Dawson's Creek - 103 - Kiss

Original air date: February 3, 1998

Last time on Dawson's Creek, Mrs. Leary is still a cheating ho, Ms. Jacobs is still an Ephebophile, Joey still likes Dawson and Dawson and Jen may have started dating. Sort of.

Continuing on with our recaps, the third episode opens once again in Dawson's room with a conversation between Dawson and Joey. I'm starting to think that this will be a running thing through out, at least, this season. We'll see if I'm right.

Anyways, Dawson and Joey are watching From Here to Eternity because he's trying to earn some film cred back after claiming E.T. should have won an Oscar over Ghandi and admittedly worshipping Stephen Spielberg as a God.

Fuck James Cameron,
I'm King of the World!

Dawson brags about how his kiss with Jen will be exactly like the one in the movie. Joey harasses Dawson for not kissing her yet and for someone who harbours a secret crush on him, Joey is certainly pushy about him kissing Jen. What is she thinking? If she pushes him enough about kissing Jen, he'll realize he actually wants to kiss her? I hate to break it to you, Joey, but no one thinks like that.

Anyways, Dawson calls her jaded and tells her that if she actually let her guard down and let people in, she could have a moment like Debrah Carr in From Here to Eternity.

Joey: Mmm, sand in my crotch. Heaven.

Semi-interesting side note: Debrah Carr plays Karen Holmes in the movie and Katie Holmes plays Joey who is going to pretend to be Debrah Carr...son. Yes, little things like this amuse me.

Back to the recap, Joey makes fun of Dawson for living in an ideal movie world, Dawson says he likes imagination and magic and Joey snarks that he should clap hard because he's Tinkerbell's last hope.

Cue theme song.

Dawson is back in film class and is acting like a Mr. Know it All. I mean, sure none of the kids know what they're doing but if he's so sure, why did he want to take this class anyway? Mr. Gold obviously has no clue what he's doing, otherwise he would have asked people to hand in scripts, gone over them and picked a completed one for them to shoot instead of just going with one guy's idea and then spit-balling a script with the whole class. Who is writing this thing?

What do you want from me? Shakespeare?

Exactly. Dawson acts all smug and self-righteous about the fact that they don't have a script locked down before shooting which I find hilarious coming from Dawson "I'll change my script in the middle of filming even though I've already filmed most of my old script" Leary but whatever.

Duh, only I can change scripts at the last minute.

Meanwhile, in Ms. Jacobs' Statutory Rapetorium, Pacey asks her why she hasn't handed his test back to him. Ms. Jacobs says it's because he failed, hard and that he's failing all of his other courses too. Pacey reveals that he is failing on purpose so that Ms. Jacobs would tutor him. I fail to see his logic. Why fail all of his classes? She's just an English teacher so he should just fail English, she can't help him with his other subjects and it's not her responsibility to. Then he starts getting icky by flirting with his teacher, saying that he needs a "slave driver. Somebody with a whip, maybe?" and I just gagged in my throat a little. Not that this wouldn't be a fun activity between two consenting adults but more the context and what's to come later. It just smacks of young naive kid trying to sound "adult" and that is always icky to me.

You're not icky, Pacey. The circumstance is icky.

Ms. Jacobs again shows some restraint by telling Pacey that they can't interact that way but then Pacey says that she can tutor him. She agrees and tells him to meet her after school. Actually, they are meeting after a staff meeting so, you know, no one will be there. That's a swell idea, Ms. Jacobs. Please, continue leading your student on and playing hot and cold with him so you feel pursued and young again.

That's right. I see your game, TaMAHra.

Next we cut to Dawson and Pacey at the local hangout, The Icehouse. This is where Joey works and I assume, her sister and her sister's boyfriend own it. Bodie has changed since the pilot, I guess that happens sometimes but he's still the same guy.

Or so we're told...

Dawson is bragging to Pacey about how he will be allowed into the film class he thinks is beneath him if he proves himself by being a PA for Nellie. Pacey points out that the test is designed for him to fail as Nellie hates him but Dawson remains ignorantly optimistic. Joey joins them at the table just as Dawson starts in on his plans for kissing Jen.

