The BEST episodes of Dallas season 12
Every episode of Dallas season 12, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dallas season 12!
The world's first mega-soap, and one of the most popular ever produced, Dallas had it all. Beautiful women, expensive cars, and men playing Monopoly with real buildings. Famous for one of the best cliffhangers in TV history, as the world asked "Who shot J.R.?" A slow-burner to begin with, Dallas hit its stride in the 2nd season, with long storylines and expert character development. Dallas ruled the airwaves in the 1980's.
#1 - The Sting
Season 12 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/20/1989
After Miss Ellie's decision to sell Section 40 to McKay. Wendell decides to sell most of his Weststar stock to make the purchase. McKay pressures Wendell to have his son Tommy released from prison. Ray leaves Southfork and goes back to Europe. Bobby tells Tracey that problems with her dad are separate from their relationship. The sheriff from Haleyville shows up at Ewing Oil and warns J.R. Sue Ellen tells Wendell off when he proposes to her. April and Lucy uncover Casey's con game. McKay gets a phone call from Tommy. J.R. wants to be oil partners with April. Tammy questions Cliff about Jamie. McKay makes up with Tracey as they anticipate Tommy's return. Kimberly Cryder tells McKay that she's got controlling interest in Weststar. Cally shows up at Southfork and announces she's J.R.'s wife.
#2 - Country Girl
Season 12 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/24/1989
Miss Ellie and Clayton return from Europe and are greeted at the airport by J.R., Bobby, and Lucy. Sue Ellen shows Don her diaries and she reminisces about her sister Kristin. April warns Cliff against continuing to work at Ewing Oil. Cally complains to Miss Ellie about being mistreated by J.R. Miss Ellie takes Cally to a meeting of the Daughters of the Alamo. April tells J.R. that she doesn't want to double-cross Cliff and Bobby. Cally is happy because she reaches a truce with John Ross. Tommy McKay is interested in Cally but he gets a cold shower when he learns that she's married. John Ross tells J.R. that Cally saved his life. Tommy courts April. Miss Ellie pressures J.R. to either re-marry Cally or divorce her. Bobby senses something strange about Tommy McKay. Don Lockwood fears he knows too much about Sue Ellen to stay objective in his job. Cally tells J.R. she's pregnant. J.R. decides to marry Cally at Southfork.
#3 - Wedding Bell Blues
Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/24/1989
It's wedding day for J.R. and Cally as a tornado is announced in the Southfork area. Sue Ellen takes Don Lockwood on a "field trip" to Southfork. Carter McKay wants Tommy to work at Weststar. Bobby is glad that J.R. kept his promise to Cally. Cliff opens a piece of mail for J.R. and a fight erupts between J.R., Cliff and Bobby. J.R. meets Don Lockwood. J.R. warns Sue Ellen to stay away from Cally. Lucy warns Tracey against being involved with Bobby. Tommy makes a pass at April and then goes into a rage when she turns him down. Cliff asks Don Lockwood about him and Sue Ellen. Cally tells J.R. that she and Sue Ellen plotted to trick him into the marriage.
#4 - The Call of the Wild
Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/11/1988
J.R., Bobby, Christopher,and John Ross go on a hunting trip to Haleyville on the Arkansas/Louisiana border. J.R. and Bobby reminisce about old times but Lucy resents that they ignore her father Gary. Sue Ellen wants to see Cliff to get back at J.R. Casey strikes oil and shares his joy with April. In Haleyville J.R. meets a waitress called Cally Harper. Cliff wants to sell Barnes/ Wentworth to Jordan Lee. Cliff and April have a fight. J.R. promises Cally a new life. Casey tells Sly Lovegren that she'll always be just a secretary. Lucy tells Casey that she's not ready for a new relationship. Cally questions J.R. about his marriage. J.R. wants to take Cally to Southfork. J.R. is scared when Cally's brothers find him in bed with her.
