Dawson's Creek - 201 - The Kiss

Original air date: October 7, 1998

Welcome back dear readers. In case you forgot, we last left off with Dawson kissing Joey and I fully expected to move on to the first episode of the second season and find them in Dawson's room arguing about the deeper meanings behind Stephen Spielberg's Indiana Jones series while avoiding talking about having kissed and pretending nothing happened between them. So I was very pleasantly surprised to see actual continuity. Last season ended with a kiss and this season opened with that same kiss.

Thank you writers for finally continuing a story!

Unfortunately, this happy moment doesn't last long and they eventually fall into their usual argument mode. Joey, I think alludes to them having sex but chickens out before saying it (and she thinks Jen moves too fast?), which leads to Dawson thinking she was going to say that it was a mistake that they kissed, which then leads to Joey getting mad at Dawson because if he said that he thinks she thinks they made a mistake, he must obviously be thinking they made a mistake.

I don't even

After some more back and forth drama about who wants to forget what happened more, Joey storms off.



Running away solves everything!!!!


But then Dawson stops her again by kissing her.



Oh, it did again



Next we cut to Gail watching Mitch sleep because apparently, she's turned into Edward Cullen. Mitch is understandably freaked out but then Gail explains that she has a free morning and she's been waiting for him to get up because she can only think of one way she wants to spend it. This apparently freaks Mitch out too because he stops her before she can get very far and says he has to shower because he has a meeting.

Denied!

We then cut to a, for once, cheery Joey. Bessie is suspicious of her non- scowliness and I can't blame her. She finds out that Joey was at Dawson's the previous night and puts two and two together and wants Joey to give her details. I know that Bessie isn't technically Joey's mom, I know that. I also know that sometimes sisters do talk about these things but for some reason, it just weirds me out that Bessie is so into her teen aged sister gettin' some.



Weirdest guardian ever?


Because so much time has gone by between episodes but this show is playing off like this stuff happened the previous day, Dawson and Pacey are hanging out at a salon, getting their hair cut. Nice cover, writers. Except that in Pacey's case, his hair has gotten longer and last I checked, hair cuts don't work that way but still, nice cover.



Just two dudes gettin' their hair did


What follows next is an inter spliced conversation between the girls and the boys regarding the Dawson/Joey kiss a la Summer Nights from Grease.



Sadly, minus the singing and Travolta

So the weird thing about this scene is that they've kissed, once. Once! After spending God knows how long denying their feelings for one another so the fact that they finally got through their whole deal and kissed, you'd think that Pacey and Bessie would be like, great so you two should go on a date but instead they are both weirdly like:



Sadly again, minus the song and dance


How weird is it that Joey's sister wanted to know if Dawson touched her? Whether she meant boobs or pussy, it's still freaking weird. I know when I got a boyfriend, my sister wasn't all "OMG! So, did he touch your pussy yet?" Because that would be weird.

Anyway, once we are done talking about Joey and Dawson, Pacey claims that because Dawson finally acted instead of sitting back and examining the situation, he can change too. He is now determined to change his image and be a stud. His first conquest will be senior cheerleader, Kristy Livingstone and to attract her attention, he decides to "frost his tips" And just..



Noooooooo!!!! What did you do to your
gorgeous brunette locks?


But here is where, even though I said I'd go down with the ship that is Joey/Pacey, I abandoned my thinking for a long while. Because, ladies and gentleman, I just could not in good conscience ship Pacey with someone who chose Dawson of all people over him. Especially not when we are introduced to the marvelous-ness that is Andie McPhee:

Team Pandie begins!

They also have their very own "meet cute" where Andie accidentally runs into his car as he pulls out. They play it like it's her fault but I think it's because he's driving his dad's or his brother's cruiser and usually hitting a cop means you're in trouble regardless. Except that Andie totally had the right of way because Pacey was pulling out of a parking space and should have yielded to traffic. But, I digress. She thinks he's a cop because he's driving a cop car and is kind of dressed like one:

Hot...except for the frosted tips

So, Pacey plays along and pretends to be a cop so that she won't report the accident and he won't get in trouble.

Meanwhile, Joey is just finishing talking with a teacher when she bumps into Dawson. They act all shy and cutesy with each other and then Joey claims that she might have made the biggest mistake of her life. Dawson, of course, thinks she is talking about him and is all serious face. Then Joey finally reveals that she told the teacher that she just wasn't going to go...to France, in case you guys forgot about that blip of a sub plot.

Oh look, it's hypocrite Joey

She asks Dawson what he thinks of her not going and he says he's extremely happy and, apparently, aroused. This leads Joey to wonder once again if they've made a mistake and I'm left wondering if this is what their entire relationship is going to be like. Cutesy conversations mixed with overwrought angst over whether or not they should be together. In which case, this will be me whenever they interact as a couple:

I don't know how long I'll last before
I pull the trigger though

So, Dawson asks her out on a date and Joey pretends like she wants to watch TV instead because Luke Perry is back on 90210 but also because nothing can ever be simple with Joey, she always has to be clever. Always. Thankfully, Dawson ignores her TV comment and tells her that the Rialto is closing and that he'd like to take her to the last show on Saturday. She then asks him if he'll still be aroused on Saturday. Guys? These two are really nauseating together. I mean, they are that annoying couple that most people hate. I think I preferred Dawson with Jen. At least he could just hang out with her like normal and not talk all gushy romantic with her every second.

