Dawson's Creek - 311 - Barefoot at Capefest

Original air date: January 12, 2000

Here it is, folks, the first Dawson's Creek episode of the new millennium and what do they choose to do on this momentous occasion? They bring back Henry.

Sigh...let's get this over with

We open up this episode at Capeside High, with Dawson and Joey walking to the film lab so that Dawson can rent a camera. Specifically a 16mm camera of which the school only has one but surprise! Kendra is back in the house and she is in charge of the equipment. Dawson makes a snide comment about the fact that she volunteered to be in charge of the equipment so that she could familiarize herself with it not being honest or something. I don't get Dawson's insult, he just sounds whiny because she is smart about being able to get herself used to working with expensive equipment while Dawson, who claims to be passionate about film, entered his homework assignment in a film festival and doesn't volunteer to work in a film lab. Haters gonna hate, Dawson. Kendra has way more drive it seems and Dawson doesn't like it.

Anyway, he can't check the camcorder out because Kendra has it checked out for like a month straight and while I am totally team Kendra and team IHATEDAWSONWITHAPASSION, it's really not fair for a teacher to let her have the camcorder that long when there are other kids in the class that might need it too. Special treatment because your daddy is the principal is not cool. But then again, Dawson doesn't get the camera to make another movie rip/off or Dawson's Creek2.0 which also makes him mad, so...

We cut to Jen and Jack who are grocery shopping together and being adorable and the True Soul Mates of Dawson's Creek. They argue over how much cereal Jack is allowed to buy and it's the cutest. Jack then bumps into Ethan, from the train and the way he greets him is very similar to the way Jen greeted him when they first met, which is adorable.

Jack: Uh, Ethan. From the– from the train Ethan.
Ethan: I prefer just plain Ethan.

Except Jack doesn't continue it like Jen did by saying "OK, Just Plain Ethan" which is good because that was annoying, sorry Jen. Anyway, Ethan says he's going to some music festival that Capeside totally always has every year but of course, no one knows about it until now. Ethan even bugs Jack for not knowing what his own hometown does. He tests Jack on his music knowledge, which Jack fails but Ethan asks him to come to the festival anyway. Jack is very excited about this.

I love them

Andie tries to meet up with a teacher named Mr. Broderick, sadly not this one:

Wouldn't that have been amazing?

Seriously, a character named Mr. Broderick who is the play director and they couldn't get Matthew Broderick? Sigh. Anyway, this Mr. Broderick went to the same school of crappy/bullying teaching that Cranky English Teacher from last season went to because Capeside only hires the shittiest of teachers, apparently. What I imagine the Capeside hiring adverts would say:

Do you enjoy bullying your students? Sleeping with minors? Ignoring the proper rules of education? Then come apply at Capeside High today! Where you can take out all of your frustrations, mid-life crises, and sexual pleasures on this generations youth, and we pay you!

Anyway, Andie tries to talk to Mr. Broderick but he's so busy that he just can't even with her right now. Seriously, he doesn't let her get her question out, he just continues to rudely tell her when auditions are. She finally blurts out that she wants to be his assistant director and Mr. Broderick is all "why didn't you just say so?" and I want to kill him already.

Dawson is mocking Kendra as he and Joey walk home and even Joey isn't having his whiny-ness because she throws down that she deserves to use the equipment too. I love it. Dawson then changes his argument by saying that he just wants the camera in a timely fashion which again, though I hate to admit it, is fair. If people are only allowed to check out a camera for a week, then that should apply to everyone, even the Principal's daughter. Anyway, they enter his house to find the living room completely empty. Gail explains that she's moved her stuff out and wanted to explain this to Dawson herself. Dawson says she doesn't need to explain herself and that he's OK with it but he's clearly not because it must suck to watch your childhood home be changed like this. Joey notices and asks him if he wants to talk, Dawson does not and sad pandas away.

Jack and Jen are walking around Capefest together because Jack wanted to go to meet up with Ethan and Jen is a really supportive friend. She tries to give him advice about not moving too fast and letting Ethan come to him. Jack wanders off from Jen to go find Ethan.

We are subjected to a montage of auditions which is thankfully not for a new movie that Dawson is making but is for the play that Andie wants to assistant direct. There's a lot of terrible people and then some guy comes in and reads the lines and...no he still kind of sucks but Andie is willing to go with him. Mr. Broderick claims that he already found someone for the role, that person turns out to be Pacey.

