'Dallas' back in the UK the same week as the US

Dallas: Battle Lines (Series 2: 1/15)

‘Dallas’ returns to Channel 5 for a second series of family feuds, backstabbing and dirty tricks, following the successful revival of one of the most popular television dramas of all time last year.

Sadly, Season 2 will bid a solemn farewell to Larry Hagman, who in JR created one of the all-time great characters of television, but not before the wicked oilman has taught his son more of his unique tricks and wisdom as the battle for Ewing Energies heats up between Christopher and John Ross.

Due to the suddenness of Hagman’s illness and death, script and production changes had to be made to deal with the veteran actor’s absence. Six episodes with JR were already in the can, and it was decided to devote a full episode to his death and its fallout on the Ewing family and their associates. Episode 8 will also feature appearances from ‘Dallas’ stars past and present.

During the first season, the decades-long rivalry between brothers JR and Bobby Ewing flared up again when John Ross wanted to drill oil on the family’s Southfork ranch. Bobby refused to allow it, but then health problems prompted him to sell the family’s property to a conservancy, unaware that the entire deal was a ruse by JR to take control of Southfork.

Meanwhile, Christopher, Bobby’s adopted son, married Rebecca Sutter, causing some awkward moments with his former fiancée, Elena Ramos, John Ross’s girlfriend. The marriage faced early problems when he discovered that Rebecca was partially responsible for his break-up with Elena and later uncovered evidence that Rebecca was collaborating with a man posing as her brother Tommy in order to rip off the Ewing family. Rebecca killed Tommy when he threatened to harm her unborn twins.

Sue Ellen and Bobby’s wife Ann each made deals with Ann’s scheming ex-husband, Harris Ryland, who attempted to blackmail Sue Ellen, who is running for governor of Texas. However, Ann used dirty tricks herself to blackmail her ex into silence.

By the end of season one, Bobby’s medical problems began to escalate, Elena went running into Christopher’s arms after realising that John Ross was just as deceptive, scheming and powerhungry as his father, and Rebecca, dumped by Christopher, was revealed to be the daughter of long-time Ewing enemy and Bobby’s one-time father-in-law, Cliff Barnes.

Season 2 opens with the battle for Ewing Energies heating up as Christopher and John Ross clash over opposing visions for the company. Also this week, as Christopher seeks to gain the upper hand in his divorce from Rebecca Sutter, a game-changing revelation turns everything on its head, causing the entire family to put their differences aside and rally together – except for John Ross,who uses JR’s dirty tricks to take revenge on Christopher and Elena. Meanwhile, Harris Ryland turns the tables on Ann by blackmailing her, forcing her and Bobby to confront a shocking secret from Ann’s past.

Season 2 will also introduce two new characters: Emma Brown (Emma Bell, ‘The Walking Dead’), a sheltered beauty whose father has taught her to distrust the world around her, and Drew Ramos (Kuno Becker), Elena’s troubled brother who returns to Southfork.