Dawson's Creek - 203 - Alternative Lifestyles

Original air date: October 21, 1998

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Only three episodes in to this season and the "opening scene in Dawson's room" streak has already been broken. There will be no perfect score this season. I'm so sorry.

It's truly a dark day for us all

The episode actually starts outside of Dawson's room. Mitch is pulling down the ladder that Joey always uses to sneak into Dawson's room. You'd think they never would have let it go up in the first place because, what is the damn point? Bitch should just use a door like everyone else. Also, wouldn't they have pulled it down when they knew he was dating Jen? Or was only Joey allowed to use this ladder and it repelled everyone else? Well, we know that isn't true because Jen climbed it last season and spent the night with Dawson. Sleeping beside him, not with but still. Dawson's parents are kind of stupid.

Dawson acts like a smug prick about Mitch taking down the ladder and starts explaining to his dad that he is a "sexual being" and Mitch just can't handle his sexy, sexiness.

Exactly

Wasn't Dawson complaining just last episode that his father was trying to talk to him about sex and now this episode, Dawson is superior and his father just can't handle him having sex? Continuity, writers!

Anyway, Dawson goes to his room and Joey is there waiting for him. I'm pissed for a second that they are getting away with it because I'm finding myself actively hating Dawson getting what he wants and supposedly outsmarting other people but Mitch interrupts them and escorts Joey out.

All is right with the world

After the theme song is done, we find Joey rushing to get ready for school but Bessie keeps preventing her from getting on her way. First by making her help with the baby and then asking her to stop by her restaurant to make sure it looks clean. Uh, Bessie? It's your business and your responsibility to keep it clean, it's Joey's responsibility to go to school. Don't make her late to class for the sake of your business.



Worst guardian ever



Meanwhile, in the Dawson household, the writers succeed in pissing me off by making Dawson outsmart Mitch with the whole "sexual being" debate. It's not that I'm against what Dawson is saying, that teens will have sex if they want to, it's just that I'm against Dawson winning anything. He's so freaking smug that it bugs me to see his self-involved ego inflate more than it already is.

It can't just be me that wants to punch him, right?

Gail then pisses me off by having the gall to be pissy at Mitch for making excuses to explore his "sexual impulses." Uh, you want to check your hypocrisy at the door, Gail? Who made excuses, lame ones at that, to explore their sexual desires last season? Oh right, that was you. I'm not on Mitch's side about an open marriage because, while they work for some people they are not a good band aid for a broken relationship but I'm definitely not on Gail's side either.

Both of you can suck it

Abby and Jen are talking together about boys. Abby asks Jen who she'd rather sleep with and names two jock stereotype-looking extras. Jen says neither because they are "gym junkies" with no cultural interests. Abby then laments the fact that she is friends with someone who only has eyes for Dawson Leery. I hear ya, Abby. Despite her distaste for Dawson, which I highly applaud, Abby still encourages Jen to go for it and "make it happen."

Despite her flaws, Abby is a good friend

Andie asks Pacey for his notes for Econ class because she forgot her books and couldn't take them herself and she also apparently forgot his confession to her about flunking the other night. Then again, I guess she could assume he was only flunking bio but still, he never screamed "diligent note taker" to me. Pacey, of course, doesn't have the notes and Andie freaks out about not having done the homework and flunking out and ending up on the streets. Pacey mocks her by saying that she's rich, so she won't end up on the streets. She is not impressed.



I love their interactions


I'm not going to bore you with the details of their Econ class because...boring. I'm just going to say that everyone has to pair up and pretend to be a couple. Pacey and Andie get paired off, naturally. Jen and Dawson get paired up, much to my delight and Joey's displeasure and Abby gets paired off with a nerd. Joey ends up alone. Oh and those two jocks I mentioned earlier that Abby was lusting for? Yeah, they are paired together because this show loves making the gay jokes and "Oh noes! Two jocks who spend all of their time together are paired with each other and have to pretend to be a gay couple!" Laugh, laugh, it's hilarious...according to Dawson's Creek.