Andie is not impressed

Dawson actually goes to Kendra's house to whine at her some more for taking the camera and no, I'm no longer seeing your side of things, Dawson. This is just too annoying and too whiny to try to defend. Leave the poor girl alone and maybe talk to the film teacher about being more fair with the camera distribution. Before they can really get into an argument about it, Principal Green shows up and just blindly assumes that they are friends and invites Dawson to dinner.

Dude, learn to read the room

Back at Capefest, Jack has found Ethan who came alone and asks Jack if he wants to grab a bite to eat. Jack quickly agrees and we cut to them walking along the beach and talking. Ethan is disappointed that Jack didn't ask for his number on the train. Jack admits that he was nervous and then asks Ethan why he didn't ask for his number. Ethan says that he didn't because he could and that Jack needs to learn to ask because he's the newbie. I don't really understand this sentiment, you're either interested or not, why does Ethan feel the need to test Jack? Perhaps this is just something that I can't really understand because of the never having been there thing. Jack mentions that Ethan was the first gay person he's talked to unless he counts the Internet. Ethan doesn't. Ouch, Ben Street.

*sigh* I have to prepare myself for this next part of the episode because I loathe it with a passion. Just...hang on a sec, let me collect myself. OK, so we cut to Jen, who is having no luck putting up her tent, when she sees a guy with a burger. She asks where he got it and he points her in the direction of the vendor and says they are veggie burgers and delicious. I'll take my burgers with meat, thanks. Anyway, Jen walks over and who is cooking the burgers? Henry, of course.

Are we really sure those are veggie burgers though? I feel a round of
"God, That's Good!" coming on...

Jen is all smiles and joking when she sees him but he looks like he's thinking of how he can murder her on site and use her meat for his burgers with no one noticing. She stupidly asks him for help with her tent which kind of makes me angry at her. I mean, she doesn't like this kid, made it extremely clear and now all of the sudden she's all "tee hee, I can't put up my tent, help me?" and it bothers me. This is a shitty thing to do to people and the fact that she is oblivious as to why he's upset with her, also irritates me because he had a huge crush on her, creepy as it was, and she now kind of has that over him. One of the most humiliating and infuriating things I ever experienced was when a crush of mine shot me this shit-eating grin after he'd started dating someone and clearly wasn't interested but knew that I had had a crush on him. My crush dried completely up in that moment. So, in this small, small, short lived instant, Henry actually has my sympathy.

That quickly dries up the moment he claims she led him on just to stomp on his heart. I get his anger but in no way was that what she set out to do. She was misguided and careless with his feelings towards her, for sure but she wasn't some evil harpy intent on destroying him. He kind of wins me back when he calls her out for being smug about being on the requited side of unrequited love and calls bullshit on her "we agreed to be friends" line when they haven't talked at all and she knows dick about him. Then he tells her to put up her own damn tent. Good for you, Henry. You go serve your meat pies...er "veggie" burgers now and leave the show forever. Please?

Back at the Green's house, the most awkward dinner is happening. Principal Green starts bragging about Kendra being the best filmmaker ever while Dawson makes snide comments about not knowing anything about her movie. She snaps back that her project is between her and her crew and Dawson shoots back, and I quote:

Dawson: So in order to bask in the glory of this mind-bending idea of yours, I have to offer my services?

Fuck you, Dawson. Now, you think this would be the moment that Principal Green would clue in to the mistake he's made, but nope. He just suggests that they should totally work together and when they shoot his idea down immediately, he just laughs it off like they are just being the silliest things and don't want to jump across the table and kill each other. I don't get how he can be this dense.

You kids and your arguing. lol! Who wants dessert?

Back at Capefest, Ethan and Jack are still talking, specifically about sexuality and this show surprises me at how well it goes about it. Like, for this time (which sadly was not that long ago), this conversation is amazing. Ethan says that people want to define sexuality by who they sleep with but that it is more than that, Jack should know because he hasn't kissed a guy yet but he still knows he's gay. This is a great conversation and a great way to bring the issue of sexuality to their teen audiences. This show is sometimes questionable in the way it handles their non-straight characters but sometimes, they give us gems like these and I applaud the way they handled it. Anyway, Ethan notices that all of his camping gear is missing and freaks out.