This picture adds nothing, it just amuses me

Speaking of Jen, she bumps into them and informs them about her Gramps' passing. They are concerned for her which is nice. Jen tells them that she is going to head home because she doesn't think that she can stick out the day. Speaking as a girl who had to go to school the day after finding out that her Grandpa passed away, which was when the school remembrance day ceremony was being held, which had a guy playing drums, which my grandpa used to love to play, I can attest that it is, indeed, hard to hold yourself together for a full day of class. Surprisingly, Joey tells Dawson to go after Jen to see if she's OK. I guess she can afford to be nice to Jen now that she won.

Side note: I love that they've tried to cover up Michelle Williams' obviously way shorter hair by pretending that she's just pulled it back.

Short hair cover up fail

Pacey is bragging to a group of random extras about what he did to Andie earlier which is a bonehead move because Andie overhears him. She calls him out on his bullshit and threatens to call the cops. Pacey acts like an entitled ass by daring her to because his daddy is the sheriff. I don't like Pacey in that moment. He also claims the accident was her fault and just no, Pacey. You were parked and pulling out into traffic, she had the right of way. You pulled out without looking so quit with the misogynistic "females are terrible drivers" crap.

I will correct you because you are wrong

Then Kristy Livingstone, the object of Pacey's affections, walks past them and says "hi" to Andie. Pacey is shocked that Andie knows Kristy and then says that she probably didn't recognise him because he just got his tips frosted. Andie is amused and offers to set up a meeting with him and Kristy. Pacey is surprised that she would be that nice to him.

Those are some good questions

At the Lindley household, Jen comes home to find that Grams is packing up all of her husband's things. She asks Jennifer how school was which confuses me because I thought Jen said she was taking off early. I guess she could have taken her time getting home but then, I also thought Dawson was supposed to be checking up on her. I see the writers are once again saying a big "fuck you" to time lines.

Anyway, she gets pissy at Grams for packing up her Gramps' things but Grams just looks her in the eye and tells her that she loved her husband dearly but that she watched him waste away in bed for two years so whether she packs his things today or next week he's still gone and has been gone for a while.

A little harsh but she's right

We next see Gail running up to her house and pleading with Mitch not to be mad at her for being late and that she definitely wasn't sleeping around on him this time. Mitch says that he believes her and she breathes a sigh of relief. She tells him that it's important that he believes her and then he says that he's got to go to an appointment that came up suddenly and leaves her.

Sucks when your spouse has mysterious
night time meetings, doesn't it?

Meanwhile, Andie has set up the meeting between Pacey and Kristy. Before Pacey goes over to her, he sings a little limerick about her which is both shitty and creep-tacular. Here it is:

Pacey: There once was a girl name-a Kristy, the thought of her nude makes me misty, a night on the town, we'll both go get down, by the end of the date she'll have kissed me.



Pacey, Petey, same diff

Pacey asks Kristy on a date and I guess she didn't hear his little limerick about her being nude because she agrees.

We then find out that Mitch's appointment is with a lawyer that specialises in divorce.

Dun, dun, DUN!

Dawson finally meets up with Jen. Except that I think we're supposed to forget that he supposedly followed her right after she left school as per Joey's suggestion because he acts like the only reason he is over there is because his mom sent him over with a casserole.

Jen asks him if he's going out and he says he is going to the Rialto for its last night. Jen then asks if he's going with Joey to which he stupidly replies "Yeah, who else?"

Not intentionally but still a burn

Seriously Dawson? I know she dumped you and you have every right not to get together with her again and to move on but this girl is obviously an emotional wreck after losing her grandfather and confessed that she still had feelings for you a few days ago. Maybe spare her feelings a bit. He then gives her advice to not sit around being sad and get out because it's nice out. He then leaves quickly.

Sucks that you're feeling bad, 'kay bye!

Joey is nervous about her date because she and Dawson haven't kissed since the first time which was apparently yesterday...except that it was clearly night time when you kissed, then you clearly went to school the next day and you said your date was on Saturday so...either Capeside has classes on Saturdays or the writers have no concept of time. I'm going with the latter for obvious reasons.

Bessie gives Joey a pep talk about second kisses being more meaningful than the first kiss and assures her that she will get her second kiss.

We then cut to Dawson, picking Joey up for their first date. He gives her a flower that he plucked from her lawn right in front of her which she, for some reason, finds charming. I would be like, "Bitch, you for real?" if he pulled that shit with me. Don't get me wrong, flowers are nice and a guy taking the time to pick you flowers is extremely nice BUT a guy showing up at your door and then going "Whoops, was I supposed to bring something?" and stooping down to pick one of your flowers to give to you? That is beyond lazy.

you, Dawson

Joey immediately makes the situation more awkward when she makes jokes about renting a motel room. Seriously, this is the bitch who thought Jen Lindley moved fast. Jen didn't talk about sex all the time but somehow, she's the slut and Joey's the virginal goddess. Whatever show, whatever. Dawson cuts through her sexual bravado by saying that he just wants to hold her hand.

This shuts her up, thankfully

Pacey waits for Kristy outside of the Rialto and is singing that awful limerick again except whistling for most of it and singing only parts of it and somehow, that makes it worse. Stop, Pacey! I'm begging you! Anyway, he's basically frustrated because she hasn't shown up yet.

Dawson and Joey are holding hands in the movie theatre when an usher comes down the aisle with a flashlight. Jen then appears and moves to sit next to Dawson. Uh oh, I smell...


