SOAPNET Daily Dallas RECAP #2 11/30/07: Episode 198. The Wind of Change

[Julius]

THE WIND OF CHANGE

by Peter Dunne

Ellie tells Clayton of J.R.’s plans to leave Dallas and start life over somewhere else.

"We left him no choice," she says. "He already feels everyones abandoned him, abandoned Ewing Oil, And without Ewing Oil, there’s no reason for him to stay. That’s why, for better or worse, I can’t sell to Wendell . I need to save my son, not lose him."

Pam tells Mark that she’s not completely certain about her decision anymore. Mark assures her that she can still change her mind.

Sue Ellen is released from the sanitarium to her mothers care, and the two women appear at the Oil Baron’s Ball, where they are invited to sit with Ellie and Clayton. Mandy, who had disappeared and left JR. brokenhearted, reappears at the ball and tells JR. she’ll be there for him. Jack pursues his courtship of Jenna, although some small disturbances have interrupted his life lately—his apartment was broken into and his passport was stolen. Furthermore, unbeknownst to Jack, a woman named Angelica Nero has taken interest in his photograph and identity.

The ball proceeds much like other balls in previous years, with Cliff and JR. at each other’s throats. Jamie is so outraged at learning that Cliff pushed Pam into dealing with Wendell for his own personal gain that she hits him in the face with a pie. She then arranges to leave Cliff and move in with Jack.

The Oil Man of the Year award is made posthumously to Bobby Ewing. As Ellie approaches the podium to accept the award, the crowd rises in a standing ovation. Giving her acceptance speech, Ellie talks about Bobby’s uncompromising love of his family and his hopes for his son, Christopher. Then she calls Pam to the podium to accept the award for Christopher. Pam makes her own speech, explaining that she cannot sell Christopher’s heritage to Weststar.

"With apologies to those who may not understand my sudden change of heart, I cannot. . . will not sell Christopher's share of Ewing Oil to Weststar."

Pam then privately tells JR., "I’m not selling the shares at all. From now on, it’s you and me. I’ll see you in the office, partner.

Broadcast: 01-Nov-1985 w: Peter Dunne d: Corey Allen If you have any comments on this episode SOAPNET aired today, please post it here.

[Barbara Fan]

one of my fav episodes this series and cant tell you how happy i was to have BBG back doing sad scenes like only she can.
loved all the BBG scenes especially the one at Pams house when they are talking about Bobby and EO and at the end when he is named Oil Baron of the year and Miss Ellie gets up on stage and gives that moving speech - That cheer and clap from the audience I thought was for BBG being back lol and I loved the exchange between her and Pam and Pams I cannot I WILL NOT sell my share of the company to Jeremy Wendell

I have never seen VP look so beautiful, she was perfect

I have one question tho!

Jamie says to Cliff I wanna do DIPS????? what is that I have wondered about that for 21 years!!! lol

[Kimmekap]

I loved it!!! I love the look on JR's face when she tells him that!!!

[Oil Baroness]

OK, even though he is and always will be the "pornstache," Mark has a great line in this episode when talking to Jerry Kenderson: "That's the only way to take life Jerry; in big steps." Love it.

[Chris2]

Pam shouldn't have been considering selling Christopher's shares of Ewing Oil to Wendell to begin with. Is that really what Bobby would have wanted? No way. If Bobby had known what Pam was going to consider, he probably would have named J.R. as the administrator of Chris' shares.

[Girl Watching Basketball]

I thought it was interesting that the writers chose to take Jenna away from the ball, so she wasn't there when they announced Bobby's award.

[Oil Baroness]

I thought it was interesting that the writers chose to take Jenna away from the ball, so she wasn't there when they announced Bobby's award.

I noticed that too! That little bit of scripting cleared the way for Pam to receive the award from Miss Ellie.

BTW, there was some serious 80's hair going on at that ball. (Jenna looked ready for a Robert Palmer video. And Sue Ellen and Donna had poufed up mullets.)

[TJinPgh]

First, let me say that I agree completely with Barbara Fan. I have to admit that I never liked Donna Reed as Miss Ellie. That wasn't so much a commentary on her acting ability, but rather one of style. Barbara brought an entirely different feel to the role and Donna never quite grabbed hold of.

Barbara always seemed to present a stronger Miss Ellie than Donna did. Maybe that's just me. But, Miss Ellie certainly knew how to push Pam's buttons in this episode.

There are a number of points during this season where, watching them again after knowing what happens at the end of the season, I wonder where and when they knew that it was all going to revert back.

The story line with Ray and Donna's child having Down's Syndrome was an excellent one. I was sad it didn't really happen.

I wonder if Pam's comment about Christopher at the ball was simply a writing flub (plothole) or if it was meant to be a hint. Pam said that owning Ewing Oil was Christopher's "birthright." Christopher is adopted (and not even legally, at that). He's no more Ewing than I am. I'm not saying that, being adopted, he is any less entitled to his inheritance. Simply saying he wasn't born into it.

Cliff's behavior during the last couple episodes was a greatly exaggerated version of his normal behavior. Again, I wonder when they knew how the season was going to turn out.

[Ray&Donna]

I do love this episode, in spite of the sadness it brings into the season.

However, the writers really make Mandy look like some kind of weirdo at this point--randomly disappearing and reappearing, only leaving her apartment for the Oil Baron's Ball and the rodeo; in hindsight, I can understand why she was originally written out at the end of this season.

[jill from scotland]

A great episode with great acting by all the ladies on Dallas and very moving speeches at the end

[Crockett3663]

Early in each season, I've always felt that there was one episode that I considered to be the "scene setter", and for the Dream season, I've always felt like this was the one. It's one of my all time favorites. So much goes on within that one hour period.

We get to see how JR reacts to Mandy's disappearing act. Never before or afterward did JR act the way he did, and I felt like it was some of Larry Hagman's best acting of the entire series. The constant phone calls, kicking in her door, and their eventual reconcilliation at the OBB were all wonderfully acted.

I got the same feeling that Barbara Fan did--that the standing ovation Miss Ellie received was not so much for the character as it was for the actress. I've often wondered if, in large group scenes such as those at the OBB and the BBQs, the extras are all crew members and/or their families, and in a scene such as this they were not only cheering for Miss Ellie, but for BBGs return, as well.

Pam looked absolutely stunning, as usual, and her speech at the end was very moving. My only regret was that they didn't have a reaction shot of Jeremy Wendell when Pam first uttered that she was changing her mind about selling. Then again, the guy is so heartless and business-like, he probably just shrugged, thought "Oh well...", and immediately started planning his next big venture.

The OBB scenes with Cliff and Jamie are both dramatic and comical. I loved when she dragged him on the dance floor insisting that they do "dips"!! The pie-in-the-face scene has been done ad nauseum in TV history, so I'm pretty ambivalent about that, but I think that was the least Jamie could've done. Being the tough Alaskan woman she is, I'd have rather seen her give Cliff a good punch in the bread basket, because he certainly had it coming.

As much as I hate John Beck's infamous "porn 'stache", I really liked the acting he was doing when he came back into Pam's life. I always felt that in his first installment, he would go from being smarmy to effeminate at the snap of a finger. This time he's much more romantic and chivalous (is that a word?), being at Pam's side when she absolutely needed him against JR. It has always been known that Patrick Duffy agreed to return to the series the following year during the latter portions of the dream season, and I'm going to keep a keen eye for when Mark's personality changes slightly, due to John Beck's knowing that he would not be coming back following the dream season.

Saving the best for last...Donna and Ray. Holy cow!!! I had never seen those two perform better, and the fact that they were able to do their best scenes together made it even better. I don't know if Susan Howard ever won an Emmy for her performance in this series of episodes, but if she didn't, she was absolutley robbed!! The pain, anguish, anger, and helplessness displayed on her face and in her heart were almost too real. I know she was personally involved with Down's Syndrome children in real life, and I know that it was her idea to have Ray and Donna face a problem like this, but did she actually have a DS child? Because as I said, her acting almost seemed too personal.

It such a shame that this marvelous piece of acting had to end up in the hellish dream season, and that their efforts were all for naught, because in the following season they go back to fighting and eventually splitting up. This is one of those storylines that I wish hadn't been "scrapped" just because it occured during "the dream". The writers should have fought for Donna and Ray to continue this story regardless, because it was touching and poignant and well acted.

Now we get to follow up this marvelous episode with all the endless Marinos garbage--EEESSSHHH!!!!!!!!

