Larry HagmanDallas: Season 7

Most fans think of Season 8, the one prior to the infamous Dream Season 9, as Dallas' last great season, but I honestly believe that the one I'm reviewing here, Season 7, holds that honor. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of good in Season 8, but you could really tell starting in Season 8 how the actors were kind of just sleepwalking through their roles and there was a noticeable lack of tension and depth. But no such problem with Season 7.Season 7, in my opinion, is one of the best, if not the best, season of the series. The acting was uniformly excellent and in particular, the great Larry Hagman, continuing to essay the iconic JR Ewing was at has Machiavellian best. In the early seasons, he was already nominated twice for Emmys for Lead Actor in a Drama Series and to me, this should have been his third nomination. JR had his hand and nose in everyone's business in this season and pulling strings start to finish. The best subplot of the season involved JR's blackmailing of government employee Edgar Randolph in a scheme to destroy JR's long-time enemy and thorn-in-his-side Cliff Barnes (wonderfully played in quirky fashion by Ken Kercheval). Randolph holds the bids to off-shore oil leases and JR plots to gain knowledge of the bids prior to the auction. Randolph is an old friend and colleague of JR's sister-in-law Donna Krebbs (well played by Susan Howard) as Donna along with her husband and JR's brother Ray Krebbs (solidly played by Steve Kanaly) investigate the mysterious alliance between Edgar and JR.Other Season 7 subplots involve Bobby Ewing (stalwartly played by Patrick Duffy) re-connecting with his old flame Jenna Wade (played by cast newcomer Priscilla Presley). This is actually the 3rd (and final) actress to play Jenna as a couple other actresses played the role in guest appearances in earlier seasons. Presley's acting is nothing to write home about, but she proved to be a perfect foil to Pam and Bobby's relationship, as they divorced early this season. The other monkey wrench was in the form of Mark Graison (commendably played by John Beck), who had been pursuing Pam since Season 6.Another key subplot involved Sue Ellen Ewing (winningly played by Linda Gray) and her affair with the college counselor Peter Richards (an awkward Christopher Atkins). Not the best actor, this subplot still afforded Gray to do some strong acting as at this point of the series, she had easily taken over as the most important and viable female character even over Pam and Miss Ellie.There's also the subplot of Miss Ellie (the great and Emmy-winning Barbara Bel Geddes) and her impending marriage to Clayton Farlow (dignified Howard Keel), who is another longtime enemy and thorn in JR's side, as he schemes to keep the marriage from taking place. This subplot introduces Clayton's sister Lady Jessica Montford (wonderfully played by Alexis Smith), who JR joins forces with to stop the marriage.Season 7 also appears to be the last season that was shot on a special brand of film. There was a grainy, gritty look to the show in this season that later seasons seemed to lack. There was also a ton of location shooting, something else that started to wane as the series went into it's second life. I know the show actually managed to last another 7 full seasons even after this one, but there's something special about this season that represents classic Dallas and what this phenomenon meant to the world. Also, this was the last season that Dallas was #1 in the Nielsen ratings. No surprise there. Entertaining season and one of and perhaps the best of the series.

Dallas loses it's flavour around this season. The remaining seasons are rather stale and boring with out Miss Ellie and Jock. It's only worth watching a few minutes here and there of JR, but the other actors just do not pack that punch that the earlier seasons had. Dallas is really only good on a solid level from seasons 1-5. Seasons 6 and after kept adding and switching characters but because I purchased the entire set, I am stuck with all of the seasons. It was only good to watch it on television, but not as a permanent collection. I feel ripped off and did suffer "buyers' remorse" after watching season 6 and 7 because the casting is weak and too much whining and repetition from the female characters, especially newer female characters are rather shallow and lack the substance that was made such a "big" deal even at that time. Pamela is a whiney and boring character who cannot make up her mind and Susan Howard has the most boring stories with Ray Krebbs (who was better off not being married at all). It becomes way too soapy. Basically the rest of the series goes on a huge repetition fest. Jock and Ellie really made this show worth watching. And forget about that "new generation" where JR and Bobby are senior citizens and the new cast is just ridiculously awful. It isn't even the same program and I am glad that this mess was taken off the air. You can't have a great set up and then change it because of including younger stars who lack the performance level or interest. Watching the series again just doesn't add up or justifies why it was all that great of a show because the producers and casting really destroyed the potential.

Always love "Dallas"! But the most cringeworthy part of Season Seven is...well...EVERY part of the "romantic" interaction between Sue Ellen and that young college age whiney soy boy lifeguard Peter! THAT was utterly nauseating! But every other part of Season Seven of "Dallas" is great. Priscilla Presley as Jenna Wade was just too damned passionless and uninteresting for my taste, but Linda Gray plays sexy but unstable and gullible Sue Ellen with brilliance. And Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing has got to be the best casting decision in ALL of television history!! Absolutely NOBODY on this Earth could have played THAT role better!!

This season is Dallas at its glitzy best. The sets get better, the lighting turns up a notch and the action moves to more upmarket joints, like the Oil Barons Club. J.R. is at his dastardly best, Swellin makes eyes at gorgeous young student Peter, and poor old Lucy is unlucky in love yet again. Pam and Bobby are still apart, and this series see the return of Jenna Wade, played by the gorgeous Priscilla Presley. John Ross Junior steals every scene he is in, due to his great acting, as does baby Christopher, but only because he never stops crying. The fashions are a delight as is the hair : the shoulder pads and backcombing get wider as the series progresses. Cliff is in the money for once but fool that he is, it's not long until he's back to making useless deals. And lovely Miss Ellie finds romance with Clayton Farlow. The dilemmmas are still there: how much food do these people eat and never put on weight? Why do they drink bourbon all day and then drive home? And why do so many rich people all have to share a house? A classic Dallas series: watch out for Katherine Wentworth, too. Pure soap villainy at its best.

Had to have this to with my collection

I have been off work for 7 months now and stuck in my bedroom! I was watching Dallas on CBS Drama and just couldn't wait for the next episode so i purchased 3 seasons from this seller. Season 6, 7 & 8 and watched them back to back. The cover had the usual shelf storage wear and tear but other than that all the DVD's were great condition. They were delivered exactly when stated. Great Service 5*****

Love watching again

What can I say!? It's brilliant... Dallas series 7, great quality show, great quality DVD set!