Yes, I do


In fact, this plot point is now mirroring the pilot episode of the series but instead of Joey ruining Dawson's first date with Jen, we have Jen ruining Dawson's first date with Joey. Except that, I have to say, Jen's only crime is third-wheeling them. She isn't bitchy to Joey, asking her if she dyes her hair or asking if she's still a virgin or anything. She just joins them. Since Joey effectively ruined Jen and Dawson's first date, I think it's only fair that it's reciprocated. In other words,

Dawson proceeds to question why Jen is there, which is valid but kind of cold. She quickly picks up on the fact that she is not welcome and leaves, causing Dawson to chase after her and leave Joey behind. Hey, much like when he took Joey outside to talk to her and left Jen behind. Sorry, Jo but this is karma, you're going to just have to deal with it.

Dawson finds Jen in the lobby where she asks him point blank if he wanted to be with Joey the whole time he was with her. He says he didn't and I believe him because he was so absolutely clueless about Joey's feelings in the beginning and it wasn't until he and Jen broke up and Dawson saw Joey in an evening dress that he started to like her as more than a sister. Jen then has a mini freak out about how she was stupid to push him away and asks that Dawson not jump Joey right away because she doesn't think she could handle it. She turns a little emo too, suggesting that she would turn to razor blades so I guess we've entered into the beginnings of Jen spiralling out of control this season.

I'll totally cut myself, I swear!

Dawson goes back into the theatre but finds Joey gone. She has left in another one of her tantrums because, say it with me now "running away solves everything!"

Pacey is still waiting for Kristy when she finally shows up. However, she can't stay long because, big surprise reveal, her boyfriend is waiting for her. Ain't that a punch to the nuts. But wait, why did she agree to go on a date with him then? Well, she explains that she thinks he's really brave to try and live a normal life despite being under the constant cloud of death and that she knows that he didn't want anyone to know but his friend Andie told her all about it and it finally clicks in with Pacey. Andie set this whole thing up as retaliation for the prank he played on her and I just love Andie for this, OK?

Yep, you just got served

Grams is leaving the theatre when she spots Jen. Jen accuses her Grams of wanting to date right away because she's obviously over her Gramps. Jen then says that she thinks her life is pathetic and that Grams is probably the best friend she has except that she doesn't think Grams likes her. Grams tells Jen that she's her whole world and Jen says that if she's all her Grams has, she feels sorry for her. Jen is really falling into her emo role nicely. Grams then reveals that she had her first date with Jen's Gramps at the Rialto and that she came to the last screening, not to see a movie but to be with her husband one last time.

Bet you feel like a tool now, don't you?

Pacey runs into Andie at the store and confronts her about her lie about his life threatening condition. Andie admits that she made it up and that Pacey is deluded if he ever thought he could get Kristy to dump her hot, football champ boyfriend for him. Pacey then explains that he was trying to change himself but that he now sees that he can't and he has to go back to old Pacey, the black sheep Pacey, the brunette Pacey. Andie says that she thinks he should die his hair back.



I love you, Andie


Meanwhile, Gail confronts Mitch about his visit to the divorce lawyer. Mitch says that he doesn't think he can be married to a woman that he loves and hates in equal measure. Gail then says that he has two options, he can either give her another chance, wholeheartedly or he can go to the divorce lawyers, write a big cheque and make their marriage another statistic. She then asks him if he likes one of those options and Mitch says he does but he doesn't know which one yet.

Can you really blame him?

I don't really get this, are we supposed to sympathise with Gail now because Mitch isn't trying to fix the relationship she fucked up for no good reason? Because that is some bullshit, guys. How the hell do you fix a relationship that was perfect and had no problems other than Gail was bored. Mitch doesn't need to work on anything here, he was honest, he was a loyal husband, he was romantic, he was trusting and she cheated on him because she was bored of how perfect her life was. He can't fix that. Why would he want to? If they fix their relationship and everything goes back to normal again, won't Gail just get bored and cheat on him again? What I'm saying is that I understand his reservations and I'm still on Team Mitch.

Dawson finally catches up with Joey and even though they don't show it, I imagine him going through about 10 of her "thinking" spots, missing her by mere minutes at each one, before finally finding her here and it amuses me. Anyway, Dawson starts to apologise to her even though she pulled the hissy and ditched him. But, to her credit, Joey reveals that she wasn't mad about Dawson talking to Jen. She bailed because she was worried about how complicated their relationship is.

I can't be the only one annoyed with this

She explains why she chose not to go on that trip to France and she gives a reason that is laughably lame and transparent. Joey, it's not that France would have been "easier" and staying in a small town is "harder" and would "make you stronger", you didn't go because you wanted to be with Dawson. You are just as shallow as that girl who also opted not to go to France because of her boyfriend, deal with it. You were scared of actually realising your dreams and getting out of Capeside, of experiencing something new and different. So you stayed where you felt safe, with someone you felt safe with. I have no problem with that either, I just wish she'd own it and not be so damn pretentious about staying being the harder choice because it isn't and guess what? No matter how many times you say your relationship with Dawson is complicated? It fucking well isn't and just because you say it is, doesn't make it so. Your relationship with Dawson is as simple as, you like each other, therefore you are now dating. That's it. You are friends who are now dating.

Completely missing the point of what Joey is actually saying, that she is hiding from France because new experiences scare her, Dawson starts pointing out the France experience within Capeside. They banter back and forth about other french things they could enjoy and they kiss again.

Joey: French kiss. The 2nd kiss, the rational one. The one that requires thought.

