping and J.R struggling to find the money to payback a loan or lose Ewing Oil. Episode 8: The Split – finds Jock (who has been working in Latin America) sending a legal letter that divides Ewing Oil among the family. Episode 9: Five Dollars A Barrel – sees Cliff getting the upper hand when he buys up J.R.’s loan and uses it to get J.R. Episode 10: Starting Over – Bobby brings Kristen’s son to Southfork, but Pam thinks it is her new baby. Episode 11: Waterloo at Southfork – Miss Ellie shows that you don’t mess with a Ewing even if he is as low as J.R. Episode 12: Barbecue Two – Everyone gathers for the annual Ewing barbecue, but the family receives word that Jock is lost in Latin America.
Disc Three episode 13: The Search – the boys head down to Latin America to help search for Jock, but all looks lost when they only find his necklace. Episode 14: Denial – Miss Ellie refuses to admit that Jock is dead, and the family continues to unravel. Episode 15: Head of the Family – J.R. continues to fall into a deeper depression and Ewing Oil looks in trouble if the family can’t come together. Episode 16: The Phoenix – J.R. is back to his old tricks, and looking to prove that Ewing Oil is still strong. Episode 17: My Father, My Son: J.R. decides he not only wants John Ross back, but Sue Ellen too. Episode 18: Anniversary – Cliff gets a great job offer, but J.R. could be behind the opportunity.
Hagman continues to be the best reason to watch Dallas
Disc Four episode 19: Adoption sees Bobby and Pam getting custody of Christopher, and J.R. getting control of Ray’s shares of Ewing Oil. Episode 20: The Maelstrom – Ray and Donna start to come back together as Mitch and Lucy drift further apart. Episode 21: The Prodigal – sees just another typical day in Dallas filled with blackmail, revenge, and suicide. Episode 22: Vengeance – J.R. looks to use Christopher’s family history as a bid to get more control of Ewing Oil. Episode 23: Blackmail – Lucy is held captive by Roger, and someone shoots Jeff Farraday. Episode 24: The Investigation – Bobby figures out the Farraday case and even has time to help rescue Lucy.
Disc Five episode 25: Acceptance – Miss Ellie finally lets go of the hopes that Jock could be alive. Episode 26; Goodbye, Cliff Barnes – The season ends with the typical cliffhanger as we find Cliff Barnes in the hospital hovering between life and death.
For such a heavy season that saw J.R. and Sue Ellen divorce, Bobby and Pam adopt, and the lost of Jim Davis, the DVD set is extremely lacking in special features. It only includes a new featurette “A Living Landmark: A Tour of the Real Southfork Ranch” – which will be interesting to fans, but is not really needed. Some commentary or interviews with cast members about the season would have been a nice addition.
Dallas was a highly successful show, and it is still enjoyable – even if it is dated and rather cliché. The strength of the series continues to rest on Hagman’s performance as J.R. and the many tricks he pulls each episode. It is hard to imagine anyone pulling the role off other than Hagman, or the series lasting as long without him.
The search for Jock in “Latin America”
I would recommend Dallas – The Complete Fifth Season to any diehard fans of the series. It is not the best place to start watching the series, and the plots aren’t great as they were in the first season. Still, J.R. is just as evil, and the series manages some great moments (such as when Sue Ellen is suckered back into a romance with J.R.) – even if they are a bit cheesy by today’s television standards.
Dallas – The Complete Fifth Season is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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