Dawson's Creek - 216 - Be Careful What You Wish For

Original air date: March 3, 1999

When we last left off, we found out that Jack is gay and that Dawson is actually capable of being a good friend. In this episode, we actually do continue to address Jack's issues with his sexuality but Dawson manages to lose most of the brownie points he's earned in the past few episodes. But, fear not, there is a hilariously bad singing number in this episode to help you get over any Dawson anger you might have...or if you actually like Dawson I suppose there is an...adorable(?) singing scene. I don't know. Were there any fans out there of just the Dawson character?

So, we begin this episode with Dawson blustering around his room for some reason, I assume it's to look as dramatic as possible for when Pacey comes in. I'm guessing that Dawson told him there was some kind of emergency because it's, what I'm assuming is a school night, and he looked concerned as he walked into Dawson's room saying he got there as soon as he got Dawson's message. And it's almost midnight. Hello? Parents? Calling all parents of Capeside, do you still exist? I mean, I get it, the characters all look like young adults but they are still supposed to be 16 and despite what we all thought when we were 16, they are still kids and their parents should have some sort of clue as to where their kids are and would not be happy with their kids accepting guests at midnight on a school night. But, I digress.

Dawson explains his problem to Pacey which is actually a pretty accurate explanation of my problem with Dawson's character, hilariously enough:

Dawson: I'm about to be 16 in a matter of minutes and I'm still....me. The same whiny, adolescent, big-talking, small-doing loser that I was a year ago.

That is quite the problem, Dawson, but I'm not sure the writers know how to fix this, given what you're doing right now is pretty much the thing you're complaining about and will continue to be this entire episode. We're in for a treat, guys.

Hey, remember when Dawson was being pretty cool about Jack's being gay and I was complimenting him for it? Well:

Dawson: But there doesn't seem to be anything ahead of me. More of the same. I'm stagnant. No wonder Joey dumped me. I mean, the only thing I accomplished last year was realizing my feelings for her and I couldn't even hold on to her. She dumped me. For a gay guy. laughs Can we talk about this whole gay-man-straight-woman thing? There's got to be something going on there that we're not seeing. 

Pacey: You're right, Dawson. It's all part of the evil gay plan to keep the species from repopulating. 

Dawson: I would keep an eye on Andie if I were you.

Seriously?

 That's...that's not how gay works, Dawson. It's not hereditary, it's not a disease and goddamn, Pacey was being sarcastic because you were being a douche and you tell him to watch out for his girlfriend? Some friend you are but I guess you're hoping they break up, aren't you? Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself on that last line there but bear with me, you'll understand once we get near the end of this recap.

So, anyway Dawson continues only focusing on his own wants, needs and feelings and proclaims that he is going to get Joey back since Jack is now gay. Because, after a girl has found out that the guy she's dating is actually gay and has her heart broken and feels like shit, that is the time to swoop in and ask her out, ammirite?

Nice Guy Syndrome is back...with a vengeance!

The next morning, we learn that parents do still exist in Capeside as Gail walks into the kitchen to find Mitch making pancakes for Dawson's birthday. That's pretty sweet but he probably should have called to ask/warn Gail that he was coming over first. Not cool, Mitch. You're overstepping boundaries. Mitch gives Dawson his pancakes and then asks Gail to go outside with him so that they could talk about what to get Dawson for his birthday...on his birthday. Little late there, Mitch. Shouldn't you have talked to Gail about this before Dawson's actual birthday, I mean she's probably already gone out and gotten one and she did. She got Dawson a brand new car and Mitch gets his panties in a twist because he wanted to go car shopping with Dawson so that they could get a fixer upper that they could work on together. I'd sympathise with Mitch but if he really wanted this, then why the hell didn't he talk to Gail about it sooner? The day of his birthday is not the best time to bring the subject up.

Dawson hears them arguing and is a sad panda

Meanwhile, Joey and Pacey are going over plans for a surprise party they are planning for Dawson. Pacey is apparently going to ask Dawson to go to dinner with him and Andie, which seems kind of awkward but oh well, and Joey is going to have a surprise party set up at Dawson's house. Jack walks in just then and Joey becomes visibly uncomfortable. This prompts Pacey to ask her if she's OK, because he's a caring friend. Why are all of their friend scenes together so much more genuine than either of theirs with Dawson? Answer, Dawson is shitty.

Abby bursts onto the scene with two lackeys because the show has decided that she is now a Queen Bee type instead of a loner bitch. Jack serves them and the unknown girls ask him if he's the gay guy and then proceed to gush about how cool it is that he's the only gay person in Capeside.

Jack is clearly ecstatic to hear this news

Andie is talking to her therapist about how she has always felt the need to step up and be responsible to keep her family together. The therapist then says that she's going to write her a prescription and it's honestly sad to watch Andie's face light up at this and then watch it go to a sad face when the therapist clarifies that it's not a prescription for drugs. Really sad. The therapist actually wants to prescribe her one night of imperfection, i.e. to do what she wants to do instead of what she should do.

Andie, pictured here

Joey laments to her sister about being single at Dawson's party and how even though she knows that Jack's being gay had nothing to do with her, she still feels like she wasn't desirable enough and wonders what she should do now. Bessie slaps her with some truth that I was screaming since the episode she got together with Jack:

Bessie: You paint. You concentrate on your art and yourself. I mean, you broke up with Dawson because you wanted to find yourself...and then you went straight into a relationship with Jack. Now's your chance to do what you set out to do. 

Bingo, Bessie. But before Joey can really consider what her sister just told her, Dawson comes striding in wanting to talk to her.

We then cut to Jen being all flirty with Ty still and I'll be off in the corner not caring because Ty is a douche. Why is this still a thing? I don't want to watch them be flirty. Jen starts to kiss him but Ty stops it by saying that Grams is still at home, which I guess I can get as being uncomfortable. No teen wants to suck face in front of someone's relative...well, no normal teen. But, Jen is clearly upset by this and you just know that this guy is going to get douchier.

Jen, you can do so much better than this!

So, Dawson lays it out on the line and says that he hopes that they can get back to the way things were between them. Joey, unaware of what he's talking about says she wants them to be friends again too. Dawson then spells out to her that a friendship is not enough for him and that he wants them to jump right back into a relationship. Joey obviously objects, stating that they broke up because she needed to find herself, not because she wanted to date Jack. I'd take this point a little better if she didn't jump right to Jack after dumping Dawson, so I'll give Dawson a tiny pass for his confusion and frustration on the matter of her being able to find herself while dating Jack but not Dawson. Joey says they can't talk about this and Dawson storms off, leaving Joey to be upset about having to throw a surprise party for someone who hates her right now.