And because, I can only assume, Dawson thinks she's just rambling and has no idea what she's talking about, he comes back with:

Dawson: You know I found out what they're replacing the Rialto with. A movie theatre.

Awkward

But they use the new theatre as a metaphor for their relationship changing for the better because they love to talk about their relationship in metaphors instead of actually talking about their relationship and then they kiss again.

The end.

So, that was the first episode of the second season. I like that they are finally addressing the Mitch and Gail relationship issues that have taken a back seat for a while now. I love the introduction of Andie as a romantic interest for Pacey. Hooray for no more romanticised statutory rape for him. I can't stand the Dawson and Joey relationship though. I still really feel like Dawson is Joey's safety blanket. He poses no threat to her and shields her from actually taking risks in her life. Let's be real here, picking France would have been the harder option for her but she stayed because she was scared to go to a place she didn't know, that spoke a language that she couldn't speak and instead of facing those challenges and bettering herself, she stayed behind with Dawson.

Let's see how that works out for their relationship, shall we? Next time, it's Crossroads.

No, not the Britney Spears movie

Dawson's Creek - Season 1 Wrap-up

Before I delve into a second season of cheesy goodness, I thought I would sum up my feelings of season 1.

All nostalgia aside, I was surprised with how forgettable a lot of season 1 was. The only episodes I really remembered clearly were Detention, Double Date and The Scare and that's because there were clear stories in those episodes. I kind of remembered Road Trip and The Boyfriend too but that was because of Billy. The other episodes kind of blended into each other for me, I remembered moments but I couldn't tell you what episode they were from before I started this re-watch.

This forgetfulness is kind of a problem with the writing though. For instance, I didn't remember that they found out Gail was cheating on Mitch in the first season and do you want to know why that is? Because after the Hurricane episode, it is barely addressed at all. Which, I guess is fine. They clearly wanted to focus on the kids' drama for the younger audiences except that cheating is kind of a big deal, especially in a supposedly happy relationship. And they don't really address it, they brush up against it, having Mitch being angry, prodding his son for information on Gail's lover calling the house, and trying the therapy thing but it isn't fully addressed or resolved. I don't know why they didn't opt to focus on Dawson's struggle with his parents and give the love triangle a rest for a while so that they could stretch out the "will they/won't they" plot a little longer. Plus, it would have gone a long way to actually developing Dawson as a character instead of, well, a dullard. Seriously, Dawson just flits around in his own show, reacting horribly to other people's real problems while not really ignoring his own but flat out acting like he has no real issues other than "is kissing Joey incest or not."

Or not. At all

In fact, I'd say that is one of the biggest problems of the show to me. Dawson is the main character but he is so devoid of any conflict or growth that it is baffling. I mean, what did he learn this season? How is he any different? He got into the film class he wanted to get into and that really amounted to nothing. Did he finish his film? No. He helped the class out a few times and proved himself to them by showing them how to do a tracking shot. If film making is his passion, shouldn't there have been more focus on, I don't know, film? How does he feel about his parents? Last we saw of them, they were hugging, so resolved? Not resolved?



Taking it slow, I guess


In the season finale of his own show, he was not faced with a dilemma, not a real one anyway, Joey was. She had the hard choice to make, she had the hard issue to face with seeing her father for the first time in two years and dealing with her anger. Dawson was nothing more than a prop in her story. Her interaction with Pacey regarding her father felt more real than any interaction she had with Dawson because well, Dawson is kind of boring. Scratch that, really boring and I want to stress that it isn't James Van Der Beek's fault. Not entirely, he's a little green here but give him a break, it's his first big leading role. No, I think it's more the writers' fault, which is weird because at least some of the writing this season was done by Kevin Williamson himself and since Dawson is basically him, you'd think he'd write Dawson to be more interested but he seemed to settle for Dawson just being an innocent, wide eyed, dreamer who is naive to the world around him. Which could be interesting if they let him learn things and grow and change. But for whatever reason, the writers seemed reluctant to do so this season.

So, if I thought of her as a sister but now I don't because
"evening dress", that makes it NOT incest. Right?

And Joey. Josephine Potter, where do I begin. I both like and loath this character. She can be quite interesting and charming but then she does her high and mighty thing and I just hate her for it. I want to be behind this character but she makes it incredibly hard. Case in point, in the finale when she is talking to Jen and Dawson about being offered a semester in France, she mentions it's because the girl who was going to go opted not to because of a boyfriend. The way she says it makes me think she thinks that girl is nuts/ridiculous for giving up France for a boy but what does Joey pine for all episode? That Dawson will ask her to stay. And what does she ultimately do? She stays, for Dawson. I know, I know, she technically hasn't made her decision yet but come on, guys. She's the star, she's not going to leave the show, plus she just kissed Dawson. Was anyone actually wondering if she'd go to France after that? Really? She also doesn't really grow as a person. She still lashes out in weird ways, instead of telling someone why she is really upset, which admittedly a lot of teens do but it irritates me because other characters praise her for being so honest about everything.

Joey is honest? That is laughable

Jen got a pretty decent storyline this season. It's clear that she has lead a fairly troubled life before coming to Capeside. She started off as the sweet, innocent girl next door and actually grew into an incredibly interesting character with real flaws. I think she liked the way Dawson looked at her, not as a sex object but in his innocent way and I think Jen needed that but was also scared by it. By the intensity of real affection and that's why she pushed him away. Jen longed to be loved, truly and to have friendships and all of that was kind of yanked away from her this season. However, her relationship with Grams greatly improved and that is definitely a plus. I like how gradually it happened, they still bickered but they managed to be softer with each other too. I'm looking forward to learning more about the Lindley's.

