Since
the original “Dallas” debuted in 1978, times have changed. Texas has
prospered but the liberal agenda against big oil stayed the same. TNT’s
“Dallas” remake introduced the Ewing family feud with a twist, and the
rest of the season is set for a showdown: Alternative energy against
drilling for oil.
John
Ross Ewing, son of the long-time “Dallas” villain J.R. Ewing (played by
Larry Hagman), has already discovered a major find of oil on Southfork:
the Ewing family’s ranch. He wants to drill it, but his uncle Bobby
Ewing opposes drilling on the family land. Of course, he’s portrayed as
the bad guy, ruthless, conniving and a “chip off the old block.”
Bobby
supports his adopted son Christopher who wants to make Ewing
Alternative Energy the next “Exxon” but is planning on turning Southfork
into a conservancy. Bobby and Christopher are clearly the good guys in
the drama, as J.R. Ewing says Bobby was “always the one with the
conscience.”
During
the premier Christopher says, “Oil is the past, John Ross, alternatives
are the future.” Although he is worried about funding for his pet
project: “It seems I have only two roads open to me: accept government
subsidies or bending over for the venture capitalists,” he lamented.
When
John Ross revealed to Christopher and Bobby that an ocean of oil lay
under Southfork, Christopher yelled that the oil was so deep underground
it would have to be fracked. “It [Fracking] will be the end of the
ranch!” he shouted.
“The
New York Times” review by Allesandra Stanley said, “In 1978 the Texas
economy was booming, while the rest of the country was still struggling.
Rich Texans were loud, proud, vulgar, exotic and extravagant. J. R.’s
son, John Ross (Josh Henderson), is of course a fracking maniac who
wants to drill all over Southfork and will scheme, lie and connive to
get his way.”
The Washington Times review of the show also noted the “capitalist villains [1],”
but called them “too dull to root against.” “J.R. and Bobby are still
around, and while they remain rivals, the battle’s locus has shifted to
their sons, J.R.’s scheming oilman son John Ross (Josh Henderson) and
Bobby’s earnest alternative energy entrepreneur Christopher.”
The
new generation of “Dallas” may be different but the Hollywood message
is still the same. Oil and its supporters are the real villains.