Cut to later that night as Pacey is driving Andie and Dawson to where ever they are going to hang out before going to the party. Andie is fully embracing her therapist's prescription by being as annoying as humanly possible. It literally kills me to say that because I love Andie but my god, she's being infuriating screeching in the back to mimic police sirens when Pacey tells her he can't turn them on and then talking like a 40s cop ("Book 'em, Dan-o!") and cooing about being in the back seat of a police car. It's so distracting that I'm not even going to question why Pacey is being allowed to drive his brother or father's police car instead of the truck he had or the station wagon he borrowed in season 1. It doesn't seem very responsible to let your son use your work car but whatever. That is what they are doing. Andie also bellows for them to stop and turn around because she saw a place that looked "cool."

Jack enters the party and apparently his coming out has also made him change his style. No longer is he sporting a doufy do, he now has spiky hair and cooler clothes. Abby also points this out to us as she and her friends compliment him on his new look.

Jack is creeped out by Abby's attention

Jen once again kisses Ty but he again pulls away so this time, Jen wants an explanation. Ty explains that they are getting close which Jen says is the purpose of dating but then Ty says she turns him on and the closer they get, the more she turns him on. Jen is confused about how that's a bad thing, as am I. He says that he doesn't want things to get "out of hand" which Jen takes as cute but I take as the biggest flipping warning sign that this relationship is doomed.

Don't hide behind your false kisses. You're doomed!
DOOOOOOOOOOOMED!

Andie reveals that she is wearing a slightly more revealing dress than she normally wears and Pacey is obviously happy about that but also maintains that her good girl image was part of her charm. Andie starts explaining that it's time for her to shed that image and let her Id out for a bit. Dawson asks her what she is talking about and she explains that her therapist told her to cut loose for one night and not worry about what everyone thinks. Dawson wants to get in on the action. Pacey leaves to go to the washroom and tells them not to get into too much trouble while he's gone. Cue them getting into trouble almost immediately by tricking the bartender into thinking they were drinking rum in their coke.

Back at the Leery household, Abby is flirting up a storm with Jack. Jack is having none of it until she starts in on her diatribe about there being no such thing as being gay. Jack, clearly still has issues with his sexuality and his curiosity gets the better of him. Abby explains further that she thinks that everyone is bisexual and naturally wants to experiment with both sexes.

But now, dear blog readers, we are in for a treat. We are back at the unnamed club that may or may not be the same one Ty hangs out at and Dawson and Andie are clearly drunk while Pacey is somehow oblivious. And then...oh god, and then someone from the club, the owner I guess, gets up on stage and announces that it's "Open Mic Night" and he asks if anyone wants to come up and sing the blues...and then this happens:

I'm embarrassed on behalf of both James and
Meredith for having to do that scene.

What the hell was that? Where do I begin? The singing was awful towards the end and more on Meredith's part, the lyrics were awful it was just awful. I know we could argue that they are drunk and that's why but no, the crowd seems to love it. They think it's legitimately good and therefore, one would have to argue that we are supposed to believe it is good too, and I'm so not buying it. Also, side-eyeing you hard, Andie that your blue because your brother is gay. Fuck. You!

Pacey tries to get them the hell out of there and to Dawson's not-surprise party since he indicated he knew about it in the song, but Dawson and Andie refuse. Pacey still hasn't clued in and takes a sip of Andie's drink before figuring out that they've been drinking. Now he really wants to get them the hell out of there but the waitress has caught on to them and demands to see IDs from them. Uhhh, a little late for that one, dumb ass. Andie also calls her out for being dumb and not IDing them five drinks ago so Pacey quickly ushers them out before cops i.e. his family get involved.

Jen and Ty are making out in Dawson's new car which is kind of creepy and not nice for Dawson but, given what Dawson is about to do, he kind of deserves it. Also this happens:

Because Titanic happened and that was a thing in the 90s

Ty pulls back and says they have to stop which causes Jen to get angry again. Ty accuses her of tempting him and Jen says that's a load of crap, which it is. Ty then launches into a spiel about being against premarital sex and nothing she says or does can convince him that it's not wrong. Jen asks who said anything about sex and Ty stupidly brings up her past. This is a running theme with her character, guys hear she's had sex so she must always want sex, and I feel really bad for her. Ty continues being a jerk off by saying that he goes to Sunday school whereas Jen, "is more like a Saturday slut" Jen finishes for him. He tries to claim that that's not what he was going to say but then Jen throws down with this:

Poor Jen. Why does this show love making her sad?

Abby continues her slow seduction of Jack by continuing with her spiel about everyone being bisexual deep down and that there is no need to choose to be either or. Jack is buying it hook, line, and sinker.

Meanwhile, Dawson crashes his own party by shouting surprise as he bursts through the door. Joey asks Pacey if they are drunk and Pacey says they are and that they got it past him. Joey tries to calm Dawson and Andie down before his parents notice. She takes him up to his room to try and sober him up a bit and they walk in on Jack and Andie making out. Dawson treats us to more blues as a result: 

Every dead blues singer ever rolls in their graves. 

Dawson goes back downstairs after he's finished butchering the blues and is grabbed by his mother who wants him to blow out his candles. He rambles about getting to make a wish and Gail immediately asks if he's been drinking.

Dawson ignores this and proceeds to make a long rambling speech about all of his friends and I know we're supposed to feel bad about what he says about Joey or that what he does to her is his lowest point, but I actually argue that he was the harshest to Pacey. I was more upset by what he said to Pacey then what he said to Joey. Here:

Dawson: I wish that my friend Pacey would just end this transformation into this A-student, do-gooder, all-around sanctimonious angel and would go back to what he does best which is make me feel good about my life because his is supposed to be worse.

Waaayyyy fucking harsh

Really, Dawson? That's what you have to say about your best friend? That you want his life to suck so that you can feel better? You are a selfish, horrible, duckweed of a friend. Now, compare that to what he said to Joey:

Dawson: And then, of course, there's my Joey. My sweet, precious Joey. The only 16-year-old in the world that needed to find herself. But you know what? That's okay. I accept it. You need to find yourself, and I accept it.

He then proceeds to pretend that he can't find her as he calls out her name, then goes back to her and says that she's found and kisses her. It's at that point that she pushes his face into his birthday cake.

