Dallas Parallels: Caught!

Dallas, Julie Gonzalo, Linda Gray, Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing, Sue Ellen Ewing, Tangled Webs, Where There's Smoke, TNT

History repeats itself during “Dallas’s” third season when Pamela finds John Ross cheating with Emma. It’s not unlike the classic scene from the original show’s sixth year, when Sue Ellen walks in on J.R. in bed with Holly. There’s one major difference, of course: Sue Ellen flees the scene of J.R.’s crime in tears — unlike the smiling Pamela, who joins John Ross and his mistress in a shocking threesome.

Why do J.R. and John Ross cheat? Both men justify their extramarital activities by claiming they sleep around for business, and in J.R.’s case, it might be that cut and dry. He treats Holly as nothing  more than a pawn in his quest to beat Bobby in the contest for control of Ewing Oil. Similarly, John Ross begins his affair with Emma to gain access to Ryland Transport’s shipping fleet, although he comes to genuinely care for Emma, even risking his life to rescue her when she’s kidnapped by the Mexican drug cartel.

No matter the reason for their behavior, J.R. and John Ross are both humbled by their actions. After Sue Ellen catches J.R. with Holly, she falls off the wagon and is almost killed while driving drunk. Meanwhile, Pamela’s discovery that John Ross is cheating prompts her to overdose on pills — an ill-conceived attempt at revenge that almost costs Pamela her life.

Two scenes show J.R. and John Ross coming face to face with the consequences of their choices. In the 1983 episode “Penultimate,” J.R. sits on Sue Ellen’s bed, apologizes and begs for forgiveness. It’s similar to the scene in the 2014 episode “Dead Reckoning,” when John Ross sits near Pamela’s hospital bed and makes a similar declaration. Larry Hagman and Josh Henderson’s performances are also similar: J.R. tells Sue Ellen he’s sorry and stumbles over his words (“I can’t, I can’t tell you how sorry I am”), then concludes by saying, “I truly love you.” John Ross also trips over his words (“I will, I will be different”) after telling Pamela, “Look, I love you, okay?”

It’s somewhat startling to hear J.R. and John Ross pour out their hearts like this. Both scenes leave “Dallas” fans wondering what’s more shocking: seeing these master manipulators caught with their pants down, or seeing them caught being human?

 

‘I Truly Love You’

Dallas, J.R. Ewing, Larry Hagman, Penultimate

A game?

In “Penultimate,” a sixth-season “Dallas” episode, J.R. (Larry Hagman) enters his bedroom, where Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) sits in the bed.

SUE ELLEN: I waited up to talk to you.

J.R.: All right.

SUE ELLEN: I want you to explain to me why this nightmare happened.

J.R.: [Walks toward the bed] Sue Ellen, it was a terrible, terrible mistake.

SUE ELLEN: Mistake? If you wanted to be with other women, why didn’t you just go ahead and do it, instead of playing this silly charade?

J.R.: What charade?

SUE ELLEN: Our marriage, J.R. Why did you want me to marry you again? Why did you chase me like you did? Do you find some kind of perverse pleasure in hurting me?

J.R.: You know I don’t want to hurt you, Sue Ellen. [Sits on the bed]

SUE ELLEN: Then what is it? Is it the game? Is that what it’s all about, J.R.?

J.R.: What happened between Holly and —

SUE ELLEN: [Shouting] Stop it! Stop it! I don’t want to hear any more from you!

J.R.: Listen to me, please. I can’t, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about what happened. But I promise you it was a direct result of the battle for Ewing Oil. Winning the company means everything to me. When we got married, the second time, I vowed I would never hurt you again. But things got out of hand, Sue Ellen — and I don’t blame you for hating me. But I hope you can reach down in your heart and believe me when I say that I love you. [She closes her eyes and turns away.] I truly love you.

 

‘I Love You, Okay?’

Dallas, Dead Reckoning, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, TNT

An excuse?

In “Dead Reckoning,” a third-season “Dallas” episode, John Ross (Josh Henderson) enters the hospital room, where Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) sits in bed, waiting for him.

JOHN ROSS: I don’t want to be like this anymore. I don’t want to be the guy that … I don’t want to be the guy that could have done this to you. I know it’s going to be hard for me to convince you of that right now. All I can do is try to prove it to you, every single day of my life. [Sits on the bed] Pamela, I’m so sorry. For everything.

