I think the reason this worked so well is threefold. One, Julia was somewhat of an ancillary character. She did have some backstory (thought her mother was controlling, was divorced, drank a bit too much), but she wasn't like Angela, Melissa or Richard who were in the forefront of mostly every episode. Two: This was only the second season - so while we had a pretty good idea of most of the characters motivations and schemes, again, Julia was just sort of in the background. Had this been season 5 or 6, her character might have been a bit more developed and possibly she may have been seen as a more likely suspect. Three: This was in the days before the internet, and we didn't have the luxury of getting 'spoilers' from 'insiders' (production for example) I think for 'shock' value - this is in the top two or three nighttime soap cliffhangers. Also: no cars parked in the driveway despite their being 20 people at the house ! :)

@@ericmaine. You know, I’ve watched this clip 50 god damn times and never noticed the no cars thing!

One of them. Right up there with the nun with a gun kidnapping Joseph and burning in the Spring House.

I’ve been to Spring Mountain. There actually is a Spring House there, but it looks nothing like the one depicted and is right near the main house itself.

It sure was. I watched it when it originally aired

Yeah, the reaction shots are terrible. "Oh, my daughter killed a man? I'll just stand here frowning"

Also, according to the indispensible German website, Chase almost ended up as Julia's last victim because Foxworth was threatening to leave the show, but was enticed to stay at the last minute by promises to direct episodes.

Wow, everyone "had" a Motive but not "Emma". Ha! Ha! Neither did Vicki although she could have been angry at both Carlo & Melissa for hurting Cole since he did everything to protect her when they were still living in New York. That is so cool. Maggie could have had one since she was so fed up with the machinations and Drama at Falcon Crest from Angela, to Carlo then having a Grandson she couldn't acknowledge. Chase since his son almost was convicted for a crime he didn't commit.

Wyman and Turner did not get along at all. Turner was very vocal about that. She was promised a story for season 3, but Wyman wanted her out.

Agreed. Telling that her presence was still felt throughout Season 4. Too bad that Wyman felt threatened by Turner. It’s not as if anyone could have out acted her.

Out of a window?? 😮😢

@@paulvoorhies8821 Yep! UK Soaps have a Mystery Vibe when someone is killed, and they get very upset if they see a mistake with a Scene.

@@laminage I know that Coronation Street had that crazy serial killer storyline going on for a good while. Those are always fun. I remember being in the UK a dozen or so years ago on holiday and seeing Shirley Stelfox on Emmerdale. I knew she looked familiar. I knew her as the first Rose from Keeping Up Appearances. I understand she died of cancer shortly thereafter. She was my favorite of the 2 Roses.

Lance, Richard and Diana Hunter were filmed "confessing". Vicki and Melissa were on the list for the corpse in the coffin (Ana-Alicia was involved in critical contract negotiations at the time). It came down to Jacqueline when Wyman pulled her weight with producers and wanted her rival Turner out.

Thank God Ana Alicia stick around!!

@@tonyatmidnight, that's interesting. Thanks for the background info!

@@tonyatmidnight. What possible motive wound Diana Hunter have? That would have been terribly lame.

Yes. And Chase was shot twice and was paralyzed. This is my favorite cliffhanger of all time.

Julia was completely unhinged at that point