Where There’s Smoke Recap: Dallas (TNT)

Well, we were right about the screwy forces in the Dallas universe throwing monkey wrenches in the progress of Arctic Drilling and corporate takeovers. In fact, the mid-season 3 finale “Where There’s Smoke” (4/14/2014), was a lot more on the personal side, as Heather and Christopher grew closer, and John Ross, Pamela and Emma got really close at the Omni!

John Ross was making plans to build a new master suite on Southfork for his bride. He joked about being all cowboy while Pamela was all Ritz when Bobby Ewing stormed up to insist the only way any additions were being built on Southfork was over his dead body. “Don’t tempt me, Uncle Bobby” John Ross laughed. Pamela rose to find a note that she should follow the rose petals to a surprise. She took her phone along and turned ghostly pale after watching the video Nicolas Trevino sent of Emma and John Ross in the sack.

Sue Ellen and Ann talked about her sober coach and went to make some tea, when Sue Ellen spied water pouring into the hallway and they found a near-catatonic Pamela, letting the tub overflow. Pamela was in for a second shock when she learned that Sue Ellen already knew about Emma and John Ross. Then a third: her own mother knew. She angrily kicked them out of her room.

Unable to find Pamela, John Ross went off to take care of a few loose ends after a call from Bum. He stopped by Candace’s townhouse and offered to pay her bills if she would spill the beans on Harris Ryland. Then he visited Judith Ryland at the brothel to say he would get her and Harris put in jail if they didn’t back off. Judith wanted to know what his intentions were with Emma and John Ross admitted, as a married man, he couldn’t lie and say they were honorable, but he thought she should give Emma more power in the company. After he left, Emma emerged from behind a revolving bookcase. Her grandmother drove home that John Ross was just using her. After he got what he wanted from the company, he would kick Emma to the curb. Judith told Emma to use “that dress” to seduce and trap John Ross.

Emma was in danger of getting kicked to the curb sooner than that because Bobby Ewing was furious when he learned Ann knew Emma was schtupping John Ross and didn’t tell him. He wanted Emma out of the house before he returned and stormed off. Right outside the door, he ran straight into a distraught Heather and Christopher with Sheriff Derrick. Earlier, after a nightmare, Christopher got up, shaved off his whiskers and drove over to ask Heather to take their relationship to the next level. Heather said no, pointing out her boy already went through hell with his natural father. She can’t have a guy playing daddy around her son, unless it is for real. Then Heather got a call that Bo went to Michael’s school and took him away.

Bo took Michael to a rodeo and when the law showed up, he went ballistic, fought with 5 peace officers and took off. Bo’s brother told Christopher that taking a man’s job away and moving in on his family ain’t cool. But Christopher insists Bo drove Heather away all on his own. Well, the brother says, Bo is headed to Dallas to go after all the Ewings.

Drew Ramos has vengeance on his mind. He surprises his mother in the market to let her know he is back. Carmen is frantic that more harm will come to him (since he’s still sporting the aftermath of last week’s beatdown). He hands her a note to give to Emma. She begs Elena to talk to Drew so he will go back to Mexico. Elena pleads with Nicolas that it is time for them to get out before they become something they don’t want to be. She can’t take all this subterfuge and lying. But Nicolas is already something she doesn’t want to be. She just doesn’t know it.

Last week, we weren’t liking Nicolas a whole lot when he sent that video. But you know, this guy has had his kids’ lives threatened and they are young children. So with him, it’s not greed now, even if that’s really what got him in deep. Drew showed up in the back of his car and declared it’s now a blood feud. The Ewings are responsible for Papi’s death. Nicolas warns him his wild man tactics are going to land them all in jail but Drew runs off, bent on vengeance. Nicolas calls Luis, the cartel guy, who doesn’t want to help. Nicolas reminds him that the plan’s success brings the cartel closer to being able to overthrow the Mexican government. They need to find Drew NOW! We totes hate that Luis guy. Remember the villainous Vicente Cano in Season 1? At least he stuck to threatening adults.

As Pamela surveyed the site for the addition of the master suite, Sue Ellen came out to comfort her and explain why she took away Pamela’s right to make a choice over her own husband’s infidelity. Sue Ellen wanted to protect her from the pain that she went through when J.R. betrayed her. “I’m not you,” Pamela replied coldly, “I’m not a weak, sniveling drunk.” Well, that’s all it took to send Sue Ellen over the edge she was teetering on. And since Ann and a sober coach were nowhere to be found, she went on a wing ding rip-roaring tear, guzzling down every drop of liquor in the house.

Ann went over to see Harris Ryland to tell him Emma had to move back with him and to complain about Bobby. “What right does he have to throw Emma out,” she whined to her smarmy ex. Well, it is Bobby’s house, Annie girl. No, Harris didn’t point that out. Zeroing in on Ann’s vulnerability, he invited her in for a drink and talked about what a fool he was for letting his harridan of a mother ruin their marriage. As they walked outside, he even moved in for a kiss as Judith watched from the upstairs window. A startled and confused Ann ran off. Poor Ann thinks all she has to do is come up with a good reason for keeping secrets from Bobby. So we don’t think she will be the one to tell Bobby about the Harris smooch.

Meantime, at the Omni Hotel, Emma and John Ross are celebrating. Emma claims Judith has agreed to give her more control. She has on that green bustier that John Ross was angry about when she wore it for him before Pamela could wear hers. Pamela meantime tracked them down and paid someone to let her in the room. Emma spies her first, gasping in disbelief. John Ross jumps off the bed and thinks she has a gun in her trench coat pocket. He begs her not to do anything she might regret. After telling a gape-mouthed Emma that she loves what she’s wearing, Pamela removes her trench coat to reveal the same get-up. “May I join you?,” she asks, moving toward the bed and beckoning Emma. The two women begin to kiss and John Ross is just stupefied. Pamela turns and beckons him. In the midst of their threesome, Pamela suddenly begins convulsing. Emma calls 911 and John Ross tries to revive her as they find out she has taken an overdose of pills.

So where are we now? Michael is back safe with mommy who has decided to accept Christopher’s offer, but Bo is on the loose. So is Drew and Nicolas is about to knock up Elena after sticking holes in her diaphragm. Now we’re back to not liking Nicolas much. What is up with you, dude? We even forgave you for helping the cartel try to overthrow the Mexican government to protect your kids but why are you trying to bring another child into the world?

Totally blotto, Sue Ellen passes out and as you see Bo outside, suddenly flames shoot up inside Southfork. So we don’t really know if Bo set the fire deliberately or if Sue Ellen did accidentally. There’s also the possibility Drew did it too, right? Well, Bobby and Christopher drive up and see Bo’s truck, so we know he’ll likely get the blame initially anyhow. Bobby and Christopher burst into the flaming smoky house to find anyone trapped inside. “Ann, Sue Ellen,” Bobby yells. Guess he figured Emma got kicked out already.

Dallas will return on August 18, 2014.