PAMELA: I didn’t call you in here so you can try to fix us, John Ross. I called you in here to tell you to stop sitting out there, because it’s over.

JOHN ROSS: Pamela, don’t say that.

PAMELA: Look, I spent my entire childhood trying to get my father to love me. And all I’ve done in my adult life was continue that pattern by falling for a man who would put greed and ambition before me. And just like with my father, I was willing to do anything to get you to love me, John Ross. But I see now: Our marriage was just an excuse to get my shares of Ewing Global. You didn’t put your mother away to get her help, but to push the IPO through. I see now that there will never enough success, enough money, to fill that hole where your heart should be.

JOHN ROSS: Pamela, please. Look, I love you, okay? I swear, from now on it’s going to be different, okay? [Voice cracks] I will be different. I will, I will be different for you. I’ll be different. I promise.

PAMELA: You ask me what I want. I want you to leave because our marriage is over.

Did J.R. and John Ross deserve forgiveness? Share your comments below and read more “Dallas Parallels.”

‘Dallas’ on DVD: The Ewings Have a Few More Surprises For Us

Ann Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, Dallas: The Complete Third Season, Patrick Duffy, TNT

Cheers

“Dallas: The Complete Third Season” arrives on DVD tomorrow, and for many fans, the highlight will be the three-disc set’s 31 deleted scenes. This previously unseen material comprises an impressive 48 minutes of screen time; if you watch it all in one sitting, it’s almost like having a brand-new episode to enjoy.

Whether you binge or savor the fresh footage, you’ll likely love it every bit as much as the stuff that aired last year. In one deleted scene, when Bobby wonders if he should use his new position as a railroad commissioner to stop Nicolas, he receives unexpected advice from Ann, who urges her husband to get in touch with his inner J.R. In another scene, which I’ll post to Dallas Decoder tonight and share during our #DallasChat on Twitter, Sue Ellen presses John Ross to tell her the truth about J.R.’s death — and John Ross’s response might surprise you.

You’ll also get to see Sue Ellen compare Emma to Kristin, a scene cut from last year’s wedding episode but included in a TNT promo. Hearing Emma’s snappy comeback makes seeing the complete conversation worth the wait. There’s also a lovely moment where Bobby comforts Pamela after she discovers John Ross is cheating on her, along with several nice exchanges between Sue Ellen and Ann, whose I’ve-got-your-back bond gave them “Dallas’s” most stable relationship.

Not everything you’re hoping to see is here. The most notable omission: John Ross’s serenading of Pamela at their wedding, which Julie Gonzalo discussed during our interview last year. I would have much preferred seeing that moment instead of the one that explains why Judith was absent from a few episodes during the second half of the season. It turns out Dallas’s unlikeliest madam had to fly to Paris to remind some misbehaving French prostitutes who’s boss. Who knew the Rylands operated a chain of international whorehouses?

Besides the deleted scenes, the DVD will give fans an opportunity to revisit — and in some cases, to reassess — the 15 episodes that aired during “Dallas’s” third year. “Dead Reckoning,” the darkly absorbing hour that chronicles the fallout from Drew’s death, is even better than I remembered (Emma Bell is particularly good), while “Lifting the Veil” is still weighed down by the silliness at Judith’s brothel. Overall, I find the third-season episodes as entertaining as I did last year, which makes the DVD’s release bittersweet. Traditionally, the show’s DVDs come out a few weeks before each new season starts, and I wish that were the case here too. This should be a prelude, not a punctuation mark.

“Dallas: The Complete Third Season” is available from Amazon and other retailers. Buy it, watch it, share your comments below and read more opinions from Dallas Decoder.

Dallas Burning Questions: Season 3, Week 11

Bobby Ewing, Dallas, Elena Ramos, Jordana Brewster, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Nicolas Trevino, Patrick Duffy, TNT

What now?

Here are the questions we’re pondering as we await tonight’s telecast of “Hurt,” TNT’s latest “Dallas” episode:

What will Elena do? In “Dead Reckoning,” the previous episode, Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace) made Drew’s death look like a suicide, then stood by and watched as Carmen and Elena (Marlene Forte, Jordana Brewster) received the news that Drew killed himself. Later, when an arson investigation revealed Drew set the Southfork fire, Elena told Carmen about J.R.’s swindle, as well as her scheme with Nicolas to get justice for their family. After Carmen told Elena that John Ross (Josh Henderson) is carrying around a mysterious letter from J.R., Elena seduced John Ross, snuck into his wallet and found the note that outlines the Ewings’ plan to frame Cliff (Ken Kercheval). Now that Elena has the evidence she needs to nail the Ewings, what will she do with it?