At lunch, Joey complains to Dawson about their assignment because she always complains but this time it's because she has no idea what she wants to be when she grows up and this assignment will depress her or something. I think she's moping because she has to do her assignment by herself and Dawson is paired with Jen who is an Evil!blond. I think I'm right because Joey immediately starts in with the "Are you as excited to be partnered with Jen as she is?" line, fishing for Dawson to tell her that she is vastly superior to that blond witch. Dawson obliges but Joey still isn't happy.

Is she ever happy?

Abby tries to give Jen a pep talk about using her partnership with Dawson to get back with him. Jen expresses doubt but Abby pushes her to show off her "naughty" side and to use the study sessions and the role playing as husband and wife as a way to remind him of what a great couple they were and how compatible they are. It's actually good advice but I know we're supposed to hate them for plotting to steal Dawson away from Perfect!Joey but I'm kind of rooting for Jen and Abby to succeed.

How can I not?

Joey asks Bessie if they can save some of the cleaning at the restaurant for another day because of her Econ project. Joey explains that she has to be a successful, single, career mother and she has no idea where to start. Bessie offers up her help, seeing as how she is "virtually a single career mother" too. I have to agree, we haven't seen Bodie since last season, I think the Double Date episode? I wonder if they've changed the actor that plays him again.

Anyway, Joey shoots down Bessie's suggestion, saying that she has to be "successful" and make $160,000 a year. Bessie tries to explain that she may not make that income but she knows how to budget money and Joey brushes her off again and says she'll find someone else to advise her.

Bitch

Pacey and Andie are trying to work on their assignment but Pacey is too busy drooling over a Viper. Andie says that their made up income won't allow for that but Pacey remains adamant that he wants to get the expensive car because he's a typical teen boy and he's a slacker who doesn't want to take the assignment seriously. He condescends her again for being rich and spoiled which she still brushes off. She then compromises with him that he can get a viper if they can find a "viable two-bedroom apartment." Damn, that is compromising, stuffing three kids into one bedroom, just so the husband can have a fancy car?

Pacey, you're being a douche. Stop it!

Gail comes home from work in another man's car and Mitch sees her and gets upset. He throws a giant hissy, even when she explained that her car had broken down. But, because she didn't call Mitch for a ride, he declares that they will have an open marriage and that Thursday is "date night." Huh, Mitch and Pacey are competing for the title of head douche bag this episode.

I still like Mitch and Pacey but they are
making bad choices this episode.

Dawson and Jen are working on their assignment and getting along really well. They have been agreeing on every decision so far and Jen starts hinting at how compatible they are. Dawson looks confused...

Or like he's just realised, he has to poo

He then gets uncomfortable and suggests that they've done enough for the night so Jen goes home, disappointed.

Pacey and Andie are arguing about having nothing done on their assignment because they have been busy looking for affordable housing so that Pacey can get his Viper. I'd say Pacey is at fault but he is mad at Andie. She calls him lazy and he gives her his sob story about his parents not being very supportive of him which caused him to not be motivated. He starts to get some sympathy from Andie but then shits all over it by telling her she is fascinated by the assignment because she's so rich and that budgeting must be a novelty to her. He calls her rich and spoiled and Andie finally breaks.

Pacey, stop! You're being mean

Awwww, you made Andie upset

Joey meets with some super powered business woman who runs her own architecture firm and is completely wowed by her. The woman even asks Joey for her advice on floor plans for a restaurant they are designing. Of course, Joey has a perfect idea and they decide to help each other out with their respective projects.

Abby scolds Jen for not getting anywhere with Dawson when they only have one more night together while she continues to ignore her own nerdy partner and avoid doing any of her own assignment. I don't blame her. She convinces Jen to grab life, or Dawson so to speak, by the balls and take what she wants. I agree with her even though, I guess I'm not supposed to but I do disagree with the constant Joey is a virgin bashing. Look, there is nothing wrong with liking sex but there is also nothing wrong with not being ready/choosing to wait/not liking sex. I hate the constant shaming the media does to both sides, it's like you're damned if you do it and you're damned if you don't. It's an annoying message and it needs to stop. Teens, just have sex when you, yourself, are ready for it. End of.