I approve of his humiliation

I mean he called his mom out for cheating and both parents out for bickering while not being adults, I get him being mad about that. I get him being mad at Jack and calling him out for being in and out and stealing his girlfriend. I get that. He was harsh to Jen by saying she's a drunken girl with revolving boyfriends but then follows it up with "I want to party with you!" so that's not even that harsh but what he said to Pacey? What kind of friend says that, especially when Pacey had done nothing wrong to him to deserve that much venom. At least Joey had broken his heart which sort of explained why he would be calling her out, it doesn't justify it but still it wasn't nearly as harsh as it could have been and she gets to shove him into cake while Pacey gets nothing. Not cool.

Both Dawson and Andie are now at the sink and toilet respectively emptying their stomachs of all the alcohol they drank. They promise to never drink again and to stop the other from drinking if they ever forget what it felt like tonight. Thus ends the PSA for the episode on teen drinking.

Mitch and Gail realize how shitty they've been and patch things up. They agree that they will take back Dawson's brand new car and get him a junky one instead and force him to work to pay for some of it. They also agree to try and make decisions together and be more adult. We'll see if this lasts.

Jack catches up with Joey and tries to explain to her about what she saw. She is rightfully upset that she caught him kissing another girl, Abby none the less, after dumping her because he is gay. He tries to explain that Abby was saying things to him that made sense and made him feel "normal" for once but that he knew, the minute he started kissing her that he was gay. Joey forgives him and tells him that everyone is trying to feel normal but rarely feels like they are.

Ty tries to make amends with Jen but she, thankfully, isn't having it this time. She tells him that she really liked him and her kissing him was not a desire to immediately jump his bones but to have something pure that she hadn't felt in a long time. Ty tries to say that they could maybe work things out when he works through his baggage but Jen shuts him down:

You tell him, Jen!

Joey walks into Dawson's room to see if he's OK. Dawson immediately apologises for whatever he said and Joey says she forgives him, just like that. What kind of irks me though, is that she says this:

Joey: Don't worry about it, Dawson. I forgive you. I mean, even you are allowed to make a few mistakes in this world and I'm sure that everyone else will forgive you eventually, too. You pretty much told the truth anyway.

Emphasis, mine. Pacey needs new friends. How was what Dawson said to him the truth? Do they both enjoy that he's a failure because it makes them feel better? Is that really all they want for their supposed friend? Dawson and Joey are a couple of ass hats.

Anyway, Dawson says that he's OK with her finding herself but asks her to do it fast because of how much he loves her and then passes out. Then Joey admits to loving him to and a bunch of teen girls squee even though they are two of the shittiest people on Earth who get their joy from their friend being a fuck up because he makes them look better without them having to try so hard. Sorry, that just really pisses me off.

That was Be Careful What You Wish For, where we are supposed to be enthralled with Dawson and Joey admitting their love for each other but I can't get over the fact that Dawson never fucking apologises to the one person he was harshest to this episode, Pacey. I am not a fan of this episode and I don't feel bad for Dawson at all.

Next episode recap is Psychic Friends which I haven't re-watched yet and I actually do not remember what it's about. I hope that Dawson apologises to Pacey but the show will probably pretend that what Dawson said about him never happened and therefore will ignore it. Joy.

Dawson's Creek - 215 - ...That is the Question

Original air date: February 17, 1999

So, when we last left off, Jack declared that he was completely straight but may have been lying about that. I also stated that when the episode first came out, I had a hard time buying that Jack was suddenly gay after all his mooning over Joey but this episode is what sold me on the idea and re watching it now, I don't think the issue came up as out of the blue as I thought it did when I watched the first time as a teen.

For starters, I think the writers, whether intentionally or unintentionally set up this story arc for the character really well. We have this shy, awkward guy who does not look comfortable in his own skin. He is not great with talking with girls and in the beginning is set up with Jen, who is pretty darn experienced in the boy department. He rejects her, she intimidates him. This could have been because of how shy he was or it could be that she intimidated him because he was so unsure of his sexuality and she was so sure. Next we have the milkshake incident, where Jack spills milkshake all over Joey's drawing of a naked man. Now it could be that he was nervous talking about her drawing because he's a guy who's not supposed to be comfortable talking about another man's body, or it could be that he was nervous because of the feelings it brought up in him, which made him get really clumsy. Jack's an art nut, at least that's what the show tells us, and believe me, guys into art are pretty mature about things like drawing naked men. I was in a class with a bunch of them and they had no problems with it and why should they? I certainly had no problems drawing naked women. I think the reason he spilled his milkshake over the drawing was because he was so surprised by his feeling of excitement at looking at the drawing, not in an artistic way but in a sexual way that he hadn't let himself feel before. Then, let's not forget his failed attempt to go all the way with Joey where we find out that he couldn't get it up, as much as he wanted to. Could it be the nerves of having sex that got to him or was it just that Joey was not quite his "type"? To be silly about the whole thing, he does go for the sexually naive girl with the guy name...just saying.

It all culminates in this episode where Jack finally comes to terms with his sexuality and it is handled really, really well. Surprisingly well, actually. So without further ado, let's get on with the recap.

We start the episode in Dawson's room, of course. But the person on the bed is Pacey, who is watching Jerry Maguire because that was a thing in the late 90s. Apparently, Pacey identifies with the movie because he stood up for what he believed in too and got burned. Dawson looks like he just wants his room back but Pacey refuses to go back to his own house until his suspension is over. For the top cop in Capeside, Pacey's father is pretty damn useless at keeping track of his son.

Pacey then asks how everyone is doing while really wanting to hear how Andie is doing and Dawson surprises me again with his solid advice:

My God! Dawson is using...logic.

Pacey says it's not that easy because he's a teenager and the easiest things are just never easy at that age because angst. Seriously though, I do get why he was hurt but Dawson is right, he should just call her and sort things out already.

We next cut to Jen and that Ty guy making out in front of the school. They part ways and Dawson walks up to Jen, bugging her about being in love. She laughs and says that she feels silly, like she has a "stupid Junior High crush" you know, as opposed to a "sophisticated high school crush"? I mean, high schoolers are so much more mature than junior high kids, everyone knows you are a kid until high school and then you are automatically 20 and gorgeous.

At any rate, Dawson proves once again to be a good friend by saying how happy he is for Jen and...he actually sounds like he means it. What the hell is going on guys? Did Dawson's body get taken over by aliens?

It is a refreshing change for Dawson to not be so whiny and petulant all the time and be a supportive friend. Jen has noticed how awesome Dawson is being too and invites him to come out with her and Ty. Dawson asks if it's a bible party but Jen and the audience know better.