Cut to Andie arguing with Pacey about quitting the play. Pacey doesn't want to because Mr. Broderick has guaranteed him a C in English if he does the play. Andie chastises him for going back to his slacker ways and then begs him to quit because this play was her way of getting over him, which she can't do if he's in the play and she has to deal with him. Pacey tells her she should quit but she refuses but he stands his ground because:

My God, he's adorable

Back at the Green house of awkwardness, for some reason Dawson is wandering around their house by himself and walks into Kendra's room. Dude, not OK! Kendra sneaks up behind him but for some reason, doesn't kick his ass for being in her room. Dawson is all perplexed that her room isn't movie geeky enough and she shoots back that his room is probably wall to wall Spielberg posters. Dawson weirdly responds by proudly confirming this and correcting her that his room is, in fact, a shrine.

If Dawson was a real person, I'd feel compelled to contact Spielberg
and warn him that he might have an Annie Wilkes level stalker after him

Anyway, Kendra points out that there is so much to be passionate about that it would be silly to focus on just one. Dawson counters that if you find something you're passionate about, you should immerse yourself in it. Kendra then shoots Dawson down wonderfully:

Oooh, sick burn!

You know, because all of his movies tend to be rip offs of other things? Like how he ripped off some of Psycho and probably a lot of Creature from the Black Lagoon for his first movie? Or how he ripped off Blair Witch with his stupid documentary? Or how he just rewrites season 1 to his liking? Sure, the last one is meta but seriously, Dawson does not have an original film in him. They get to talking about their parents' respective divorces and I kind of laugh that the show acknowledges how crappy a lot of the parents are in Capeside; when Kendra mentions she's making a film about dysfunctional families, and Dawson tells her that Capeside will give her a lot of material. Dawson finally lets loose about how he is feeling about his parents divorce. He has feels and runs out of her house quickly. Not before this happened though:

No, you definitely are self-obsessed

Jack and Ethan return to Jack's campsite to find Jen sitting on their flat tent. She is relieved when she sees them because they can help her with the tent. I didn't know tents were this hard to set up but then I've never been camping so I can't comment. Anyway, Jack tells her about how Ethan's stuff got stolen and that he needs a place to stay and then asks her to make herself scarce for the next few hours. Jen is like "fuck this, I'm out" and tells him she's going home and will pick him up in the morning. I support her decision.

Jen doesn't end up going home because she hears music and it is Henry singing Bruce Springsteen's No Surrender, and playing the guitar. I can't take this scene seriously because of Jen's face the entire time she watches him sing. I can't decide what the hell she's going for, wonder? fright? Boredom? Stoned out of her skull? I don't know.

You decide

Back at Capeside High, Pacey and the other students are rehearsing the play while Mr. Broderick keeps making ridiculous decisions on how they should play the characters. Like how they should be "Louder and angrier" and ignores Andie's suggestions. This guy is useless.

At Capefest, Jack and Ethan are inside their tent and talking a bit about how Jack knows Jen. Ethan then quickly says good night and Jack looks extremely disappointed because he definitely wanted something more to happen.

Now we get to the point of the episode that I hate. Jen is now a stammering idiot regarding Henry because he's just so deep now that she knows he's a vegetarian and plays acoustic guitar. So now she actually does have the hots for him which is completely and utterly stupid because he's creepy and he's been a jerk to her and it kind of makes it seem like...Jen is only into him because he's ignoring her. That's a horrible message to send to girls and guys. Don't like people who treat you like dirt or ignore you. It also perpetuates the myth that girls don't like nice guys but do like you when you are jerks to them and I hate that because it's horrible. I also don't get why she's hanging all over him when she supposedly isn't interested in him and knows that he likes her because that's really mean. He tells her to stop toying with him and just leave him alone. Please do, Jen, I'm begging you. He's so creepy!

Dawson is taking his posters off his walls when Joey enters through the window, of course. She asks him what the hell is going on and Dawson explains that he was at Kendra's house and what she said about passions and making movies about other movies. Joey immediately attacks and calls him a sell out which is entirely unfair of her because for once, he's taking some good advice about opening himself up to life and experiences so that he can make better movies. He's not going to make better movies, mind you but at least he's trying to better himself. He acts like a smug dick about not asking about "Mr. Ivy League" and Joey says that it's shitty of him not to ask. They yell at each other until Joey runs away and he looks upset. I'm not that invested in this, I'm waiting for the end of this drama and the beginning of the goodness.