Joey is not amused.

Pacey goes on about how he has a hot date and requests oysters and just gag me, alright? I don't know how many more ways I can say how much I hate this sorry excuse for a relationship. Thankfully, Joey saves us by noticing a cute rich boy walk into the restaurant.

He has a five-head and doufy hair. Joey has a type, ok?

Joey barely has a chance to recover from her ogle-fest when Pacey starts pestering her about it and uh oh, is Dawson maybe a little bit jealous?

I thought I was the only one with the rights to this hair do.

Pacey makes a crack about Joey finally noticing the opposite sex and growing up. Then he calls after the guy that Joey thinks he's hot stuff.

She handles it maturely.

Later, Dawson is prepping helmets for Helmets of Glory. He is surprised when Jen shows up saying that she offered to help out by being a cheerleader. Dawson acts all pissy that she dared to be in someone else's film because she is solely his property and then acts all jealous when Cliff shows up.

Hey baby, do you want to see my helmet of glory?

We next go to Ms. Bad-touch's Statutory Rapetorium where she is "tutoring" Pacey but it looks more like she's just standing around while he reads a book which, I guess some people need help with. Then Pacey asks her what she was like when she was a student and even more telling, he asks her if she would have dated him back then. She says that she wouldn't and that again spells out why this is wrong. He's not her type of guy, he's a young guy. This just confirms that she's using him and yet the show seems to be painting them as a serious relationship and not some fucked up power dynamic relationship. Then things get really, really squicky when she hands him a question sheet about the book and says that if he gets some right, she will give him "positive reinforcement"

Positive reinforcement...in my PANTS!

Lady, you have given up all pretences of trying to do the right thing now. You know what he is thinking when you say that and you fucking like it. You are getting off on having power over this kid, on having him want you. You are a horrible, horrible person.

Moving on to something more tolerable, Joey hears some beautiful, soulful music being played on the docks near the restaurant and she just has to go and investigate. Of course it's the rich guy she likes and it's such a romance cliche too but I suppose that is the point of her story this episode. Cynical, jaded Joey gets a taste of movie level romance for one episode. Right down to a rich guy wanting poor her and the rich guy even looks a bit like Blaine from Pretty in Pink to really nail the point home:

Doufy hair, ears that stick out a bit and a
button down shirt. It's like a rich guy formula.

Joey and Rich Boy have a conversation, well it's more he talks honestly with her while she snarks at him while giving evasive or stupid answers to his questions. It's all rather infuriating, I mean, it's clear he's into her so why does she act like that? Why can't she just flirt back, does she constantly have to prove how witty she is? Anyway, he says his name is Anderson and he asks for hers. I guess she doesn't want him to know or find out that she's a waitress so she gives him a fake name, Debrah Carson. Get it? Because she's going to have her From Here to Eternity moment? The beginning of this episode was, you guessed it, FORESHADOWING!

I'm fucking genius, yo!

Pacey is getting quizzed by Ms. Jacobs and is doing really well with the one word answers but stumbles when she actually asks him a challenging question.

Dawson, meanwhile, makes pissy comments about Helmets of Glory when he should be thankful to have an opportunity to get into the class he wants to get into and also do some networking with like-minded students that could help him finish his film. Nellie rightly calls him out on his bullshit.

You didn't earn your place here!

She is entirely right that Dawson hasn't really earned his place in the prestigious class yet but she loses me at the point where she complains about him bashing the script that she "worked all summer on". I want to be in her corner except for two issues I have. 1) I thought "Mr. Cliff Quarterback himself" was writing, directing and starring in this so wouldn't the script be his? 2) If Nellie worked all summer on the script, why the hell was it still not done on the day they were starting shooting? How extensive is this thing because in most high school film classes, I assume they start you off with a smaller project so you can get your feet wet. You're not going to make a 2 hour epic your first time out, is what I'm saying. Ten minutes to half an hour is usually about it but whatever, this is make believe or in other words, I should just:

But I digress. It's time to get back the the Statutory Rapetorium where the situation becomes even more rage inducing. Pacey manages to come up with an intelligent answer to her question and then eagerly asks for his reward. At this point, Ms. Jacobs says she doesn't have one because she didn't expect him to get this far.

