what's inherently wrong with the new series...

[iang74]

four episodes in and it's becoming clear a whole generation of Ewing history is being completely disregarded... for all the sparse references to the original series, there's absolutely no reference to any second generation (and very core) characters, from Jenna Wade onwards... as a knock-on effect, a whole raft of kids are completely ignored... Lucas, James, JR's grandkid, JR's other kid with Cally... these should all be able to provide story fodder way beyond what's currently being executed...

and way too many familiar background elements are missing; the Oil Barons Club (and the Ball !) any mention of Weststar (and Ewing Oil for that matter!)... there's just too many omissions all the more noticable for their very omission.

[Kenny Coyote]

I think they need more time to accomplish that. They're only four episodes in with 6 to go for this season. I'm particularly interested in seeing what the current oil business situation is in Dallas now, such as who would be the biggest competitors to the Ewings? What has become of West Star? Is there a new cartel? Why has the name Ewing Oil not even been mentioned? Next season hopefully we'll see the introduction of more of those people you're talking about - Cally's child and Lucas especially. Somehow I don't expect James or his son to be part of this new Dallas, mainly because I don't think they want to remind us of how bad Dallas got by the time James was part of the show. So I don't expect to see Cally either, but I hope that her son or daughter shows up.

[Sid Fairgate]

Precisely right. I brought these issues up before the show even aired, and was told in a condescending fashion that the new series would be like a cheap piece of fan fiction if original fans had their way. To quote Christopher, I find that to be "bullshit" myself. Personally, I think this show needs more familiar events, places, and referrences to the past. If they don't tap into that history, what's the point of doing a continuation? Instead, Cidre seems more interested in creating her own history by expecting us to believe that Carmen and Elena have been around Christopher since he was 5.

I also thought the barbeque was a wasted opportunity. It was completely uneventful, which can't be said about the previous barbeques.

[Beware of Bobby's shower]

I agree with Kenny on this point about needing time. If you use original Dallas as a template, Gary and Val were mentioned once or twice in the miniseries, but didn't actually appear until season 2. Ewing cousins Jack and Jamie didn't even get mentioned until season 6. And if a big argument is the show isn't developing its young characters in the ten episodes they have, how much worse would it be if you stuck three of four more main cast members in and have to develop them? That would take time away from the veterans, which is the reason why many people are primarily tuned into the show.

In hindsight, I wish they had made the pilot into more of a reunion movie, with some event like Miss Ellie's funeral so the whole family (Classic cast and next generation) could come together, be introduced, and people could at least get introduced to the next generation. Then if characters like Lucas and Margaret had to be shelved for the first season for story purposes, they could come back as needed later on (that's how Jenna went from appearing in one episode, to being off a year, to being back for an episode, then off a year, and finally becoming part of the cast. Kristin, too, had a quick appearance in a couple episodes before coming back as a major character).

[Cliff Barnes]

I agree references to later characters would be nice, it would indicate writers who had truly done their homework. Ann is intimidated by Pam we hear, but how about the memory of April as well? There would be ways to work it in, educate the new audience, and respect the old one.

[Sid Fairgate]

I agree references to later characters would be nice, it would indicate writers who had truly done their homework. Ann is intimidated by Pam we hear, but how about the memory of April as well? There would be ways to work it in, educate the new audience, and respect the old one.

I was never a big fan of Bobby and April as a couple, but it is interesting that there's been no mention of her. Elena even refers to Pam as "the only mom Christopher ever knew." However, he had grown close to April before she died. I'm kind of surprised that Bobby and Christopher haven't reflected on her yet.

[jeff_ewing]

I thought while they were packing up southfork they come across a wedding photo of Bobby and April. Just to show he was married to someone after Pam.

[BJ Ewing]

Keep in mind the Ewings are out of the oil business and have been for nearly a generation (over 20 years) since the movies are being discounted. That might clue us in about why they aren't connected to major players in today's industry...yet.

[quiche]

four episodes in and it's becoming clear a whole generation of Ewing history is being completely disregarded... for all the sparse references to the original series, there's absolutely no reference to any second generation (and very core) characters, from Jenna Wade onwards... as a knock-on effect, a whole raft of kids are completely ignored... Lucas, James, JR's grandkid, JR's other kid with Cally... these should all be able to provide story fodder way beyond what's currently being executed...

and way too many familiar background elements are missing; the Oil Barons Club (and the Ball !) any mention of Weststar (and Ewing Oil for that matter!)... there's just too many omissions all the more noticable for their very omission.

I can not believe how screentime is wasted on dragged out stories and so many plots and twists. The whole problem rests in how the new Dallas is being written.