Capefest, next day. Ethan suggests they do breakfast like nothing is wrong but Jack is upset because he wanted more to happen last night. Ethan is like "dude, I was tired so I went to sleep" and I concur with him for Jack to stop being a drama queen. Ethan wants Jack to ask for his number so that they can get together as friends and Jack is disappointed with this. Ethan says that Jack isn't ready so Ethan doesn't want to go there with him. Jack seems to soften a little to the fact that Ethan is a little interested in Jack but wants to be friends until Jack is more ready. Ethan gives Jack his number.

At another rehearsal session, Mr. Broderick is late and so Pacey encourages Andie to start the practice without him and show off her directorial skills. She hesitates but then goes for it and starts giving everyone better directions than just "louder, angrier!" and everyone excitedly starts rehearsing her way.

The part of the episode that really bugs me is now. Jen approaches Henry who angrily tells her where the stage is and asks if she's lost or something. Jen apologizes for being "careless with his heart" which, OK is valid. She then goes on to say that she hasn't liked someone the way that he liked her but that she'd like to and that if anyone is the younger and less experienced in that regard, it's her not him.  Since she has acknowledged that she is less than he is, he immediately changes tune and excitedly agrees with her that he's much more mature and then starts being nice to her. Now, it was a nice apology but it's just the way he went from ice cold to completely warm and bubbly after she said something he wanted her to say...feels a bit manipulative and makes me uncomfortable. It kind of sends the message that if you make someone feel bad enough for not liking you when you are so obviously pure and nice and good, they will eventually start liking you back. That is not cool, writers.

It doesn't help that Henry looks like he's plotting her murder all the time

Mr. Broderick walks in on the students rehearsing and proceeds to congratulate himself for giving them "acting exercises" that finally got them to do the play right. Pacey is like "Dude no, Andie is the one that got us to act the scenes out right" but Mr. Broderick won't hear it because he's a Capeside High teacher and is therefore, the worst. He asks Andie for the set designs and she shows them to him but he's all "no, this sucks and is not what I wanted." She's like "yes, it is." and he's like "you are worthless, stop thinking, and do things the way I want them done now, little girl" or something to that effect because he's a tool. Andie runs out.

Pacey follows her and tries to get her to come back. Andie says she can't work with a douche like Mr. Broderick when things are hard enough, so Pacey offers to quit. She tells him that he can't because he's really good. He then tries to convince her to come back but she says no, so he just pretends like he said yes. The scene is charming because Joshua Jackson is just charm on a stick but also kind of frustrating because the writers are acting like "Pacey said yes and that he'll see her at rehearsals so she has to go now, lol!" and I'm sitting here like, she keeps saying no...no one is holding a gun to her head so she could just walk away if she doesn't want to. This doesn't bind her into doing it at all. Whatever, I guess she's still doing the play because Pacey said so.

Jack and Jen joke about their adventures the night before and they are so cute together. I love their friendship. Jack notices that Jen is in a pretty good mood, despite the fact that he sent her packing in the hopes of getting some with Ethan. Jen admits that she met someone but won't say who. Big mistake, Jen, you should definitely let everyone know that you were talking to Henry, in case you go missing soon and people aren't left with "She said she met someone" "some new friend" as the only leads in the case. Yes, I'm fixated on Henry looking like a serial killer. Can you blame me?

Look at this, it looks like she's scared of him because
he's glaring creepily at her

Joey returns to Dawson's now empty looking room to apologize. She has brought him a John Lennon Imagine poster because apparently they listened to Beatles albums when they were kids and Dawson wanted to be like John Lennon and write music. She tells him that he was about other things and she wanted to remind him of that. Dawson thanks her and hangs the poster, asking if she thinks it will help him to walk his own path. Joey says that he always walked his own path (debatable) but that he just needed to widen it a little. End episode.

Again, this is not a horrible episode, it's just kind of boring. There were a few bright spots but that was mainly with Jack and Ethan and Pacey and Andie. OK, and also Kendra schooling Dawson about how unoriginal he was because truth. The only reason I personally dislike this episode so much is the Jen and Henry stuff. I do not like that character, I find him to be whiny and self-entitled and I hated the way they handled bringing him back and making Jen practically beg him to give her the time of day. There was literally no reason for her to want to and I'm sorry but being vegetarian and able to play the guitar are not things that would sway someone into liking someone they didn't in real life That is just stupid.