Otherwise, I love this friendship

Gail prepared a super fancy dinner for Mitch but Mitch shits all over her gesture by reminding her that it is Thursday night or "date night." Aaaaand, now I'm remembering why I started siding with Gail again. Look, she cheated, I know that and I definitely condemn her for it because she did it for stupid and selfish reasons. For a while, I understood Mitch's reservations to her assertions that it was suddenly over because it did seem to me that the only reason she stopped was because she got caught, not because she seriously wanted to end things. The trust was definitely gone and it was definitely her fault, I'm not excusing her. However, this whole "open relationship" concept that Mitch is going with, is stupid, insensitive and wreaks of him wanting to revenge cheat on her guilt free. You know because they "agreed" on an open relationship. Except that, she is legitimately trying to create intimacy between the two of them again, trying to show him that on date night, she wants to be with him and he is shitting all over it. Also, the open relationship was not agreed upon, it was commanded by Mitch because he got his panties in a bunch about her getting a ride home with a guy. So. Not. Cool.

Slowly leaning towards Gail's side now...

Joey and Dawson are sitting on the porch and Joey is bragging about how her report is done while Dawson still has some things to finish up with Jen. She also says that she was really inspired by the woman that helped her with her report because it showed her that she has options out there, if she works hard enough. Gail interrupts them to tell them she is going out, so I guess they now don't care that Dawson and Joey will be left alone? So much for the beginning of the episode where they actually seemed concerned. Dawson and Joey are about to take advantage of the situation when Jen interrupts them.

Jen's lookin' to get some

Joey makes a snarky comment about Jen's dress before leaving and Jen urges Dawson up to his room.

Joey walks into the Ice House to find the Jocks from her class arguing over their project. You see, it's funny because they are meat heads and supposed to be straight but they are arguing like they are an actual gay couple. Oh, 90s, you're so hilarious.

Anyway, Joey proceeds to go on and on about how awesome the interior designer woman was and how she would help them with their financial problems and help them with a new logo and menus. Bessie is offended by this and snaps at Joey and they begin arguing. Bessie reaches her limit and sends Joey home.

That's right, you're not needed

Pacey walks into the Ice House to get a coffee and asks Jack for advice on Andie, seeing as how he's her brother. Jack asks Pacey what he did and Pacey admits that he called her a spoiled Princess, thinking that the truth hurts. Jack then tells Pacey that he couldn't be further from the truth about her and the reason Jack is working at the Ice House is because their family is losing or has lost their wealth. Her clothes and her Saab are just the last remains of their family's fortune.

Pacey feels like an ass, as he should

Mitch and Gail are both on their own for date night. This again, makes me wonder why Mitch couldn't just take the dinner his wife had planned as their date night but I guess he was really intent on trying to get some and even the score a bit.

Not cool, Mitch

Dawson and Jen have finished their project and Jen is throwing herself at Dawson. She suggests she sleep over and Dawson actually shows he has a pair by rejecting the idea and setting a clear boundary: they can still hang out but she can't sleep over. Fair enough. Seeing that her plan has failed she just lays it all out on the line, telling Dawson that she accepts that he's with Joey but that she doesn't respect it. She also says that he has options and that she is one of them and then leaves him to think about her offer. If Jen was like this at the beginning of the first season, I could have gotten behind Joey hating her, that was a low thing to do. However, she's not very proud of what she did herself.

See?

Mitch and Gail lie to each other about what they did on date night which completely refutes Mitch's claim that an open relationship would help them be honest with each other and props up my argument that an open relationship should not be used as a band aid to fix a broken relationship. Way to go, you two.

Bessie and Joey finally talk. Joey apologises for treating Bessie like she is a dumb and unsuccessful mother and Bessie apologises for working Joey too hard. Joey tells her sister that she likes helping out at the restaurant and that she is proud of Bessie and they make up.