Joey is searching in her locker for a book and unloads her purse onto Jack to free her hands. Of course, some jocks make fun of Jack for having a purse which upsets Joey. Jack blows it off and tries to joke about it but Joey wants to angst over it and proclaims that Jack is straight so why would people get joy out of saying he's not? Um, because some people are morons? Jack still cracks jokes which makes Joey laugh and send him off to class but then her face drops.

 Enter Dawson, champion friend of the hour, to ask her what is wrong. Joey snaps that she doesn't want to talk, so Dawson immediately drops it and invites her out with he, Jen and Ty instead. Nice move, Dawson. He's seriously growing up this season. Joey says she can't and Dawson is fine with it, so she thanks him for the invite and explains that she and Jack are going to study and complains that they haven't been focusing on fun tonight. Dawson earns even more brownie points from me by inviting both her and Jack to come along to Ty's thing or even better, that Joey should plan something fun for her and Jack to do, even something romantic. Joey is as surprised as I am that Dawson is willing to give her good relationship advice. 

Slowly evolving into an actual, real nice guy

Pacey is back in Mr. Peterson's class and Mr. Peterson starts harassing him immediately. You'd think that he would learn his lesson and not push the kid that spit in his face but, whatever. He hands back Pacey's poetry assignment and Pacey sees that he got an "F".  Pacey asks what was wrong with his assignment and Mr. Peterson unhelpfully tells him it stunk. When Pacey asks for advice on how to write something more to Mr. Peterson's liking, this is the advice he gives:

Mr.Peterson: Yes. Write better. From now on, people, your grades will be subjective, whim to my personal taste. Those of you with talent, intelligence, and ability will have no problem and the rest of you should come to terms with your inevitable failure.

Douche-tacular

Pacey complains about it to Dawson in the cafeteria until he spots Andie. Dawson tells Pacey to go talk to her but Pacey wants to give it a moment.

 Joey tells Jack that she is making dinner and gives him a menu so he can let him know if there is anything he doesn't like. Jack is thrilled and thanks Joey for being so supportive.

Pacey finally walks up to Andie to try and talk to her. Both end up being petulant jerks waiting for an apology from the other but refusing to give their own. Since they aren't making any progress, Andie opts to abandon the conversation.

 She bumps into Jack and explains she's on her way to meet the guidance counsellor and Jack says that he was called there too.  They wonder why they were both called in until they reach the office and see a man standing with their counsellor. Andie excitedly rushes over as it is their dad but Jack does not look as enthusiastic.

I sense a bit of tension here...

Joey is packing for the romantic picnic she's planned when she gets a call from Jack explaining that he can't go because his dad just came into town. Joey is obviously upset by the news but you'd think she'd understand a bit about how estranged fathers coming back into your life could be difficult to deal with. Instead, she decides that since Jack ditched her, she should be free to go out with her ex. 

Indeed she does as the next scene she is at the club with Dawson and saying that being there is better than "feeling dumped." Uh, Joey? You weren't dumped at all. Your boyfriend had, essentially, a family emergency come up and couldn't go out with you just for tonight. Shut up and stop whining! 

Everyone should do things when I want to do them!

Dawson asks Ty if he comes to this club a lot and Ty says it's "practically home" which is punctuated by a waiter asking him what everyone will have by name. He is then asked by the singer to play piano for them and...I'm so fucking confused by this storyline, you guys.

 Who the hell is this kid? Why can he get into this club in a small town so easily and why does everyone in the club cater to him? How does no one realize he's not of legal age? Is the singer supposed to be his mother? Why was religion a thing with him? Why does everyone question why he can go to a club and be religious? This isn't exactly the most risque looking club, it looks like a high class lounge for adults. I guess it could be his lying that they are objecting to with regard to religion but why? Why is this happening? Why won't this goddamn show explain this?? It's like the writers just went, "we want to have a religious boy be into Jen but he's got an edge to him." "what's his edge?" "uhhhhhhh.....he hangs out at a bar, where he's this head honcho there and he's buddies with everyone!" "great! Let's write this!" But I'm sitting at home, thinking "how the hell is any of this happening in a fucking small, supposedly religious town?" HOW!?

Shhh, don't question it. It's easier that way

Pacey, meanwhile, has decided to stop by the library and look into codes of conduct for public workers and teaching guidelines. There are a lot of thick books he has to look through but I think it's pretty safe to assume that Mr. Peterson is not following guidelines given that he announced to the class that he was grading on his own personal tastes, rather than the merit of student's writing.

At dinner, Andie is babbling to their father about how she made honour roll and how Jack is working at the Icehouse but Mr. McPhee is having none of it. He is here for one reason and that is to talk about the rumours that Jack is gay. He basically tells Jack that as his only son, he has to not be gay which cements in my mind that Mr. McPhee is a duckweed.

Joey and Dawson are dancing at the club. Dawson mentions how he's happy that Joey came out and says that Jack is missing out which makes me side-eye him a bit but he has been good this episode so I'll cut him some slack. Joey then projects her own thoughts on to Dawson by suddenly exclaiming that Dawson thinks Jack is gay. Dawson admits that the thought crossed his mind but admits that Joey would know better. Joey says she does know Jack but not as well as she knows Dawson.

This strokes Dawson's ego

As I predicted, Ty finally shows his douche-tacular side by crowing on about what a great couple Dawson and Joey make and questions why Joey would want to be with a "fruit fly." Jen takes immediate offence to this, as does most of the audience. He aggressively states his religious views on how it is a choice and how the gays want to make you believe that it isn't but no one has to be gay if they don't want to be. Everyone in the audience then makes the same faces Jen does:

A mixture of disgust and...

"What the fuck you on?"

Meanwhile, Andie goes to Jack's room to apologize for the things their father said. Not up to you Andie, it's up to your father to apologize for his own behaviour. Jack is used to Mr. McPhee's behaviour by now and brushes it off. This upsets Andie because she clearly still wants him back and thinks that Jack is scaring their father away by resisting loving him. Jack says there is no point trying to list off accomplishments to see if they can get approval from their father when they can't even say they are proud of their father. Andie is upset by this.

 Back at Jen's house, she is quietly helping Grams clean up some dishes. Grams tells Jen how much she likes Ty just as Ty comes in and thanks her for making him a sandwich. Jen remains quiet until Ty asks her if something is wrong. She then tells him how upset she was by his remarks regarding Jack and homosexuality. Ty says he never said it was wrong, just that it wasn't a choice so Jen asks him if he thinks it's OK then. Ty then responds by saying that it's definitely wrong and is condemned in the bible. Uh, so why did you bother with the "I didn't say it's wrong" bullshit if you do think it's wrong?