WORST. TEACHER. EVER!

Pacey then asks her if she was bluffing and she blithely says that she'll owe him. You see what I mean with the hot and cold? She really does get off on the attention she can get out of him. She wants to pretend that she's this beacon of good just because she's restraining herself from having sex with her underage student but she's not good, she's horrible. She is manipulating her student into wanting her more by doing this. She doesn't care for him, she just gets her jollies off being wanted by someone so young. I'm not convinced that she would only do this with Pacey because he's special, I think any student who showed her the time of day would have done it for her. She's gross.

Pacey keeps coming on to her and she finally just mentally torments the kid by being completely blunt about having sex on her desk and asking him to strip. He gets increasingly nervous, especially when she mentions needing condoms and makes the excuse that her classroom isn't very romantic. She then laughs at him and insensitively asks him if it's his first time.

You know it is.

Uh, yeah she does. How could she not? He's freaking fifteen and I realize that some people do lose their virginity around that age but with the way he was talking earlier, about no girls liking him, asking if she would date him in high school, etc...it was pretty damn obvious that he had never done it before and that part of his obsession with her was that he could flirt with her safely without having to worry about the follow through. This is yet another reason why this relationship is so fucking atrocious. I know they were going for drama here but they are failing because this isn't just taboo, that cutesy word they throw around about their relationship to make it seem forbidden and sexy, no this is fucking wrong.

I'm a firm believer that sometimes it's
right to do the wrong thing.

And I'm a firm believer that Ms. Jacobs should be in jail.

Meanwhile, it's daytime again and Joey and Anderson have set sail. Joey is a natural with the sailing and Anderson is impressed. They then get to run around on the beach together. He talks about how important honesty is and that as long as a person doesn't lie about what they're doing he's cool with it. Joey now feels like a piece of shit but then she continues frolicking on the beach with him anyways and just when Joey is about to get her thrilling romantic movie kiss, she pusses out.

Dammit, Joey! Just kiss him, you don't
have to save yourself for Dawson.

Dawson finally earns his keep by teaching the other kids in his class how to do a tracking shot, which Mr. Gold should have taught them if he was actually good at his job. I suspect he took the position because he originally just wanted to watch movies for class. Pacey is helping out with this shot which is really confusing because it's daytime and in the last shot of Pacey alone with Ms. Jacobs, he said that the film crew had left. Before that, Ms. Jacobs said to meet her after class and then Joey meets the guy at sunset but that's the same night that Pacey meets Ms. Jacobs which is happening at the same time that they are filming and Joey is spending the day with Anderson. What is the time line of this episode? Seriously? I'm so fucking lost. Is it day? Night? Are we doing flashbacks and flash forwards? WHAT IS GOING ON???

Same here, Mugatu.

After filming is done, Jen and Dawson grab a bite to eat at the Icehouse while they discuss filming a scene for his movie. Joey has shown up for work in this day that will never end and is in a surprisingly good mood. This makes me even more curious as to why she didn't kiss the guy, she's obviously into him and she's probably not going to see him again and if she does, she has to keep lying about who she is so it's never going to work.

Cue Anderson coming into the restaurant. Joey rips her apron off and sits next to Jen and Dawson before he comes up and starts talking to her. Jen figures out pretty quickly what's up and covers for her lies but Dawson remains clueless. I do love Jen's reiteration of Joey's words when they first met each other, to Anderson:

Would you like to join us, Deb's friend,
whom we've never met...ever.

Priceless. Joey agrees to meet Anderson again while Bessie almost blows her cover. Luckily, Bodie clues in and helps her out. Joey is rescued from her web of lies...for now.

Pacey sees Ms. Jacobs talking to Mr. Gold after the film shoot and is pissed off. Seriously, how long is this day? What time is it? I don't even know anymore. Ms. Jacobs acts all indignant again that Pacey would be upset about her hanging out with someone else because that's part of her game. She asks Pacey what he wants from her and he says that he wants her. Why? I don't know, she's hot, I guess.

