The primetime soap opera “Dallas” introduced us to the richer than rich Ewing clan.

Today, being “rich” isn’t as much fun as it used to be, if the new “Dallas” reboot is any indication.

The Washington Times’ Peter Suderman reviews the new series, debuting at 9 p.m. EST tonight on TNT. And Suderman reports the show feels a tad guilty about letting the affluent characters have too much fun.

Ultimately, the show’s plot contrivances exist to put the characters through endless traumas and social stresses. The characters exist to suffer for audience amusement, their wealth to excuse our pleasure. “Dallas” offers a parade of fictional characters made for pain, like horror movie victims made more irritating so that audiences can take guilt-free pleasure in their deaths. The idea is to enjoy watching these rich, perfect-looking dolts have their lives go awry because they are rich and perfect looking. But “Dallas” paints a deeply unimaginative picture of what it’s like to be rich – not just petty, but surprisingly lacking in fun. Shouldn’t it be more interesting, more entertaining, more exciting to be so rich and gorgeous? “Dallas” tries to let viewers live vicariously through the privileged lives of its characters, while at the same time reassuring them that they’d never truly want those lives as their own.

Read the full article at The Washington Times.