Who did Jock trust most?

[J.R. Ewing IV]

Most agree that Jock's favorite son was Bobby but think about this for a minute. When Jock, JR, Bobby, and Ray went hunting in Louisiana Jock told JR about his first wife before anybody and only told the family later when Miss Ellie was in surgery for cancer. It wasn't just because JR was the only one around either it was because Jock knew that in those situations Bobby wasn't the one to go to for help it was JR because JR would do what he was told and Bobby would go off on a clean hands rampage. So my question is who did Jock go to the most to have things done?

[Ray&Donna]

I figure Jock told J.R. about Amanda because he though he was near death...but that's me. With that said, he probably trusted Ray more than the others; he wasn't all ruthless and stuff (just self-loathing).

[Cliff Barnes]

I think he had no choice but to trust JR; he was smart enough to know JR was not the honest one. He probably considered Bobby and Ray equally trustworthy, and of course he'd never even consider ol' Gary.

[Col.Lover]

I have to say that Jock confided in JR only because he thought he was near death and JR was the only one around. I believe he trusted Bobby and Ray but when he needed a son to whine to it was Ray...because they were the most alike. He confided in Ray in matters of feelings. JMO though. :)

[burbon'nbranch]

I think there's different kinds of trust in play here. Who he "trusted" in the touchy-feely sense of the word, that would be Ray most, followed by Bobby. They were good for unburdening problems to or whatever.

And then who he "trusted" to get things done. That would be ol' JR.

I think he trusted JR to be the most competent. As he should. :)

[ArmCharm]

JR would later on use the info for his own good & Ewing oil as well.
ArmCharm

[SnarkyOracle!]

I think Jock "trusted" whomever he thought was doing what he'd just told them to do.

And distrusted whomever he thought wasn't.

[Beth Harmon]

As far as Ewing Oil went, I think Jock trusted J.R., up until J.R. mortgaged Southfork and nearly lost both the ranch and the business in the progress. After that happened, Jock kept a tight leash on J.R.'s activities.

Jock had problems trusting Bobby at running Ewing Oil at first, until Bobby got a refinery, something J.R. was never able to do. Plus Bobby was able to mend some of the broken fences between them and the Cartel.

As far as the Amanda issue went, well since Jock thought he was dying, and J.R. was the only one there, he had to confine in someone and ensure she would be taken care of after he was gone.

In personal matters, though it was usually Bobby or Ray that Jock could confide in. On a personal level, I suspect Jock found it easier to talk to those two. J.R. usually never wanted to talk about anything that didn't involve business.

[mztx71]

Jock trusted Bobby the most unless of course he wanted to screw someone over, then he would turn to JR! :D

[Swami]

I think had the character of Jock lasted longer through the show's duration, he would possibly have come to trust Bobby the most.

Swami

[Kansas girl]

I think Jock trusted Bobby the most. It was Bobby he confided in after Miss Ellie's cancer surgery. And it was Bobby and Pam that went to Colorado with them to see Amanda. When it came to personal matters, Bobby was always the "go to guy". And why not? :D

[shelly25]

I think when it came to business it was JR because they both would do pretty much anything to get what they wanted. Granted JR took it a lot further than Jock would've (I can't ever see him mortgaging Southfork), but I think Jock thought Bobby wouldn't be ruthless enough. Afterall when we first meet Bobby is job at Ewing Oil is to spread the three B's. However, when it came to family/emotional issues it was Bobby with Ray running a close second. As others have pointed out he probably only confided in JR about Amanda because thought he was dying and wanted to unload his burden on someone. He probably would've prefered Bobby, but sometimes you have to go with whatever is available (in this case JR).

[alexander]

Definitely JR. Or at least Jock should. Bobby was unreliable.
Of course JR could be a bit wild at times, but Bobby was able to leave the firm any moment for a whim, for example when he 'finally' finds out one can't keep his hands clean in the oilbusiness (season 3, end of the road).
Jock didn't always know what JR was up to, but JR would never turns his back on the family or Ewing Oil, like Bobby did more than once.

[Jessie]

I think Jock trusted all his sons but I think he trusted Bobby the most..

[Stimpy]

i think when it came to buisiness it was J.R. HOWEVER when he almost lost southfork he lost sound of that Trust. buuuuuut he trusted him to a point when it came to buisness. & when it came to personal stuff. it was Bobby buuut IF bobby wasn't around he went to Ray. & Vice Versa. he also didn't trust bobby when it came to buisness buuuuuuut he was impressed when bobby took over he just was prolly deeply hurt & all when the power took bobby over. & he prolly

WOULD have been proud of Bobby IF he had lived IF bobby was acting president & bobby was able to mend fences & well well J.R. no NEED to say anythhing MORE about that shall we? hehe anywys, & as for Gary we all know how he felt about him. buuuuut he did at LEAST make amends with him before he passed away & i'm glad they had him do that ya know? i dunno HOw sick Jim Davis was at that point they wrote that episode buuuuuuuut IF they hadn't wrote than we would prolly be here saying they SHOULD HAVE ya know? hehe & i guess we don't NEED to. & i DO agree the REASON he told J.R. about Amanda WAS he thought he was dying & NONE Of his other son's were around at THAT time. least this is my feelings about it. anyone agree or disagree?

[Magnum]

I think Jock "trusted" whomever he thought was doing what he'd just told them to do.

And distrusted whomever he thought wasn't.

I agree. Jock was a good judge of character. He knew exactly how people would react.

Jock trusted JR the most because JR needed his fathers approval the most. Everything JR did was for approval from his father.

Jock trusted Bobby the least. Does anyone remember the episode where Jock withdraws money from the bank for a real estate deal but does not tell Bobby? Bobby needed the money for an oil deal, and the money was not in the bank. Bobby confronts his father at the restaurant, and Jock yells at Bobby that Ewing Oil belongs to Jock and nobody else. He then tells Bobby he has a lot to learn, and the only things he will get is what he can take using force.