Dawson has lured Jen up to the "ruins" to do some filming and maybe get a little somethin', somethin'. Yes, I just wrote that. The ruins are very pretty, so Dawson is really good at setting the mood, I'll give him that.

The charm of Dawson is his romantic side.

However, he has to go and creep it up because after they are done filming the scene, he tries to secretly film them kissing. I assume this tape would then replace Katie Couric as his morning wank material.

Yes! I found another one!

Jen notices and is rightfully creeped out.

Joey sees Anderson again and he tells her that he and his family are leaving but says he can visit her in New York. He offers to take her to the Rainbow Room but she says that she prefers Bouley because she's an East Side girl. From the confused look he gives her, I'd say she's busted! But he gives her his number anyways and then they kiss.

Good for you, girl.

Jen yells at Dawson for a bit while he tries to explain why he is such a freak. This then freaks Jen out more because she realizes how much he's built up this kiss and she feels she'll be a let down. Dawson assures her that that will "Never happen."

Joey finds out from Bodie that she for sure effed up because the restaurant she mentioned is in Tribeca and closed down a few years ago. This prompts her to throw Anderson's number out the window. I don't get why this is her downfall, she already lied about her name and her station in life, it wasn't going to work anyways. Plus, what was she going to do, travel to New York every time he goes there and pretend to live there? It's stupid.

Meanwhile Dawson and Jen continue to talk when they are interrupted by a noise. They quickly hide and panic about being caught which gets them both horny, I guess.

They kiss.

Then it's revealed that Dawson's camera is still recording but it's not recording he and Jen kissing, it's actually recording the most horrific scene in Dawson's horror movie:

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Yep, Ms. Jacobs finally claimed her prize, some nice underage cock. I feel dirty for having written that. Save me.

Well, that was Kiss. I don't know what more I can say about this episode that I haven't already said in others so I'll just leave you once again with, I hate TamAHra Jacobs. She is a horrible character and she did a horrible thing in this episode. This was not their love progressing, this was a woman who just took advantage of a sexually naive and inexperienced teenager. I really don't like shows that glorify this type of relationship because it is wrong for more reasons than age alone. It is wrong because she is a teacher and she holds power over him both by being more experienced and by being in a position of authority over him. They are not equals and he clearly has his head in the clouds with her while she regards him as a lost little puppy that gives her attention when she wants it.

I can't remember how they resolve this, probably because I've tried to block this portion of Pacey's story from my memory but I seem to recall that she gets off scott free which is so wrong.

I guess we'll have to see what happens next when I recap Discovery. Thanks for reading.

Dawson's Creek - 102 - Dance

Original air date: January 27, 1998

Last time on Dawson's Creek, Dawson gets a crush on girl next door, Jen, Joey acts like a bitch because she secretly likes Dawson, Pacey gets kissed by his school teacher Ms. Jacobs, Dawson's Mom is having an affair, despite being married to "Mr. Man Meat" and Dawson masturbates to Katie Couric in the morning.

I'm never going to get tired of this picture. Never

Riveting stuff. The drama continues as Dawson and Joey review footage of Dawson's awesome film. Joey laments having to kiss Pacey because he's so "unkissworthy" Oh Joey, you will eat those words eventually. Mark my words. Dawson tells her she has to because he's trying to make a love story to which Joey retorts that he's making a horror movie and that Dawson should kiss him. Well that would definitely make for a more interesting story but Dawson refuses, saying that his lips are reserved for someone else.

If she's so grossed out, I'll volunteer to kiss him.

Being the ever present bitch where Jen is concerned, Joey starts putting it in Dawson's head that he should kiss her soon because she's from New York and they move fast there. Dawson is unfazed and says "There is no need to rush fate."

Dawson: Joey, you heard her yourself. Through her own admittance, she's a self-proclaimed virgin.
Joey: For another second!
Dawson: Jen happens to be a bright, intelligent young woman who clearly is in charge of her own body.

You remember what you said there, Dawson. She is in charge of her own body. Just putting that out there. Anyway, Joey tells Dawson that she's not talking leather straps and Crisco, just a kiss; which Dawson ignores for a second by claiming that Joey should kiss Pacey because she has kissable lips. Then he shows her that he means the creepy fake Joey head he's been working on which looks like it could be a sex doll head minus the open mouth:

Look at that thing and tell me it's not a sex doll head.

