TNT's Dallas

I have been enjoying the TNT reboot of the classic prime time soap "Dallas".

The characters from the old show on the new include Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy), Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and J.R. (Larry Hagman). All are great to see once again and the actors know their roles so well it is like visiting old friends, or enemies, since J.R. is one of the blasts from the past.

Old characters played by new actors are Bobby's son Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) and J.R. and Sue Ellen's son John Ross (Josh Henderson). The previous versions of these characters were children, so the recasts aren't jarring. Both actors are good and play the new Ewing generation well, especially trying to find their own place in history.

New characters include Elena (Jordana Brewster) and Rebecca (Julie Gonzalo), the women tangled up with the young Ewing boys, and Ann Ewing (Brenda Strong), Bobby's new wife. All three ladies bring some fresh air to the show and their characters are intriguing. I am especially curious as to what secret Ann is hiding.

So far, the episodes have been great, with a good mix of the old and the new. We have been able to spend time at Southfork Rank - so glad it has stayed in the Ewing family, even if J.R. tricked his way into getting ownership. We have even been treated to some other faces from the past, including Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly), Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton) and Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval). Great seeing these folks, and it helps to make us feel like there is still a history and family continuing in Dallas. Hope to see more faces from the past next season, since TNT has already renewed the show for next year.

This Wednesday, starting at noon, TNT will be airing a marathon of episodes from this season, leading up to the season finale at 9:00 P.M.

I remember watching this show back in the 80s with my grandmother. She loved to see what J.R. was up to each week and the show remains a good memory for me. So happy the reboot has been done well and that we all get a chance to visit Southfork and the Ewings once again.