The BEST episodes of Dallas season 4

Every episode of Dallas season 4, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dallas season 4!

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.

Last Updated: 11/14/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
Who Done It?
star
8.84
70 votes

#1 - Who Done It?

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/21/1980

Sue Ellen's fingerprints are identified on the gun that was used to shoot J.R. and she is arrested. Feeling abandoned by the family, her bail is posted by an unknown source and she seeks solace from Kristin. Bobby continues to find obstacles to him doing business. Dr Ellby puts Sue Ellen under hypnosis to try and remember what happened the night J.R. was shot. What she remembers solves the mystery of "Who Shot J.R."

Directors: Leonard Katzman
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Ewing-Gate
star
8.00
33 votes

#2 - Ewing-Gate

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/1/1981

The pressure on J.R. and Ewing Oil increases. Sue Ellen and the Farlows make plans for her escape. Kristin demands more from J.R. Ray is offered a big deal by Punk, and makes a rash move. Leslie makes her move against J.R. with Westar. The committee make their judgement over Ewing Oil. Cliff makes a shock discovery at Southfork.

Directors: Leonard Katzman
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The Fourth Son
star
7.92
93 votes

#3 - The Fourth Son

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/12/1980

Bobby's oil tanker sinks with over 600,000 barrels and is not insured. Cliff is seeing Donna with a view to working for Dave's campaign. Bobby does some detective work and finds out how devious J.R.'s plan really is. Amos Krebbs, whom Ray hasn't seen or heard from since he was three, shows up at Southfork with some very disturbing news for the entire Ewing family.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
Writer: Howard Lakin
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The Venezuelan Connection
star
7.79
67 votes

#4 - The Venezuelan Connection

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/5/1980

J.R. and Bobby are in conflict over who is running Ewing Oil which puts Jock in the middle. J.R. makes some plans to make Bobby's' life very difficult. Pam continues to look for her mother. Lucy introduces Mitch, her new boyfriend, to her friends with embarrassing results. Bobby charters a huge tanker from Venezuela to supply his refinery with crude oil.

Directors: Leonard Katzman
Writer: Leah Markus
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Taste of Success
star
7.76
66 votes

#5 - Taste of Success

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/28/1980

Kristin gives the police J.R.s pack of lies, the case is closed, and she and is banished to California. J.R.s brush with death has not mellowed him, and he fights dirty to regain control of Ewing Oil. Bobby gives the order to reopen Ewing 23 but needs a refinery. He works hard to try and buy one but is thwarted at every turn.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
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The Prodigal Mother
star
7.66
90 votes

#6 - The Prodigal Mother

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/2/1981

Bobby is trying to recover the devastated Ewing 23 field, but J.R and Jock oppose his plan. Pam believes she has at last found her mother, but things are not as simple as they might seem. Cliff continues to support Dave Culver's career. Lucy proposes marriage to Mitch and J.R. stumbles into a scheme which he intends to use to put Bobby in trouble with Jock.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
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Lover, Come Back
star
7.42
67 votes

#7 - Lover, Come Back

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/20/1981

J.R.'s successful involvement in the Asian coup brings the cartel back onside. Donna and Ray are reunited and plan to marry. Leslie tries to get J.R. to share his secrets with her, for her own reasons. Pam isn't happy with Bobby's campaign and again feels sidelined. Sue Ellen discovers that Dusty is alive but unwilling to resume their old relationship. Jock makes a shock announcement.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
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End of the Road (1)
star
7.32
97 votes

#8 - End of the Road (1)

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/16/1981

J.R. is back to normal, sleeping with his secretary behind Sue Ellen's back. Bobby finds himself in a tough position after he enters an oil drilling agreement. Cliff and the Culvers set their argument out against the Takapa project to the Daughters of the Alamo. Mitch's sister, Afton, and their mother arrive for the upcoming wedding. J.R. takes an immediate interest in Afton, which worries Sue Ellen.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
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No More Mister Nice Guy (1)
star
7.31
67 votes

#9 - No More Mister Nice Guy (1)

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/7/1980

J.R. is seriously wounded. At the hospital, the Ewing family awaits news, and the police search for clues and suspects. Sue Ellen has no memory of the previous evening. Cliff states his innocence to Pam. As J.R. recovers consciousness, all wait for him to reveal the name of the attacker.

Directors: Leonard Katzman
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Trouble at Ewing 23
star
7.29
96 votes

#10 - Trouble at Ewing 23

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/19/1980

Ray is adjusting to the previous episode's revelations, and his status as a Ewing. Cliff and Donna are an item, and Ray is disappointed when he finds out. An extortionist threatening to blow up Ewing 23 gives J.R. the opportunity to put a halt to his fading fortunes with the company and the family by out-manoeuvring Bobby.

Directors: Leonard Katzman
Writer: Louie Elias
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End of the Road (2)
star
7.29
93 votes

#11 - End of the Road (2)

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/23/1981

Gary and Valene fly in for the wedding. Bobby knows that dealing with Westar will mean a betrayal for some independents. At Lucy and Mitch's wedding, Sue Ellen makes a play for an old boyfriend, Clint Ogden, to get even for J.R.'s sleeping with Afton. Miss Ellie is upset over Ray "replacing" Gary. Bobby makes a final decision.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
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Executive Wife
star
7.29
98 votes

#12 - Executive Wife

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/9/1981

J.R. encourages Jock to invest in Punk's land project at Takapa Lake, fully aware that this will conflict with Bobby's plans to invest in Jordan Lee's deal. J.R and Sue Ellen are closer then ever. Jock is angry at having his actions questioned. Pam feeling a poor second to Bobby's work, receives the attention she is lacking from a business associate, Alex Ward.