Then, Dawson snaps out of it and comes out with "Explain to me the Crisco." *drum beat* Cue theme song!

Back at Capeside High, everyone is preparing for the school dance while Dawson attempts to con his way into Mr. Gold's film class. He uses the excuse of Study Hall being crammed and the Principal saying it would be ok to sit in on Mr. Gold's fifth period class, which is film class. For some reason, Mr. Gold agrees even though his class is full too so I fail to see how this was a solution to Dawson's problem. I guess it's ok because he's not actually a part of the class and therefore won't be an extra paper/project to grade but I digress. Dawson got into the class, basically.

Meanwhile, in statutory rape class...

Pacey awaits Ms. Jacobs' arrival by sitting at her desk. He confronts her about their kiss. In front of a classroom that is filling with students. Even going so far as to say "your tongue was in my mouth. You're not being fair" before leaving sulkily. I'm sorry but if I was a bored teenager and I saw a teacher and student having a heated discussion by her desk, I'm eavesdropping. And you better bet I would overhear that part and that I would be telling my friends about it. You would do it to, don't deny it. Somehow this goes unnoticed though and Ms. Jacobs starts her class.

Uhhh, guys? I can hear everything you're saying.

Lunchtime comes around and Dawson laments the fact that his film class will not be able to help out with his awesomely superior film and tells Joey she better kiss Pacey. She protests some more and Pacey tells her to get over herself because he's not "engorged" with the idea either. Then, Dawson gets a revelation. He's going to kill Joey off sooner a la Janet Leigh in Psycho so that she doesn't have to do the kiss. Do you know what this means? The clip of Psycho shown in the last episode was FORESHADOWING!

ZOMGWTFGENIUS!!

Dawson explains that they'll kill Joey off, bring in Jen as the cousin from New York and Bob's your uncle. Jen protests a bit because he never fucking asked her if she wanted to be in the movie but he steamrolls over her saying it will be perfect. Joey is mighty pleased with this development, especially when Dawson says that she'll get to work behind the camera with him "where she belongs" Cue smug look at Jen:

I win.


Ms. Jacobs continues to give hints to Pacey to back off during class as they are discussing Wuthering Heights. She says that "the reality is, that Heathcliff and Catherine never belonged together. They never should have been together. Catherine was essentially a mess, Heathcliff was basically a decent guy who had a lot to learn about life and was inherently better off without some whimpering, mentally unstable wet rag following him around."

Mentally unstable wet rag pictured here^

The class stares at her in shock as if this is a dark and unheard of view on the story but it's totally true. Wuthering Heights is not romantic. It is the story of two people who were so utterly wrong for each other that they destroyed both themselves and other people around them. I thought Twilight was to blame for everyone thinking Wuthering Heights is super romantic but apparently, people have always been this blinded, like how most people forget that Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy.

My teen views on romance have been crushed.
CRUSHED!

Meanwhile, in film class, Dawson learns he has some competition in the film festival and in love with the introduction of high school football star, Cliff.

I have no idea what I'm doing here.

Cliff wants to make a movie about a football player who defies all odds and wins his school the football championship which sounds an awful lot like Abe's film in Clone High:

Minus the giraffe...and the spaceship.

Since Dawson is the epitome of meaningful filmmaking, he is of course against this and looks down his nose at their "pedestrian" sports film. This coming from the kid who is making a pedestrian creature feature, do I need to introduce you to the kettle, Dawson? I also don't get how he views them as competition while at the same time saying their film will be shit anyways.

Pffft, sports movies are so pedestrian, why can't they
make art like me and my horror movie?

To make matters worse, Cliff totally macks on Jen in front of Dawson.

What's up with Cliff stealing Jen away from you?
You should drown his ass in the creek and shit.

Dawson wants to start work on his film again and asks his father for the camera. After Mr. Man Meat spells out to his son that he used the camcorder to film himself and his mother having sex, Dawson takes this opportunity to ask his dad for advice on kissing. What ensues was the most awkward thing I've ever had to watch, where Mr. Man Meat tells Dawson to practice kissing the Joey sex doll head

I wish you were a real girl.

while he watches with way too much enthusiasm



I can't wait to show him how to fuck.

and Joey watches from the balcony while pretending Dawson is actually kissing her.