*sniff*

Pacey is still my favourite character. This season didn't allow for a lot of growing room for him. I think his best moments were in Double Date and Decisions because he really got to show off his chops. But it's clear that the writers want him to be the comic relief for the show and so they didn't spend a lot of time developing. They gave us snippets of what could be an incredibly interesting character and back story for him. He obviously has a hard home life, from what little we've seen or heard. He really only interacts with Dougie but given Pacey's reaction to Dougie pulling a gun on him, I'm guessing he's used to a pretty fucked up home life. I look forward to them developing this further. I'm so glad they ditched the Ms. Jacobs storyline for him because it was so, so wrong but it really disappointed me that the whole thing resulted in nothing for his character. As soon as she left he was just like "alright ladies..." like he had experienced nothing. In fact, they barely brought Ms. Jacobs up again which, good because I hated her but bad because there was some potential drama in what happened between those two. Except that the writers seemed to want us to believe that there was nothing wrong with their relationship and just yuck.

Not you, Pacey just the relationship with Ms. Jacobs

The series seemed like a bit of a mess this season. The only direction they seemed to know they wanted to go was to get Joey and Dawson together. The characters don't seem to learn from previous episodes, in fact, the writers seemed fond of hitting the character reset buttons a lot. Like Joey almost spilling the beans in Detention that she likes Dawson. Next episode, no one talks about it. No one. Jen says she doesn't want to be friends with Dawson anymore. Next episode, she claims they are still friends. Where was the resolution of the argument they had? There was none. Pacey and Joey bond, next episode they hate each other again and pretend they didn't share anything with each other and pretend that Pacey didn't kiss her. It's weird.

I hope they get a little more consistent with the next season. Drama is very entertaining but I like my drama to go somewhere, to build into something else, to change things. I don't want:

With no substance, consequence or resolution

Because then the drama just becomes tedious and boring. Like they are trying to win you over with new and shocking conflicts each episode with none of it really going anywhere or leading to anything big.

Anyway, those are my thoughts so far. Here's hoping season two will fare better. Until next time, I'm Blinvy and I hope you enjoyed stepping into the teenage wastelands of Dawson's Creek Season 1 with me. Stay tuned for Season 2.

Dawson's Creek - 113 - Decisions

Original air date: May 19, 1998

Well, we are finally here. We made it to the final episode of season 1 and you know what? Every episode started off in Dawson's room. We scored a perfect baker's dozen, everyone!

Yay us!
(Also, much thanks to Lucas again for making this)


So, instead of talking about what happened last episode, I'll guess last week in the show's time, they are going to continue to pretend to be oblivious of the big elephant in the room, electing instead to banter with each other about metaphors, cliffhangers and TV. Because this show just loves to have these two banter with each other and pat themselves on the back for talking above average teen levels. Yet, for a bunch of teens that can spout endless jargon about society, have the self-awareness to relate their problems to TV and movie tropes and use psychoanalytical language, they sure can talk circles around their actual issues. I mean, how hard is it to say, "Dawson, I like you." and for him to reply "Hey, neat. I like you too."

Nah, let's argue about stuff that loosely relates to
our troubles while never actually addressing them. Hooray!

The most interesting story in this episode goes to Jen and her Grams. They are dealing with some actual heavy issues when it seems that her Gramps has finally woken up from his coma.

Jen is elated and feels like a weight has been lifted from her. She wants to go out and have some fun and apparently hopes that Dawson will accompany her. Dawson is still under Joey's magical evening dress spell and doesn't seem all that interested in hanging out with the girl he used to obsess over.

Too late, girl

Joey walks by in a stupor until she is stopped by Dawson, who now sounds like an excited lap dog when he calls her name.

Pictured: Joey and Dawson

Joey informs them that since another girl dropped out of studying in France for a semester because she didn't want to leave her boyfriend, she has been asked to go instead. Jen is thrilled for her but Dawson is butt hurt because he doesn't want his friend to leave.

But...but I just found out it wouldn't be incest

We cut to the Icehouse where Joey is now telling her sister about it. Well, she's focusing on the negatives of going which include lack of friends, her inability to speak the language (Which, hold up...wouldn't they have asked a kid who was actually studying French to go to France and not some random?) and the fact that she doesn't want to live in a country that worships Mickey Rourke. Mickey Rourke? Do the French love that guy? I've never heard that before.

Bessie tells Joey that no matter what she chooses, she is proud of her and she bets her father will be too. Joey asks why she would tell her father and Bessie informs her that it's his birthday and they agreed that one of them would visit him in prison and since she went last year it's Joey's turn. Yeah...why does she have to go if she clearly doesn't want to? Also, why would they agree to alternate it? Go together and support each other, don't send your 15 year old sister to a jail all by herself.

You are a suck-tacular guardian, Bessie

In the Pacey sub-sub-plot this episode, they've actually decided to follow up a little bit on his storyline from last episode regarding his family issues. Doug drives up behind Pacey and lets him know that their father is looking for him. It comes out that Pacey has failed his mid-terms, I guess despite him doing that extra credit project with Joey and is put on a fail watch by the school. His father is none too pleased. Doug then informs Pacey that he is a walking joke with a bad punchline that no one is laughing at and it will be too late to change. He basically spells out that his entire family is ashamed of him.