Awwwwww

The students all hand in their projects. The nerd, Kenny, rats Abby out for not helping with the project. Andie is about to hand in half a project because Pacey bailed on her when he comes in with a completed project for the teacher. Ah, the beginnings of the Pacey I really, really love.

Joey and Dawson begin kissing and Abby tells them to get a room. I love that she does this for the sake of Jen's hurt feelings, even if the action is childish and immature. She really does want to stick up for Jen and be a good friend. Joey asks Dawson what that was about but he says he has no idea.

Does he ever?

Andie catches up with Pacey and thanks him for finishing their assignment and he apologises to her about being a dick. They have a back and forth banter that is so cute and I love them



They are just too cute, you guys



I thought this episode was going to end on a nice note until this happens...



My exact reaction

Ugh! So, stay tuned for the next episode recap, Slutty Ephebophile Tamara's Return. I am sure I'm going to hate it.

Dawson's Creek - 202 - Crossroads

Original air date: October 14, 1998

Hey, you know what I realised again? That we are still starting episodes in Dawson's room. Let's see if this trend lasts throughout season 2 as well. Another landmark to look forward to, yay!

We open up this episode with an infomercial about a spaghetti and sausage maker in one. The commercial goes on about the different sized and types of sausages it can make when the camera pans over to Dawson and Joey having a noisy make out session. Get it? Get it? The commercial is talking about making sausages and Dawson is making one too...in his pants!



Uh oh, James grossed himself out

 Gail and Mitch come in and interrupt their make out session. Dawson sheepishly asks them if they've met Joey to try and ease the awkward out of the situation. It doesn't work but luckily the theme song comes in to do the job right. This marks the first time an episode hasn't opened with Dawson and Joey bickering about metaphors, girls or whether or not they think the other one thinks they made a mistake getting together. Congratulations to the writers for changing things up finally.

Thanks for not putting us through another
one of their arguments, writers

We then cut to Pacey in a classroom. A cop is handing out papers and congratulating people but says that Pacey missed passing by one point. He's apparently failed his driver's license test which depresses him because he wanted to pass it on his birthday and...hang on a second!

In the first season, Pacey was the guy with the wheels. Now, I know they mentioned that he "borrowed" his parents' car without permission but then that seemed to be the only issue people had with it. On top of that he also drove a truck that did appear to be his, or at least lent to him. On top of that, Joey asked him to drive her to her father's prison...Pacey even got into an accident with Andie last freaking episode! What the hell, writers? What are you trying to say here? Does American licensing work differently than here? Because here we only take a written test for our learner's permit, then we take driving lessons and practice driving with someone who has a full licence until we are ready to take the road test. Upon completion of the road test, if we pass we are awarded with a full driver's licence, at least that's how it worked at the time this episode aired.

So what? Was Pacey driving completely illegally all those times? Even if he only had a learner's permit, he was still driving illegally because you are only allowed to drive if there is someone who has a full licence with you. Did the writers retcon his character? Was he supposed to already be 16 last season but the writer's wanted to do a 16th birthday story with him and changed everything? What happened here?

Dammit, we've confused Ryan Reynolds again

I guess, Pacey went to the DMV or classroom early because we cut over to Dawson who is just getting ready for school. Mitch is lecturing him on being sexually active because they want to try and be parents now. Dawson tries to throw the talk back at Mitch saying that "this is surreal coming from you of all people." As if because his father is sexually active, he shouldn't be giving the talk? I don't know what Dawson is trying to say there. Then again, it is what a typical teenager would say, "hey, you guys are having sex so you can't talk!" so, good job, writers.

OK, can you explain to me what incest is?
I'm still not sure I get it

Joey then comes into the scene and it looks like Mrs. Leery has been waiting for her. She calls Joey over to her so that she can have "the talk" with her too which is highly inappropriate. I mean, I know Joey doesn't have a mom or a dad at the moment and the Leery's are kind of her surrogate family but she does still have a sister who is her guardian. If the Leery's had concerns, they probably should have notified Bessie and let her give Joey the talk...then again, she is an unwed young mother and she was encouraging Joey to go all the way with Dawson after one kiss last episode so...

