Christopher Ewing
| Christopher Ewing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jesse Metcalfe as Christopher Ewing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dallas character | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Eric Farlow (1982–85) Joshua Harris (1985–91) Chris Demetral (1996) Jesse Metcalfe (2012–) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1981–91, 1996, 2012– | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | December 11, 1981 Starting Over |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | David Jacobs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Knots Landing Dallas: J.R. Returns |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Partner in Ewing Energies (2012–13) Partner in Ewing (formerly Barnes) Global (2013–) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Christopher Mark Ewing is a fictional character from the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas. The character is scripted as the adopted son of Pam Ewing and Bobby Ewing and is the adoptive nephew of Ewing family rival Cliff Barnes. Joshua Harris played the character prominently in the series from 1985 till its conclusion in 1991. In the 1996 television movie Dallas: J.R. Returns, the role was played by actor Chris Demetral. In 2011, the role was recast and actor Jesse Metcalfe portrays the character in the TNT continuation of the show.[1]
Contents |
Conception[edit]
Casting[edit]
The character appears on-screen as an infant on December 11, 1981, played by Eric Farlow.[2] Child actor Joshua Harris appeared in the role throughout the 1980s up until the series finale in 1991. The character also appears in an episode of Dallas's spin-off Knots Landing in 1982, portrayed by Eric Farlow. Chris Demetral appears as Christopher in the reunion film for the series, Dallas: J.R. Returns.
In February 2011, the character was recast and actor Jesse Metcalfe signed on to portray Christopher Ewing in the 2012 continuation of the show. The character's love interest, Rebecca Sutter, is portrayed by Julie Gonzalo.[1]
Characterization[edit]
As a child, Christopher is a charming, and gentle-hearted young boy with an extended and confusing family. "...[D]espite his tangled start in life, he grew up with the Ewing name."[3] At times Christopher was a bit insecure about his life, due his mother's absence and the truth about his being adopted.
"As the years pass Christopher grows into the acumen and entrepreneurial vigor of the Ewing clan. Smart, attractive, effective, he has the guarded eyes of someone who’s already mixed it up with life. Like his daddy, Christopher has a passion for the land and environment."
As an adopted son, Christopher is haunted by the fact that he is not a "true" Ewing. Even so, he is actually still a biological first cousin to John Ross Ewing III on their respective mothers' side.
Storylines[edit]
Original series[edit]
Kristin Shepard, Sue Ellen's younger sister, leaves Dallas after having an affair with Sue Ellen's husband, J.R and then shooting him. The cocaine-addicted Kristin settles in Los Angeles, where she becomes involved with drug dealer Jeff Faraday. She gives birth to Christopher on August 18, 1981.[3] Kristin returns to Dallas claiming Christopher is J.R.'s son and tries to extort money from him. When Kristin drowns in the Southfork pool, Jeff contacts Bobby Ewing, who purchases Christopher for $25,000 and legally adopts the boy with his wife, Pamela Barnes. Faraday later returns with additional documentation for Bobby concerning Kristin and Christopher. After Bobby finds Faraday murdered, he and Pam travel to California to investigate the details of Kristin's life before returning to Dallas. It is determined that the documents provided by Faraday prove that Kristin miscarried J.R.'s baby. She then married Faraday, who fathered a prematurely-born Christopher. In 1983, Pamela's mother Rebecca dies, leaving a large trust fund for Christopher. His parents divorce that year and during that time, Christopher lives with Pamela.[3] Christopher is overjoyed when his parents remarry in 1986 and move back to Southfork Ranch, where he is reunited with his cousin, John Ross. In 1987, Christopher and John Ross have a mock gunfight, and Sue Ellen sends them to play outside. Unable to find a toy gun, Christopher takes Bobby's revolver and after some "hide and seek", he takes a shot at John Ross; he misses, only shattering a screen door.
In May 1987, Christopher is devastated when he accidentally overhears a conversation between his grandparents about his being adopted. His parents comfort him and explain their reasons for not initially telling him the truth. Christopher's life is turned upside down when Pamela has a bad car accident; when Bobby keeps him away from the hospital, the boy believes it is because he is adopted. Soon after, Pamela disappears from the hospital, leaving a note for Bobby that claims she doesn't want anyone to see how badly burned she actually is. Christopher is bitter and angry when Pamela requests a divorce; later, he's forced into the middle of a custody battle between Bobby and Lisa Alden, Jeff Faraday's sister. Lisa drops the case after hearing Christopher tell the judge he doesn't want to be away from his father.[3]
In 1989, Christopher and John Ross discuss J.R.'s new wife, Cally, and conclude that they've done all right despite not having their mothers around; they also agree that all women cause trouble. However, both boys bond with Cally, and Christopher is a bit jealous of the attention she gives John Ross. Accompanied by Bobby and his girlfriend, April Stevens, Christopher goes on his first date that fall. When John Ross gets a motorcycle as a gift from his new-found half-brother, James, Christopher is left alone. John Ross teases his cousin about being the baby of the family, and they have a fight. Christopher takes out his anger by throwing darts at a picture of John Ross. In 1990, Bobby and April marry, and Christopher approves. However, his happiness is short-lived: April is murdered on the honeymoon. In 1991, John Ross is sent to live with his mother in London. Missing his cousin greatly, Christopher visits him in London in May 1991.[3]
2012 (TV Series)[edit]
In the 2012 revamp of the television series, a grown-up Christopher (played by Jesse Metcalfe) takes after his father and concerns himself with the welfare of the land and environment. However, John Ross is more like his father, pitting the two against each other.[3] Christopher is looking into alternative energy sources such as methane ice, which could cause some problems since the family has been in the oil business for decades. Christopher resents John Ross because he feels that his cousin has exploited the Ewing name to get anything he wants, while John Ross has continually criticized him for not being a "real" Ewing. He is married to Rebecca Sutter but still has lingering feelings for long time friend and former fiancée Elena Ramos. It was revealed that Rebecca and her conniving brother, Tommy, who was supposedly Christopher's friend, sent the e-mail breaking up Elena and Christopher. He realizes that he has been part of a con. Christopher wants Rebecca out of his life. However that changes when Christopher finds out that he and Rebecca are expecting twins.
He wants to give Rebecca another chance to give his children a stable home. As he and Rebecca get closer again, he starts to search for Tommy who has been threatening Rebecca. Christopher uncovers that Tommy and Rebecca aren't even siblings when he talks to Tommy's real sister on the phone. It is also revealed that Rebecca is the daughter of the Ewing's arch-enemy Cliff Barnes. He ends his marriage with Rebecca once and for all and tells her that he will do everything he can to take the twins away from her, while she sits behind bars. Christopher reunites with Elena, who ended her relationship to John Ross, and they become engaged. Elena supports Christopher in his struggle with Rebecca, who he ends up giving 10% of Ewing Energies in exchange for an annulment. Later, due to an oil rig explosion, Rebecca suffers an aortic aneurysm and loses the babies.
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b "Jesse Metcalfe cast as Christopher Ewing in Dallas TNT pilot". TNT. 2011-02-10. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
- ^ Leonard Katzman(director, writer) (December 11, 1981 (US)). ""Starting Over" (Dallas Episode)". Dallas. Season 5. Episode 10. CBS.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Christopher Ewing biography". TNT. 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
