Dallas EP Defends Killing [Spoiler], Previews Major Paternity Twist and Reveals ‘Emotional’ Season 4 Plans
Earlier this week, TNT‘s Dallas made good on its promise to off one of the Ewings during the Season 3 finale, resulting in the series’ most explosive (too soon?) twist to date.
RELATED Dallas Finale Recap: Fall in the Family
TVLine spoke with executive producer Cynthia Cidre about how the Ewings will deal with Christopher’s death, when we’ll finally learn the identity of Elena’s baby daddy and, of course, how John Ross’ long-lost sister will play into the events of Season 4 (assuming the show is renewed).
TVLINE | So, I have to ask… Why Christopher?
You know, we just always want to keep moving, like a shark. It’s like Woody Allen says in Annie Hall. We’ve established ourselves as a show that spins your head on your shoulders at the end of the season. We kept thinking, “We can’t do that,” and then, “Maybe we can,” and that went on for months. We actually shot a completely different ending [Where Christopher lives], partly to cover it up, but also because we had to make sure we could get away with it. It was expensive. … I hope it was OK, and I hope the fans can live with it. It opens up a lot of stories for Season 4, some really interesting new emotional things. We were sad to say goodbye to Jesse, but he totally understood. He knew these things happen on our show.
TVLINE | I know your plan is to jump six months ahead in Season 4. Does that mean we won’t see Christopher’s funeral, and that people will have moved on?
“Move on” is not what I would say. This is a massive tragedy in their lives. We made the choice of the six-month jump for several reasons. First, it’s exhausting to pick a season up a minute after the end of the last one. That really prevents you from coming up with fresh stories. The second reason is that Elena is pregnant, and we didn’t want to have her pregnant for the entire season. We needed that baby to be born, so that really sealed the deal. Believe me, the scars of that explosion are on everyone in every moment. It affects everything that’s going on. There’s no funeral, but there will be flashbacks to things like the funeral and the graveyard and the explosion.
TVLINE | When Elena does have that baby, who is it going to look like? It’s just Nicolas’ or John Ross’, right? There’s no secret third baby daddy?
[Laughs] There might be. I’d hate to spoil that for you.
TVLINE | How long into the run of Season 4 do you plan to reveal the father?
Oh, it’s going to be revealed in the first episode. I just finished it, so I know exactly what happens. And I have to say, I’m excited. If we don’t get picked up [for a fourth season], maybe I’ll just go ahead and publish our first two scripts.
TVLINE | Speaking of children, John Ross now has a long-lost sister out there. What’s your vision for her? How does she fit into this puzzle?
Well, let me first say that J.R. has many spawns out in the world, but this one is very different from the other spawns that exist. There is another secret involved in this that will be revealed in [the Season 4 premiere]. We didn’t want another son, because then he’d just be competing with John Ross. This is a different version of the J.R. personality. We’ll meet her in the first episode.
TVLINE | So much of the fun of the show came from watching John Ross butt heads with Christopher. Who will be his main adversary now?
If I said that, I would spoil something, so let me just tell you that there will be one. It’ll be a new character.
TVLINE | OK, let’s talk Judith, who I love. She stepped into a bigger role in the finale, so I’m wondering: Is there any chance she’ll become a series regular next season? I’d love to see her in those opening credits.
Me too! She’s the most delicious actor and human being, and we even call her “J.R.” on set for “Judith Ryland.” And we love watching her work with John Ross, which is why we put them together at the end of the finale. They definitely have a huge arc in Season 4, but a lot of it will have to do with our budget and how much we can afford.
TVLINE | You obviously haven’t cast John Ross’ sister yet, since you haven’t been picked up, but do you have an idea of the type of actress you’re looking for?
Well, we did cast her hand. We shot a quick scene where John Ross meets her, but you only see her hand. She had chipped nails and bracelets — it was a really cool hand. We decided to pull it, and that’s actually another reason we decided to jump six months. Had he met her in the finale, what the hell would he have done with her for six months that we wouldn’t have seen?
