jay!

I found Sable to be a more convincing character. Alexis was larger than life, over the top, a cartoon character. She claimed to love her children, yet she used them at every opportunity and could easily dismiss them -- which she did to all of them at one time or another. Sable, on the other hand, could be devious, but she had the same motivation as JR Ewing -- her children. JR was always interested in passing the Ewing family heritage to Jon Ross, and Sable was always protecting her children from outside forces. Even her battle with Alexis in the last season was fueled because Alexis exposed Miles and Monica as illegitimate. She was cool, smooth, and calculating. Stephanie Beacham beautiful, icy, and seductive. And she could act.

And Soapsuds, this is for you, my buddy:

An old banner from one of the German websites.

Actually my fantasy involved Steven #1 and Adam #1,

I wouldn't say "dullness". The first season is very well written. Seasons 1, 2 and 9 were the best written.