With one of the most famous season openers in television history, Dallas did away with a whole year of plot and intrigue by having Pam awaken and find Bobby alive in the shower. By starting the season 10 with “it was all a dream” television was changed forever. What other surprises were in store for the Ewing family?
I remember first seeing this season opener, and being shocked. That was before the days of internet, so fan speculation was limited to your immediate friends, family and office mates. None of us saw that one coming!
After shedding tears over Bobby’s demise, and worrying about what would happen to Pam without him, it was almost more than the viewing audience could take in to think that it had all been Pam’s dream. A nightmare that seemed so real was beyond comprehension. It was also unsettling to think that if the writers could do that to the story, what else were they going to do to the beloved characters.
You must remember that Dallas was the first prime time ongoing soap style drama, and this show had the opportunity to do a lot of things “first” that we have come to expect in series. I knew people who were so distressed over the departure from standard storytelling practices that they quit watching the show. Most of my friends and I kept on watching, just to see what would happen next, and oh, yes, of course for the fashions and hairstyles.
It is great fun to watch these episodes again, looking particularly at the fashions. The outfit that Deborah Shelton wears as Mandy Winger to the Cattleman’s Ball, is simply amazing. Even at the time we all thought it was over the top….now twenty years later, it is something to see.
Season 10 of Dallas was a busy year. J.R. expanded his meddling to the middle-east where he made more enemies and deals, in hopes of cutting off the Arab crude supply. Jock returned, or was it really the patriarch? Didn’t he die in the helicopter crash years before? Who was this doppelganger who had a lot of Jock’s papers and even more of his memories?
Mandy and Sue Ellen began season ten in a big fight for J.R’s affections. There were numerous romantic difficulties including Bobby and Pam who continued to have problems over Jenna. Miss Ellie and Clayton had some shaky moments, and Donna and Ray ended their marriage in divorce.
Jamie died leaving her 10% of Ewing Oil up for grabs, and J. R. finally regained control of the company, just as the Department of Justice stepped in to investigate. These are just highlights of a Season that saw many changes, and set up events for the future of the series.
Dallas The Complete Tenth Season is presented in a boxed set containing three double sided discs with all 29 episodes. There is a fold out insert with stills from the season and episode notes and synopses. There were no special features included in this boxed set.
Dallas - The Complete Tenth Season is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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