Poor Pacey

We cut to Joey and Dawson who are on their way to visit her father. She has asked Dawson to go with her for support or maybe because a 15 year old girl should not be going to a prison by herself. Not that she needs a guy or anything but prisons are a pretty fucking intimidating place and not the funnest place to visit by yourself. Dawson tells her some platitudes about her visit being alright and at least it's only one day and then changes the subject to her decision about her semester abroad. She then turns it on him and asks what he would do if she left. He says suicide and she asks him to be serious so he says that if going to France makes her happy then he'd be happy for her.

Somehow, both of these are the wrong answer

They approach the prison guard and realise that they've missed visiting hours. Well, that was well planned out. She says it takes 4 hours on a bus so she doesn't want to go back. I don't get it? Didn't they know it was a four hour bus ride to get to the prison? Why didn't they leave earlier? Why didn't she know when visiting hours were? Seems like Bessie should have told her.

OK, seriously. Worst. Guardian. Ever.

Dawson and Joey opt to stay the night and you know the whole prison thing and missing visiting hours and it being so far away was a ploy to get these two alone so that they can bicker about their feelings some more.

Joey spares no time in picking on Dawson which is weird because he starts talking about how much he'd miss her when she goes to France and that he's been thinking a lot about them but then he starts questioning what's going on between them, she brings her claws out. Dawson tries to apologise and explain that he's confused and scared about what will happen if he can't work out his feelings.

Gee, I don't know. Maybe he's scared of the same
thing you were scared of all season?

Seriously, this is another thing that really pisses me off about the Joey character. She is constantly criticising or calling people out for things that she does. Like Jen, Joey constantly put her down for taking things slowly with Dawson, made Dawson doubt their relationship because of this and yet...Joey takes things slowly too because she's nervous about sex. Being nervous about sex is totally understandable when you've never had it before but what I can't get behind is her self righteous attitude about it. Or maybe it's her implied attitude of "I can take things slow because I'm a good virgin but Evil!Jen has had sex before so she doesn't get to take things slow, she should just give it up at every opportunity now." Just, Fuck you, Joey!

No! I'm allowed to do it but you aren't.

Meanwhile, Grams is elated that her husband has woken up and is thanking God. Jen decides this is the time to mock her Grams' happiness by telling her that prayer probably had nothing to do with her Gramps' recovery. Bitch. Now, I'm not a believer in God or the healing power of prayer or anything but Grams clearly is and it is pretty bitchy to tell someone that their coping tool does not help them. I know Jen was denying that it helped her Gramps which, is true but if it makes her Grams happy and gives her strength to pray and she feels that it worked, why would you take that away from her? Just try and be happy with her for once. You both got what you wanted. To be fair to Jen, she realises this and suggests they both be happy about it in their own ways. Good, Jen. Just know,

I'm watching you.

The next day, at the prison compound, Joey waits for her father to show up in the visiting area. Dawson tries to excuse himself but Joey tells him he can't leave her. Uh, I'm with Dawson on this one. He's your dad, Joey, you should be the one visiting with him. But, of course, he stays.

Because Joey said so.

As soon as her father walks in, Joey turns her bitch-o-meter to max volume. Now, I get it. Her dad is a moron, he cheated on her dying mother, he trafficked drugs and got sent to prison, effectively leaving Joey an orphan. He's a douche and I would have a hard time forgiving him too BUT you are there for one day in two years, don't you think you would have something to say to your father, no matter how fucked up he may be? Even if it's to say that they hurt you and that it makes you uncomfortable to visit him in prison? No, instead we get her being a sullen brat, as per usual who snarks at her dad at every opportunity.

Mr. Potter: I'm so glad. You have no idea. You're all grown up. It's amazing.

Joey: Well, that's what people do. They grow up.

OK, calm down. He was trying to pay you a compliment for fuck's sake. So, compliment failed, her father tries to steer the conversation in a different direction:

Mr. Potter: How's...uh...school?

Joey: That's what you wanna talk about? (snarky laugh)

Fuck you, you snarky bitch. He's trying to make conversation with you, it's probably awkward for him too. Also, what is so weird about her dad wanting to ask her about school? But, you know what? I get it, her dad did a shitty thing to her when she needed a parent to lean on with her mother dying so I could totally forgive this line if she, I don't know, told him this. Used it to lead into what she wanted to talk about but she doesn't. Instead, her father tries to ask her:

Mr. Potter: What do you want to talk about?

Joey: Nothing.

For the love of...so what? You just want to sit there and sulk for an hour?

Fine. Whatever.

To her credit, she does blow up at him after this. Asking if he misses her mom and then telling him that the family he misses doesn't exist anymore and that she won't be back to see him because she is going to France. It's not 100 percent up front but it is anger I can get behind.

Joey leaves and Dawson makes to go after her but her father asks him to stay and tell him about his daughter. Dawson obliges. I'll post it here to be fair, as it is supposed to set up the love he has for her:

Dawson: I mean, she's smart, she's beautiful, she's funny, she's a big ol' scaredy-cat. If you creep up from behind her she'll jump out of her skin. It's pretty amusing. She's honest. She always calls them just like she sees them. You can always count on getting the truth from Joey even if the truth hurts. She's stubborn. We fight a lot. She can be so frustrating sometimes. But she's a really, really, good friend. I know her to a fault. She believes in me. And I'm a dreamer so it's so good to have somebody like that in my life. If she goes away, I don't know what I'm going to do. I mean, she's my best friend, you know? She's more than that. She's everything.

