Dallas Review: A Whole New Game

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The Dallas season finale tied the old and new together, as "Revelations" clarified the direction of things to come.

Play Ball

The show opened with a solid one-two punch: Rebecca frantically mopped up the blood off her floor and had a clean up crew haul Tommy's body out of the way, prompting the obvious question: Who the heck is this girl? Who can place a phone call and make a murder scene and a dead body disappear? Government agent? Witness protection? Mobster's daughter?

SPOILER ALERT! If you have not watched this episode, read no further. OK, you've been warned.

Rebecca was Cliff Barnes' daughter! Damn. I didn't see that coming - and I should have. Once the reveal happened, all of the pieces fell into place. 

For those new to the series, Cliff fathered a child with long-time lover Afton Cooper. The girl's name was Pamela Rebecca, named after Cliff's sister and mother. I can only assume that Rebecca is that child.

Suddenly her detailed knowledge of the Ewings and her love of Chinese food all fell into place. 

The depth of Cliff's hatred of the Ewing clan has always astounded me. The fact that he'd use his own daughter in an attempt to take them down was both appalling and completely believable.

But the best twist of all is that with Rebecca pregnant with Christopher's twins, the Barnes and the Ewings will be inextricably connected for yet another generation. 

The reveal that Rebecca was a Barnes would be enough for most season finales but Dallas gave us so much more, starting with an uncharacteristic moment of sincerity for J.R. as he stood by his brother's bedside. J.R. told an unconscious Bobby that he loved him, that he didn't know who he was without him and that he needed to get up and fight, even if that meant continuing the battle between the two.

It's in moments like this that I'm reminded that J.R.'s over-the-top villainy works because we believe that he really does love his family, even if it is in his own uniquely warped way.

So much happened so quickly from there that it was almost hard to keep up. Bobby woke up and, instead of sending his brother to prison, used the information to take Vicente down... but it came at a hefty price for John Ross.

The relationship between John Ross and Elena has been a highlight for me all season. I loved his proposal even though I knew it was too good to last. When he begged her for a second chance with tears in his eyes, I felt his heartbreak.

Christopher's realization that Rebecca was not who she claimed to be was another blow. Not so much because I love these two as a couple but because I hated that it sent Christopher running back to Elena.

And in yet one more riveting storyline, Ann Ewing finally confirmed why she deserves to be the wife of Bobby Ewing. I was really concerned when she went to Ryland to try and help Sue Ellen. When she began to unbutton her blouse my stomach turned.

Bobby's Home

I practically fist pumped the air when I saw the listening device hooked to her bra. Then she punched the S.O.B. and did a better job of it than Bobby did week's earlier and she capped it off with this great Dallas quote

 The next time you ask me for a hug you'll be hugging the business hand of my shotgun. | permalink

Go Ann!

But my favorite scene of the night was John Ross showing Elena and then Christopher the new Ewing Energies office space. Having it be the renovated space of the former Ewing Oil was priceless. As John Ross showed Elena where Jock's office had been, and uncle Bobby's, and J.R.'s, I could have hugged him. 

It was a skillful way of melding the past and the present and hinting at the turmoil and greatness of what's to come.

In the end, John Ross and J.R. standing in that revered space as the son asked the father to impart all of his deviousness and experience brought everything full circle. Except this time John Ross is a little less naive about his legendary father and his heartache over his lost love will fuel his revenge. 

And that's before he knows that Elena's back in Christopher's bed!

I spent so much time waiting for the start of the new Dallas that I can't quite believe that season one is over. Season two returns in January 2013.  Will you be watching?

Revelations Review

Editor Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 (83 Votes)

C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.

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Dallas Season 1 Episode 10 Quotes

Christopher: Old Ewing Oil space?
John Ross: Actually, new Ewing Energies space.

My life and everything I want it to be is better with you.

John Ross