Stay tuned for the next episode, A Weekend In The Country in which the Potter's Bed and Breakfast officially opens for business.

Dawson's Creek - 310 - First Encounters of the Close Kind

Original air date: December 15, 1999

I'm just going to start this recap off with the one big complaint I have this episode, there is no Jen or Pacey in it. I know, I know, it sucks but fortunately, this is actually not a bad episode and we get a few gems as well. Let's get on with it to find out what we get.

We start off with Dawson watching his shitty Blair Witch rip off movie as Joey enters through the window because they're back to that again. She points out the weirdness of him watching his own movie over and over but he explains that he has to be prepared for the Q&A after the screening. Apparently Dawson has entered this school assignment into a film competition, presumably so that when it tanks (yes when, not if) he can just shout to the audience "Whatever! It was for a school assignment anyway!" because he usually reacts to criticism like a whiny teenaged fanfic writer. Also, why is he entering this film when he had that stupid Creek Daze movie that he made with the money he won from the film festival last time? Shouldn't he be screening that one, the one with the budget, albeit minor? Or did he just give up on that one because mean old Miss Kennedy didn't like it because she's mean and totally had it out for him?

Well, whatever, he's airing his shitty school project rip off of Blair Witch because he's lazy and he doesn't realize what a horrible idea that is to do. Dawson is freaking out (he should be, his movie sucks) and Joey tries to make him feel better by saying that no matter what happens, this experience will take him one step closer to achieving his dreams. She then mentions that at least he doesn't have to spend the night with a stranger, which is a part of her college tour. I have no idea if college tours are a thing or if you actually do spend the night in a dorm with a stranger to do it, but in this show, it's a thing. I only remember going to day tours but then, the colleges I applied to were in my hometown. Dawson asks if she's nervous and Joey says this:

Joey: Yeah! But in a good way. I mean, I know we’re just visiting, but this trip kinda gives me hope. Maybe one day I will make it out of here.

Bitch, you need to shut up about this stupid spiel about getting out of Capeside when you turned down a semester in France! For Dawson! You had a chance to get out and you chose not to go, you don't get to whine about "never making it out" anymore when it was your decision to stay. God, look how much I've written and we're not even at the opening credits yet. We're in for a long ride, I guess.

We cut to the next day where Dawson, Joey, Jack, and Andie are all standing outside of a bustling college campus. I think that Andie is going for an interview to get into Harvard because that is pretty much her entire dream. Joey is going to go find her college sponsor, Dawson is going to register at the film festival, and Jack acts all shifty and says he's going to hang out and do the tours or something. They all go their separate ways.

Dawson is registering at the film festival and wait, who is that taking his registration!? Oh my god, it's-

Kendra, de vam-pire slayer!

This is amazing! I totally forgot Bianca Lawson was in this season for a bit! Hopefully Dawson doesn't spill something on her fav-rite she-irt because, as we know, it's her only she-irt. Anyway, she takes his information down, briefly mocks him for liking Spielberg, and then tells him that he didn't write down a synopsis for his movie. I am not shitting you, this is the answer he gives:

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa!!

Oh my god, Dawson. That is extremely unprofessional, every director worth his salt can write a brief description of what their movie is about, if you can't do that, then your movie probably lacks...direction. Also story, plotting, and any interest whatsoever. No one fucking cares how great you think your movie is, they want to know what it's about and if you think you can get away with not writing a synopsis because "there's not enough room" to capture the gloriousness of your shitty movie, then you have no business being in the business and you certainly won't be taken seriously.

Now that I've finished laughing and ranting, Dawson continues to explain his masterful homework assignment movie and Kendra rams a stake through his heart. Not really, but in a better show...She does point out the obvious again for us though:

movie title drop!!

Joey is then shown entering a college dorm, only to find a guy sitting on the bed. He is needlessly rude to her before finally revealing that he is her college tour guide, A.J. Moller and that their "gender ambiguous" names must have gotten them paired together. He continues being rude by automatically assuming that Joey is going to start crying and offers her a bed. Joey doesn't want to stay with him, for good reason, and he tries to make her feel like shit for not wanting to stay with a strange guy in a college campus because apparently, this is what dorms are like. While I agree, that guys and girls can live together on college campuses, I still don't find this situation appropriate because she's a minor and there is a very serious risk for her to be taken advantage of. Yes, yes, not all guys, but would a college want to take that risk? