Well at least IMDB credits her as the vocalist. It baffles me that an actress with such a great tv face still hasn't gotten a lead role in another series. (she had a role in Relationship Status but that's all about texting and tweeting)
It's kinda sorta the New Dallas equivalent of that scene where Lucy was forced to sing 'Silver Threads and Golden Needles' at gunpoint by BJ & the Bear.
So maybe Emma could have done a duet with John Ross if there had ever been a special Dallas musical episode!
Or an English/Spanish duet with Drew Ramos. But not on Dallas, musical episodes are evil. I don't remember that scene, I thought Sue Ellen was the only one who had been forced to sing.
Emma Bell was wasted on Dallas just like with Charlene Tilton. Just like there were possibilities with Lucy Ewing, there were possibilities with Emma Ryland as well. What a shame.
I believe the character simply wasn't required. She took precious screen time away from what should have been the epicentre of Dallas - The Ewing Family. Where was James, Lucas or Margaret? I do agree with your sentiment regarding the wasted opportunities with Lucy Ewing. Was she married? Did she have children?
Emma Bell being a Ewing could have been done as well. Bobby and Ann's daughter or One of JR and Sue Ellen's daughter or Gary's daughter or Ray's.
If you are referring to Emma. Having her be a drug addict and John Ross's mistress. I just felt there were missed opportunities with her. First, Emma Bell should have been cast as Bobby and Ann's daughter but that aside, it had been established that she was her father's heir to his trucking company. She could have had a sisterly like relationship with John Ross and/Christopher. I did like how he tried to make a deal on her own which backfired only because it showcased she could be a powerful person in her own right and show herself to be a good successor to her father.
Funnily enough, that was my least favourite storyline for Emma since she had always led such a sheltered life, unlike John Ross, Christopher, Elena and Pamela who, even in their childhood years, had been confronted with the business or the results thereof - one way or another. From pony princess to kick-ass-leather-bitch CEO was a bit of a stretch, imho. Although I liked it that she thought that she could be a good successor.
I think if they had showcased her dad showing her around the company and grooming her to one day be his successor. She jumped the gun when she tried that and it did not go well. But having her go from sheltered to slut over night bothered me as well and of course drug addict with no build up.