Contrary to the trivia given in the previous episode on IMDb, this was actually Jock Ewings last appearance in Dallas,(although he appeared in the opening credits for the two remaining episodes of season 4), or at least the last appearance of Jim Davis who played Jock. It was a small part at the very beginning sitting in the back of a limo, he only a couple of lines.
Jock's character remained in Dallas for a while working in South America for the US government although Jim Davis who had played him had actually died months earlier. (For a number of episodes up to this one Jim Davis had looked ill, his skin was discoloured and his face very often looked bloated, --- probably due to the medication he was taking.) Deciding not to kill him off immediately, this gave the producers time to decide what to do with Jock. They chose not to bring in a different actor because Jim Davis who had played him since the very beginning had personified Jock so much with his powerful and uncompromising presence that a replacement at this stage could have looked ridiculous! This decision was clearly vindicated later on in the series with the sudden appearance of a new Miss Ellie played by Donna Reed that simply looked bizarre.
It's important to note that the writers did keep the book open with a return of Jock due to the fact that his body was never recovered. Much later in the series this led to the introduction of the character of Wes Parmalee who claimed that he was Jock. That story turned out to be an anti-climax and a dead end which was probably a good thing, because the suposive return of Jock was clumsily done, if the script had been better then they might have pulled it off. Be that as it may the Parmalee character did create some interesting sub-plots to the Dallas series while he was there!
Never the less with Jocks departure this created an opportunity for Dallas which gave the writers the opportunity to add some important features. With Jock now out of they way JR became even more reckless and given a free hand he had even more room to maneuver with his plots and devious schemes. Also, the addition of Clayton Farlow who was to be the new patriarchal figure as well as Miss Ellies new squeeze only created another front for JR to fight on.
It's important to add that although Jock never returned his spirit remained in the series through the years. His portrayed first hanging in Southfork and then in the Ewing oil building. Even in season 13 towards the end of the series one of the major story's involved Jocks service in the US air-force during WWII. All in all a season 4 represented a turning point in Dallas, but the golden years continued to roll on!
Jock's character remained in Dallas for a while working in South America for the US government although Jim Davis who had played him had actually died months earlier. (For a number of episodes up to this one Jim Davis had looked ill, his skin was discoloured and his face very often looked bloated, --- probably due to the medication he was taking.) Deciding not to kill him off immediately, this gave the producers time to decide what to do with Jock. They chose not to bring in a different actor because Jim Davis who had played him since the very beginning had personified Jock so much with his powerful and uncompromising presence that a replacement at this stage could have looked ridiculous! This decision was clearly vindicated later on in the series with the sudden appearance of a new Miss Ellie played by Donna Reed that simply looked bizarre.
It's important to note that the writers did keep the book open with a return of Jock due to the fact that his body was never recovered. Much later in the series this led to the introduction of the character of Wes Parmalee who claimed that he was Jock. That story turned out to be an anti-climax and a dead end which was probably a good thing, because the suposive return of Jock was clumsily done, if the script had been better then they might have pulled it off. Be that as it may the Parmalee character did create some interesting sub-plots to the Dallas series while he was there!
Never the less with Jocks departure this created an opportunity for Dallas which gave the writers the opportunity to add some important features. With Jock now out of they way JR became even more reckless and given a free hand he had even more room to maneuver with his plots and devious schemes. Also, the addition of Clayton Farlow who was to be the new patriarchal figure as well as Miss Ellies new squeeze only created another front for JR to fight on.
It's important to add that although Jock never returned his spirit remained in the series through the years. His portrayed first hanging in Southfork and then in the Ewing oil building. Even in season 13 towards the end of the series one of the major story's involved Jocks service in the US air-force during WWII. All in all a season 4 represented a turning point in Dallas, but the golden years continued to roll on!