Debauchery, double-crossing, divorce, adultery, kidnapping, assassination attempts!

Dallas had it all. The Ewing family lived at the ostentatious Southfork Ranch in Braddock County just outside Dallas. Miss Ellie, long played by veteran actress Barbara Bel Geddes, was the matriarch of the clan. J.R. (Larry Hagman) was the oldest Ewing son, married to the forever miserable Sue Ellen (Linda Gray). J.R.'s younger brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy) fell in love with a girl from a rival oil family, Pamela Barnes (Victoria Principal), whom he would later marry (a couple times).

The formula for the success of Dallas was rather simple. Series creator David Jacobs took two families, the Ewings and the Barnes, rivals in the oil business, and created a world full of enough passion, power, and family dysfunction to keep fans interested for years.

I remember season eight of Dallas pretty well, because during that 1984-85 season I was in middle school and was finally old enough to watch the show and see what all the fuss was about. I had heard all the talk during the summer of 1980 about who shot J.R.? I distinctly remember standing in line at the grocery story and listening to two older ladies talking the day after the shooter was revealed: "I can't believe Bing Crosby's daughter shot J.R.! He would be so disappointed in her." Even at eight years old, I knew that if a television show had blurred the line between fantasy and reality that much, it had to be fun to watch.

Season eight begins with everyone wondering who shot Bobby Ewing. Of course, it is quickly revealed that the intended target was J.R. Though temporarily blinded, thankfully Bobby survived. Meanwhile, Jamie Ewing (Jenilee Harrison) the daughter of Jock Ewing's dead brother Jason returns to Southfork looking to stake a claim to her part of the family fortune.

Bobby thought he'd found happiness with single mother Jenna Wade (Priscilla Beaulieu Presley) he realizes, he still loves Pam. Meanwhile, Pam is sent into some serious emotional upheaval looking for the missing and presumed dead Mark Graison. Bobby rescues Jenna from the pokey and they plan to marry.  Meanwhile, J.R. promises his babe of the moment, Mandy Winger (Deborah Shelton), he'll find a way to get rid of Sue Ellen. In order to get rid of Sue Ellen, J.R. schemes to have her placed in a mental institution.  Plus, it was this season's cliffhanger, "Swan Song," that might have made season nine a dream. It's your call.