#5 - The Serpent's Tooth
Season 12 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/10/1989
Sue Ellen and Don Lockwood continue their romance. Cally wants to learn about the oil business from J.R. Tommy Mckay gets squeezed for more cash for his drug deals and he sells information on Carter's oil deals to J.R. Tracey's family problems put a strain on her relationship with Bobby. Don Lockwood pays a visit to J.R.'s office. Christopher feels left out because Cally spends time with John Ross. Jordon Lee retires from the business. Bobby and Cliff take April out on her birthday. Don Lockwood and Sue Ellen have a major fight and he almost quits. April questions Bobby about his relationship with Tracey. J.R. plots to use the information he got from Tommy to get back into Ewing Oil all the way.
#6 - The Two Mrs. Ewings
Season 12 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/27/1989
Miss Ellie takes Cally around the house. John Ross questions his father about who Cally is. Cally tells J.R. she'll either be his wife or she won't let him touch her. J.R. thinks Bobby is getting too close to McKay and Tracey. J.R. wants an annulment of his marriage to Cally but Harve Smithfield gives him no hope. Cliff dates Tammy Miller. Marilee Stone is surprised that Cilff is part of Ewing Oil. Lucy gives Cally a makeover but it turns out a disaster. John Ross resents Cally. J.R. plots to use April to thwart Bobby and Cliff's deal in Louisiana. Bruce Harvey reappears and wants Sue Ellen to make more movies. Sue Ellen flies to the West Coast and gets ready to buy a film studio. In Miami, McKay and Tracey visit Tommy at the hospital. Lucy is down because Mitch is divorcing her and she's got no date for the Oil Barons' Ball, Sue Ellen meets Tracey Lawton and they talk about Bobby. J.R. disapproves of Bobby dating Tracey. Sue Ellen meets Cally and punches J.R. in the face. Carter McKay is announced as the new CEO of Weststar.
#7 - No Greater Love
Season 12 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/4/1988
Clayton wants to sell his refineries to Bobby. John Ross questions his mother about why she shot J.R. J.R. fires Harry McSween and moves back to Southfork to gain an advantage in his fight for permanent custody over John Ross. Tammy Miller reappears in Bobby's life. Sue Ellen buys a new house and moves in with John Ross. Miss Ellie and Clayton socialize with Carter McKay. Cliff decides to get out of the oil business. John Ross gets beaten up by kids at school because of his mother shooting J.R. Mitch comes to Southfork and asks Lucy to come back home. April tells Bobby that Cliff lied about seeing Pam. A drunk Bobby appears at Tammy's place. Mitch's job puts a strain on his marriage to Lucy. Sue Ellen decides to let John Ross live at Southfork but she vows to eventually even the score with J.R.
#8 - The Great Texas Waltz
Season 12 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/5/1989
In Vienna, J.R. spends time with Vanessa Beaumont, the only woman to break his heart, but he refuses to make love to her. Carter McKay asks April Stevens to talk Bobby out of the Brundin deal. April goes to bed with Bobby. Back in Dallas, Cliff hires detective Dave Wallace to find out whether Pamela Rebecca is his daughter. Sue Ellen spends time with John Ross and Don Lockwood but John Ross is incredibly rude to Don. Sue Ellen tells Don she needs him in her life. Miss Ellie finds Clayton at the grave of his first wife Amy. In Vienna, J.R. and Bobby strike a deal with Brundin but they get a strange warning from Vanessa who tells them that they must go to Moscow.
#9 - Carousel
Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/28/1988
Sue Ellen thinks she killed J.R. At the hospital, J.R. tries to make himself look like he's dying. Cliff and April make a trip to look for Pam. Bobby refuses to help Sue Ellen find John Ross. Jeremy Wendell and Bobby exchange warnings and threats. Sue Ellen and J.R. drop their criminal charges against one another. Lucy hands John Ross right into Sue Ellen's arms as an angry J.R. watches from the hospital window. Sue Ellen hires a divorce attorney. Cliff is left bitterly disappointed after his meeting with Pam. Bobby agrees to take J.R. back into Ewing Oil on certain conditions. Clayton meets Carter McKay who wants to buy Ray's house. Cliff lies to Bobby about having seen Pam.
