I remember that back in the day I didn't exactly go for this turn of events, that was half a lifetime ago, so recently I had that sinking feeling perusing the DVD menu, "aw, Mastectomy again, and, bummer, it's a two-parter." But it kicked off with a funny scene featuring Kristin, my favorite bad girl, in, no, on, the bed with ol' J.R. and things went well (I'm talking Part 1 now), but of course, I did get dragged down, but okay... This morning noticed with some alarm, Mary Crosby ain't in Part 2, and we all know Pam Ewing is losing her appeal thanks to ill-advised scriptwriting... so you do the math that I did.
Summed up, we have the performances. Barbara Bel Geddes is stellar*, and Linda Gray is exceptional. But what about the fun?
The fun has been thrown out at the first mention of neurofibromatosis very early on. Way too early. I have in previous reviews pointed out what DALLAS had thrown away. There was an episode "Spy in the House" that should have served as a guideline for Seasons 2 and 3... delve deep into the Pam vs. J.R. standoff WHILE Victoria Principal is young and fiery and 100% perfect, but, no, what did they choose, bloody neurofibromatosis that's what.
There's gonna be lots of confrontation between Pam and J.R., sure, I remember, but it should have been THE MAJOR THEME during 1979, and not this neurofibromatosis thing.
Okay, and now came the double-parter with "Mastectomy" and DALLAS is a total feel-awful weepy. *Barbara Bel Geddes plays from past experience, she is a real-life victim, she drew from her own ordeal, and the weeping scene in here (1) wasn't much acting (2) I wouldn't have wanted to be there, (3) how could they want to film something like that knowing she's a real victim? It is a performance, but I raced through the episode for it truly carries the plague.
The other reviewer here overreacts re "the evil Miss Ellie" but truly gave me my only laugh re this dismal episode... the bit about Pamela having her revenge wearing a low-cut dress upon MIss Ellie's return. I'm sure that was unintentional.
Do not get me wrong. I realize the importance, the validity of the subject matter. But for DALLAS to throw this at us... I do think that loads of viewers were lost back then.
In all fairness, the episode deserves a much higher rating, but I personally (word fails me) it. No, not loathe or hate.
Bummer deluxe. Ditto the previous, but at least Mary was there at the beginning. Here there is just no fun at all...