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DVD Knots Landing - The Complete First Season
Knots Landing was a Dallas spinoff that spent its first season in marked contrast to the latter series' tales of power-grabbing, greed, corruption, conspiracies, and fraternal rivalries. Where Dallas concerned travails of an ultra-rich and influential Texas family, and its many enemies0--all great fantasy stuff--Knots Landing initially evolved as a drama set among Southern California's suburban middle class. Built around the character Gary Ewing (Ted Shackelford), a recovering alcoholic and brother of Dallas' scheming J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), Knots Landing is set on a cul-de-sac in a seemingly peaceful neighborhood of modest houses. Gary, one might recall from several episodes of Dallas, is the black sheep of the Ewing clan. His marriage to the mousy Val (Joan Van Ark) was sabotaged by J.R., and their troubled teenage daughter came to live with J.R. and his parents on their expansive ranch.
Knots Landing begins with Gary and Val making a fresh start on the West Coast. If their second try at marriage works, they reckon, their daughter can come live with them in a stable environment. Gary, who wants nothing to do with the Ewing oil business, takes a job selling classic cars for his new neighbor, Sid Fairgate (Don Murray). But he reluctantly becomes embroiled, along with Val, in several local issues, the most complicated being J.R.'s plans to drill for oil just off the shore of Gary's adopted community. (Hagman, as a guest star, brings a lot of fun to that episode with his affable villainy.) It doesn't take long, however, for other major characters in Knots Landing to emerge as fascinating people in their own right, with no relationship to Ewing history except friendship with Gary and Val. In fact, Sid and his wife Karen (Michele Lee) are, arguably, the strongest characters in the first season, a couple with such strong underpinnings that their arguments inevitably result in a tighter union. Lee's performance, overall, is the best on the show, and several episodes (that look nothing like a primetime soap opera) are clearly written to spotlight her talent.
Gary's other neighbors include self-centered attorney Richard Avery (John Pleshette) and his beleaguered spouse, Laura (Constance McCashin); plus the youthful if little-seen Kenny (James Houghton) and Ginger (Kim Lankford) Ward. The stories in Knots Landing: The Complete First Season generally concern ordinary and familiar things: fear of crime, unexpected pregnancies, raising kids, dating, education, marital discord. Sure, many of the same conflicts occur on Dallas, but the fun in watching that show is recognizing that the super-wealthy and powerful struggle with the same problems the rest of us do. In Knots Landing, conflicts are more earthbound. That won't always be the case on this show: over subsequent seasons and with the addition of more characters and the loss of others, the drama will tilt in another direction. The Complete First Season establishes a solid foundation, however, and there's a lot of merit to it. --Tom Keogh
Review(s): DVD Knots Landing - The Complete First Season
Witness the Humble Beginnings Of TV's Greatest (5 Star) Soap
I'm sorry, but it's time for some harsh truths. I have looked forward immensely to the arrival of "Knots Landing" on DVD. While neither a ratings giant like "Dallas" or a cultural phenomena like "Dynasty," "Knots" attempted to tap into something more inherently real. While other shows rode a Zeitgeist that defined excess and over-the-top entertainment, "Knots" was relatively grounded. You got to know its characters as real people, and ultimately I think that is why the show is so enduring. One of the few shows to span three decades (it began in the 70's and ended in the 90's), the fan base for "Knots" is rabidly loyal.
So here's where I get myself into trouble because it's time to "keep it real." As with many shows, "Knots" took a while to develop its rhythm. While I would rate the program at 5 stars based on its entire run (and no show is perfect--there were many clunkers through the years)--in truth, it's beginning was a bit inauspicious. As a spin off of "Dallas," "Knots" followed two less interesting Ewings to a California cul-de-sac. As we meet the neighbors, "Knots" unfolds as a generic domestic drama dealing lightly with ordinary family issues and relatively typical conflict. Any given episode might remind one of an Afterschool Special or a Lifetime Movie of the Week.