You said it, Kat

He then asks Grams what part of the bible says that homosexuality is a sin but Jen interrupts Grams' answer asking them not to gang up on her. She rightfully calls Ty out for not being a saint himself but Ty just glosses it over by saying he will answer to the Lord when the day comes but being gay is damaging to the world or some junk. Then Grams interrupts to lay down her opinion despite Jen complaining that she is going to side with Ty. Grams, tell it like it is:

Grams: What I have to say is not directed at you, Jen, what I have to say is for Tyson. If Jack is gay, he does not need your judgement, young man. The Lord above will judge him, as he will all of us. What he needs from you, from me, from everyone else in this world is love and tolerance. If anything, that boy is feeling scared and alone and he will need the understanding of his fellow man to help him through this. Let's save judgement for someone much more experienced than you.

You just got schooled, Grams style

Dawson is walking Joey home and Joey asks him if he thinks she's "sexual". He tells her he does but she denies it because he picked Jen over her and then Jack might be gay and probably picked her because she was safe. Dawson says that he was just stupid and that she is sexy and that the question isn't why did Jack pick her but why did Joey pick Jack? He leaves her to think about this.

Pacey confronts the principal the next day with his research. She asks him what he's handing her and my immediate response was "the work you should have been doing, you lazy ass hole." Pacey confirms that he researched professional ethics for teachers and discovered, shock of all shocks, that Mr. Peterson is in violation of almost all of them. The principal appears just as shitty as Mr. Peterson as she asks Pacey what she's supposed to do with the document ("your fucking job, perhaps?"). Pacey says she doesn't have to do anything but that the document also contains testimony from other students affected by Mr. Peterson's lack of teaching ethics. The principal then has the gall to say that she hopes he knows what he's doing and again, I have to say "he's doing your fucking job for you!"

Now this next scene is my absolute favourite and totally sold me on the concept of Jack's character being gay. I'm just going to show you the whole scene because you need to see it all to see how good it is and how powerful Jack's coming out was. Kerr really sells it.

Really solid acting there. I especially love how Meredith portrayed Andie's change from wanting her father to stay to just a sudden realization of what a useless ass he is. Andie standing up for her brother and asking their father to leave was great. A+ scene.

The next day, Jack makes plans to see Joey that night and thanks Pacey for everything he did for him with Mr. Peterson. Pacey is happy that he helped Jack out, but I'd also argue, despite my love for him, that he was happy to have his hero complex fed. He really does have a hero complex.

Pacey then discovers that Mr. Peterson's class is not in session. He spots Mr. Peterson sitting at his desk though and this show actually has the gall to try and make us feel sorry for this cartoon villain. Like, laying on the guilt trip for Pacey getting a man fired just because he's old and close to retirement. I'm sorry, no. Regardless of a teacher's age, he does not have the right to treat students the way he did and keep his job just because he's close to retirement. No show, you will not make me feel sorry for this ass hole, you spent too long making him an absolute ass to redeem him now.

My reaction to the writers trying to make me feel bad for Mr. Peterson

Ty walks up to Jen and begs for a second chance. I hate Ty by this point, he's a douchey loser but for some reason, Jen decides that he's charming and obliges him by giving him a second chance. Jen, you seriously make the worst decisions on guys. You know his religious views are just going to get in the way again.

No, no he doesn't. At all

Pacey and Andie finally meet up and both apologize for their behaviour. Pacey claims that Andie's apology was so much better and asks why she always wins. Then they kiss.

Awwwwwwwwww!!!

Meanwhile, Jack shows up with Joey and realizes that he shouldn't have been so vague with his asking to meet up with her tonight because she's gone out of her way to set up her romantic picnic for them. He immediately feels like an ass, rightfully so. He finally tells Joey the truth, that he's gay and she takes it pretty well, but is still shell-shocked. I think that's pretty realistic. It cannot be easy for a girl to hear that the guy she's been dating is actually gay. Jack thanks her for being her and the scene fades out.

We are left with these two images of both Joey and Jack seeking comfort from the people they care about most:

Yay, sibling love!

Dawson continuing to be a good friend!

And that was That is the Question. I think it is probably one of the better done, character coming out episodes. I'd dare say it's better than Willow's coming out episode on Buffy but I'd argue that Buffy handled the aftermath of Willow coming out better than Dawson's Creek did with Jack. Still, it's a pretty great two-parter for a character's struggles with their sexuality and I'd definitely recommend it to people as one of the stronger episodes of Dawson's Creek.

So, where will the show go from here? How are the characters going to handle Jack's coming out? Will it continue to address this issue or will we have to suffer through an awkward blues singing scene featuring Dawson and Andie? You'll find out in the next recap, Be Careful What You Wish For.

Dawson's Creek - 214 - To Be or Not to Be...

Original air date: February 10, 1999

Here it is, the episode where Jack turns out to be struggling with his sexual identity. Now, I have to admit, I was pretty damn shocked by this episode when it first aired because I thought that his questioning sexuality came out of nowhere. However, on rewatch I have to say that it might have been set up pretty damn well, even though I still question why he was adamnant about going after Joey if he was so unsure but I digress. Let's get started, shall we?

We open the episode up in Dawson's room where Dawson, Pacey and Jack are all hanging out and admiring Jack's handy-work on a model of Capeside. I have to admit, I'm pretty damn impressed too because I can't believe he was able to whip something that detailed up on like zero budget and in, what I presume to be, a small amount of time. But TV magic, I suppose and maybe there are teens out there who really are that gifted...and I envy them.

See? How much free time does Jack have?

Pacey mentions that he has to leave because he needs to work on an assignment for English that is due the next day. Jack says that he hasn't started it either. Pacey leaves but Jack opts to stay. Awkwardness ensues. Dawson is actually being pretty cool about everything in this episode, maybe his character is finally growing up a bit? He tells Jack that the situation is awkward but that he really appreciates Jack's help on his film. He then asks Jack about the assignment for English and Jack explains that they have to write a poem and asks Dawson for writing advice. Dawson offers up this bit of wisdom:

Dawson: Listen to yourself, you know? I mean poetry is a chance to give the world a peek of the innermost private part of yourself that you'd, in other cases, just stifle.
Jack: So just listen to myself?
Dawson: Yeah, I mean...you never know what you'll hear.

We'll soon see how well that works out for Jack.

The next day, Pacey is greeted by his academic counselor, Mr. Milo. Pacey thinks he is in trouble again but Mr. Milo instead gives him kudos for pulling his grades up. Apparently Pacey has managed three "B"s and two "A"s. Yay for Pacey doing well in school and getting encouragement.

Pacey immediately goes to find Andie, sweeps her off her feet and kisses her deeply.

Awwwwwwww!

Joey and Jack look on uncomfortably. Jack because watching your sister make out with someone must be really uncomfortable and Joey because she has secret, unresolved feelings for Pacey and is insanely jealous of Andie. What? That's my head cannon.

Clearly jealous

It's the truth

Andie asks Pacey what the kiss was for and Pacey tells her it's "just 'cause." Jack tries his hand at getting a "just 'cause" kiss from Joey but she won't have it. Because she's a hypocrite. She totally kissed Dawson in public and she's kissed Jack in public before too but whatever, it serves the plot for this episode for her to suddenly be shy about kissing in public.

Dawson walks up to Jack and asks him some crap about his movie because the writers needed Dawson in this scene but they kind of have no use for him in this episode. Then, they all split up to go to their respective classes. Jack and Joey say goodbye and kiss...wait a sec. Did she not just say that she didn't like PDA? They can't even keep consistency/continuity in one scene?? Ok, ok, I guess what she meant was mega kissing/groping is ick-snayed in public but not casual pecks? I guess I can see that.

Joey takes this opportunity to make sure she still has her hooks planted in Dawson as well by chiding him for only being nice to Jack because he's doing work on Dawson's movie. Dawson responds with what is the most hilariously unintentional Joey-burn ever:

Dawson: Well, some people are capable of moving beyond those petty, long-behind rivalries to higher ground.

Oh hai, clever insight into the Joey/Jen dynamic. It's too bad the writers were not actually intending it that way though because the two of them playfully walk off together after that but I will always take it to mean that Joey is incapable of getting over her rivalry with Jen and taking the higher ground, because she sucks.

Meanwhile, Ty is harassing Jen about why she hasn't called him after their fail-date. Dude? Read the room, could you not see that she was bored/uncomfortable through out the entire time she had to listen to your bible club? Apparently not because he has to ask her if she was "freaked out by the bible talk". Jen says that she was. He tries to tell her that his bible studying is not all that he is and she says that it's still clear that religion is really important to him and it's not her thing so she sees it as an inevitable obstacle in their relationship. Ok, there are so many things that make me love Jen more than I already do in this scene but it's mainly these two things.

1) She's mature enough to see the compatibility issue with Ty and tries to end things before they get too serious.

2) Ty then gets all insistant that she doesn't know him that well and that they should go out and then goes on to say that he won't give up and that he thought women liked persistence. Her answer?

Jen: Well, that just goes to show how little you know about me. I'm not most women.

Fuck. Yes! I love this quote because guys always get trapped in the "I don't understand women/what do women want" crap and you know what? I can't tell you what "women" want because we are not all one being. We are people and we all like different things, get to know us and what we as individuals want, that is how you impress us. And women, same thing goes for guys.

In English class, Pacey excitedly hands in his poem to the crusty teacher who is now going to be turned so fucking, moustach-twirling, evil that it will make your head spin. I pray that no one actually had a teacher this menacingly awful in real life because he's just ridiculously awful. Anyway, he comments that Pacey's cursive writing is awful and then says that his lack of presentation will get him a "D" or he can choose to lose points by handing it in late if he rewrites it and gets it to him tomorrow. Really, dude? Way to encourage kids, I get that chicken scratch is hard to read but wanting to take that much of his mark for that is ridiculous. Thank god students now type everything on their computers these days.

Pacey whispers to Jack about the teacher being unfair and Jack agrees. Since Jack has my fucking luck, the teacher, Mr. Peterson, hears him and immediately starts to pick on Jack. He asks him how his poem went because his deficient grade depends on it. Jack nods and says it went fine so Mr. Peterson tells him to read it in front of the whole class. Of course, Jack is mortified because no one else has to read theirs and it's very clear that Jack doesn't want anyone else to hear his poem. Mr. Peterson insists and Jack has to relent. Here is his poem:

Jack:Today
Today was a day the world got smaller. Darker. I grew more afraid. Not of what I am, But what I could be. I loosen my collar to take a breath. My eyes fade and I see... I see him. An angel of perfection, His frame strong. His lips smooth. I keep thinking what am I so scared of? And I wish I could escape the pain but these thoughts, They invade my head, Like shackles of guilt...

It's pretty obvious what the poem is about and Jack can't finish. He runs out of the room, crying. Pacey, bless him, gets up to go after him but Mr. Peterson forbids it. Pacey relents but as Mr. Peterson tries to continue with class, Pacey just does this:

Because he's a bad ass

Joey and Dawson continue to flirt with each other in computer class until they over hear a conversation between two extras. They are talking about what happened in Mr. Peterson's class and damn, news travels fast in Capeside. Anyway, they are going on about how Jack cried in class because he had to read a poem. The poem is about a guy so they automatically say that he's a homo, this upsets Joey because if Jack is gay, he is no longer a useful tool for her to make Dawson jealous. Aahhh, my Joey hate is strong today.

Dawson surprises me again in this episode by being a decent friend and all around decent person. He goes to talk to Joey after school and asks if she's talked to Jack about what happened at school. Joey makes a few snippy comments about the rumours she's heard and Dawson is surprised by how flippant she's being. She claims it's because it's all a big joke and Dawson ask if it is. This upsets Joey because she thinks Dawson is insinuating that Jack is gay. I actually think Dawson has a point, whether or not Jack is gay, he is still going through a tough time and could use some support, not someone who makes light of the situation. But Joey uses it against Dawson because even though Dawson's been considerably cool about her and Jack dating as of late she still can't help creating conflict so that she can feel like two guys are fighting over her again:

Joey: Oh, I'm not being defensive, Dawson. Why don't we just say what this conversation is really about? Your passive-aggressive way to highlight some flaw in Jack that would get us to break up!

Nope, he was trying to get you to talk to Jack and see if he's ok. So, Dawson was doing the right thing and you are making everything about yourself...again.

Meanwhile, Pacey and Andie are studying at her place when Jack comes down. Andie immediately stops talking and ignores him. Jack is leaving to go to work and Pacey is the one who says goodbye to him. Pacey then calls Andie out on her frostyness. Andie complains about Jack writing a poem that could be so easily misinterpreted in the first place and it wounds me on so many levels because I usually love her but she is just awful in this scene. She's basically blaming Jack for being victimized by both Mr. Peterson and the student body. I guess it does fit with her character though, as she said, she needs/craves normalcy in her life and wants to blend in and as she sees it, Jack has made that harder for her.