[karen1407]

Jamie says to Cliff I wanna do DIPS????? what is that I have wondered about that for 21 years!!! lol

I could be wrong but I assume she only means she wants to dance and have her husband dip her as well.

Oh, and I was watching this when the scene between Ray and Donna came on where she was arguing against considering an abortion. VERY DRAMATIC and well played by her.

I was wondering why in the hell we needed the contrast of Jack and Jenna and that whole back and forth. I mean that would have maybe made sense if Jack and Jenna were pregnant with a healthy child. Otherwise, it was like they were forcing those two characters to have some story line.

[Oil Baroness]

I could be wrong but I assume she only means she wants to dance and have her husband dip her as well.

Oh, and I was watching this when the scene between Ray and Donna came on where she was arguing against considering an abortion. VERY DRAMATIC and well played by her.

I was wondering why in the hell we needed the contrast of Jack and Jenna and that whole back and forth. I mean that would have maybe made sense if Jack and Jenna were pregnant with a healthy child. Otherwise, it was like they were forcing those two characters to have some story line.

Jamie was just trying to get Cliff away from sticking his foot in his mouth over Jeremy Wendall's offer, so she came up with something fast to drag him off to the dance floor. I thought Jennilee and KK both played that comedic moment very well. Jennilee's "Three's Company" training shined through there.

Susan Howard was INCREDIBLE in this episode. Her pain was palpable. I wonder if Dallas ever submitted those scenes for Emmy consideration?

As for Jack and Jenna, I think it goes back to the fact that the producers seemed to require that each of the female characters had to be with a man at all times. Bobby's dead, and Jenna's alone, so with whom can we match her as quickly as possible? Answer: single, handsome, available Jack. It definitely did seem forced.

[Tatianna]

AW GEE, Angelica Nero is in town!:( :rolleyes: Is it not enough that Patricia has bought a house and hunkered down and now there's Angelica? :( Where oh where has the "real" Dallas gone? :confused:

I really like how Mark is not trying to "sway" or "color" Pam's decision regarding Jeremey Wendell and Christopher's shares in Ewing Oil. He is there supporting HER decision, whatever it may be for all the right reasons. Great going Mark!!!!:wiggle:

My heart breaks for Ray and Donna. Such horrible news for them to hear regarding their unborn child. Very sad, and they were really looking forward to having this child. Their emotional scene about the news was wrenching. Susan and Steve both deserved an Emmy for that performance.

"That Barnes Woman is selling Bobby out". JR really has a way with words.:D He's the only person I know who can say, "that Barnes woman" and make it sound like a dirty word.:D :p

For newlyweds, Jamie and Cliff are acting like "old married people".:D :p They have some scenes that really bring the "house down", and the way she pulled him out on the dance floor was one of them, and the "pie in the face" was another.:D Do people really behave that way ?:D :D :!

Sue Ellen and Pam both looked beautiful at "The Oil Baron's Ball". I really like the way they embraced one another in greeting. They may not have always been "close", but at that moment, who knew ? :)

Miss Ellie's acceptance of Bobby's "Oil Man Of The Year" award was moving.
Very heavy moment between mother and ex-wife when Miss Ellie turned the moment over to Pam. She gave a beautiful tribute to Bobby's memory, but the best part of all was when she told JR, "I'll see you at the office, partner".:exit: :exit: :exit:

[Barbara Fan]

i found this from an old post i made earlier on year

i just loved this episode


I have been watching one of my fav episodes from S8 Wind of Change

I love VP and i dont think i have ever seen her look more beautiful, stunning, sexy, demure, drop dead gorgeous than in the scene at the end, which rates as one of my favs with BBG.

I think even Pammy P will agree with me on this!! :peace: her hair and make up are just....well PERFECT!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/dallascastpics/more%20dallas%20pics/vp.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/dallascastpics/more%20dallas%20pics/vp2.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/dallascastpics/more%20dallas%20pics/vp3.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/dallascastpics/more%20dallas%20pics/vp4.jpg

[Henke007]

AWESOME EPISODE; ONE OF THE BEST , ALL OF OILBARONSBALL IS AMAZING,
AND PAMELA AND MISS ELLIE ON STAGE SHIVERING MOMENTS!!

I also love it when Wendell explains that the oilman of the year award is being given to Bobby James Ewing, the way he says it its great..


This season is far more better then the previous at this point in the season!!