TVLINE | Lastly, Tracey popped back up in the finale, and I love me some Melinda Clarke. Do you have any plans to use her again?
Oh, yes. She has a big part coming up, though Melinda doesn’t know it yet. I thought she had nice chemistry with Bobby and she played well in our Crayon box. We like her and we definitely have stories for her.
Dallas fans, how do you feel about Christopher’s death now? Who do you think is the father of Elena’s baby? And who should play John Ross’ sister? Drop a comment with your thoughts and theories below.
Would love to see Pam recast. Jaclyn Smith would be perfect. That or Sela Ward/Annette O Toole. Pam coming back would be a great storyline
Christopher is the father of Elena’s baby.
I agree 100 percent
We know Elena was sleeping with Nicolas and that he poked a hole in her diaphragm and that she slept with John Ross (so that she could get the letter from JR), but I don’t remember if she slept with Christopher before the hole poking happened. If it was before, I don’t think it would be Christopher’s. It’d be nice considering he’s now gone, but I think it’s more likely John Ross’.
I agree; the next man Elena slept with after Nicolas destroyed her diaphragm was John Ross. So, Elena’s baby girl is definitely John Ross’ daughter.
Could b chris..their could hav been a night of passion between her and chris when they were together and she got caught up and did use the diaphragm…ijs..
Debry Powell
So sad about Chris…..its ok who the father is…..would like to see the model roommate of Pam her daughter who help JR set Pam up in bed with this guy
Forget Pam. Hated her in origina . Besides Victoria refused to do it so keep her off the show!
That’s funny, I didn’t like Pam either. A lot of people liked her, but she seemed too prissy.
I love the show and truly wish it would come back ,but I don’t think they should recast Pam. They said she’s dead and they should leave it that way. Christopher is another story. If they would ever bring the show back if he doesn want to return they should recast him. The new Dallas is supposed to be about the next generation of Ewings.
Right its suppose to be about the next generation…they are not giving the show a chance.
didn’t Pam die of pancreatic cancer after her disfiguring car wreck?
It needs an official renewal , c’mon now!
I’m not going to sleep well again until TNT confirms a fourth season. S3 ratings might not have been fantastic – but given the lack of a solid lead-in during the second half of the season, they’ve held their own pretty well.
and moving the show to MONDAY night head to head with cable’s #1 show WWE RAW and Monday Night Football was a bad choice. They should have left it a summer show where it had it’s biggest ratings. If you do run it as a split like this year then move it back to a Sunday night or Tuesday, Wednesday.
I agree! I haven’t been able to sleep knowing that dallas might not get renewed. But I feel like season 1 and 2 did good because they was on a different night! Older ppl watch raw/wwe on Monday night and if they want ppl to watch dallas thru need to change the day
I agree bring back Dallas you left us hanging on the best finally ever Bring back Dallas 2015
Something better could have been done with Christopher. Killing off a legacy character like him just for shock value hurts in the long run, and this was for shock value. Haven’t we mourned enough with J.R.’s death? Mistake, in my opinion.
I agree with you and I hope that if enough people protest this, they will say it was a hoax or that it was to take Chris into Witness Protection.
Come on people! Use your voice.
Or maybe it will all be a dream again. Us Oldies remember when the first Pam woke up and hear water running to see Bobby in the shower to her disbelief. An entire season was shot without Patrick Duffy, who we all assumed was killed by a car driven by Pam’s evil sister. But alas, it was all a big dream.
The Original Dallas had fabulous writers and great storylines. Worldwide, people couldn’t wait for Dallas night…….
I totally agree, it really was a sensely death. It was entertaining to watch Christopher and John Ross, for lack of word, battling over Ewing Oil. It seems there will most likely be a great void without his presence in season 4, in my opinion.
So very true indeed.
Please have the Christopher Ewing death be just a dream. if Jesse Metcalfe wants out, recast the role.
Now that would work. Bring Christopher Back.
I do not think they should have killed off Christopher. He was the best lookin of the whole bunch.