How will the Ewing women react? If the truth about J.R.’s masterpiece finally comes out, what will the women of Southfork say? How will the newly sober Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) respond to the news that J.R. was dying of cancer and staged his own death? Will Ann (Brenda Strong) be angry at Bobby (Patrick Duffy) for keeping secrets from her? Perhaps most importantly: What will Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) do when she learns her estranged husband John Ross, her ex-husband Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) and Bobby conspired to frame Cliff for J.R.’s “murder”?

What will happen to the Ewing men? The Ewing men are having a pretty rough go of it lately. Bobby and Ann are separated, Pamela told John Ross their marriage is over and selfless Christopher said a bittersweet goodbye to Heather (AnnaLynne McCord), who plans to take Michael (Dallas Clark) and leave Dallas to join Bo (Donny Boaz) in Israel, where he’ll have surgery to repair his spinal cord — paid for by Christopher. If Elena spills the beans on J.R.’s masterpiece, will things go from bad to worse for Bobby, John Ross and Christopher?

Who’ll wind up with control of Ewing Global? Pamela told Sue Ellen she won’t divorce John Ross because she doesn’t want him to wind up with her shares of Ewing Global. Meanwhile, Nicolas continued to plot with Luis (Antonio Jaramillo) to take over the company, and Emma (Emma Bell) did some scheming of her own. She blamed Harris (Mitch Pileggi) for getting Drew mixed up with the rig explosion, then met with Luis and told him to get her father tossed back in jail. Should Harris be worried?

What “Dallas Burning Questions” are on your mind? Share your comments below and watch TNT’s “Dallas” tonight.

Say What?! This Week’s Best ‘Dallas’ Sound Bites

“Dallas” delivers the most delicious dialogue on television. Here are the best sound bites from “Dead Reckoning,” this week’s episode.

Cynthia Jackson, Dallas, Dead Reckoning, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, Julie Gonzalo, Nurse Harlan, Pamela Rebecca Barnes Ewing, TNT

What are your favorite lines from “Dead Reckoning”? Share them below and read more “Say What?!”

TNT’s Dallas Styles: ‘Dead Reckoning’

Ann Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Dallas, Dead Reckoning, Elena Ramos, Emma Bell, Emma Ryland, John Ross Ewing, Jordana Brewster, Josh Henderson, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Nicolas Trevino, Patrick Duffy, TNT

Do you have a favorite coat in “Dead Reckoning,” this week’s “Dallas” episode? There were plenty to choose from.

This segment was filmed in the winter, and the cold weather matches the somber mood perfectly. The atmospherics also allow the cast to bundle up in looks that fit their characters: John Ross (Josh Henderson) sports his cool brown leather jacket, one of his signature looks since “Dallas’s” first season, while Bobby (Patrick Duffy), Ann (Brenda Strong), Elena (Jordana Brewster) and Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace) all appear to be wearing wool coats.

Then there’s Emma (Emma Bell), who sports what looks like a highly stylized, waist-length jacket to her nighttime meeting with Luis, the emissary from the drug cartel. The first time I saw the outfit, I couldn’t help but wonder: Is this what one wears during an a nighttime meeting with drug lords? I also worried poor Emma might not be warm enough.

Then I remembered: This is Emma Ryland we’re talking about. Something tells me she has no trouble keeping warm on even the coldest nights.

What were your favorite looks in “Dead Reckoning”? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and read more “Dallas Styles.”

TNT’s Dallas Scene of the Day: ‘I’ll Be Different’

Dallas, Dead Reckoning, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, TNT

Different how?

In “Dead Reckoning,” a third-season “Dallas” episode, John Ross (Josh Henderson) enters the hospital room, where Pamela (Julie Gonzalo) sits in bed, waiting for him.

JOHN ROSS: I don’t want to be like this anymore. I don’t want to be the guy that … I don’t want to be the guy that could have done this to you. I know it’s going to be hard for me to convince you of that right now. All I can do is try to prove it to you, every single day of my life. [Sits on the bed] Pamela, I’m so sorry. For everything.

