Who is the Sanest Character?

**graysonmom** · 04-16-2009, 12:15 PM

Which of the Dallas characters is the sanest? Some indicators of mental health would be responding appropriately to situations (crying when there's reason to be sad, being happy when there's nothing wrong, etc), taking responsibility for their own behaviors and futures, has a good grasp on reality, wants to engage in a healthy romantic relationship, is able to face life's challenges, has good physical health, has a network of support, etc.

**FSJD** · 04-16-2009, 12:24 PM

Donna was most stable. Clayton, Marilee and Jamie were sane too.

Bobby and Jock had anger issues and would think with there fists a bit too much, JR was pretty crazy, Ellie used to crack every now and then and Lucy had drug issues and would also have hissy fits every now and then.

**PAMANDBOBBYFOREVER** · 04-16-2009, 12:26 PM

Donna, by far!

**Ray's Lady** · 04-16-2009, 12:34 PM

Donna, followed by Clayton.

**graysonmom** · 04-16-2009, 12:38 PM

You can definitely make the case for Donna. She faced her problems head-on. She could be grouchy at times, though, and seemed a bit full of herself occasionally too. She was highly rational, but rather irritable, I thought.

I actually voted for Lucy because she was cheerful most of the time except when she had a real problem, and she stood up to JR on numerous occasions most admirably. IMHO, she was one of the few people JR really respected. She also had real friends, which is more than you can say for many of the other characters. She was definitely bratty at times, but I'd say very sane. I've only watched up to the end of season 7 DVD. Did Lucy have any other substance abuse problem beyond the one in season 2? I chalked that episode up to immaturity because she was so young. But I didn't think she had an addictive personality--she didn't need "stuff" to help her make it through the day on a continuing basis. She also was very selective in her romantic relationships, dumping guys who didn't treat her right. She's one of the few people on the whole show that did that.

**Mel O'Drama** · 04-16-2009, 12:54 PM

Donna gets my vote as the sanest too, with Clayton a close second.

Ellie was sane, but I think her outlook could be clouded by family loyalty and/or her desire for the family to be united. But considering some of the challenges Ellie faced (and that she lived at Southfork, amongst so much dysfunction), Ellie was as sane as could be.

For me, as well as Bobby's anger issues, the lack of communication which drove a wedge between him and Pam is not the sanest.

**bojc** · 04-16-2009, 01:00 PM

miss ellie and donna
but i voted for ellie

**mattwuk** · 04-16-2009, 01:13 PM

Katherine Wentworth.

**I Love Victoria** · 04-16-2009, 01:33 PM

Bobby except for the whole Jenna thing

**Pamela Barnes Ewing** · 04-16-2009, 03:54 PM

Jamie gets my star sanity vote. She was level headed, not greedy, knew who to sympathise with and when to kick ass. She grew up in tough surroundings but still made a good life for herself, until she died. Her only mistake was marrying Cliff and, even then, she did it out of love and screwed him for just enough money to justify her input into the marriage. Well done.

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Miss Ellie - She clinged to much to the past and the land. Couldn't cope with her kids flying the nest even though they were well past 18.

Verdict: Scores 7 on the barmy-omitor. That's fruitloop behaviour.

Clayton - Got a bit silly over Sue Ellen for someone his age and spent a fortune on an engagement rock when there wasn't hint that SE would reciprocate his interest in her. He sold the SC ranch and then moaned about not having land in high rise Dallas and resented living in another man's house. As if Ms Ellie would move to a two up, two down semi.

Verdict - Scores 7 on the barmy-omitor. Indecisive and ..... well, plain daft really.

Pam - She married for love, had bags of integrity and sympathy for others. Could be tough when she needed to be and handled her awful brother well even when he betrayed her a few times. She only had breakdowns for very good reasons and still managed to rise from shop assistant to oil executive.

Verdict: Scores 1 on the barmy-omitor. Nearly as good as Jamie and Bobby.

Bobby - fairly stable, loving, caring with a good head on his shoulders. But he did put up with Jenna for too long. Otherwise, he would have scored 0, like Jamie.

Verdict: Only scores 2 out of 10 on the 'barmy-omitor' He had anger issues, but his chief weakness was ever believing a single word JR said and falling for Jenna who was plain potty when she had that breakdown.

