Search - Dallas: The Complete Eighth Season on DVD

The season of "haute couture," Donna Reed, and, of course, J

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 06/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The '84-'85 season of "Dallas" was a pivotal one in many ways. It saw the show being somewhat overshadowed in the ratings by that ABC upstart "Dynasty"; it was the year that Barbara Bel Geddes was replaced by Oscar/Emmy-winner Donna Reed in the role of the beloved "Miss Ellie"; and it also saw the "departure" of another popular cast member at season's end. Though these developments may have been new and shocking to dedicated fans, there was enough of the old to keep 'em satisfied.

J.R. (the superb Larry Hagman) is still up to his same old tricks but fids himself smitten by the new girl in town, Mandy Winger, played by Deborah Shelton. Unlike other of the oilman's conquest, Winger really appeals to J.R., not just sexually but on an "intellectual" level as well. He is determined to get her at all cost, including sending off-and-on spouse Sue Ellen (the magnificent Linda Gray) back to the bottle and the sanitarium.

Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Pam (Victoria Principal) are still in love, although Bobby is going to marry Jenna (Priscilla Presley). Pam goes on a wild-goose chase, spearheaded by you-know-who, to find beau Mark Graison (an unseen John Beck).

Katherine Wentworth (Morgan Brittany) is still crazy and Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) carries on his lifelong mission to bring down Ewing Oil in honor of his "dead daddy."

Reed brings a different take on "Miss Ellie," something that didn't quite fair well with fans. However, credit must be given to the actress for stepping into a part that was so engrained in the memory of fans by Bel Geddes. It took a lot of courage for Miss Reed and she should be commended for doing an admirable job.

Besides, she did look better in the Travilla clothes.

Speaking of the fashion, this was the year that the producers went all out. The men, though adequately dressed, took a backseat to the glamorous attire of the ladies. In appears that every female cast member, be she main, recurrent, or having a one-shot appearance, got to wear "the" dress, one that really turned heads. According to the bonus feature on Travilla, the show was trying to get on the "Dynasty" bandwagon with the clothes. Regardless, the women look "mah-velous," to borrow from Billy Crystal.

The season finale, "Swan Song," is, by far, the best of the season, featuring brilliant work from Duffy and Principal and an Emmy-worthy musical score by composer Lance Rubin. The final five minutes are poignant and demonstrate what the show was capable of when the writers really went to work...

Now, if they just could've come up with something better for the next season's finale...but that commentary is meant for that compilation upon its release."

The Saga Continues - "Dallas" Season 8

Antoine D. Reid | Durham, NC United States | 02/25/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was another good season of "Dallas" that picks up where the last season set ends; Bobby's been shot and it's only a question of who did it and why. If this seems a bit familiar, it should, as 'Dallas' already did a cliffhanger about someone being shot earlier in the series. Packaging wise and quality wise, the transfer to DVD was great and the packaging is the same as the previous few seasons. Extras wise ... this area needs improvement and is part of the reason, in my opinion, this isn't a five star set. Yet again we're stuck with a pointless short feature talking about the fashion of the show which, to me, feels like we've gotten before in other sets. This was such a big season with a big event at the end of the season. Why no commentary from ANYONE? It seems like a big missed opportunity to get some insight from the cast.

Another minor critique of this season was that it was longer then previous ones but little seemed to happen in each episode unlike in previous seasons. Plots felt as if they dragged on and when they were wrapped up, at times it felt rushed or over simplified. Yet, there were some changes to the show that I felt gave viewers something new to deal with. The character of Miss Ellie for this season was taken on by veteran actor Donna Reed. It felt like a reset or start-over for the character as Donna Reed took over and put her own stamp on the character. She dressed up a bit more than Barbara Bel Geddes would, she seemed more concerned with Ewing Oil and with making Clayton feel like he fit in with the Ewing clan more. Plot wise, Donna and Ray continue to have marital problems, Sue Ellen and J.R. play nice for a good portion of the season before things go back to being interesting with them dueling one another, more Ewings come into the picture and Pam and Bobby both have issues to work through. In all, though things feel slow, there's still a lot of stuff going on to keep viewers entertained.

Definitely a quality t.v. series that puts many shows of today to shame. Buy it, you won't be disappointed."

If only there were a Disc 3...

Not a happy shopper | 03/31/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I admit it - I'm a Dallas addict. So imagine my response when, last night, I opened the inner box to put away Disc 2 and start on Disc 3... only to find I've been supplied TWO Disc 2s and no Disc 3! A call to Amazon was not even remotely helpful, "I'm sorry, but you're past your 30 day return window." I'll make future purchases elsewhere."

Dallas Complete Season 8

T. R. Pless | Melbourne, Australia | 03/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is THE Dallas season! 80's fashion has arrived at Southfork Ranch.
Shoulder pads and hair that never quits.
New characters (such as Jamie Ewing) join the old ones to make this the best season to date.
Cliff Barnes finally makes his mark on the Dallas landscape.
Pamela Barnes Ewing proves that women can roar!
How will the season end? Will Bobby remarry Pam?? Or will perhaps tragedy strike??
If you are a Dallas fan, no review can change your ideas on purchasing all the series up to the (as yet unreleased) 9th Series (The Dream Series).
If you are not a Dallas fan, then start at Series 1, and work your way up! You will never regret looking at life Ewing style.
Suffice to say, Dallas rules my DVD player, and I vote it 4 Stars (loses a Star for badly labelled Discs).

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