Customer Reviews
That OTHER Texan that everyone loves to hate! - By: Reginald D. Garrard, 20 Jun 2008 
"Dallas's" placein television history is cemented & Larry Hagman's "J.R. Ewing" ranks as one of the medium's most despicable yet captivating characters. That said, the third season (actually the SECOND full one) has more to tout than Mary Martin's son & the cliffhanger-to-end-all-cliffhangers, "A House Divided".
This is the season that introduced Mary Crosby's wickedly alluring "Kristen Sheppard". The role had been originated by Coleen Campin two earlier episodes but Bing's daughter made it her own, assuring her placein the annuls of television crime with an episode that would premierein the following season. Also on hand is Martha Stewart as Sue Ellen's mother. Stewart had a lengthy Hollywood career & is best remembered for her motherly roles, having played Charlton Heston's mom twicein both The Ten Commandments & Ben-Hur.
This is also the year that Gary Shackleford took over as "Gary Ewing," the estranged son that would later be the star of the "Dallas" spinoff "Knots Landing," also starring Joan Van Ark ("Valene Ewing").
"Dallas" also featured a variety of supporting players, culled from some longstanding character actors, that added to the success of the series. Dennis Patrick ("Vaughn Leland"), George Petrie ("Harve Smithfield"), veteran Morgan Woodard ("Punk Anderson"), movie legend Keenan Wynn ("Digger Barnes") & even Marlon Brando's sister Jocelyn ("Mrs. Reeves") are colorful additions to the "Dallas" gallery.
In addition, season three introduced Jared Martin as "Dusty Farlow," the true love of Sue Ellen's life, as well as the fictional son of future cast member Howard Keel.
"Dallas" also continued its occasional jab at contemporary & provocative issues, especially with the two-parter "Mastectomy," featuring bravura work from Barbara Bel Geddes, as "Miss Ellie" copes with the emotional & physical aftermath of the surgery, & Jim Davis's "Jock Ewing" having to make his wife feel that she is still the woman that he fell for forty years earlier.
But, more than anything, this is the season wherein Linda Gray ("Sue Ellen") emerged as one of television's best actresses. She ran the gamut of emotions as the much-maligned wife of the lecherous J.R., showing both supreme strength & extreme vulnerability.
It is a shame that neither she or Hagman ever received the coveted Emmy for their efforts.
The DVD compilitation features two episodes with interesting commentary by Duffy & Gray.
The only downside is the double-sided disc format. This seems like episodes "on the cheap" & a show of this stature deserves better.
The best season with the 'Who Shot J.R.?' cliffhanger ! - By: , 06 Oct 2005 Yes, this is the season which made DALLAS the number 1 TV show for several yearsin over 70 countries. The classic episode "A House Divided", with the "Who shot J.R.?" cliffhanger, is ranked as one of the most watched episodesin TV history with over 350 million viewers around the worldin 1980. DALLAS was that big.
In this season every episode is a timeless classic. The storylines & plots are fresh, timeless, ingenious & make for great drama. There is no boring partin this exciting season. Each episode is well written & acted, & there are some emotionally tear-jerking scenes. The drama is that good.
You will get hooked on this excellent TV show. I'm already looking forward to watching more seasons on DVD when they are released. I hope Warner releases more seasons of DALLAS on DVD much quicker, as once a year is far too long. I thoroughly recommend this third season DVD box set.