Anyway, she shows Joey a book about the repercussions of having sex which actually looks like a guide to different poses to try so...I guess she wants them to have a spicier sex life than her and Mitch?

I wonder if Gail tried these positions
with "Back to you, Bob"

Dawson comes to rescue Joey and they leave as quickly as possible while Mitch yells after Dawson to remember, "No hat, no glove." Sage advice if I ever heard any. Remember, kids, if you don't wear a hat, you can't wear gloves. It just looks so gauche. Gail corrects him that it's "no glove, no love." But the damage is done.

Jen doesn't want to get out of bed and go to school, presumably because she chopped all of her hair off in an emo rage and is too embarrassed to show everyone her new 'do. Grams isn't having any of it and sings about getting up and giving God your "glory, glory."

I thought Glory was a God?

Dawson runs into an agitated Pacey at school. Pacey tries to tell him that he failed his driver's test and is upset but Dawson doesn't like hearing about other people's problems so he switches the topic onto his parents giving him and Joey the "sex talk." Pacey tries to get Dawson back on track by saying that he can't believe he failed the test "today of all days." Dawson blithely states that he can retake the test and steers the conversation back onto himself.

Dawson: Today, two weeks from now, what's the big deal? Anyways, it was weird. Of course it figures. Joey and I are together for a week and my parents are already shoving condoms in my pocket.

Wow, Dawson is a shitty friend. "Fuck your problems! My parents embarrassed me by having the sex talk with me." Also, I don't think the point was that they wanted you to nail Joey right away, the point was that they wanted you guys to think about the consequences before you get sexually active. But, Dawson is a teenager so it's understandable that he misses the point. What isn't understandable is that he does not listen to his friend who is obviously upset and ask him why, getting his licence today is a big deal to him. Or better yet, maybe he could actually take the cue and fucking remember his supposed best friend's birthday, since they apparently made pretty big plans around it and all.

But then I wouldn't get to talk about Joey

Jen is sitting alone at a bench when Pacey joins her. She notices right away that he is down and asks him why. Holy shit, they've barely interacted and the last time they spoke, Pacey was rubbing it in her face that Dawson had moved on to Joey and yet she's a better friend to him than his supposed "best friend" Dawson? Fuck this makes Dawson look like even more of a tool than he already was. Anyway, Pacey says he has a "bad case of the Molly Ringwald today" and she surmises that everyone forgot his birthday after going through a list of Molly Ringwald classics. She then wishes him a happy birthday.

An actual good friend on the Creek?

She also guesses that Dawson and Joey are so caught up in their own drama that they've forgotten him so she tells Pacey to forget them and celebrate his birthday anyway. Pacey agrees and says he's tired of being Dawson's sidekick and wants his own storyline.

More Donald Glover, yay!

We then transition to Jen picking up clothes or towels from bleachers. Apparently she's in gym class and has been stuck with clean up duty because she didn't give a good enough excuse, or so Abby chides her for.


That's right, the bitch is back!



What's better is that they actually start to bond when Abby asks her questions about New York. Jen is finally going to get the female friend that she longed for and I am in full support. I know, I know, Abby is supposed to be a bad influence and does actually lead Jen down the path of bad again but...they're fabulous together.



Look at them, all happy together



Dawson and Joey are in her room for once, I guess they are hiding out from his parents. They are having a good laugh about his parents and their "talk" with them. Joey mentions that she wants to write down Mitch's "No hat, no glove" line before she forgets because it was priceless. It really was. Dawson interrupts her and she puts her diary on the bed. This is important to note because it will be a plot point for this episode. Dawson tells her that when he pictures them together "it's perfect."

He then says that they don't have to do any of that "pretentious getting to know each other crap" because he already knows everything about her. Sounds...boring. So, in other words, he likes that he doesn't have to date her? He likes that he doesn't have to put any effort into getting to know her better because he thinks he knows everything about her?