#10 - The Switch
Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/3/1989
April complains to J.R. that he didn't tell her about Cally. Cliff tries to turn his dates with Tammy into a relationship. Cally vows to stay at Southfork and make her marriage to J.R. work. McKay tells Bobby he's good for Tracey. Cally asks J.R.whether he slept with April. Christopher makes friends with Cally. Sue Ellen gives a little advice on how to handle J.R. McKay wants Tracey to work for Weststar. J.R. hires a cop to find out about McKay. Cally tells J.R. he'll have to marry her again at Southfork. Tammy breaks up with Cliff. Tension rises between Cally and John Ross. Bobby tells Christopher that Pam will never come back. J.R. learns that Nicholas Pearce's father is looking into his son's death.
#11 - Showdown at the Ewing Corral
Season 12 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/16/1988
In Haleyville, J.R. promises his new wife Cally he'll take her to Southfork if she gets in touch with the Ewings. The oil community shows disbelief at the news that J.R. is out of oil deals and Cliff Barnes is part of Ewing Oil. J.R. runs away from Haleyville. Bobby gets romantically involved with Tracey Lawton. Miss Ellie angrily confronts McKay about the range war. After returning to Dallas, J.R. is shocked to find Cliff at Ewing Oil. McKay plots to have Ewing ranch hands abandon Southfork. Miss Ellie vows to stay at Southfork despite the escalating range war with McKay.
#12 - Yellow Brick Road
Season 12 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/14/1989
Bobby joins J.R. and Cally on their honeymoon as they travel to Salzburg,Austria. J.R. and Bobby plan Ewing Oil strategy to beat Carter McKay. J.R., Bobby, and Cally "accidentally" meet Chick and Bunny Harvard who turn out to be working for McKay. Bobby is surprised by April Stevens who comes to Salzburg to talk to him.Carter McKay tells the Ewing brothers he wants to make peace. Back in Dallas, Clayton suffers memory loss after an injury. Afton likes "the new Cliff". Cliff meets Afton's daughter Pamela Rebecca Cooper. Sue Ellen learns that casting and the script for her movies are finished and shooting is about to begin. In Austria, J.R. and Bobby meet Rolf Brundin who tells them he wants to buy Ewing Oil.
#13 - Three Hundred
Season 12 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/17/1989
J.R. asks Sly Lovegren to secretly provide him with some Ewing Oil information. Tommy McKay tries to get the missing $100,000 from his father and then from April. April decides to give Tommy a second chance and he takes her out on a date which ends up violently for her. Sue Ellen takes a look at the recreation of Southfork made for the movie. Sue Ellen wonders if she's ready to "relive her life" while making the movie. J.R. and Bobby get stuck in an elevator and reminisce about old times. J.R. manages to push a few emotional buttons in Bobby who decides to take him back as a full partner in Ewing Oil.
#14 - Comings and Goings
Season 12 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/17/1989
Sue Ellen tells J.R. she has changed her mind about revenge. Sue Ellen meets Don Lockwood and gradually reveals the plot of her movie. Sue Ellen wants to use Lucy's help in her movie. J.R. torpedoes Bobby and Cliff's business deal. A drunk Cliff appear at April's place. Cally and John Ross don't get along. Lucy tells Don Lockwood her memories of how J.R. harassed her mother Valene. Tommy McKay returns and moves in with his father and Tracey. John Ross has an accident in the pool and is saved by Cally. Cally gets impatient with John Ross' attitude. Sue Ellen plans to make J.R. the laughing stock of Dallas with her movie about their marriages.