[ronald mascot]

I think it's okay to limit old references- new people who watch the show won't know who they are and could end up wondering if they are missing some sort of big plot point by not knowing the names that are going by- so it could confuse and annoy them. They are already having to hear a lot about people who are no longer there- such as Pam, Miss Ellie and Jock.

[JR_fan]

We're only 4 episodes into the show. I think we need a bit more time before we can delve into all those other characters and loose ends. I think that's perhaps what the person who was talking to Sid Fairgate meant by the "cheap fan fiction" comment. I think said person could've worded it better but there's a point to it. You can't just throw everything at the viewers and expect them to be able to swallow it all. We have to remember that the audience that this show is trying to capture apart from us are people who only know DALLAS for the Dream Season, Who Shot JR? and half of these people confuse this show with Dynasty! (vomit)

So it's going to take a little more time and if this show can switch some of the pacing a bit to allow for more character driven moments then I think we'll start to see some of the familiar 2nd generation folks or at least hear about them.

[Tessie]

Precisely right. I brought these issues up before the show even aired, and was told in a condescending fashion that the new series would be like a cheap piece of fan fiction if original fans had their way. To quote Christopher, I find that to be "bullshit" myself. Personally, I think this show needs more familiar events, places, and referrences to the past. If they don't tap into that history, what's the point of doing a continuation? Instead, Cidre seems more interested in creating her own history by expecting us to believe that Carmen and Elena have been around Christopher since he was 5.

I also thought the barbeque was a wasted opportunity. It was completely uneventful, which can't be said about the previous barbeques.

Agree. It's hilarious to read the not-so-wonderful reviews which state the same concerns/questions that were mentioned prior to the show airing.

[JRandSueEllenForever]

I was never a big fan of Bobby and April as a couple, but it is interesting that there's been no mention of her. Elena even refers to Pam as "the only mom Christopher ever knew." However, he had grown close to April before she died. I'm kind of surprised that Bobby and Christopher haven't reflected on her yet.

Nobody's been reflecting on anybody yet. The closest Bobby came to reflecting on Pam was saying that Ann felt "threatened" by her memory. Ray and Lucy appear and reappear as ghosts on Southfork, uttering little more than one line each, every other episode. What is the point of them being around if there isn't going to be a plot that involves them? It's frustrating that the writers aren't reconciling the old with the new. Us old timers would love to know what Ray and Lucy have been up to lately. How about Jenna and Lucas? Gary and Val? Afton?

Ewing Oil has only been mentioned once as far as I know, while John Ross was ranting about how his mother screwed up his life by sending him off to boarding school, and now Cliff Barnes is running the company. Not one scene of Cliff at Ewing Oil offices though.

[James from London]

I'm just loving it.

[SnarkyOracle!]

We're only 4 episodes into the show. I think we need a bit more time before we can delve into all those other characters and loose ends.

Agreed.

You can't just throw everything at the viewers and expect them to be able to swallow it all. We have to remember that the audience that this show is trying to capture apart from us are people who only know DALLAS for the Dream Season, Who Shot JR? and half of these people confuse this show with Dynasty! (vomit)

Well, DYNASTY's Seasons 1, 2 and 9 were good. The rest of it was, indeed, vomit.

[ronald mascot]

I think some of this is a lose/lose situation. If Ray and Lucy were not in it at all, I'm sure there would be stuff like "They could at least show Lucy or Ray at the BBQ or wedding even if they didn't say anything."

[PJ]

I think some of this is a lose/lose situation. If Ray and Lucy were not in it at all, I'm sure there would be stuff like "They could at least show Lucy or Ray at the BBQ or wedding even if they didn't say anything."

True and as JR_Fan says, let's give it more time. So far, I like what I've seen.

[Lovely Linda]

I agree that they probably shouldn't reference too much because that would be annoying for new viewers of the show.
But they should definitely take better care of defining the characters. You need to know where people stand and what they stand for. Characters may change during the course of a show but I feel that this show is completely lacking a good layout of characters- as well as a clear outline of the relationship between the characters.
They think by keeping it all unclear they might make the storyline more exciting but for me this isn't working at all. It is like we keep orbiting around something and never get to the point...

[James from London]

You need to know where people stand and what they stand for.

Not necessarily. I like a bit of ambiguity. I'm happy just to enjoy the ride.

[Miss Lush]

I agree that they probably shouldn't reference too much because that would be annoying for new viewers of the show.
But they should definitely take better care of defining the characters. You need to know where people stand and what they stand for. Characters may change during the course of a show but I feel that this show is completely lacking a good layout of characters- as well as a clear outline of the relationship between the characters.
They think by keeping it all unclear they might make the storyline more exciting but for me this isn't working at all. It is like we keep orbiting around something and never get to the point...

Exactly! Orbiting...and orbiting...and orbiting.