While the absence of Larry Hagman (JR Ewing) is felt with the third season of Dallas, his small-screen son John Ross (Josh Henderson) is ready to take over his legacy with new wife Pamela Rebecca Barnes (Julie Gonzalo) by his side. And the new powerhouse couple will be creating waves of conflict, writes Debashine Thangevelo.
THE IN-HOUSE Ewing feud rages on this season. This time, John Ross (Josh Henderson) isn’t too happy with uncle Bobby (Patrick Duffy) calling the shots with regards to the joint ownership of Southfork Ranch.
While he has the unwavering support of wife Pamela (Julie Gonzalo), his proclivity for skirt-chasing – in this case Emma (Emma Bell) – could place the ruthlessly ambitious Ewing in a vulnerable position with his uncle and cousin, Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe).
The Argentine-American actress, cast in the plum role of Pamela, revealed highlights from the new season in an interview with Latina.com.
On the cliffhanger ending of season two, where the miscarriage of her twins (thanks to the machinations of her father Cliff Barnes) led her straight into the arms of Ross – eventually ending with them tying the knot, she reveals: “I actually was a little shocked that they were going to marry right away. I thought that was going to be something that you usually wait a little longer for two people to come together, you know, on a show. But although I didn’t see it coming, I now know what the writers wanted to come out of it.”
That brings us to what can be expected of this powerful union in the new season.
“I think you can expect these two to have their differences. They are two characters who are cut from the same cloth. There’s always going to be tension there. From Pamela’s point of view – she does want to make this marriage work. You see her trying to be that woman, trying to be that wife and settle into her new role living in South Fork with the rest of the family and her new husband, which is a recipe for disaster, if you ask me.”
As for the qualities she admires most in her character, Gonzalo notes: “I love her no-bulls*** state of mind. She doesn’t put up with a lot of crap. She knows what she wants and she goes for it. She has a lot of respect for herself and she’s very confident.”
Other upsets in the backstabbing ambit of the Ewings include: Elena’s quest for justice now that she is in possession of the original deed to her father’s land puts her relationship with Christopher in grave danger of crumbling. Ann’s ex-husband Harris Ryland remains a thorn in her side while she tries to establish a stronger relationship with her daughter Emma.
Amid the betrayals that unfold, a mysterious stranger arrives in town and has an agenda of their own.
Gonzalo hints,: “There are a lot of moments that are going to shock people. I think we are definitely pushing the envelope. This is definitely our best year, yet. The scripts are really strong. The characters are really strong. There are jaw-dropping moments. We’re definitely racier and sexier. There’s a wedding, a death and, apparently, there’s going to be a pregnancy.”
And so the schemes and secrets are put into play for another exhilarating showdown!
• Dallas airs on M-Net Series Showcase (DStv channel 113) on Tuesdays at 8pm.