Dallas cast.
“Who Shot JR?” was a question that mesmerized the world. But it only did so from the final episode of Dallas Season 3, which aired on March 21, 1980, through the fourth episode of Season 4, which aired on November 21, 1980, and revealed the culprit. (Want to know whodunit? Watch the show on Amazon Prime. We’re not going to spoil your fun.) We’ll tell you when it’s a good time to stop watching the 1980s’ hottest primetime shows next week. This week, we’re focusing on when you should start.
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Sure, if you’re a completist, you could start watching Dallas with Season One. Watch if you want to see a much more low-key, not nearly as glam Southfork Ranch. Watch is you want to learn — shockingly — that Pam (Victoria Principal) first met star-crossed love Bobby (Patrick Duffy) because she was dating Ray (Steve Kanaly), then just a ranch hand, not yet known to be Jock Ewing’s illegitimate son, and he brought her as his date to the Ewing Barbeque.
That didn’t go Ray’s way…You can also watch for the even more shocking detail that Ray was sleeping with Lucy (Charlene Tilton)…who, at the time, was underage. And his unknown niece. It’s only five episodes long, so it won’t take all that much of your time. But it’s not really worth your time, either.
MORE: Find out how to watch Dallas.
You can watch Season Two for an early glimpse of Valene (Joan Van Ark) and Gary (then-David Ackroyd), and Jenna (then Morgan Fairchild). Also, Kate Mulgrew, before she took over Starship: Voyager, as a country singer, and Tina Louise, after she was Ginger on Gilligan’s Island, as a Ewing Oil secretary.
Season Two is worth watching for the setup of Sue Ellen (Linda Grey) sleeping with Cliff (Ken Kercheval) and the contested paternity of baby John Ross. (The name should give up a clue about who turned out the winner.)
But if you want to get to the historic cliffhanger faster, it’s OK to start with Season Three. It sets up all the motives for the end-of-season shooting, and you can catch up on what you missed quickly enough. After that, the show is firing on all cylinders for a few years until…. Well, you’ll need to check in next week to find out.
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