PAMELA: I didn’t call you in here so you can try to fix us, John Ross. I called you in here to tell you to stop sitting out there, because it’s over.

JOHN ROSS: Pamela, don’t say that.

PAMELA: Look, I spent my entire childhood trying to get my father to love me. And all I’ve done in my adult life was continue that pattern by falling for a man who would put greed and ambition before me. And just like with my father, I was willing to do anything to get you to love me, John Ross. But I see now: Our marriage was just an excuse to get my shares of Ewing Global. You didn’t put your mother away to get her help, but to push the IPO through. I see now that there will never enough success, enough money, to fill that hole where your heart should be.

JOHN ROSS: Pamela, please. Look, I love you, okay? I swear, from now on it’s going to be different, okay? [Voice cracks] I will be different. I will. I will be different for you. I’ll be different. I promise.

PAMELA: You ask me what I want. I want you to leave because our marriage is over.

Critique: TNT’s ‘Dallas’ Episode 35 — ‘Dead Reckoning’

Dallas, Dead Reckoning, Elena Ramos, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, TNT

Losin’ it

“Dead Reckoning” is another episode about loss and how the “Dallas” characters cope with it. In this one, John Ross suffers the demise of his marriage to Pamela and his dream of “becoming” J.R., while Christopher bids farewell to his latest love and the Ramoses mourn Drew’s death. This is the TNT series’ strongest hour this season, elevated by graceful writing and direction and heartfelt performances from virtually everyone in the cast. More than anything, “Dead Reckoning” proves an old “Dallas” truism: This show is at its best when things for the Ewings are at their worst.

Like so many recent episodes, “Dead Reckoning” showcases Josh Henderson, beginning with the scene where John Ross stands with Bum in the charred remains of his Southfork bedroom and laments his efforts to emulate his father. Henderson makes his character’s regret feel genuine here, as well as in a later scene, when John Ross sits at Pamela’s hospital bedside and pleads with her to give their marriage another chance. It recalls a memorable moment from the original series, when J.R. sat on Sue Ellen’s bed, proclaimed his love and begged her to forgive him for his latest indiscretion. You have to wonder: Even when John Ross is vowing to be a better man, does he realize he’s still emulating J.R.?

Henderson’s delivery in the scene with Pamela deserves special attention. John Ross tells his wife he’ll be “different” four times in quick succession; at one point, Henderson allows his voice to crack and at another, he trips over his words. It’s almost as if John Ross is trying to convince himself he’s capable of changing as much as he’s trying to persuade Pamela. (It’s also a point of distinction between John Ross and the silver-tongued J.R., who was never at a loss for words and rarely showed vulnerability.) Julie Gonzalo is pitch perfect too: She makes Pamela seem hurt and angry, but not soap opera bitchy. The dialogue here is also revealing, especially when Pamela notes the similarities between her husband and her father. Talk about a cruel twist for John Ross: He’s spent much of his life modeling himself after J.R., only to learn the woman he loves considers him another Cliff.

Julia Cohen’s solid script also does a nice job drawing cross-generation parallels between Sue Ellen and Pamela. When Pamela tells Sue Ellen the doctor won’t discharge her until he’s convinced she’s not a danger to herself, Pamela rolls her eyes and says, “It’s ridiculous.” It’s a small moment, but the hint of uncertainty in Gonzalo’s voice lets us know Pamela is more vulnerable than she seems, recalling all the times Sue Ellen served as “Dallas’s” resident queen of denial.

Later, after the two women admit to each other how terrified they are by their recent near-death experiences, Pamela tells Sue Ellen she isn’t going to divorce John Ross because she doesn’t want him to snag her Ewing Global shares. Gray allows her character a subtle smile here, suggesting Sue Ellen feels torn. On the one hand, she undoubtedly feels obligated to support John Ross; on the other hand, Sue Ellen must admire Pamela’s determination not to allow a man to take advantage of her — even if that man is Sue Ellen’s own son.

The other great performance in “Dead Reckoning” comes from Marlene Forte, who gives me chills in the scene where Carmen sees Drew’s body in the morgue, collapses into Bobby’s arms and lets out a painful wail. Anyone who’s ever witnessed a mother lose a son knows how real this scene feels. Forte is also wonderful when Carmen receives Drew’s belongings and wonders why his St. Christopher’s medal isn’t among the possessions. There’s no doubt that medal is going to pop up again — recall that in the previous episode, Nicolas yanked off Drew’s necklace before he was executed — but it’s also a nice reminder of the importance of Carmen’s faith. It’s the kind of detail you don’t often get on a show like this.

I also love the quiet dignity Forte brings to the scene where Carmen stands over Drew’s casket and strokes his military uniform before leaning down and kissing him. The actress gets lots of support from Jordana Brewster, who makes Elena’s grief palpable, as well as Juan Pablo Di Pace, who looks positively stricken in Nicolas’s scenes with Elena and Carmen. It would be easy to overlook Patrick Duffy in these scenes, since Bobby does little more than stand around with the Ramoses as they deal with the fallout from Drew’s death, but isn’t it reassuring to see Bobby there? If nothing else, this episode reminds us how heroic Duffy’s character can be when he’s not yelling at John Ross or Ann.

There’s much more to like about “Dead Reckoning,” which is also another technical achievement for this series. This episode was filmed in the winter, allowing Anton Cropper, a first-time “Dallas” director, to use the stark Texas landscapes to emphasize the sense of loss and despair. Cropper also delivers several nifty shots, including the cinematic opening scene, where Drew’s body is dumped at his father’s old drill site, as well as an Altman-esque moment where Sue Ellen, Bobby and Christopher move out of the frame in mid-conversation, revealing another exchange happening between Elena and Carmen. I also like the musical montage near the end of the episode, when we see the workers who must clean up all the messes these characters create: the funeral director who receives Drew’s uniform, the coroner piecing together evidence from his death, the fire marshal examining evidence from the Southfork fire. (In a similar spirit, Texas actress Cynthia Jackson’s small role as the no-nonsense nurse who refuses to be charmed by John Ross is easily one of this season’s best moments.)

Other highlights in “Dead Reckoning” include lovely turns from Jesse Metcalfe and AnnaLynne McCord, whose characters, Christopher and Heather, share a bittersweet farewell. I’m sorry to see “Dallas” say goodbye to McCord, as well as Donny Boaz, who plays Bo; the McCabes bring down-to-earth sincerity to “Dallas” at a time when the show can really use it, as evidenced by the increasingly silly drug cartel storyline and this episode’s odd, out-of-place scene where a tarted-up Emma meets with Luis, the cartel emissary. I’m more forgiving of Elena’s quest for revenge, although I can’t help but think how much more poignant her end-of-episode reunion with John Ross would seem if she wasn’t playing him to get her hands on J.R.’s letter.

Speaking of our late hero: I also can’t help but notice the parallels between this episode and “J.R.’s Masterpiece,” last year’s instant-classic salute to Larry Hagman’s iconic character. Both segments show us distraught family members going to a morgue to identify a dead loved one, as well as scenes where survivors receive beautifully written letters from the deceased (Emma in “Dead Reckoning,” Sue Ellen in “J.R.’s Masterpiece”), drunken hookups that begin on the Southfork lawn (John Ross and Elena, John Ross and Emma) and heroines knocking back glass after glass of booze (Elena, Sue Ellen). The two episodes also feature Harris’s unwelcome arrival at Southfork and shots of the Ewing cousins sitting together at the kitchen counter, drinking.

Is the show paying homage to itself, or are these similarities merely coincidental? Either way, this is probably the first time “Dallas” has come close to matching the emotional resonance of “J.R.’s Masterpiece.” Here’s hoping it won’t be the last.

Grade: A

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Carmen Ramos, Dallas, Dead Reckoning, Marlene Forte, TNT

Mother’s day

‘DEAD RECKONING’

Season 3, Episode 10

Telecast: August 25, 2014

Audience: 1.84 million viewers on August 25

Writer: Julia Cohen

Director: Anton Cropper

Synopsis: The cartel makes it look like Drew shot himself, but when Carmen learns her son is dead, she refuses to believe he committed suicide. When the fire marshal’s investigation reveals Drew set the Southfork blaze, Elena tells Carmen how J.R. cheated the Ramoses, which prompts Carmen to tell Elena about the letter J.R. wrote before his death. Elena seduces a drunk John Ross and finds the letter, which outlines the scheme to frame Cliff. Pamela tells Sue Ellen she won’t divorce John Ross because she doesn’t want to lose her Ewing Global shares to him. Emma blames Harris for Drew’s death and tells Luis to put her father back in jail. Christopher pays for Bo to have spinal cord surgery in Israel and bids farewell to Heather, who makes plans to leave Dallas to be with her ex-husband and their son, Michael.