I do not want to see Christopher dropped, he was a good actor and his role played a good decent person. I think this would be a great loss to the show. I would have liked to have seen Pam back in the first place but I think it is too late now, Bobby and Ann are happy together now and I do not think it would be fair to Ann to just dump her but then that is only my openion for what it is worth. I remember in the original Dallas when they killed Bobby off, they brought him back the next season because if they had not, I think it would have bee. He n the end of the show, this could be the same with Christopher. He needs to stay. Christopher was the best looking one of the whole bunch out side of Bobby
I did disagree. That John Ross is very sexy
I so agree wpp
I agree 100 percent.
Hope TNT renews Dallas season 4 with the condition that CHRISTOPHER LIVES! This the worst decision they have made with the exception of the finale of Dallas I.
Both Christopher and Elena should be in hiding or witness protection because they are both in danger. Elena could have a dream that she is pregnant and that Christopher was blown up in the car. Would be an interesting story line trying to hide a Ewing in witness protection or other method until Nicolas is taken out.
BOTTOM LINE, if you want us to keep watching, CHRISTOPHER LIVES!
I agree or they can write it in that it wasnt Christopher and hes now a hostage of Nicholas. ..many ways to write him in
Have you noticed at the restroom Christopher’s shirt was blue and white but at the car in the dark it looked solid blue? They could bring him back if wanted to based on it not being him at the car..
Yes I noticed it too..the person at the car was slow walking and fat…get. ready when they bring show back chris will be in it :-) :-)
Dallas must blue come back.CHRISTOPHER must live
I didn’t watch the finale [or season 3]. But I am curious how Christopher died. Shot?? how did they kill him off? I need to do a little digging. Maybe I’ll see if it’s up ON DEMAND or on Hulu or something so I can watch the finale [especially since the finale seems to be the TOTAL FINALE of Dallas.
He got blown up in his car by a drug cartel member or else an Arab terrorist. Either way, he was killed by a telephone bomb planted in his car just as Elena was walking to the car.
Season 1, 2, and 3 are on Netflix.
I totally agree too. I don’t think killing off Christopher was the right thing. The show has been cancelled. Maybe if enough people protest about that they will keep it.
Yea thats what they should do that take him witness protection and john ross the baby’s daddy and dont bring pam back
U have my support!!!!
So true Caffeinated Joe! When they kill off important characters, things obviously change and they risk losing fans. We become attached to certain characters and the changes, as a result of killing off characters, might be too drastic.
I agree killing off Christopher won’t make the show better, it would be a terrible move. John Ross needs Christopher just like JR needed Bobby! With a bold move like that you could lose a lot of viewers, don’t do it! I am a loyal Dalllas fan but I don’t think I will enjoy it if Christopher is killed off.
I agree with you. Christopher is too important of a character to just kill off this soon. Shock value I get it but I think it is a bad call. Maybe there will be a twist as said in earlier comments. We can only hope.
So darn true….I feel the same way about Christopher being killed. Oh, I know who can possibly play J.R.’s dgtr-Mischa Barton or the actress who played Summer in the O.C. I’m going to definitely do some more thinking on this 1. ..
I think Sofia Bush would be a good one. She played a pretty good bad girl on one tree hill
I agree. Bring Christopher back or I know of at least 4 viewers you will no longer have :(
https://tvline.com/2014/10/03/dallas-cancelled-season-4-tnt/
I think Christopher was the best character on there
Agreed! I just can’t watch season 4 if it comes back
I agree wholeheartedly. Show has now been left to be carried by Bobbie Reing and John Toss. While strong actors there are too few actors that I have any vested interested in. Bobbie’s wife and Elena are just boring.
I agree, but there is room to bring him back if need be. He could have jumped right back out of that car while the person with the detonator turned his head to activate it?
Totally agree with you. Big Mistake. The big part of drawing us in and keeping us hooked rests with the core family and with only Sue Ellen, Bobby and John Ross, remaining WTF ? Big mistake killing of Christopher. BIG, HUGE
Just doesn’t seem like Dallas without J.R. and now Christopher.
It doesn’t make sense that they’re killing off a Ewing when there’s not too many of them! Bad move.
