18 - j.r.´s masterpiece

March 11, 2013: TNT´s "Dallas" aired the episode that tributed both Larry Hagman and J.R. Ewing. After being shot twice while talking to his son John Ross on the phone, the family found out that he was in a New Mexico tacky hotel when someone mysteriously killed him. Thanks to some unused clips and others digitally altered, the show´s producers made possible the impossible: the death of J.R. was inserted into the current storyline and used to improve it, and create suspense until the very end of the season, when it was revealed that the person who killed J.R. was... (Don´t you really know already?). This episode, along with the Pilot, is the best entry featured by the new series, and reunited several familiar faces from the original series at the oil man´s funeral: Lucy and Gary Ewing, Ray Krebbs, J.R.´s second wife Cally and his former lover Mandy Winger. Of course, Cliff Barnes also had to be there "to dance on his gravesite". 45 minutes of pure emotion to any "Dallas" fan, to be watched with a pack of kleenex at hand. In the scene below, you can watch one of the most heartbreaking moments of the episode, with Sue Ellen´s double confession about J.R. being "the love of her life" and, also, and more regrettably, that she had been drinking again. "Sugar, how could you?", J.R. would have said if he had seen her.

La nueva "Dallas" presentaba el episodio que homenajeaba tanto a Larry Hagman como a J.R. Ewing. Después de saber que había recibido dos disparos mientras hablaba con su hijo John Ross por teléfono, la familia averiguaba que fue misteriosamente asesinado en un cutre hotel de Nuevo Méjico. Gracias a varias secuencias inéditas y otras alteradas digitalmente, los productores de la serie hicieron posible lo imposible: la muerte de J.R. fue incorporada a la línea argumental y utilizada para mejorar ésta y crear un suspense hasta el mismo final de la temporada, cuando se revelaría que la persona que mató a J.R. fue... (¿No lo sabéis ya...?). Este episodio, junto con el Piloto, es el mejor de la nueva serie hasta la fecha, y reunió a varios rostros familiares de la serie original con ocasión del entierro del petrolero: Lucy y Gary Ewing, Ray Krebbs, la 2ª esposa de J.R., Cally, y su antigua amante Mandy Winger. Claro está, Cliff Barnes tenía que acudir también, "para bailar sobre su tumba". 45 minutos de pura emoción para cualquier fan de "Dallas" que hay que ver junto a una caja de klínex. En la escena del vídeo, podéis recordar uno de los momentos más sobrecogedores del episodio, con la doble confesión por parte de Sue Ellen de que J.R. fue "el amor de su vida" y, también, y más lamentable, que había empezado a beber otra vez. "Cariño, ¿por qué lo hiciste?", hubiera dicho J.R. si la hubiese visto.

My post on Ultimate Dallas Forum from March 14, 2013:

I loved Ray´s participation although his speech should have been longer, and Gary´s too, they were his brothers after all. If there' s one thing that fascinates me of Deborah is her deep, breathy voice (I know I´m in the minority but...): she and Holly Harwood sounded like a couple of truckers after a night out in town! Also, Cliff´s appearance was the sad legacy of Digger Barnes. Imagine what Pam would have thought of that...I almost expected Mandy Winger to run after Cliff to tell him she was free that night...and available for a little nostalgic tramp-shagging!!

I think Sue Ellen´s speech was long enough to melt even the hardest heart watching the scene!!it was all so sad!! But we knew this had to happen! I think that even Leonard Katzman would be proud of this episode! Finally, Bobby has realized he married a Stepford wife! Call the lawyer tomorrow and file for a divorce!! Once again, and I said it last season too, Bobby is reacting to tragedies (like his cancer) just the same way Miss Ellie would have: here he was sort of denying his brother´s death, or at least keeping it all inside, like Miss Ellie when Bobby (oh mine, isn´t this surreal?) himself died in Pam´s dream.

Whatever is in his letter, I´m sure it´s the key to a Season 3 of the new Dallas. Just you wait. If it´s not about Pam´s return, then it will have to do with James back for his part of the legacy, or with Cally´s kid, or wherever the assets of old Ewing Oil really are (Caiman Islands, maybe?). Emma seems to be like what they used to say about Grace Kelly (before she became Princess of Monaco): Ice of Queen in society, horny bitch in privacy!! John Ross´s shot with the flag all alone, really really sad!!