Cast: Kuno Becker (Drew Ramos), Emma Bell (Emma Ryland), Donny Boaz (Bo McCabe), Jordana Brewster (Elena Ramos), Dallas Clark (Michael McCabe), Juan Pablo Di Pace (Nicolas Treviño), Akai Draco (Sherriff Derrick), Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), GiGi Erneta (Dr. Bosnar), DentonEverett (Dr. Levi Sussman), Marlene Forte (Carmen Ramos), Julie Gonzalo (Pamela Ewing), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing), Josh Henderson (John Ross Ewing), Cynthia Jackson (Nurse Harlan), Antonio Jaramillo (Luis), John McCalmont (Detective Marc Linnell), Jesse Metcalfe (Christopher Ewing), Joe Nemmers (Lt. Bennett), Ben Panchasarp (medical examiner), Pete Partida (Jacobo), Mitch Pileggi (Harris Ryland), Brenda Strong (Ann Ewing), Javier Andy Zavala Jr. (nurse)

“Dead Reckoning” is available at DallasTNT.com, Amazon and iTunes. Watch the episode and share your comments below.

‘Dallas’ Takes a Ratings Hit Against Tough Competition

Ann Ewing, Brenda Strong, Carmen Ramos, Dallas, Dead Reckoning, Emma Bell, Emma Ryland, Marlene Forte, TNT

See for yourself, honey

To the surprise of no one, “Dallas” took a hit in the ratings this week.

The TNT drama’s latest episode, “Dead Reckoning,” debuted August 25, opposite NBC’s Primetime Emmys coverage. The result: The Emmys drew 15.59 million viewers — the annual broadcast’s second biggest haul in eight years — while “Dead Reckoning” drew 1.84 million, according to Nielsen data.

The “Dead Reckoning” audience was down roughly 7 percent from one week earlier, when 1.97 million viewers watched “Dallas’s midseason premiere. Among the advertiser-prized demographic of adults between ages 18 and 49, “Dead Reckoning” drew an estimated 557,000 viewers.

Speaking of the midseason premiere: DVR users who recorded that episode, “Denial, Anger, Acceptance,” and watched it within three days boosted the audience to 2.8 million viewers, slightly ahead of “Dallas’s” DVR-boosted average during the first half of the third season. When DVR users are counted, “Denial, Anger, Acceptance” drew 1 million viewers between ages 18 and 49.

How does “Dallas’s” Monday ratings compare to other TNT shows? The network’s most-watched drama last week was “Rizzoli & Isles,” which scored 5.21 million viewers on August 19. At the other end of the spectrum: “Franklin & Bash,” which drew 1.2 million viewers on August 20.

Also, in case you’re wondering: “Dead Reckoning’s” August 25 audience is “Dallas’s” fourth-smallest opening night audience this year. The lowest: John Ross and Pamela’s wedding episode, “Lifting the Veil,” which drew 1.78 million viewers on March 17.

Overall, “Dallas” is averaging about 1.97 million viewers on Mondays this year, down from approximately 2.66 million viewers during its second season and more than 4 million viewers during Season 1.

TNT hasn’t announced if “Dallas” will return next year. The network is expected to wait to see how the show performs during its summer run before deciding whether to renew it.

What do you think of “Dallas’s” latest ratings? Share your comments below and read more news from Dallas Decoder.

Let’s Discuss ‘Dallas’! Join Our #DallasChat on August 26

Dallas, Elena Ramos, Jordana Brewster, John Ross Ewing, Josh Henderson, TNT

First love

You’re invited to Dallas Decoder’s next #DallasChat on Twitter, which I’ll hold Tuesday, August 26, from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time.

Our topic: “Dead Reckoning,” TNT’s latest “Dallas” episode.

If you have ideas for questions, leave them in the comments section below, tweet them to me @DallasDecoder or post them to my Facebook page. I may choose one or more questions and ask them during our discussion.