Pacey tries to explain to her that Jack wasn't intending to humiliate himself and that maybe there is a deeper issue that he's struggling with. Andie looks irritated and asks what Pacey is trying to say. Pacey says that she should talk to her brother and ask him. She refuses and is adamant that he's not gay. So, Pacey changes tack and asks her how she'd feel if, hypothetically, Jack were gay.

Andie, NOOOOOOO!!!!

Oh, Andie, why must you hurt me so and writers, why must the two main characters so freaked out by Jack's possibly being gay be women? In my experience, guys have a harder time with accepting someone as gay than girls do, at least back then. But in this episode, Dawson and Pacey are painted as sympathetic and understanding towards Jack while Andie and Joey are...not. It's sad to me.

Pacey is disappointed in Andie's admission of disappointment and she shoots back that she doesn't need to be attacked for a hypothetical feeling about a hypothetical situation that is not in the realm of possibility. Pacey tells her that for Jack's sake, he hopes she's right about it being impossible. Awww, Pacey, you rock! But Andie, you've earned yourself a pissed off Tyra:

Ty keeps persistently calling Jen and asking her out. Jen refuses until she finally caves in and gives him a couple of hours to prove her wrong. *sigh* I wish she hadn't caved in because this guy is annoying.

Back at the Ice House, Bessie has also noticed that Jack is upset and she urges Joey to talk to him but Joey says he doesn't want to. Why do I think it's because she doesn't want to ask? Oh, right, my blinding hatred of the character. Bessie encourages Joey to get Jack to open up and she does try. Jack sees through her and tells her that if she wants to ask him something, she should just ask it. Joey responds by making everything about her, by complaining that he "hasn't offered her any explanation as to what [he] wrote." Jack rightly counters that he doesn't owe her an explanation but Joey still tries to make it about her because she was so wounded that he wrote poetry about a guy and not beautiful, perfect, Joey who he is dating. Um, because not all poems have to be about a significant other? Jack gives us this explanation:

Jack: Alright, look, I sat down last night, before I went to bed, and for half an hour, I wrote what I was feeling. And one of the images that came into my head was masculine, nothing sexual about it, okay? It could have been me, it could have been the image of my brother. I don't know, Joey. But I do know that there was nothing gay about that poem. And as for the crying...I don't know. It hit a weird nerve as I was reading it. It just unleashed some stuff that I've been dealing with in my family. My brother's death...I don't know. It's the only explanation I can come up with and if it's not good enough for you then you can just believe what everyone else is saying.

It's actually a pretty solid one. Hell, I could buy his poem being about his brother and it would definitely explain the crying as it is hard to share something so personal to classmates as a close family member's death. He assures Joey that if he ever did write a love poem, it would be about her because he adores her and they hug.

Jen and Ty are on their date and this time, he's taken her to some type of Rat Pack-y night club because high schoolers are totally into Jazz and lounge singing, you guys. Ty knows a singer and gets them martini's and I'm sorry, I'm just really, really curious about how this guy is on first name basis with a singer at a club in a small town and can get drinks without being ID'd or someone recognizing him and reporting his ass to his parents and/or the cops. How is this happening? I thought the US was stricter with drinking laws than we are here, at least in small towns. The drinking age is 21 in Massachusetts, which is where I assume Capeside is supposed to be located due to the mention of Boston in the show but "Those under 21 can, however, consume alcoholic beverages on private premises with parental consent." So, does that mean that the lounge singer is Ty's mom and she owns the bar? Who the hell knows with this show. I think we are just supposed to be impressed by his "street cred" and buy into everything like Jen is.

Don't buy it, Jen!

The next day, Jack's poem is posted around the school and do you see what I mean by Mr. Peterson being mustache-twirlingly evil? The only copy of the poem was handed to Mr. Peterson, only he would have it. Keep in mind, this was back in the day when most assignments were handed in handwritten still but even if he did type it up, he would have only printed one copy. Either the students of Capeside hacked his computer, if he typed the poem, or Mr. Peterson deliberately made copies and handed them out to students.

Dude, you are a dick!

Just to emphasize my "Mr. Peterson is cartoon evil" point, he asks Jack to continue reading his poem to the class. To what end? Do you get off on torturing your students? Guys, I can't handle the evilness of this Mr. Peterson character. Anyway, Jack is incredulous but Mr. Peterson just twirls his mustache and puts on an innocent spiel about Jack leaving them high and dry the other day and then threatens his grade if he doesn't do as he's told. Jack asks him why he's doing this and I really want to know the answer but Pacey answers for the teacher, "because he can." Not. Good. Enough! I want to know what the hell happened in this character's life to make him such a miserable, evil human being as to force a kid to read a poem, which was never a requirement of the assignment and only he has to do it, that he's clearly uncomfortable reading and obviously humiliated him. I think he might be a sadist.

Pacey steps up and grabs the poem, offering to read it for Jack. Mr. Peterson is upset by this and demands that Pacey sits down but he refuses. Pacey then asks him what I want to ask this character, "What part of you is it that gets off on torturing students?" See? Sadist. Mr. Peterson then threatens Pacey with an "F" on his report card.

Pacey: You can't fail me! I've gotten a 'B' or better on every test we've had in this class.
Mr.Peterson: Well, I can. I've been waiting to fail you all quarter.

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!
This is totally how the education system
works, bithces!

Now, what follows, may be the most epic thing ever put to the small screen...in a teen drama show...with nothing supernatural in it. You have to see it to fully appreciate the epicness, so here it is:

Oh god, YES! Pacey's just so badass!

I may need a moment to recover

 

Cut to Pacey, sitting in the Principal's office, saying that he refuses to apologize. Because he's just that badass. Mr. Peterson is crowing on about what a waste Pacey is. Thankfully, Pacey's guidance counsellor has his back and points out, rightfully, that Mr. Peterson is no saint as he made a student cry which caused Pacey's, albeit excessive, action. The principal is useless and dismisses them all because she has no fucking clue how to handle this and wants a day to consider what to do under the guise of giving Pacey a day to think about what he's done and reconsider his stance on an apology. This isn't stated in the show but I sure as hell inferred it because in reality, this would be a shitstorm for a principal to deal with. She has to look into the accusation that a teacher made a student cry and reprimand or possibly fire said teacher, on top of coming up with a suitable punishment for what Pacey did. It makes her look kind of weak and not at all in charge of her own school for her to wave them all away right now. 

Pacey comes out of the office to find Jack sitting on a bench. He thinks Jack is there to thank him but far from it. Jack tells Pacey he was stupid not to apologize and that he can fight his own battles. Pacey counters by saying he thought he did Jack a favour.

