Dallas (2012)

Network: TNT
Episodes: 40 (hour)
Seasons: Three

TV show dates: June 13, 2012 — September 22, 2014
Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Brenda Strong, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, and Patrick Duffy.

TV show description:      
The original Dallas TV series ran for 357 episodes on CBS and ended in 1991 but there’s still plenty of drama left at SouthFork. In 2012 we find that JR, Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing have returned with new secrets, schemes and betrayals. They’re joined by the next generation of Ewings, who take ambition and deception to a wicked new level.

John Ross Ewing III (Josh Henderson) is the ambitious son of JR and Sue Ellen Ewing. A chip off the old block, John Ross is determined to strike it rich in the oil industry and prove himself capable of stepping into his father’s shoes. Growing up, John Ross was enticed by promises that the Ewing Oil Empire would one day be his. With his parents feuding and using him to manipulate each other, John Ross lacked a stable childhood and divided his formative years between Dallas, Europe and boarding school. Even though he enjoyed the same privileges of growing up a Ewing as his cousin Christopher, he exploited his wealth and family’s power to get ahead with little personal effort, giving him a reputation of being a spoiled rich kid. John Ross never felt the love and emotional support he longed to receive from his parents growing up, so he turned to his compassionate and patient friend Elena who was always seeing the best in him. Now as an adult with a lot to prove, John Ross is determined to impress his father, despite their lack of a relationship, and he has his eyes set on SouthFork and the girl he’s loved since childhood, Elena.

After keeping off the radar in a nursing home for a few years, JR Ewing (Larry Hagman) returns with a new plan to take back what is rightfully his and restore himself to power as the true heir to SouthFork — even if that means stepping over his scheming son. JR’s years of feuding with Sue Ellen made his relationship with John Ross virtually nonexistent, always using him as a tool to get back at his mother. JR knows the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree, and will enlist the help of John Ross to get SouthFork back to the rightful side of the Ewing family: His. After years of fighting over power and oil, JR’s relationship with Bobby is strained, despite Bobby’s best efforts to put their past behind them. JR still has oil in his blood and on his brain, and he will stop at nothing to take back power.

Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray) is a true survivor and, as the former wife of JR, she’s seen it all. After leading successful fundraising campaigns, taking on causes and making connections with influential Texans, her success has led her to a possible run for governor. Campaign backers already lining up to support her. Despite this success however, Sue Ellen harbors deep regret for her mistakes as a mother raising John Ross and will do anything to make things right for him. With her newfound power and influence, Sue Ellen offers herself as an ally to her son in his quest to find oil, making one last effort to try to right the wrongs of her past.

As the cook’s daughter, Elena Ramos (Jordana Brewster) grew up on SouthFork ranch with John Ross and Christopher Ewing. Elena moved to Dallas from Mexico with her parents when she was eight years old, where her mother Carmen was the beloved cook to the Ewing family. Growing up, Elana and the boys were very close and while she never played favorites, it was always Christopher who secretly had her heart. Despite John Ross’ rebellious ways, Elena always saw the good in him and supported him, which led to John Ross secretly caring for her. Christopher won her heart though when they began dating in graduate school and eventually became engaged. When a misunderstanding led to calling off their wedding, Elena was heartbroken and fled to Mexico where John Ross found her and confessed his love. Elena had dreams of her own to make it big in the oil industry, so armed with her masters degree in energy resources and a new Ewing business partner, she’s returned to Dallas to strike it big.

Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) is the compassionate younger brother of JR Ewing. The current proprietor of SouthFork, Bobby is determined to protect the promise he made to his late mother Miss Ellie: to not let anyone drill for oil on SouthFork. His nephew John Ross is bent on finding oil in places he shouldn’t so the promise proves more difficult to keep than he’d thought. Bobby is thrilled to have his son Christopher back at SouthFork with his new fiance Rebecca. He wants to ensure that Christopher and John Ross’s relationship isn’t as tumultuous as Bobby and JR’s.

Ann Ewing (Brenda Strong) is the third wife of Bobby Ewing and is his rock. Introduced by mutual friend Sue Ellen, Bobby was instantly struck by Ann’s quiet strength and beauty. A consummate horse cutter, she fell in love with SouthFork Ranch. They quickly fell in love and married, and the pair settled in to SouthFork and began making it their own. A woman who can work a gun and ride a stallion, Ann fits right into the Ewing lineup of beautiful women who know their way around a ranch. Ann’s first marriage to big-time Texas transportation executive Harris Ryland, a man who’s as sly as he is rich, continues to haunt Ann in her new life. But despite her past, she is a supportive wife to Bobby and has assumed her role as the new matriarch of SouthFork with dignity and grace.

Christopher Ewing (Jesse Metcalfe) is the adopted son of Bobby Ewing and his first wife, Pam. Ever since childhood, Christopher was keenly aware that he was adopted, and his cousin John Ross was always eager to remind him that he wasn’t a “real Ewing.” Growing up, his was the softer temperament to that of John Ross, who frequently used Christopher as a scapegoat for his shenanigans. Together with Elena, the cousins were best friends during their formative years, before John Ross left for Europe. Christopher worked hard and aimed to make the Ewing name great again, all while harboring insecurities about his place in the family. At grad school, Christopher later fell deeply in love with Elena and proposed to her. But when Elena broke off their engagement on the day of their wedding, a heartbroken Christopher fled to Asia to research alternative energies. While overseas, he fell in love with the beautiful Rebecca Sutter who was traveling after completing her law degree. The pair were engaged and returned to SouthFork to plan their wedding, with Christopher determined to make a name for himself in the alternative fuel industry without the financial favors of his father.

Beautiful and intelligent Rebecca Sutter (Julie Gonzalo) and Christopher Ewing met on a train in Asia, just days after he arrived overseas, heartbroken. Despite his traumatic break up, Christopher was intrigued by the friendly American girl who was traveling Asia after completing law school. Rebecca is a self made woman, having lost her parents at a young age in a car accident, leaving her to grow up alone with her brother Tommy. She worked hard to put herself through law school with Tommy’s support. Meeting Christopher was the greatest thing to happen in her life, and for the first time in a long time, she feels truly safe and ready to lean on someone. Soon after she arrives at SouthFork, she quickly befriends Elena in the hopes of learning more about Christopher and finding her own place at SouthFork as the new Mrs. Ewing.

What do you think? Do you like the next generation of Dallas? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?