Are you kidding me?

Joey seems to also be put off by this because then she starts to tease that he doesn't necessarily know everything about her. They kiss but are interrupted by her nephew crying. While in the room alone, Dawson spots her journal and gets curious. He reads it because he's a complete dick head and looks hurt by something she's written in there, presumably about him.

When Joey comes back, it's Dawson's turn to leave in a huff because, as we all know, running away solves everything.

No! You don't get to run away, it's my turn

Later that day, Dawson finds Pacey putting fliers up and asks him what he's doing. Pacey says he's throwing a party and Dawson still doesn't clue in and asks him "What for?" So Pacey tells him that he's expanding his horizons and taking new chances. Dawson comes back with:

Dawson: I accidentally read something last night in Joey's journal.

Wow, Dawson. Just wow. He's basically saying "I don't give a shit what you are doing, Pacey. You exist for me to whine to about my problems." Pacey ignores Dawson's comment and tries to keep handing fliers out to people and Dawson takes that as a cue for him to continue. He whines because apparently Joey wrote this:

"I'm so sick of Dawson and his stupid horror movie. I wish I could tell him how terrible it is. How stupid, and putrid, and...it was awful."

He looks all butt hurt about it too but in two seconds I was like, "wait, weren't you dating Jen while filming that movie? Put two and two together, Dawson!" She was obviously frustrated about you ignoring her in favour of Jen and you're still a douche for reading her diary in the first place. This is such a non-drama and he's completely ignoring his friend and...

Awww, Pacey was kind enough to say it for me. Thank you, Pacey

Now, I'm confused about whether this is a different day or the same day. I get confused a lot with this show's time lines. Because, Joey was at her home but now she's walking out of school. I suppose she could have gone home during a spare and gone back but it just seems weird because they never explain this. I think we're on the same day though because Pacey's dock party hasn't happened yet and it was supposed to be the same day ie: his birthday. But, they are all wearing different clothes so maybe this is a different day.
Andie catches up with her and introduces herself and then awkwardly asks her if she can get her brother a job. Why would Andie ask for her brother? Is her brother incompetent? Is he too stupid to find a job on his own or ask Joey himself? Eh, Andie is an overachiever and is probably trying to help him find leads. Anyway, Joey agrees to interview him if he stops by.

If Joey didn't hate girls so much,
they might be friends...

Dawson catches up with Joey and tries to, very obviously, fish out what her opinion was on his movie. Joey states that she loved it and thought it was really good. He doesn't believe her and keeps fishing until she finally clues in that he read her journal. Cue huge fight between them.

We can't go one episode without fighting, can we?

Mitch meets with a friend of his and tries to get advice on his marriage. Gail talks with Grams about their relationship at the same time. Grams suggests renewing their wedding vows while Mitch's friend suggests an open marriage. Mitch's friend seems like a bit of a scum bag.

Hello Mitch's friend, whom
we've never met...ever.

Abby and Jen are hanging out after school, talking about the guys Jen used to date. Abby can't believe Jen ever dated Dawson after all the cute guys she's had and neither can I. Contrary to everyone else, making Jen feel like a slut or shaming her for her past, Abby actually is enthusiastic about it and I can understand why Jen likes to hang around her and ultimately fall back into her old ways a little better this time around. Here is someone who finally accepts her for who she is and was and wants to be her friend. She also doesn't have to work at being the good girl around her, she can cut loose and have fun. Of course Jen is going to want to hang out with her.

Plus, she's Abby and she's awesome

Dawson confronts Joey while she's at work about her diary entry. She is understandably pissed at him for reading her stuff. Dawson apologises for reading it but demands an explanation for what she wrote about his awful film making skills. You were dating Jen at the time, she was pissed about it, case closed.

It's elementary, my dear Dawson

Joey claims she never snooped but come on, her boundaries are questionable. I mean, she sneaks into his room all the time to hang out in his closet, that's weird. Regardless, I am on her side on this one and seriously, Dawson, you are a shit film maker but we'll get to that later.

Enter Jack McPhee. He interrupts their fight to try and talk to Joey about giving him an interview. Joey is distracted by dealing with Dawson's bullshit and ends up just hiring him and telling him to go do dishes right away. Then Dawson continues to be an ass-hat by making her the bad guy and saying she's been lying to him. Joey remains strong, saying that the issue is not what he read but that he read it in the first place. Then Dawson says that he's glad he read it because now he knows that he doesn't really know her at all.

Why won't women ever fit into the
mold I make for them?

Pacey runs into Andie at his party. He is snarky with her at first but when she asks if she should leave, he tells her to stay because she's the only person he recognises. She tries to make him feel better about his party by saying that they sometimes take a while to get started and then mentions that he might have wanted to get a DJ. Pacey gets annoyed with her again and tells her to go mingle but she says that new people make her nervous and when she's nervous, she can't talk. Pacey remarks that she hasn't stopped talking since she met him.

Andie is too cute, you guys

Abby and Jen are getting drunk on wine at Pacey's party. Abby sees Dawson coming and dares Jen to kiss the next guy who comes up the stairs. Jen agrees and of course, the next guy is Dawson and she kisses him. Dawson pushes her away and asks what the hell is wrong with her, leaving a crushed Jen to walk away sheepishly.

I think I'm going to vomit

Jack sees that Joey is upset and asks her if it's her first fight with her boyfriend. Joey says no but then says it is the first time they've fought as boyfriend and girlfriend. Jack says that she hasn't had her first make up with him then either and she smiles. As if, the prospect of having a first make up trumps the trust issues she and Dawson have but oh well, they need to move the story on. Jack offers to lock up for her so that she can go make up with Dawson.

Pretty nice to push her towards her boyfriend
when you obviously have a thing for her

Dawson confronts Pacey at his party and starts whining about the fact that Pacey isn't available to help him with his Joey problems and that he needs some advice. Dawson says that they know everything about each other which is why Pacey can help him. Pacey comes back with this:

Pacey: You know everything about me, huh? You know how I got this scar on my chin? You know why my father hates me? You know why I ride the fine line between insecurity and self-confidence? Correct me if I'm wrong, Dawson, but you don't know the answer to any of those questions. In fact, I bet you don't even know when I was born!

All the hugs for you, Pacey

Dawson finally figures out that he forgot Pacey's birthday but I'm kind of more concerned with his first two questions. You know, about the scar on his chin and his father hating him? Because that sounds really freaking serious to me and maybe Dawson should be picking up on that but at least he finally acknowledges his friend's birthday, I guess. Pacey isn't even all that mad about the birthday, he's mad because everyone in the town sees him as a waste of space who is unworthy of their time or concern and that he now sees Dawson as one of those people. Dawson tries to apologise but Pacey isn't hearing it.

Good for you, Pacey

Back at the Leery household, Mitch tells Gail that he doesn't want a divorce but that they have to make some changes in their relationship. He then asks his wife if she wants to try an open marriage. I really don't see how that's going to help a broken relationship, if anything it will drive a wedge further between them. This kind of wreaks of Mitch wanting to even the score and if he's at that point, where he feels he should be able to sleep with someone else to even the score, I don't think there is much they can do to fix their marriage.

Team...I just give up on these two

Dawson sees Joey and they make up in the rain because the rain washes away all their anger and their relationship slate is now clean. It's a metaphor, people! He then tells Joey that he forgot Pacey's birthday and how Pacey is really hurt and mad at him but then he steers the conversation immediately over to how he probably does suck as a film maker and he should just quit. Because everything is about Dawson and his pain, you guys. Seriously? You are the jerk in both scenarios and you want us to feel bad for you and for Joey to make you feel better?

Yes and you're also the world's worst friend,
boyfriend and overall human being

Joey explains to him, though she does tell him that what he did was wrong and she doesn't really owe him one, that she was venting because she's had feelings for him for a while that she was trying to hide and sometimes she would get really mad and needed to vent. She said that what she wrote wasn't the truth, just what she was feeling at the time. In other words, I was right, you guys.