New to #DallasChat? Here’s how it works: For one hour, I tweet 10 questions to my fellow “Dallas” fans. Each question is numbered and includes the hashtag #DallasChat, so your answers should do the same. Please include the show’s official hashtag, #DallasTNT, in your tweets too.

Here’s a sample exchange:

Q1. Should John Ross be with Elena, Emma or Pamela? #DallasChat

A1. I like him best with Elena. She was his first love, after all. #DallasTNT #DallasChat

Two tips:

  • During the discussion, enter #DallasChat in Twitter’s search field. This will help you watch the search results so you can follow the conversation. Click “All” to see all the related tweets.
  • Be sure to include #DallasChat in your tweets. This allows the other participants to see your contributions to the conversation.

This promises to be another fun conversation. Please join us!

Dallas Burning Questions: Season 3, Week 10

Ann Ewing, Bobby Ewing, Brenda Strong, Carmen Ramos, Dallas, Marlene Forte, Patrick Duffy, TNT

Driveway to hell?

Here are the questions we’re pondering as we await tonight’s telecast of “Dead Reckoning,” TNT’s latest “Dallas” episode:

Is John Ross and Pamela’s marriage over? In “Denial, Anger, Acceptance,” the previous episode, Pamela (Julia Gonzalo) was rushed to the hospital, where she recovered from her drug overdose. John Ross (Josh Henderson) apologized to his wife for hurting her, but Pamela explained she wasn’t trying to commit suicide when she downed the pills and joined him and Emma (Emma Bell) in bed. “If I had wanted to kill myself, I would not have driven over to your hotel room to do it. I did what I did so that every time you think about screwing that piece of trash, all you’ll be able to see is me on the floor with my eyes rolled back in my head,” Pamela said. Is this the end of John Ross and Pamela’s marriage? If so, what will be the repercussions at Ewing Global, where Pamela’s shares helped her in-laws gain control of the company?

What about Bobby and Ann’s marriage? After Bobby and Christopher (Patrick Duffy, Jesse Metcalfe) rescued Sue Ellen and Bo (Linda Gray, Donny Boaz) from the Southfork fire, the Ewings gathered at the hospital to keep vigil for Pamela and the victims of the inferno. Bobby ran into Judith (Judith Light), who couldn’t wait to tell him about the kiss she witnessed earlier in the evening between Harris and Ann (Mitch Pileggi, Brenda Strong). Bobby erupted at his wife once again, and later he announced he’ll stay at Southfork to oversee the reconstruction. “Are you kicking me out?” Ann asked. Bobby’s response: “I’m saying I need some time to figure things out.” Where will Ann spend her exile from Southfork?

What’s next for Sue Ellen? After the fire, Sue Ellen’s doctor encouraged her to seek treatment for her alcoholism, but Sue Ellen insisted she didn’t have a problem. Later, Sue Ellen remembered taking a lighter to John Ross and Pamela’s wedding invitation and concluded she must have caused the Southfork fire. Sue Ellen confessed to Bobby, Ann and Christopher, and also admitted she was still drinking. “I’m an alcoholic — and I will be, until I die,” Sue Ellen said. Now that the truth is out, will she finally get help?

What’s next for Christopher and Heather? Heather (AnnaLynne McCord) rushed to the hospital to see Bo, who was injured while trying to rescue Sue Ellen from the fire. After surgery on his spinal column, Bo shared a tender reunion with his ex-wife and their son, Michael (Dallas Clark), which left Christopher feeling like an odd man out. Can he still have a future with Heather?

Will Nicolas get away with murder? Although John Ross believed Harris sent Pamela the video that ruined his marriage, Elena (Jordana Brewster) realized the real culprit was Nicolas (Juan Pablo Di Pace) and left him an angry voice mail. Little did she know her lover was across town, holding Drew (Kuno Becker) captive. During a tense conversation, Drew confirmed that he set Southfork on fire to get revenge against the Ewings, while Nicolas revealed he’s helping the drug cartel take over Ewing Global to pay back a debt to the drug lords who run the operation. After Drew suggested Elena should know the truth about Nicolas’s scheme, Nicolas stood by and watched as one of the cartel’s henchmen shot Drew. Now that Drew’s out of the way, will Nicolas succeed in his scheme to take control of Ewing Global?

What “Dallas Burning Questions” are on your mind? Share your comments below and watch TNT’s “Dallas” tonight.