The Ewings Search For Answers In The Mid-Season Premiere of 'Dallas' on August 18

Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) in the mid-season premiere of Dallas,
airing Monday, August 18 on TNT. Photo Credit: Skip Bolen

Things are about to get real steamy for the Ewing family when TNT's Dallas returns with a whole new crop of back-stabbing, double-crossing fun when the second half of its third season kicks off on Monday, Aug. 18, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Dallas centers on the Ewing family, which has made a fortune in cattle ranching and oil. Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) is now the family patriarch following the death of his older brother, J.R. Ewing. The complicated and often bitter relationship between the two brothers can be seen reflected in the relationship between Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe), Bobby's adopted son, and John Ross III (Josh Henderson), the son of J.R. and former wife Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray).

The summer run of TNT's Dallas opens in the aftermath of a devastating fire at Southfork Ranch and the unexpected overdose of John Ross' wife, Pamela Barnes Ewing (Julie Gonzalo). Each member of the family struggles to understand what's happened, including John Ross, whose two-timing behavior may have finally caught up with him after Pamela discovered him with another woman. To make matters worse, that other woman is Emma Ryland (Emma Bell), the daughter of Bobby's wife, Ann (Brenda Strong).

Christopher continues to reel after his engagement to Elena Ramos (Jordana Brewster) fell through, and the search for his mother ended with news that she died in 1989. He has found some comfort in a new relationship with Heather (AnnaLynne McCord), a 20-something ranch hand and single mother. But Heather's ex-husband has just returned, bringing turmoil back into her life and the life of her 5-year-old son.

Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe), Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and John
Ross (Josh Henderson. Photo Credit: Skip Bolen

Elena, who grew up at Southfork as the daughter of the Ewings' cook, Carmen Ramos (Marlene Forte), recently learned that the Ewings may have cheated her father out of valuable land by altering the original deed. Consumed with thoughts of justice for previous wrongs against her family, Elena has turned to an old childhood friend, Nicolas Treviño (Juan Pablo Di Pace).

The Ewings' chief nemesis, Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), has done everything he can to bring the Ewing family down, including getting his daughter, Pamela, to infiltrate the family by marrying Christopher. But after an attempt to sabotage an oil rig resulted in injuring Pamela and killing her and Christopher's unborn twins, Cliff suddenly found his daughter turning against him. Pamela helped the Ewings gain a controlling interest in Barnes Global, then settled in for what she hoped would be a happy life with her new husband, John Ross.

Bobby’s wife, Ann, continues to battle with Harris Ryland (Mitch Pileggi), her scheming ex-husband who claims to be a government informant helping to shut down a drug smuggling operation. Ann also continues to build a relationship with her daughter, Emma, a sheltered beauty who has jumped in bed with John Ross – both literally and figuratively – in a bid to stir up trouble for her father, Harris. Things become even more difficult for everyone with the return of Harris' controlling mother, Judith (Judith Light), who not only owns a controlling interest in her son's transportation business but also runs a high-price prostitution ring.

Dallas premiered in 2012 and finished the year as one of basic cable's Top 10 new dramas. In its third season, Dallas is averaging 3.1 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, with 1.4 million adults 25-54 and 1.1 million adults 18-49. Shot on location in the title city, Dallas was developed by executive producer Cynthia Cidre from the series created by David Jacobs. Serving as executive producers with Cidre are Michael M. Robin, Robert Rovner and Bruce Rasmussen.

The hit drama stars Jesse Metcalfe, Josh Henderson, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Brenda Strong, Mitch Pileggi and Emma Bell, with Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray. This season has also seen the addition of Juan Pablo Di Pace as a regular cast member and featured guest stars AnnaLynne McCord, Ken Kercheval, Judith Light, Kuno Becker and Marlene Forte.