JR - Psychopath (no qualms about trampling on those that got in his way). Devoid of all integrity and feelings for others.

Verdict: Scores 10 on the 'barmy-omitor. SE should have imposed a life sentence on him in the sanatarium.

Marilee - She went a bit nuts when Seth committed suicide, understandably perhaps. But then she went to bed with the person that caused him to top himself.

Verdict: Scores 8 on the barmy-omitor. That's one for Dr Elsby, if you ask me!

Jock - He did have some business ethics bu was generally hard-nosed in business and trampled on anyone that got in his way (but not Digger, apparently). But the he seemed to fall for all of Lucy's lies and scams so she could sneak off with boyfriends when she was grounded, and he believed her when she said she lost her school reports..

Verdict: scores 5 on the barmy-omitor. Schizophrenic.

Donna - It was a bad move to be bright, intelligent and inherit 10m from high profile, rich, politically saavy hubby who was worth writing two books about, and then fall in love with a penniless cowboy who only wanted a home drone to cook his dinner. I ask you!

Verdict - Scores 7 on the barmy-omitor. Menopausal symptoms at age 28 is just plain barmy.

Lucy: Her career choices: working as a waitress on 5 bucks an hour in a run down dump and then seeking fame and fortune as a fashion model when she was a chubby dwarf instead of a size 0 high rise building. Then marrying a pauper who'd rather save his wages for 6 months for a pair of shoes when she could afford to buy out every shoe manufacturer in the US.

Verdict - Scores 8 on the barmy-omitor Dr Elsby is not going to be short of clients.

Sue Ellen - Didn't stand a chance. Was groomed to marry well and hit rock bottom with booze after years of being married to a heartless, unfaithful psycho.

Verdict - She must have paid for Dr Elsby's degree tuition fees even before he set up in business and gave her counselling.

**SnarkyOracle!** · 04-16-2009, 04:04 PM

It's hard to argue against Donna as sanest character. It may even have had something to do with Susan Howard being the better actress, as TV tends to write to the actors' personalities and skill.

Which says nothing about Howard's nutzoid politics, however.

Originally Posted by Pamela Barnes Ewing

Miss Ellie - She clinged to much to the past and the land. Couldn't cope with her kids flying the nest even though they were well past 18.

More like well past 40.

Donna - It was a bad move to be bright, intelligent and inherit 10m from high profile, rich, politically saavy hubby who was worth writing two books about, and then fall in love with a penniless cowboy who only wanted a home drone to cook his dinner. I ask you!

Verdict - Scores 7 on the barmy-omitor. Menopausal symptoms at age 28 is just plain barmy.

Huh?

**Ray&Donna** · 04-16-2009, 04:06 PM

Donna and Clayton, by far.

"Barmy" must be a technical term I never learned in all of my psychology courses

**Barbara Fan** · 04-16-2009, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Mel O'Drama

Donna gets my vote as the sanest too, with Clayton a close second.

Ellie was sane, but I think her outlook could be clouded by family loyalty and/or her desire for the family to be united. But considering some of the challenges Ellie faced (and that she lived at Southfork, amongst so much dysfunction), Ellie was as sane as could be.

For me, as well as Bobby's anger issues, the lack of communication which drove a wedge between him and Pam is not the sanest.

I agree with you Mel O Drama

Donna and Clayton on a consistant basis

Miss Ellie was for the most part until Barbara became ill and they hed to pack her off for 11 epiosdes - she was less stable in later years and I just never got the Miss Ellie who broke down at the thought of ewing Oil being investigated but was stoical during her mastectomy

Sue Ellen and Cliff were the least likely candiates for the title

**graysonmom** · 04-16-2009, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Barbara Fan

I agree with you Mel O Drama

Donna and Clayton on a consistant basis

Miss Ellie was for the most part until Barbara became ill and they hed to pack her off for 11 epiosdes - she was less stable in later years and I just never got the Miss Ellie who broke down at the thought of ewing Oil being investigated but was stoical during her mastectomy

Sue Ellen and Cliff were the least likely candiates for the title

There are loads of people on Dallas who were completely nuts, but it's easy to bash them. I thought it would be more stimulating to discuss who actually was sane