Directors: Leonard Katzman
Writer: Rena Down
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New Beginnings
star
7.22
91 votes

#13 - New Beginnings

Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/10/1981

Jock and Miss Ellie's reconciliation results in a second honeymoon and the stalling of J.R.'s scheme to sell Ewing Oil. Punk has another land project for Ray, to the family's dismay. Leslie Stewart moves in on Westar. Sue Ellen agrees to meet Clint's wife, after which she makes a decision. Wendell is furious over J.R.'s change of mind and moves to take revenge.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
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Ewing vs. Ewing
star
7.22
93 votes

#14 - Ewing vs. Ewing

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/3/1981

Clint puts his feelings for Sue Ellen on the line. Donna and Ray try to reconcile Jock and Miss Ellie only to find their problems run deeper than the Takapa project. As J.R. accelerates his efforts to sell Ewing Oil to Westar, Leslie Stewart's ex-husband shows up in Dallas. Cliff learns Pam's secret, and meets up with Afton Cooper. Jock and Miss Ellie finally come head to head.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
Writer: Leah Markus
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Making of a President
star
7.21
98 votes

#15 - Making of a President

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/30/1981

Bobby gets J.R. to give him control of Ewing 23 in return for his resignation and J.R. hires a high-pressure public relations woman named Leslie Stewart to improve his tarnished image. Pam is still getting little attention from Bobby and sees Alex Ward again. J.R. gets Afton a singing job. Sue Ellen discovers Pam having a rendezvous with Alex.

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No More Mister Nice Guy (2)
star
7.21
94 votes

#16 - No More Mister Nice Guy (2)

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/9/1980

Bobby agrees to run Ewing Oil in J.R.'s absence but only with Jock's support for his autonomy. Sue Ellen feels guilty that she may have shot J.R. in a drunken stupor. Bobby settles things with Marilee Stone. According to ballistics, Cliff is in the clear. Lucy meets a young medical student called Mitch Cooper. J.R. needs an operation on his spine if he ever hopes to walk again.

Directors: Leonard Katzman
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Full Circle
star
7.21
29 votes

#17 - Full Circle

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/17/1981

Kristin Shepard returns from California to reveal another scheme. Cliff agrees to meet his mother. Sue Ellen meets Dusty again. Lucy moves out on Mitch. Cliff uses Westar's help to build a case against J.R. in connection with the southeast Asian coup, and hands the materials over to Bobby's Senate committee. Things heat up for J.R.

Directors: Michael Preece
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The New Mrs. Ewing
star
7.20
125 votes

#18 - The New Mrs. Ewing

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/27/1981

Miss Ellie is furious at Jock's move to incorporate Ray into the Ewing sons' trust fund. Bobby is elected to the State Senate. Leslie interferes with J.R's plans. Lucy bids to become "Miss Young Dallas". With Dusty behind her, Sue Ellen and Clint get closer. Donna and Ray are married at the courthouse. Bobby forms a new business alliance with Cliff Barnes, but his growing jealousy over Pam forces a confrontation with Alex Ward. Miss Ellie and Jock's cold war escalates.

Directors: Patrick Duffy
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The Quest
star
7.19
64 votes

#19 - The Quest

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/13/1981

J.R. uses his influence to make sure that Cliff Barnes does not get chosen for public office. Lucy is onto Afton's gold-digging. Pam makes her choice between Alex and Bobby. Donna and the officials approach Bobby about the Senate position, but Cliff is furious. Donna finishes with Cliff. Sue Ellen can't get anyone to believe that she is being followed, and J.R. couldn't care less, so she takes matters in her own hands.

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Mark of Cain
star
7.18
94 votes

#20 - Mark of Cain

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/13/1981

Bobby find he's on the committee for the Takapa project, putting him between Jock and Miss Ellie. Pam and Cliff's mother, Rebecca, returns. Sue Ellen and Clint continue their affair. Leslie Stewart makes her move on J.R.

Directors: Larry Hagman
Writer: Leah Markus
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The Gathering Storm
star
7.17
90 votes

#21 - The Gathering Storm

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/27/1981

Mitch feels out of his depth, and undermined, by Lucy. Jock walks out on Miss Ellie. The scheming Leslie twists J.R. round her little finger. Clint tells Sue Ellen to divorce J.R. Cliff gets interesting information about the Asian coup. Jock threatens to sell the company if Miss Ellie divorces him, leading J.R. to make some plans with Jeremy Wendell.

Directors: Michael Preece
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Nightmare
star
7.16
97 votes

#22 - Nightmare

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/14/1980

Sue Ellen is having recurrent nightmares about J.R.'s shooting, whilst the man himself fights to overcome the helplessness of his paralysis. Bobby finds that his efforts to run Ewing Oil are thwarted by J.R., even from his hospital bed. Kristin is being extra nice to Sue Ellen. Lucy continues to see Mitch. Jock finds J.R.s gun in his wardrobe - it's been fired twice.

Directors: Irving J. Moore
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Start the Revolution With Me
star
7.06
93 votes

#23 - Start the Revolution With Me

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/6/1981

J.R.'s campaign for power puts him further under the influence of Leslie Stewart who, much to his frustration, keeps him at arm's length. The two sides of the Takapa project move forward in their plans. Alex makes a play for Pam. Sue Ellen sees Clint again. Miss Ellie expresses her anger to Jock. J.R. moves ahead with his plans to topple the southeast Asian government which confiscated his foreign oil wells.

Directors: Larry Hagman
Writer: Rena Down
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