Oh Dawson, I want to be your sex doll.

Joey then catches Dawson's mom in the closet, whispering on the phone. Joey mentions that she is there to see Dawson. His mom thinks she's gotten away with it but then Joey throws down that she knows before leaving.

Mrs. Leary? You're a greedy skank.

I like Joey in that moment. Fuck you, Mrs. Leary. You've got Mr. Man Meat who is still all over you and reminisces about first kisses and romance when, let's face it, the average guy can barely remember a wedding anniversary and you cheat on him? You are a selfish bitch.

Oh shit.

Moving on to filming, Joey's sex doll head gets killed off in an incredibly fake way but it's realistic for a grade 10 student's production so points for realism. Joey goes to get out of her now bloodied clothes and Jen goes over to help her out. Jen compliments Joey on her body and like a total teenager, Joey complains that she's too tall. So Jen tries to bond by letting Joey in on the secret that everyone is self conscious about their bodies.

The begining of Jen/Joey slash fiction?

Jen: No, you're not at all. You're commanding. Hey, come on, I wish I had your stature and your long legs. My body's a mess. I'm too short, my hips do this weird thing and my face is shaped like a duck. Oh, and I hate my breasts.

Joey is shocked that evil bitch Jen has insecurities just like her and actually pays her a compliment by saying that she doesn't look like a duck. Jen tells her that it's the nicest thing Joey has said to her since they met and Joey looks almost upset with herself that she paid an evil blonde a compliment. Then Jen tells Joey that she plans to make it hard for her not to like her. Dawson gets jealous when Pacey gets too enthusiastic with his kiss with Jen. Dawson acts like a cry baby and cuts the kiss from the movie because he knows he will never kiss Jen better than Pacey just did.

Pacey's got the mad mack skills. Deal with it, Dawson.

They wrap for the day and Dawson tells Jen that he got a bunch of dance themed movies for them to watch together in lieu of actually going to the school dance. Jen declines his thrilling offer, saying that she's actually going to go to the dance, with Cliff. Dawson is hurt and Jen tries to make him feel better by telling him to drop by so that they can dance together but Dawson says that he "has a date with Travolta. I wouldn't want to disappoint him." which is possibly the most panty drying sentence ever uttered.

Dawson then whines to Joey about the fact that Jen is at the dance with Cliff and I do sympathize with her in this scene because if I had to listen to my friend whine about something so stupid, my head would explode. Plus, she totally zings him during his whine session which is something I would do.

Dawson: I don't get it! I don't get it, what did he do that I didn't do?   Joey: He asked her out!

Bazinga!

It's true though, he never asked her out. He doesn't have a claim on her because he talked to her first. He actually has to ask her out. He decides to rectify the situation by crashing the dance and persuades Joey to go with him for support.

Mrs. Leary is heading out for some extra-marital lovin' and Joey tries to convince her to not go by lecturing at her and what she is saying is so true and so mature about actions affecting other people that it is weird seeing a "teen" preach this to an adult. Dawson is still in the dark about it and they head off to the dance while Mrs. Leary is left to think about her life choices.

I just got lectured by a teenager. Could I sink any lower?

Cut to the dance and oh my god, it is the most 90s sounding dance ever and takes me right back to my school's gym dances. To get you in the mood for this dance I will link you to the song that plays throughout the scene and most of 1998:

Just bask in the 90s glow.

At the dance, Jen and Cliff seem to be hitting it off while Pacey finds Ms. Jacobs who is chaperoning. That's a good idea, Pacey, hit on your teacher at a crowded school dance in full view of all of your classmates and any other staff members that might be chaperones. Smooth, no one will suspect a thing in a small town where people notice every move their neighbours make.

Dawson and Joey arrive and they pretend to dance together by actually dancing together while Dawson looks for Jen. They have an almost moment when Jen pops up and they have an awkward conversation where Dawson gets officially introduced to Cliff.