However, I don't agree with what he is saying. Joey is smart and beautiful, she can be funny and she definitely was shown to be a scaredy cat, so that part holds up, but honest?

Did we forget about her Debrah Carson incident? Not a very honest thing to do to someone, lying about who you are and where you live. On top of that, there is the whole fact that she harboured a crush on Dawson for a whole school year and never said anything which, OK fine, I get being nervous about ruining a friendship. Except for the fact that she continuously manipulated Dawson into having fights with both Jen and Pacey just because she wanted to be with him but didn't have the guts to be honest with him. So, yeah, you can't always count on getting the truth from Joey, in my opinion.

Also, does she really believe in Dawson? Because she seems to mock him an awful lot for his interest in movies. Even going so far as to tell him that girls wouldn't be interested in him because he's such a geek about movies. But, I digress.

Joey confronts Dawson once they are off the bus because apparently he hasn't said one word to her since they left the prison. That must have been one awkward and long four hour bus ride, then. Yikes. Dawson tells her that her dad asked about her and that he misses her and she shouldn't have left. He also tells her that she'll have to deal with her father sometime or her resentment will grow.

Her resentment and snarkyness could get worse than it is now?

Doooooooooooommmmed!

Joey admits that she hates her father and that she has to deal with the legacy he left her every day of her life. She then tells him that she's decided to go to Paris because she won't have to deal with her father there. Dawson is surprised she's made this decision and tells her that running away is not the answer. Joey demands that he give her one good reason she should stay. Way to put that decision on your best friend, Joey. If he tells you to go in order to be supportive, you'll resent him for not asking you to stay and be with him which is what you are clearly fishing for and if he asks you to stay, you're going to resent him for holding you back from experiencing something new and fulfilling your desire to get out of Capeside. Dawson can't answer so Joey runs away.

Running away solves everything!

Back with Jen and Grams, apparently Gramps has had another stroke. Grams tries to reassure herself that God has a plan and that they can help her husband with the power of prayer. Jen gets upset at this and asks how her Grams can have so much faith in prayer when prayer can't change God. Grams retorts by saying that she doesn't pray to change God, she prays to change herself.


Grams is kind of awesome


Joey is closing up the Icehouse when Pacey walks in. She tells him they're closing and Pacey begs her to not make him eat with the Stepford family. She mentions having a wave of sympathy for him but that it'll pass because apparently she is back to hating him even though I thought they kind of became friends after Double Date but whatever.

I find it interesting that after we are told by Dawson, how honest Joey is with him when she really isn't, that Pacey asks her to be honest with him because she usually is and I believe it. She has always had no problem telling him when he's being an idiot and exactly what he's being an idiot for. She has had open and honest discussions with him, first regarding his affair with Ms. Jacobs, where she lent him support and opened up about what it's like to be the subject of gossip and then again when they talked honestly about how much she worries about her grades and getting out of Capeside and he lent her his support. These two can talk honestly with each other, we've seen the evidence but every time Joey and Dawson talk, they never tell each other what they really feel because they are so worried about impressing each other. Joey and Dawson banter. Pacey and Joey talk to each other.

I will go down with this ship

Anyway, Pacey asks her when he became the town joke and Joey tries to reassure him that his family doesn't think that. When he tells her that his brother told him as much, she tries to make him feel better by saying that at least his whole family isn't a joke to the town. She then tells him that she just got back from visiting her father and he asks her how it went. You know, like real friends do? When he sees it didn't go well, this exchange happens:

Pacey: Fathers are weird creatures, you know that? When I was 8 years old, I used to play Pee Wee baseball. We had this huge game at the end of the season. It was 2 outs, bottom of the ninth, and I was up to bat. I struck out. Anyway, we get home and my dad just proceeds to ream me. Tell me what a loser I am and what a disgrace I am to the whole family and town for losing the game. Next morning I go down to breakfast, and I overhear my dad relaying the events of the game to my brother. I heard him say to him, 'At least I have you.' I never told anybody this but I wish I'd never heard him say that.

Joey: Well, maybe you should have a talk with your father. You know, tell him that he hurt you.

Pacey: Is that what you did?

Joey: No, but I'm going to.

Just like that. He understands her issue, he has a perspective on how bad fathers can be. All he has to do is relay an open, honest story about how he deals with his father and when she offers him sensible advice, he turns it on her. He actually knows how to deal with Joey's "Do as I say, not as I do" mentality and let her come to her own conclusion, that she has to do what she would tell someone else to do. They get each other, they understand each other and they often times seem to help each other when someone like Dawson just can't.

Joey, charged up on her self-realisation, wants to go to the prison and face her father while she has the nerve. The catch is, the buses don't run this late and that's not her only problem seeing as how visiting hours will be well over. What does Pacey do? He drives her all the way there. When they get there, he manages to convince the guard to let her see her father right away. I mean, come on, how much more does he have to do for her to convince her that he likes her?



Get a clue! He's doing this because he loves you!


