Dallas gets a lot of crap, deservedly so, for the stories in the last three or four seasons. But this Empire Valley storyline is in the middle of the Knots run, and it's pretty damned dull. And don't get me started on milquetoasty Ben somehow being some sort of super spy.
shareI agree, the Empire Valley storyline really just seemed like a rehash of the Lotus Point story from the previous season, only more complicated, less interesting, and longer. And Ben lasted a season too long, as well. He really should have left with Cathy Geary as planned at the end of that season. From what I remember, the producers had planned to write out Ben, Laura, and Lilimae at the end of season 7 or beginning of season 8 due to budget cuts, but we're able to hold off the purge for a year.
shareIt was weak, but much better than some of the last few seasons stories.
shareIt was weak, but much better than some of the last few seasons stories.
I still like the latter seasons to some degree. I liked Greg's sister Claudia, Paige's mother Anne and Nick the Italian gigolo - all very entertaining characters. And the stories were at least a bit more believable than the last seasons of Falcon Crest or Dallas. The one thing I really missed in the last season sof Knots Landing was Val or rather the dynamic of Val's and Karen's friendship - that was important from the beginnings in Season 1. And the romance between Kate and Gary didn't work for me. Shame they killed off Patricia Williams long before that - they had more chemistry in their few scenes together.
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