It's awkward.

Dawson then ditches Joey to go after Jen. Jen asks Dawson if he'd like to dance and instead of saying yes, Dawson has to fuck it up by making a big deal about Jen being Cliff's date so Jen gets away from him by going into the girl's room.

Joey tries to convince Dawson to leave but he doesn't feel like he's made a big enough ass out of himself yet. He strides up to Jen and Cliff and tries to piss on what he deems rightfully his. Jen rightfully ditches both guys, leaving Dawson to wonder where he went wrong.

You went wrong.

Meanwhile, at the Leary household, Mrs. Leary walks in with a doggie bag, so she obviously went to her dinner thingy. They have a conversation where she feigns ignorance to their first kiss while really remembering it and planting a kiss on him. Pretty ballsy considering she just got ploughed by her lover, I imagine.

Stay classy, Mrs. Leary

As Pacey, Joey and Dawson walk home, Pacey spots Ms. Jacobs and walks over to her. He confronts her once again in the same place he confronted her last episode because she thought it would be "appropriate." Lady, you and appropriate parted ways the minute you pounced on an underage student. She tries to do the right thing but apparently the writers are painting them as this great forbidden love because Pacey prattles on about being super mature and shit and that he "kissed back" and doesn't regret it. She still tries to do the right thing but they eventually kiss again.

Drama will ensue. Mark my words.

Dawson and Joey vow never to go out again because one evening went wrong which sounds like the right amount of melodrama for the average teen. Dawson tells Joey to chain him to the bed if he ever thinks about doing something so stupid again and Joey asks if she can use the leather straps.

Not until you explain the Crisco.

He then sees Jen walking by the pier and he decides that he might as well completely destroy his evening by going to talk to her again.

Jen tells Dawson that she's angry with him and asks him what he wants from her. Dawson complains to her that he feels like he's being friend-zoned and that he'll be the one she tells about her boy adventures and "I want to be your boy adventure." which is kind of a creepy thing to say. I don't know why but it is. She asks him if he could be both and my heart kind of breaks for her because she looks like she could use a friend. Dawson rejects this saying that being friends and lovers doesn't work at fifteen. Maybe he's right, teens are kind of black and white on the love/friendship thing but he really shouldn't be right.

Come ooooonnnn! I want to be your boy adventure!

She agrees to take him up on the offer for an adventure but denies him the kiss he wants because she explains to him that she was growing up too fast in New York and how she feels like she can finally slow down in Capeside. Once again, my heart breaks because she is trying to tell him about her past and how she is not this perfect thing he has built her up to be but Dawson is not listening.

Jen asks Dawson if he wants to dance because she's wanted to dance with him all night and he smartens up and agrees. They dance until the credits fade in.

dun



dun

DUUUUUNNNNN!

I love how this show is so teen oriented that the second episode features a big school dance. Teens love their school dances, amiright? Not much has progressed yet, but it is only the second episode. I'd say the one plotline that has truly progressed is that Dawson and Jen are sort of, kind of dating. Other than that, we still have Mrs. Leary cheating and Ms. Jacobs is still running hot and cold with Pacey when she should be only running cool...

as iccccce!

Things I liked:

1) Joey is a lot more likeable in this episode so she has that going for her. She's not afraid to speak her mind and I respect her for that.

2) Jen's back story is hinted at in this episode.

Things I disliked:

1) Dawson. He's so arrogant and stuck up about his movie. He's also completely self-absorbed so that he acknowledges neither Jen's nor Joey's feelings. 

2) Mrs. Leary is a great big B. I can see where Dawson gets his self-absorbtion from. She's so focused on herself that she can't see what a great home life she has even after a teenager pointed it out to her. Congrats, Mrs. Leary, you have less regard and empathy for the ones you love than a teenager does.

3) I still dislike Pacey/Ms. Jacobs and Pacey claiming he is down with it is not helping things because it still falls to the adult to be the adult and say that it is wrong. She just met the kid, she doesn't know him that well, so really from what we know, she really is just using him to make herself feel better about growing older. She is a creepy cougar.

That's it for this week, stay tuned for more awesome drama when we return with the next episode, Kiss.