It was not particularly groundbreaking--however, it was refreshing to see something a little more identifiable to the average man. The writing of these early episodes is often weak, stereotypical, or cloying and many of the performances are pretty wooden. I enjoy the season in retrospect--but I defy anyone who won't admit to chuckling and rolling their eyes at some of the more painful dialogue. Because, to me, Season 1 is bad TV--I may have enjoyed it, but I don't want a casual modern viewer to judge the entire series from its first season.
As a historical archive, I do recommend the show. It's interesting to witness the more "mundane" issues presented here--but what I find more fascinating is that I know this show will evolve. It will become much more morally complex, better scripted, plotted and acted. Many people proclaim season 2 as a stronger year, and yes it is. Abby brings much needed conflict and the beginning of on-going story arcs--but really, it's about another year before this becomes "must watch" TV.
Ultimately, "Knots" endures as the most real and moving of the prime time soaps. I don't want to discourage anyone away from this stellar series. But I don't want anyone to be misled by glowing 5 star reviews, either. This season is a show in its infancy--it doesn't earn those stars until it walks.
If You Buy Only One DVD About a Cul-De-Sac This Year...
It never got the attention that "Dallas" and "Dynasty" did, but to millions of fans, "Knots Landing" was the best nighttime soap of them all. While dealing with some of the same treachery and tragedy as their counterparts at Southfork and the Carrington mansion, the residents of Knots Landing were often seen at the supermarket! washing their cars! and cooking their own meals!!! This wasn't boring; to the contrary, the characters seemed that much more real.
Season One used the "Dallas" connection more than later years. The show opens with Bobby dropping off Gary, his recovering alcoholic brother, and Gary's delicate wife Valene, to start their new life in California. J.R. breezed through town with some nefarious scheme a few weeks later.
Almost immediately, Michele Lee's Karen McK--whoops, Fairgate emerged as important a character as Gary and Val. For the show's full run, she was a true heroine--a principled, liberal, environmentally-conscious mother of three. To its credit, the show occasionally kept Karen from getting too high on her horse...Mac and others sometimes called her out for butting in too far into various neighbors' business. In one notable scene Val's mom snapped at Karen for this, yelling, "Karen McKenzie, you are not family!" Well done. Still, Karen was the heart of the show, and her friendship with Val over the years was always nice to see.
Couple number three was, in my opinion, the most entertaining of all. Words can't express how much I love Constance McCashin's character, Laura. Saddled with insecure, adulterous Richard Avery (John Pleshette), she grew independent, strong, and into quite the quipster. I think the producers badly undervalued Constance and her character. Laura's development was truly inspirational, and she deserved more screen time than she got. If the DVD series continues, watch for her facial expressions at Abby and Gary's farce of a wedding. Priceless. Actually, when Richard wasn't treating Laura like dirt, they were pretty funny together as well. His line at the end of Episode 11 is hilarious. In a special feature in which Joan Van Ark and Ted Shackleford narrate one of the episodes, they say that Ms. McCashin now works as a psychologist (psychiatrist?). I am not sure I can deal with the 1987 season of this show...for reasons I will keep my yap shut about right now.
The fourth couple on the cul-de-sac, record exec Kenny Ward and his school teacher wife Ginger, stayed with show until 1983 but never really caught on like the rest of the cast. A couple of the shows here feature them. If you missed the Wards first time around, judge 'em for yourself.
The eighth regular when the show began was Don Murray as Karen's husband Sid Fairgate. He's fine, but don't get too attached to him. He became the first of the eight principals to leave the show; maybe the worst career move since McLean Stevenson left M*A*S*H.
I waited a long time for Season One to come out on DVD. I'm a little concerned that Season Two is taking too long to come out, and the closeout price I'm seeing at the time of this review could be a bad sign. Lorimar, please! I need Bill Devane, LISA HARTMAN, Donna Mills, Kevin Dobson, and more Constance McCashin. Please come through for me. I really need this!
Knots Landing - The Complete First Season
Absolutely outstanding - I cannot wait until the rest of the series are available!!
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