So while I’m doing this review, I’m also reviewing the first volume of the third season of “Dynasty.” Needless to say, this is an exciting time in my life. Never before have I seen either of these shows. Sure, I’ve heard of them, just like most of us have, but I had yet to experience the power and magnificence of Larry Hagman’s JR or the bitchiness and profound avarice of Joan Collins’ Alexis. At long last, I have decided which of the shows beats the other. The winner is… “Dynasty.” I expect some controversial splash back on this one. Any second now. Aaaaaaaany second now.

            Well anyway, “Dallas” season 9 certainly had some serious legs. In watching the first episode, I was forced to hop on the internet and do some background research. By this point Dallas had been on for a very long time, and it still had another five seasons to go.

            The “eighties-ness” of the show was overwhelming. It blows my mind what people thought was attractive twenty years ago. Shoulder pads, hairspray and eye shadow reign supreme. The melodrama is campy and hilarious, but it doesn’t quite go far enough, unlike “Dynasty” which seems to never stop. Also, it was quite something seeing Patrick Duffy in his prime. My only experience with him had been in “Step by Step.”

            This was the infamous “dream sequence” season, which definitely took some balls. Again, I’d heard about this before, but I never saw it in action. By far, the best part of the DVD is the only special feature, a documentary called “Seasons of Change.” A good and long featurette, “Seasons of Change” gets good perspective from some “Dallas” creators, as well as television and media historians. You learn a lot about the impact this show had on people’s lives. One person interviewed talked about nearly missing the birth of his son for the season 9 finale.

            Patrick Duffy’s return is discussed in great length, and as a writer and creator of a little bit of media here and there, the process was pretty fascinating. It seems Mr. Duffy was ready to move onto other things and demanded to not just die, but to be seen dying in the end of season 8. Ratings fell for the following season. One producer says that much of the shows successful dynamic came from that famous bible story of brotherly love, and JR’s Cain needed Bobby’s Abel. Solutions were turned over and examined, and in the end the dream sequence was the only way out. An entire season as a dream sequence. Amazing, especially when you think of all the season nine plot lines and new characters that were then sacrificed for Bobby Ewing.

            As far as purchasing this DVD, it certainly is made for nostalgic folk who were devoted to the show when it was first on. Nowadays, with our “Losts” and “24’s,” the level of taste for serial television has risen. “Dallas” is campy, but not quite campy enough for me to get wasted and laugh at. Like I said, though, the mini-documentary is great. Culturally, it is very interesting, but one doesn’t need to watch an entire season to get the point. A little bit goes a long way. 

But I don’t want to sound too snotty and elite. We wouldn’t have our “Weeds” and “The Wire” if prime time serials like this didn’t raise the stakes on soap opera style drama and break some serious ground. In twenty years, people will probably watch “The Sopranos” and not be able to understand how rational adults were able to take it seriously.