Not to go all W. C. Fields and hate on the kids but c'mon, enough is enough with these brats overrunning the show. We saw way too much of John Ross, Charlie, and even Christopher. John Ross has regally assumed the role of spoiled rich kid and earned my ire. His incessant bellowing of "Mommy! Mommy!" as Sue Ellen spoke to Peter was maddening. Sue Ellen should have said, "John Ross, just run your train off the rails like Mommy is doing with her life, okay?"
And if you're old like me, Lucy and Peter still count as kids (I mean, didn't Peter pass a love note like a high schooler?). Lucy's only in puppy love with a handsome hunk of a man and who can blame her? Sue Ellen, however, is a married and mature woman who must be held accountable for encouraging Peter's obsessive-bordering-on-scary infatuation with her. Yeah, I can imagine it's flattering to be the object of desire to a younger man, but... at what cost? Sue Ellen rehearsing her breakup lines while he was out of earshot shaving his peach fuzz was a textbook example of the spirit being willing but the flesh so weak. I'm just dreading the inevitable day when I have to wince and watch the heartbroken expressions on John Ross' and Lucy's faces. As for J. R., his reaction will likely be one of smug satisfaction that he was right all along and now has a fresh and fertile supply of humiliating dirt with which to smear Sue Ellen.
On the subject of humiliation, could you believe Cliff threw into Afton's face--during his reconciliation plea, no less!--the fact she slept with Gil Thurman? That was a forehead-smacking line to be sure. Why Afton only feebly countered with the fact she did it for him was disappointing, though I guess she was as stunned as we were. I simply couldn't believe Cliff's unmitigated gall, ingratitude, and insensitivity in that infamous moment.
And then after patching things up with Afton, what the heck? He's off meeting Marilee in some dive bar! You know, I try valiantly to like Cliff, the perpetual underdog perpetually kicked by J. R., but Cliff sure makes being his cheerleader a challenge. What is Marilee's interest in Cliff, anyway? I was embarrassed at her making googly eyes at him and sliding over a seat. I mean, he's self-centered, shallow, not exceptionally handsome, and overdue for a haircut. Surely Marilee knows Cliff's a lifelong loser and a louse?
And the hits just keep on comin'. Now into the office slips Sly on a Saturday night to sabotage Cliff with J. R.'s bad intel on the off-shore drilling tracts. J. R. Is making good his vow to take Cliff down hard. I just question Sly's role. How can she be so merciless as to repeatedly plunge the knife into the back of the man who unequivocally trusts her? Yeah, Cliff played her for a fool suggesting he could help get her no-good brother a parole, but does that warrant a hundredfold payback?
The pool party was revealing in more ways than one. Did you catch the death glare Peter shot J. R.? Yikes. If looks could kill, right? Poolside, only Priscilla Presley dared to bare her bikini bod. Sue Ellen appeared self-conscious in her one piece, pulling her wrap around her legs. Lucy and Donna declined to don swimsuits. To his credit, Patrick Duffy looked just as fit albeit furrier-chested than he did on THE MAN FROM ATLANTIS. Highlight of the scene was the ad lib by Ray prompting John Ross on his "get set" line. I'm glad they left in that cute flub.
Suspicious minds want to know... why didn't Clayton and Miss Ellie share any scenes with the cast? Missing the family dinner on two evenings was shocking enough, but most surprising was Miss Ellie going MIA for John Ross' party, especially after having been away so long recovering from her nervous breakdown. Was dancing to Tommy Dorsey at the Bandstand with Clayton a more compelling draw? Maybe the brats running amok at Southfork proved too much for her frayed nerves? (I assumed off-screen conflicts with the notoriously combustible and cantankerous Bel Geddes kept her at bay that day).
Miss Ellie's asking about Clayton's sister indicated this English nobleman's widow is being positioned to play an interesting role in the weeks ahead. Also foreshadowed is a return to front-burner status for Ewing Oil's neglected and nigh-forgotten nemesis Westar. When JR dropped the name (just before dropping the boom on Edgar), I suspected a comeback was brewing.
Harry McSween appears to have diverted his vacation plans from digging up dirt on Clayton to uncovering the ugly secrets of Edgar Randolph. And he struck paydirt because the unflappable Edgar sure flip-flopped when learning what leverage J. R. had on him. Wow, must be serious stuff since Edgar broke with protocol and skipped right past the pretense of outraged denial. Funny what goes through one's mind. In that scene my first thought was how Donna will react to J. R. putting her old friend in the vice and cranking it.
We're only halfway through this 30-episode seventh season and the pot is reaching a rolling boil. And as Mom taught us, kids need to back away from the stove and let the grownups handle it.
