As long as they're entertaining to watch it doesn't matter to me how likeable these characters are.
Interesting to read how this likeability is linked to the storylines, but isn't it the drama we're after?

 

merge

It's like Maggie beating Alexis. I am sure Alexis is going to demand that this forum run the contest again. If they don't, she is going to replace them all with a board of her choosing, and then the m̶e̶r̶g̶e̶r contest will go on.

 

Richard and Lance both started out as wonderfully vicious sons of bitches and were never less than watchable throughout FC's run, but sometimes the show put them in (sometimes embarrassingly toe-curling) situations that kind of compromised and diluted them as characters.

Partly due to his relatively brief time on DALLAS, Jock never lost his aura of authenticity: he was always Jock Ewing and his significance transcended his physical presence on the show (and impacted KNOTS almost as much).

Meanwhile, throughout DALLAS, KNOTS and New DALLAS, Gary Ewing never stopped evolving and surprising. He could be good, bad, weak or strong, or any combination thereof, at any given point. Of all four characters, he's the most multi-faceted, the most recognisably "real", and as an actor, Ted Shackelford is arguably the Ewingverse's most unsung hero.

So Jock and Gary get my votes.

 

A tricky one. I would have gone for Lance and Richard but as I can't do that....

1. Jock
2. Richard

 

Match 5: Jock Ewing
Match 6: Richard Channing

 

As the soaps have shown, boardroom vote abstentions don't make for great drama, so I'm going to vote in both, even though I'm kind of indifferent to those involved in the first match.

Match 5 - Lance Cumson: as I've mentioned before, Jock was not a huge part of my Dallas viewing experience as my main recollections of the show seem to come from the post "Who Shot JR?" years. Similarly, Falcon Crest is my least watched of the five big 80's soaps and what I do know of it mostly involves around the great female characters and Richard. However, I do remember Lance being fun to watch, particularly paired with Melissa, so this match goes to him. On a more frivolous note, he also looked great with his top off.

Match 6 - Gary Ewing: while it could be argued that Richard was a more multifaceted character with a more interesting arc and that David Selby was a more distinguished actor, my heart belongs in Knots Landing. And while the show belonged to the women, Gary was one of my favourites among the male cast.

 

Match 5 - Jock - although I would liked to have voted for Lance the rules dictate otherwise.
Match 6 - Richard - he shook up the Valley in 1982, with his blend of charm, shadows, business acumen and comedy timing. I thought Maggie and the prodigal son were a interesting couple, into the bargain.

 

Match 5, round 2: Jock.
Match 6, round 2: Richard.


Donna and Ray have linked Ellie and Jock up, at the Krebbs bungalow. Their intention is to get them to reconcile their differences, over the D.O.A. versus Takapa business and to halt a marriage separation. This is the second last scene, which Jim Davis will act as patriarch Jock, (a scene from season 3; DVD - 4, 1980 - '81):

Ray refuses to accept any Ewing Oil claim, which Jock recently provided. Ellie then speaks:

"I can't let you do that Ray. I guess, I guess the truth as finally come home. All this time I couldn't let go of Gary. I couldn't let go of the hope that he'd come back to Southfork. Gary is not coming back. It is because he doesn't want to. This time he wasn't driven away. He left because he wasn't happy and you were right; I did blame you for that Ray. It was easier to blame you than looking at myself and see the truth. Because you were Ray's father Jock, I focused all that hurt and hate on you being part of Takapa but it never was Takapa. I used it as an excuse. It was all inside of me and Ray you are a Ewing. I want you to stay!"

Ellie moves away from Ray, faces Jock and then the waterworks really start in earnest.

Jock: "Does that include me too?"

Ellie: "Oh yes! Forgive me. I almost destroyed everything."

Jock: "Nothing to forgive. I love you Ellie!"

Ellie: "I love you Jock!"

The frame freezes on Ellie, all emotional. Fade to black, the theme tune and the closing credits.

 

1. Jock
2. Gary

 

Oh, dear. I'd like to give you 1/2 of a 'like' for voting for Jock but I don't know how.
Ditto James, Karin & Zach.