Back in Capeside, Twist! Jen comes through Dawson's window. She's upset because her Gramps has relapsed and she feels like she is losing everyone. Dawson tells her she has him but she says he's only half there and admits that it is her fault because she pushes people away. She then asks him if she can sleep with him, the way he sleeps with Joey, as friends. Dawson agrees and awkwardly gives her platitudes about "everything being OK"



Dawson is a robot who can't deal with real
human emotions. Of this, I am convinced


Back with Joey, she is finally confronting her father. She tells him that he messed up, not just because he broke the law, or left her without a father but because he doesn't know her at all. This is true. She says that she's fine and that she turned out pretty good, no thanks to him and I'm fine with that dig because she's explained herself and is finally being honest and she's right. She will be fine and he will have nothing to do with it because he got himself locked up. However, the next part while part heart-wrenching is also fucking annoying. Joey asks her father if he loves her and I feel bad for her because I can understand why she'd feel that he doesn't. But then, this happens:

Joey: Do you really love me though? Because I'm 15 years old and I go through everyday of my life thinking nobody loves me.

Mr. Potter: Well nothing could be further from the truth. I'm not the only one. Dawson Leery. He loves you, Joey.

Why? Why would this happen? What father tells his daughter that a boy loves her? It just doesn't make any sense. He then tells her that she loves him too and she, of course, agrees. Again, I call bull shit. My father never once went to me and was like 'That boy loves you, you know and you love him." and do you know why he'd never say that? Because fathers, as cliche and double standard as this is, like to pretend that their "little girls" don't date and they definitely don't like to think of the implications of what their daughters get up when they love someone, if you catch my drift. This just reeks of poor writing, of using her father to smash the Joey and Dawson dolls together because if another character says they love each other, then they must.



Fine, you love Dawson


Her dad, her DAD, tells her that she has to tell Dawson. Because, it's not like they're talking about anything important, it's not like they have a relationship to mend and build. No, Joey has to tell Dawson she loves him. Joey tells her father that she loves him before leaving to tell Dawson the same thing.

Instead of everything being resolved easily, we have to throw another wrench in this thing so, of course. Joey rows up all excited in her row boat and climbs through the window only to see this:

Dun, dun, DUNNNN!

And a big misunderstanding happens where she thinks that Dawson has slept with Jen or at least gotten back together with her. He tries to tell her that it's not what she thinks but, of course, she runs away before he can.

Running away solves everything!!

Jen goes back to her house after being completely blown off by Dawson while he chases after Joey and talks to her Grams. Grams sees something is wrong with Jen and wants to help but Jen politely declines.

As Dawson races through Capeside in a desperate bid to find Joey and tell her that nothing happened with Jen, actual things are happening in the Lindley house as Jen gets a call from the hospital notifying her that her Gramps has passed away.

This scene is literally the most heart-wrenching scene all season, Grams is in the church and Jen quietly sits next to her. Grams then asks God to keep her husband safe for her and Jen adds, "and me too." finally accepting her Grams' beliefs, not as her own but as a way to comfort her and then Grams just totally breaks down and cries about how much she misses her husband. This is the Grams I love, the sweet, vulnerable, human Grams but it also helps me understand the previous Grams too. How she was trying to be strong for Jen's sake and in a way to shield herself from the knowledge that she'd probably lost her husband a long time ago. It breaks my heart and this scene just brings me to tears.

They're not real people, they're not real people...
*Sobs uncontrollably*

But, since this is about Dawson and Joey, of course we have to go back to their drama. Dawson gives up his quest to find Joey that I guess is also supposed to show us how connected they are because Dawson goes to every place Joey has already been but I just find it hilarious.

Here I am!



Psych!

I'm over here!

Fooled you!

I mean, this happens over and over to the point where I'm like, "Jesus Christ! How many spots does this chick have to stop and contemplate things and does she have to go to every single one of them for one problem?" I get this vision in my head every time I see this playing out that she's like timing her contemplation time, like 5 minutes for each place just so she can get to all of them in a day.

I know they used this scene to show how in tune Dawson is to Joey but if he was so in tune with her, you'd think he would have caught her at one of those places before she left. I mean, he was running all over and she was just moping from spot to spot.

Dawson eventually gives up and goes home and "surprise!" Joey is in his closet. Can I just point out how creepy and weird it is that she likes to sit in the dark in a closet? Not even her own closet but her friend's closet. It's weird.

You are a creeper, Joey Potter

Dawson tries to tell her that nothing is going on between he and Jen and Joey says that he doesn't have to explain anything because they are just friends. Dawson says that's not true and Joey then asks what they are then. When he doesn't answer, she becomes angry and tells Dawson to grow up.

Dawson asks if she's going to France and then Joey smirks and says "ah, the inevitable cliffhanger." Get it? Because they were talking about cliffhangers at the beginning of the episode and now she has a cliffhanger question in real life! So Joey finally throws down with this:

Joey: Dawson, I'm so tired of dancing around these big words. I just want to be honest with you.

Dawson: Me too. Joe, more than anything, I just want to be honest.

Yes! For the love of God, be honest with each other! I'm begging you.

Joey: Do you think we're ready for that honesty?

Dawson: Yeah I do.

We are all ready for you two to be honest with each other. Please, dear Christ just get this over with.

Joey: Are you sure? Because honesty is a big word and it changes things and it complicates things. Are you sure you're ready for all the things that comes along with telling the truth?

GET ON WITH IT!

But of course, Dawson ruins it.

Wait, could it be incest?

So, Joey runs away.

Running away solves everything!!!

But Dawson stops her.

I guess running away does solve everything

The fucking end.

Thus concludes the first season of Dawson's Creek. And if you think the annoying melodrama between Dawson and Joey is finally over now that they've kissed, well, you are sorely mistaken, Sir. They still have five more seasons of angst to get through. So, stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion to this heart stopping cliffhanger.