If Dallas didn’t completely “jump the shark” after the tenth season, “it was all a dream” fiasco, the producers made sure they finished the job during the eleventh year. After ten years on the series, Victoria Principal, who played the popular character of Pam Ewing and had appeared in almost every episode of the series, decided to leave the show. Suddenly, an oil truck comes out of nowhere and a distracted Pam crashes into it, igniting a huge fireball. Now, that scenario isn’t so bad. As a matter of fact, Dallas is the kind of show where you might expect one of the most popular characters to die in a fiery oil truck crash.


Things would have been fine, if Pam had been pronounced dead at the start of the eleventh season. However, she somehow survived the crash. Heavily bandaged from her third-degree burns, an unrecognizable Pam nonetheless is able to scribble a love note to Bobby and her son, Christopher before she decides to abandon her son and husband when she gets a good look at herself after the accident. I didn’t believe (I doubt many others did either), that Pam would simply abandon her son, because of third degree burns. That is something you might envision Sue Ellen doing but certainly not Pam. Clearly, the storyline was a ploy by the writers and producers to leave the option open for Victoria Principal to return to the series if she had a change of heart.
Pam was my favorite female character on the series and I just found her exit to be way over the top. I mean, Pam’s wrapped up like a mummy but she can still write a note? Coming on the heels of the dream sequence, it was clear Dallas was moving into dangerously tacky territory here. To top it off, Bobby soon banishes Pam from his thoughts (after a convenient little bar fight), and begins a series of flirtations with several indescribably anonymous women (all except that delicious little minx, April), with absolutely no thought of finding Pam, or pining after her, or even getting angry at her. It doesn’t fit with what the audience has been taught about the couple over the years.
Then there’s the issue of J.R.’s (Larry Hagman) dogged determination to put Ewing Oil back together again. One would think J.R.’s rebuilding of his empire would give Dallas a opportunity to refresh the series; allowing Hagman’s character to go from depression to a phoenix risen from the ashes, as a reborn oil titan. Unfortunately, the writers elected not to have J.R. engage in a titanic struggle to get back to the top. We hear a lot of characters say he’s washed up at the beginning, but we never really believe it because he still has a ton of money and fancy new offices. A few phone calls later, a few dirty deals, and he’s seemingly invincible again. There’s no gradual buildup to his comeback, so it’s impossible to feel a sense of excitement about it, when he gets Ewing Oil back. Heck, even Hagman himself, is lacking the twinkle in his eye he always had when playing J.R. Perhaps even he felt the scripts and story ideas were losing some of there punch.
Just as Pam leaving her young son seems preposterous, other plotlines are right there with it. Why would J.R. suddenly become so naïve that he would think Sue Ellen would give him a divorce so he could marry Kimberly Cryder (Leigh Taylor-Young), the wife of Westar’s new chairman. Why would Cliff suddenly admit to Miss Ellie that his drunk father, Digger, was all wrong about the Ewings? Even if Digger was wrong, why in the world would the producers take away the one motive that propelled the Cliff character: death to the Ewings for what they did to his father? It makes no sense.
Dallas did add Andrew Stevens and Jack Scalia to the cast but since these guys can’t really act their way out of a paper bag, they didn’t add much to the proceedings. Dallas managed a still-respectable 22nd place for the year, but that was down from 11th the previous season. The following 12th season would find the venerable CBS drama falling even further. Audiences finally had their fill of the Ewings and the Barnes.
Yet again, Dallas – The Complete Eleventh Season comes crammed onto three flipper discs, as opposed to previous seasons’ five-disc offerings. An additional episode has been added to each side, making for some obvious compression problems, including some shimmering and smearing (interfacing was also a problem). Even on a smaller monitor, these transfers look more akin to VHS copies than digital. Colors aren’t particularly vibrant.
The Dolby Digital English mono audio track accurately reflects the original network broadcast presentation. All dialogue is heard cleanly; although some minor hissing is audible. Subtitles and closed captioning is available.
There are no extras included.
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Here are the 30 episodes of the three flipper-disc box set, Dallas – The Complete Eleventh Season, as described on the insert:

DISC ONE: SIDE A
After the Fall: Ewing Rise
Beginning: J.R. starts all over again in the oil business. Perhaps the end: Pam battles life-threatening burns.
After the Fall: Digger Redux
J.R. isn’t the only oilman in Dallas who misses his daddy: Cliff befriends an old-timer who reminds him of Digger.
The Son Also Rises
Determined to visit his injured mother, little Christopher heads for Dallas Memorial Hospital.