You’re right about JR. It was a fabulous character, played by a superb Actor. That character was made for Larry Hagman, and Larry made that character. It’s a shame that cancer took him. JR Sr. vs “Judith” would have made a great rivalry.
I hope they tie-in for Bobby that he lost both Pam and Christopher in a fiery car incident.
Pamela survived the car accident and then disappeared from the hospital, which Bobby knows. Cliff tracked her down many years later and she begged him not to tell anyone. She died off screen of some illness after that.
Right. I just meant he ‘lost’ her as she exited his life forever. Wasn’t clear there. Thanks.
I think in a season 4 or 5 :) you could see all of this pain (Anns lies, losing his brother, Christopher, South Fork burning) Bobby slowly start to turn more ruthless like his brother. Become more about what is best for HIM and less about a family that doesnt care about him.
I think obvious the SWERVE of all SWERVES will be that Elana’s baby is Christophers. So Bobby HAS to keep her part of the family despite her ties to what killed his son, etc. Nicholas doesnt get his heir and tie to Elana he thought he had and John Ross is already tied up with the new sister and being in partnership with Judith so it wont be his.
Is it common for an EP to write two scripts without a renewal? I’m hoping this means it’s a done deal – save for the official announcement.
They have to have material to pitch to the network for the new season anyway, so besides a season outline, she also has scripts to show exactly what she wants to do. A script is only around 100 pages with a lot of white space because of how it’s formatted, so it’s actually not a lot of typing for a writer if they’re inspired.
I haven’t actually seen the episode, but is it possible that Christopher will be away for a while and then come back as some witness protection program twist, or something like that?
In my head, the scene looks a lot like Chloe Sullivan in the exploding house. :-)
Killing Christopher has guaranteed that I won’t continue watching the show. J.R.’s death was obviously necessary. Killing another main character for shock effect smacks of lazy storytelling.
I agree. Desperate for stories when you have to do a “shock” main character death. Too many “extras” on that show that could have been killed off. I am not impressed with the Ryland family, including Ann. They think that story is better than Christopher and John Ross fighting for attention? Seriously? For that reason, I’m out!
JR’s death was necessary BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY DIED. I guarantee you he would not have gone anywhere had he survived his cancer.
jane badler ‘diana’ from “v” as Pam
i am ok with christopher’s death, too much damage for him and elana…. especially because i strongly feel its jon ross’s, nicholas deserves that since he blew up chris…… as far as sister, i have another strong feeling that this girl is different because she is jon ross’s twin sister….. therefore cast someone that looks like him…….
Twin sister? Not possible.
Think sue ellen would know if she gave birth to twins lol
I’m okay with Christopher’s death. I hope Elena’s baby is John Ross’ just to make Nicolas squirm. I do wish that Emma got blown up too.
I am hoping the baby is John Ross’ too. It would be great to ruin Nicolas’ plan to stay in Elena’s life longer and that would be great to see. I’m upset about Christopher getting blown up. I wish it had been either Emma’s grandma or her dad.
I know who the mother of John Ross’s sister is. It’s no secret, it is J.R’s second wife Callie!! She had a baby in the old series and it was never revealed what she had. New fans of the show have to go back and watch the old series to figure crap out. Also bobby has a biological son named Lucas from his ex-girlfriend Jenna Wade who is married to Bobby’s brother Ray. So I mind betting that they will put him on the show to replace Christopher!!
It was revealed as a son, sorry.
Callie’s child was a boy. Not only was it revealed to be a boy by the private detective JR hired to track her down back in Arksansas but there was even a scene towards the end of the original series or one of the reunion films where JR sat in a car and watched her play with the toddler in a park.
No way b serious…..
1) This is a soap opera we talking about. This is DALLAS we are talking about. People don’t stay dead in soaps forever. I will, honestly, be shocked if Christopher DOESN’T come back at some point. That being said:
2) I hope Christopher does stay dead. He was a drag. I like Metcalf, don’t get me wrong, but all Christopher did was whine and mope and cry. I wanted to see Christopher start kicking some butt and taking names.
