Dallas - Series 6 (Box Set) (DVD)

...its mainstays in alphabetical order, Dallas redefined the format in which long running drama's played out. Something that most US series' have now adopted and developed, the cliffhanger freezeframes have become synonymous with what Dallas was about. Initially, the show seperated each episode by wrapping up its sub-plots in one episodes, but having firmly established itself as an ongoing series by 1982, Dallas had now spread its many intruiging plots ...
...of the strongest episodes of Dallas I have seen so far.

All of the actors, bar the late Jim Davis as Jock Ewing, continued to appear on the show by series 6. Barbara Bel Geddes gets some of her strongest scene's in this series, as she fights her sons to sell Ewing Oil, as well as trying to protect the ailing Sue Ellen from her husband's destruction. She is excellent in the role and, despite the obvious power that was given to the ... more

A sensational series 6 gets underway with the life of Cliff Barnes hanging in the balance. After a suicide attempt at the end of a rather stale series 5 Cliff's life has fallen apart. Penniless and jobless, he thinks everybody has abandoned him. The love of his life Sue Ellen is gearing up to re-marry his arch enemy JR Ewing. His sister Pam is married to the other Ewing brother Bobby. His mother Rebecca Wentworth has lost all trust in him. And the one person standing by him, Afton Cooper, barely registers in his mind. But as Cliff lies in a coma, his mother vows revenge on JR Ewing and the Ewing clan for destroying her son's life, and as soon as he is fit and able again, she puts him back at the helm of Wentworth / Barnes Industries.

Meanwhile, Jock Ewing is declared legally dead, leaving a will that creates a war between the Ewing brothers for the helm of Ewing Oil. Miss Ellie, family matriarch, contests the will to protect her family and prevent her sons ripping each other apart. Pam and Bobby's marriage is put to the test as she very openly proclaims that she wont aid him in fighting for Ewing Oil as he shows a more underhanded side to himself. Trouble also lies in their marriage as Pam is pursued by millionaire Mark Grayson. But the most dramatic events at Southfork occur when Sue Ellen, now back on the ranch and remarried to JR, goes back on the bottle after discovering her husband's infidelity. Her battle with the bottle has some of the most dramatic consequences for the family as it leaves one of them fighting for his life in a coma, leading to a battle that causes fire to rip through Southfork.

Series 6 comes as the 5th boxset of the long running night time drama Dallas. With its iconic theme tune, and legendary opening credits that cites all of its mainstays in alphabetical order, Dallas redefined the format in which long running drama's played out. Something that most US series' have now adopted and developed, the cliffhanger freezeframes have become synonymous with what Dallas was about. Initially, the show seperated each episode by wrapping up its sub-plots in one episodes, but having firmly established itself as an ongoing series by 1982, Dallas had now spread its many intruiging plots over several episodes leading up to the finale of each series. The start of the series wraps up some rather dull storylines from the previous series, before hurtling into stronger stuff. The JR / Sue Ellen marriage is the strongest storyline, as it leads to catastrophe. There is a lull in the middle of the series, where storylines slow down and the characters seem to just go through the paces, but perhaps all long running drama has to go through that. The last 4 episodes, though, are some of the strongest episodes of Dallas I have seen so far.

All of the actors, bar the late Jim Davis as Jock Ewing, continued to appear on the show by series 6. Barbara Bel Geddes gets some of her strongest scene's in this series, as she fights her sons to sell Ewing Oil, as well as trying to protect the ailing Sue Ellen from her husband's destruction. She is excellent in the role and, despite the obvious power that was given to the male leads, manages to hold her own. Linda Gray perhaps gives the most notable performance throughout this series, melding vulnerable emotionally heart tugging scenes easily with despair, sadness, and guilt. Sue Ellen is put through the wringer of emotions as she hurtles towards self destruction once again. Victoria Principal is the weakest link though, unable to grasp the more emotional scenes, and often looking forced. Patrick Duffy is decent, as is Steve Kanaly. But its once again kudos to Larry Hagman who monopolises every episode as JR with his wicked grin as he manipulates and cheats everybody around him.

The DVD boxset comes with 6 discs in 3 cases (the advert on this site states that its in 5 discs - that will most likely be the American version as the UK one has it across 6 sides / 3 discs). An attractive box cover that holds 3 slimline cases. There are 28 episodes spread across both sides of each disc. The menu is easy to navigate as there aren't many extra's available. Each disc has the episodes listed for you to watch individually or you have the option to play all. The one extra is a documentary that is relegated to the final disc. The past boxsets have had fairly interesting documentary's that involved the cast of Dallas catching up in present day, or crew's perceptions of the more famous episodes. However, this documentary is a by the numbers analysis from unknown professors and magazine editors that is frankly dull and uninformative. The crew could have done a better job by going out onto the streets and interviewing Joe Public on his thoughts on the show, and would have at least got an honest interpretation. What the heck would a professor who doesn't own a TV know about the phenomenon of Dallas in the 70's. Not much, at a guess, and that is obvious on this documentary. 

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