#15 - War and Love and the Whole Damned Thing
Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/9/1988
Cally's brothers get J.R. out of prison and then want to kill him but Cally saves his life. Ray comes from Europe to visit Southfork. Clayton tries to find a legal way to make McKay release the water flow but Miss Ellie decides to blow up the dam. Wendell tells Sue Ellen that he knows about J.R.'s conditional acceptance into Ewing Oil. Wendell wants to team up with Sue Ellen against J.R. Lucy tells Casey she's not ready to get intimate. J.R. works the farm in Haleyville. Cally tells her brothers that she'll turn them in to police for murder if they kill J.R. McKay comes to Southfork with the sheriff but Miss Ellie denies having blown up the dam. Tension escalates between McKay and Southfork as he hires a team of mercenaries. Cliff offically becomes a parnter in Ewing Oil. Bobby dates Tracey Lawton but she's afraid of a commitment. Cally saves J.R.'s life again and they get married. The Ewings wonder about McKay's intentions. Sue Ellen gets divorced from J.R.
#16 - April Showers
Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/31/1989
Cliff is furious to learn that J.R. is back in Ewing Oil all the way but he changes his mind when Bobby tells him about the European plan. Tracey and Bobby break up after April complains to Tracey about Tommy's behavior. J.R. tells Ratagan to find out about Gustav Helstrom. Sue Ellen demands honesty from Don Lockwood. Cally decides to learn to "talk proper". Tommy McKay is on the run from South American drug dealers. Tommy sells more information to J.R. Tommy beats April up and then is beaten up by Bobby. April tells Bobby she cares for him. J.R. recruits Cally to help him meet Gustav. Carter McKay threatens Bobby when he learns about what he did to his son.
#17 - The Sound of Money
Season 12 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/28/1989
Bobby and J.R. refuse to sell Ewing Oil to Brundin and they suspect that Carter McKay is behind the scheme. Brundin and McKay plan a new strategy after the Ewings' refusal. Bobby and J.R. wonder if Chick and Bunny Harvard could be spies for McKay. J.R. is too physically exhausted to keep up with Cally. Back in Dallas, Clayton's memory problems continue and he wants to go to the Southern Cross ranch. Cliff tries to give Afton an engagement ring. Sue Ellen is concerned about how Miss Ellie will react when she learns about J.R.'s affair with Kristin. Don Lockwood tells Sue Ellen that she reminds him of his late wife. Afton tells Cliff to stay away from Pamela Rebecca. In Vienna, J.R. unexpectedly runs into Vanessa Beaumont.
#18 - Deception
Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/6/1989
Sue Ellen has a fight with Miss Ellie when she comes to Southfork to pick up John Ross and learns that he's been taken off the ranch for safety reasons. Wendell pressures Sue Ellen to take revenge on J.R. J.R. gets hired guns to protect Southfork. J.R. asks Harve Smithfield about the rights of an escaped fugitive from out of state if he gets caught. Sue Ellen questions Cliff about why he won't have a family. Tracey tells Bobby about her tragic past. Bobby learns McKay is Tracey's father. Lucy becomes a major shareholder in Denault Inc. J.R. hires a private eye to learn about McKay. Wendell is after the oil on Southfork's section 40 and uses Mckay to achieve his goal.
#19 - And Away We Go!
Season 12 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/7/1989
Tommy McKay recovers from the beating he got from Bobby. Jordan Lee sells his company to Carter McKay. Sue Ellen takes a look at actors who will play J.R. in her movie. Tommy leaves town. Bobby visit April at the hospital. Bobby meets Gustv Helstrom. Cally is very understanding about J.R.'s work style. Carter McKay blames Bobby for what happened to his son. Lucy helps Sue Ellen in the casting sessions. J.R. blackmails Gustav to get information on the European deal. Afton Cooper reappears in Dallas and Cliff looks her up. Tracey Lawton leaves Dallas to look for Tommy and she says goodbye to Bobby. Cliff decides to stay in Dallas because of Afton but J.R., Bobby, and Cally leave for Europe.