^^This! I hope the door opens for a return. Christopher did need something to do besides pin after women and cry. He was too squeaky clean at least Bobby wI’ll get his hands dirty.
Its not game of thrones where you keep killing of main leads! They need to have christopher-its like Jr and Bobby from the old Dallas- gary or Ray could never fill in for them,bringing jr’s daughter isn’t gonna change that(dont care who they cast)! What about pamela and john ross- i don’t want her to become his main rival-that would be too war of the roses and frankly i’m bored with that-i like them as a couple and that whole dynamic. I hate the whole elena baby daddy story line and i hope to god the child is nicholas’s or by some strange twist christopher’s! Just any one but john ross’s as that would drive him and pamela even further apart.
I agree with that comment the two boys work good together and you need that. Show won’t be the same. you don’t need to keep killing people off love all the Ewings!!!!!!
I thought the finale was fantastic. I’m ok with Christopher gone. He was the weakest link. I hope Sue Ellen emerges as a powerhouse.
I hate that Christopher is gone, please resurrect him!!!
I agree. Bring back Christopher.
I’m figuring from the hedgy comments about J.R.’s daughter that she’s going to be African-American, or some other race. I’d bet money on that, which would be awesome!
what if she turned out to be of relation to the Middle Eastern Sheik that John Ross keeps disappointing? Ie the sheiks daughter or sister is JR’s lover type thing. Ties John Ross to more money.
J.R did love women LOL…..
I am not going to watch this show any more, since all they want to do is disrespect the people who watched Dallas since the very first episode in 1978.To kill of Christopher who some of us have watched grow up is wrong. It’s bad enough they killed Pam off last year, and blew a whole bunch of great story line, but now Christopher. Anne or Emma should have been the one killed.
They didn’t kill off Pam last year, she had been dead for years its just that Christopher only found out for sure after he tracked her husband down in Paris. To be fair, they kept that information as vague as they could for as long as possible trying to get Victoria to reprise Pam again. She refuses and absolutely will not budge. She wants nothing to do with Dallas anymore and the producers are smart enough to know that Pams one of those roles that viewers would not accept with a recast.
Not Anne She’s good for Bobby and I hope she will fight for her man. Don’t like the new Brood that’s Bobby’s x-girlfriend. Don’t need 3 J.R’S. Don’t want Anne back with her x either and I hope he locks up his mother for good. what a BI—-!!!!!! We need Christopher good match for J.R. Junior!!!!!!
No! Christopher cant die!
I would like to see Katie Cassidy play John Ross’s sister
She’s very busy on a show called “Arrow.”
Is it me or does anyone else find it strange that we never actually saw Christopher get into the car? I think that all of this talk about Metcalf leaving could be a “Red Herring” to make everyone think that it WAS Christopher in the car.
I was thinking that myself. Glad I’m not the only one.
I hope that is true because if they actually killed off Christopher I will not watch Dallas anymore!
Yeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz he will be baacccckkk
Disgusted. You are ruining this by killing a Ewing. Your obviously desperate for a renewal. You lost another viewer. Thanks for screwing up this series.
I think Elena’s baby’s father is Christopher. It would give Bobby a grandson.
or granddaughter.
Gosh, I hope so! The baby could be anybody’s, as long as it’s not John Ross’.
I think Christopher should not be killed off. I think it is really a big mistake. We recently lost JR as well. I think so much could have gone on with Christopher and John Ross. I like their chemistry when they fight and then when they work together as a family. PLEASE BRING HIM BACK! Although I must say SEASON 3 was freaking awesome but don’t kill off Christopher.
Christopher should come running from back of building (gents toilet) to see what caused the explosion, and a car jacker was the person we saw get into the car. Elena gets an abortion to spite Nicholas, as she can’t bear to have a child by him. Definately don’t kill off Christopher. Finally ask Chanel 5 to buy the show, as we watch it on that channel in England. Worth trying for all ur fans over here.
My sentiments I said the same thing chris come running from somewhere and the car was hijack by someone else..ps. get rid of elena…….