Jack: Well, you weren't. Look, I didn't need a hero. I recognize it's an addiction of yours but this is one instance when you just should have kept your nose out of it!

I'd be mad but Jack kind of has a point. Pacey is totally addicted to being the hero. He loves being the one to save the day because it gives him a sense of purpose but more importantly, it gives him the attention and adulation he craves from his own father but fails to get. That's deep, Dawson's Creek writers. Respect. 

Ty presses Jen for her opinion of how their date went. Jen says that he's the height of hypocrisy because he does everything he shouldn't do and then goes to church. Ty looks at it as something to go to church about and that his religion expects that he's not perfect. That's a fat load of BS and really pisses me off about some religious people. They act like they are the height of morality because they go to church but then they think they can do whatever the fuck they want as long as they confess to it on Sunday. If you are going to believe in the church, stick to your convictions, there is nothing that pisses me off more than people who use religion as some weird way to clean their slate so that they can "get away" with all the bad things they do. Ugh, this guy. I do not like him. But, of course, Jen seems to dig that he's a "rebel" or whatever. 

Andie and Dawson try to talk to Pacey about apologizing but Pacey is sticking to his guns on the issue. Andie is freaking out because Pacey spit in a teacher's face, which is pretty damn serious but I admire him for not budging on the issue because Mr. Peterson was just as much in the wrong. 

Joey meets up with Jack, who has been given a bunch of pamphlets on being gay and coming to terms with your sexuality. Joey is incredulous. 

Andie is still begging Pacey to reconsider so that he doesn't destroy what they worked for, getting his grades up. Pacey says that what he worked for and what she helped him become was someone who stands up for what he believes in and what he believes is that Mr. Peterson's actions were wrong. Andie is about to counter when she spots something off camera and is horrified.

The subtlety of high school wit, on display here

 

A crowd of people are staring as Jack tries to courageously walk up and use his locker. He looks like he might fall apart at any second. Joey looks like she's contemplating something before storming over to Jack and telling him to kiss her. He asks her why and she says "just 'cause."  

Oohh, story arch for this episode, complete

 

Later, at the McPhee household, Andie finally talks to Jack. She compliments him on how well he is handling public ridicule and Jack says it's something you just have to deal with. She finally apologizes for giving him the cold shoulder and she redeems herself from the Tyra gif:

Andie: I don't. When I first heard what happened to you in class, my initial reaction was resentment. Of all the possibilities, you know, I didn't even feel sorry for you. I just...thought, oh great, thanks, when things finally seemed to be slowing down in my life, and now I have to deal with this. And everything that has happened to us in our lives just made me so afraid. And I didn't think anyone could understand that, especially you. I mean you're so strong and independent and then....and then....I read this. Your poem. I kept one of the ones I tore down. It's a really beautiful poem, Jack. And I don't know if it means that you're gay or not and I really don't care. But I'll tell you what I do know. The person who wrote this poem...he's just as scared as I am. Jack, you're terrified and I'm your sister and I had no idea. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you. And I love you. And you're not alone.

Awwwwwww! You guys, she really owned up to her mistakes this episode and is going to stand by her brother no matter what his sexuality is. This is the Andie I know and love and she is awesome. They hug and make up. 

Joey also redeems herself for once by actually apologizing to Dawson. Like seriously, seriously apologizing for her behaviour without expecting an apology from Dawson. I was shocked, you guys. Shocked. I mean, it's not as heartfelt as Andie's apology but baby steps, right? 

She then asks Dawson for advice on her relationship with Jack which is awkward. She thinks he might be gay but doesn't want to ask him because then he'll know she's considered it and feel betrayed. Dawson says that relationships begin and end with honesty and that she has to ask him or she'll end up wondering or the problem will get worse. I've got to say, both Dawson and Joey are pretty good in this episode. Dawson more so than Joey but Joey at least is acknowledging her faults and wants to do better. Kudos, Dawson and Joey, hooray for becoming actual human beings. 

Dawson blows my mind yet again by supporting Pacey the next day as he awaits his fate outside of the principal's office. Pacey is nervous and is grilling Dawson about what he thinks. Dawson says he can't judge because he wasn't there so Pacey asks if Dawson would do the same thing he did. Dawson says he wouldn't, which is very truthful but you can see worry on Pacey's face as he asks Dawson if he would be ashamed of him if he can't apologize. Dawson says that he could never be ashamed of Pacey. Awwww, besties! Dawson is on fire as an awesome friend this episode. 

Pacey faces the principal, his guidance counsellor, and Mr. Peterson and explains that he regrets his actions but he does not regret its intention. He believes that what Mr. Peterson did in the classroom was wrong and he will not respect or apologize to him. It is pretty bad ass because that's how Pacey rolls. He don't take crap from authority!  

Why yes, I probably will use this gif a lot throughout these recaps

 

Andie goes to apologize to Pacey but Pacey is upset with her for not supporting him. He also accuses her of not supporting her brother either, which she didn't. However, she says she apologized to him and was coming to apologize to Pacey but she was struggling with it as she was coming to see him because Jack was innocent whereas Pacey brought on his problems himself. That's...not really supportive, Andie. Pacey asks her if she would have had him just let Peterson pick on her brother and in the middle of Andie saying there were other ways he could have handled it, Pacey tells her the reason why he felt he had to step in.

Pacey: When I knew the whole time that IT WAS MY FAULT. It was MY fault. Peterson knew that he couldn't get the best of me so he went after your brother. If I hadn't of instigated him that day...none of this would have happened. I did whatever I could to stop it. I had to stop it.

Andie is, of course, taken aback as she didn't realize he blamed himself for what happened to Jack. She asks him why he didn't tell her and he says it's because she didn't want to hear it, she just wanted him to clean up his mess. Very true but I don't like where this is headed. It's headed to me having feels that are not good because Pacey says he wants to go home and doesn't accept Andie's offer to go with him.  

Why? I don't like it when they fight!

 

Meanwhile, Joey abruptly asks Jack if he's gay and explains that there is no easy way for a girl to ask if her boyfriend is gay so she just asked it but assures him that he doesn't have to answer right away. Jack assures her that he's not gay and Joey is completely relieved, even though she does say that she would have dealt with it and understood if he was. She asks him to not write any more poems for a while, which might be hard if he's assigned to write another poem, but he agrees and they hug and make up. Everything seems to be fine because Jack is not gay...

Or is he!?

Stay tuned for the stunning, drama-filled conclusion in the recap for ...That is the Question.