She also says he's super talented and that she loved his movie and blah, blah, blah. Is it weird that I think everyone is lying when they tell him how good his movie is? Because they all sound like they are talking to a child that they are trying to build up. "It was amazing! I loved it" Yeah, it was a creature feature, calm your tits, people.

Abby and Jen see Joey and Dawson making up. Abby makes a comment about them getting it on soon and Jen says she doesn't think it will happen. In fact, she reminds us of what Dawson told her about what he thinks of Joey:

Jen: No, they're like brother and sister. I mean, Dawson even told me so himself. He doesn't ever think of her sexually.

Then Abby says she thinks they are pretending they're from Kentucky. I just love Abby so much, you guys. Also:

Oh my god, it is incest!

Jen says she wants to get back together with Dawson and Abby asks her why the hell she'd want to. I agree, Abby. Jen says it's because she loves him so Abby, being the awesome friend she is, says that they will get him back for her. I think I remember hating Jen in this moment when I first watched this because she did break up with him after all but I find myself feeling bad for her this time around. Like I understand where she's coming from more. She dumped Dawson because she was afraid of getting close but she still wanted him. I know the show is trying to paint her as the bad guy here but I say she should go for it, if nothing more than to save us from the nauseating "We're soul mates/it's complicated" Dawson/Joey coupling.

Get you some, Jen

Andie goes up to Pacey, who is sitting alone. She hands him a present and wishes him a happy birthday. She overheard Dawson and him arguing about it and felt bad for him. Awwwww! Pacey and Andie are so cute together. They share a cute moment together as they play with the magic 8 ball she got him and then Andie accidentally drops it in the creek. She mentions that she's a klutz and that some things never change. Pacey said that somethings do change, except for him, he's still the guy who's failing biology, he's just a year older now. Andie then says this:



Awwww, Team Pandie!


Jen gets home and sees herself in her mirror. She looks awful from drinking and partying too hard. I am convinced that Michelle Williams is the best actor in this series, of the young cast at least, based on this scene alone:

I think Michelle is one of the best
actors on this show

Dawson sticks around after the party to help Pacey clean up and to try and make amends now that his Joey problems are solved. He apologises for not being around and immediately brings up how "incredibly confusing and complicated" his relationship with Joey is and really? Can we please stop saying how complicated their relationship is when it's not? Please? They keep saying it's complicated but I've yet to see any evidence of how complicated their relationship is compared to any other.

Preach!

They make up rather quickly and then Dawson finally offers some sympathy for Pacey not getting his licence. Pacey brushes it off, saying he can retake the test in a few weeks and Dawson suggests that he might need more practice.

Pacey: Oh, please. You and I both know I've been breaking that state law for at least the last 3 years.

Oh, OK. So, he was driving illegally last season and the beginning of this one. Alrighty then.

Anyway, Dawson says that he knows where the keys to the "Mitch-mobile" are and that they could still take the trip to Maine if they wanted too. They banter back and forth a bit and have obviously mended their friendship and Dawson finally wishes Pacey a sincere "happy birthday"

They make up

Well, that was Crossroads. I'm not sure what the crossroads, the title of the episode was referring to because no one really had to come to any difficult decisions this episode about where they want to go in their lives but I guess they can name their episodes however they want to.

I also find it funny how the only person who was a total twat to everyone he knew this episode was the main character, you know, the one we're supposed to be sympathising with? I also don't really think he worked that hard to redeem himself. I mean, Joey was already ready to make up with him when she came to talk to him and then she had to praise him to get him to apologise to her. He brushed Pacey aside until the end and basically was already forgiven by then too and he still tries to bring up his relationship drama with Joey as an excuse. But whatever, everything was resolved for him. Except that Mitch and Gail are apparently going to have an open marriage but I'm sure Dawson will be too busy with his oh so complicated relationship with Joey to notice and actual complicated relationship going on.

Next episode is Alternative Lifestyles. Also:

I have future feels about this line. :'(