#20 - The Way We Were
Season 12 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/3/1989
Cally wants to make sure that J.R. is not mad at her for tricking him into marriage. Bobby confronts J.R. about his faliure to consult one another about business deals. J.R. tells Cally that he may use her "deviousness" in his future plans. Sue Ellen gets impatient with Don Lockwood for constantly turning her down. Sue Ellen is pressured by Bruce Harvey to start casting sessions for her movie. Cally wants Bobby and J.R. to get alone but she encounters Bobby's resistance. Tommy McKay has cocaine smuggled in from South America and manages to fool both Carter and Tracey. Cliff questions April about her and Tommy. Tracey wants Carter and Tommy to get along. Don Lockwood tells Sue Ellen a little about his life. J.R. manages to make Bobby look bad in front of the family like he doesn't want agreement with him. Tommy tells J.R. that his dad is responsible for his mother's death. Sue Ellen reminisces about Holly Harwood and the car in which Mickey Trotter got injured.
#21 - Road Work
Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/2/1988
Bobby tries to talk Cliff into going back into the oil business by becoming a partner in Ewing Oil. Clayton finds out that McKay has dammed up a river. Jeremy Wendell courts Sue Ellen. In prison, J.R. does hard labor and tries to bribe officals. Lucy continues to date Casey Denault. Clayton has his first confrontation with Carter Mckay and his ranch hands. Bobby meets a pool hustler named Tracey Lawton. Cliff agrees to join Ewing Oil. J.R. thinks he's got a break from prison but he falls into a trap.
#22 - Out of the Frying Pan
Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/18/1988
Cally's brothers want revenge on J.R. but the sheriff intervenes and saves his life. Cliff sells Barnes/ Wentworth to Jeremy Wendell. Clayton pressures Bobby to purchase his refineries. Casey Denault is excited about his success. Sue Ellen tells John Ross about the divorce. Back in Haleyville, J.R is in jail awaiting trial for rape. J.R. promises Cally to marry her if she gets him out of jail. Miss Ellie disapproves of Cliff's deal with Wendell. Bobby wants to start fresh with April but she rebuffs him. Casey proposes to Lucy. Miss Ellie wants Bobby to take Cliff into Ewing Oil. Cally lets J.R. out of jail but the sheriff catches up with them. J.R. is found guilty and is sent to prison for 10 years.
#23 - He-e-ere's Papa!
Season 12 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/10/1989
Cally insists on a second honeymoon at Southfork. J.R. questions Sue Ellen about Nicholas Pearce's mob connections. Cliff tells Bobby that he broke up with Tammy Miller. Bobby wants Christopher to be friends with Tracey. Sue Ellen buys a movie studio. Joseph Lombardi's men snatch J.R. on the streets and Lombardi interrogates him. J.R. tries to blame Sue Ellen for his death. John Ross continues to resent Cally. Sue Ellen tells John Ross that she will never return to J.R. Tracey and Cally socialize. Cliff goes to Washington on business. Tracey starts her job at Weststar. McKay wants to be friends with Sue Ellen. Bobby questions April about her and J.R. Sue Ellen saves J.R.'s life by telling Joseph Lombardi that his son's death was an accident.
#24 - Counter Attack
Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/13/1989
J.R. has nightmares about Haleyville and he seeks psychological help. April tests Casey to see if he's got money. Cliff meets Tammy Miller and takes her to lunch. Christopher gets hurt in the range war with McKay, and Bobby lashes out at J.R. for bringing the boys back to the ranch. McKay questions his daughter Tracey about her and Bobby. Sue Ellen fears she lost John Ross to J.R. Wendell and Sue Ellen have a major fight. McKay says good-bye to his companion Rose. Bobby goes on a secret counterattack at the McKay ranch.
#25 - Mission to Moscow
Season 12 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/12/1989
In Vienna, Cally questions J.R. about Vanessa and she warns him that she'll never share him with another woman. J.R. and Bobby go to Moscow where they are told that Brundin and his cartel are frontmen for OPEC. Back in Dallas, Lucy, Christopher, Sue Ellen,and Miss Ellie try to help Clayton cope with his memory problem. Cliff admires Afton's singing and he wants to make a commitment to her. Sue Ellen finds it painful to relive her life while making her movie. Cliff things that he is Pamela Rebecca's father. Cliff learns that Afton left Dallas. Don Lockwood gets an offer for a movie overseas. In Vienna, Cally meets Vanessa who says goodbye to J.R. Bobby, J.R, Cally and April leave Europe for Dallas.