Gone With the Wind
Sue Ellen takes a business trip with hunky Nicholas Pearce and J.R. takes a step up the slippery oil business ladder.
The Lady Vanishes
When Pam disappears from the hospital, Bobby and Cliff join forces to find out what happened.

DISC ONE: SIDE B
Tough Love
Distraught over losing Pam, Bobby brawls with a barroom full of beered-up cowboys.
Last Tango in Dallas
Just like old times. J.R. hatches a plot against Weststar. Cliff looks for oil where there isn’t any.
Mummy’s Revenge
Sons and father figures: J.R. comforts Miss Ellie after Clayton’s heart attack and Cliff backs Dandy’s get-rich-quick dream.
Hustling
Howdy, honey! J.R. knows how to succeed in the oil business: seduce your rival’s wife.
Bedtime Stories
Jenna and Ray announce their engagement, J.R. snake oils his way into Kimberly’s bed and Cliff gives Dandy the brush-off.
DISC TWO: SIDE A

Lovers and Other Liars
Burned by the people they trust, both Dandy and Sue Ellen retaliate. But only one of them uses a gun.
Brothers and Sons
Only in Dallas: Ray’s choice for best man at his wedding is Bobby, the father of his bride’s new baby.

Brother, Can You Spare a Child?
War: Casey double-crosses J.R.. Peace: Cliff and Miss Ellie end the Ewing-Barnes feud.
Daddy’s Little Darlin’
Kimberly’s wealthy daddy will back J.R.’s quest to control Weststar if J.R. ditches Sue Ellen.
It’s Me Again
Couples takin’ dead aim at trouble: J.R. and Kimberly, Charlie and Randy, Clayton and Laurel.
DISC TWO: SIDE B

Marriage on the Rocks
As Bobby battles Lisa for custody of Christopher, J.R. considers making Sue Ellen the ex-Mrs. Ewing.

Anniversary Waltz
Bobby discovers the skunk (guess who) who’s pulling the strings in his heartbreaking custody fight.
Brotherly Love
Bitter enemies again, J.R. and Bobby plot to outmaneuver each other in a bid to restore Ewing Oil.
The Best Laid Plans
J.R. and Kimberly team up against Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen and Bobby join forces against J.R.. It’s gonna be fun!
Farlow’s Follies
At Southfork, a jealous wife seeks solace in a bottle of booze. And this time the lady isn’t Sue Ellen.
DISC THREE: SIDE A
Malice in Dallas
Bobby and Lisa face off in court, April gets tangled up in a murder and Miss Ellie leaves on vacation…alone.
Crime Story
Terrorized by thugs, April considers making a run for it. Clayton falls prey to a blackmailer.
To Have and To Hold
Miss Ellie handles her marital problems with a showdown. Cliff handles his financial problems with a fistful of pills.
Dead Reckoning
Miss Ellie kicks Clayton out of Southfork. And doesn’t that just put a big ol’ grin on J.R.’s face?
Never Say Never
With Clayton arrested for murder, J.R. sees his chance to make Laurel the next notch on his bedpost.
DISC THREE: SIDE B
Last of the Good Guys
J.R. has evidence that will clear Clayton. Will he go straight to the cops…or use it to his own advantage?
Top Gun
After months of conniving, Weststar is within J.R.’s grasp. But two wronged women have a different idea.
Pillow Talk
Vengeance is theirs: J.R. uses John Ross against Sue Ellen, Cliff plots against J.R. and Connie takes a stab at Ray.
Things Ain’t Goin’ So Good at Southfork Again
Coming and going. Jenna and Lucy return home, but a furious J.R. vamooses.
The Fat Lady Singeth
It’s J.R. vs. everybody as he battles Sue Ellen, Bobby, Jeremy Wendell and, in a hand-to-hand combat, Nicholas Pearce.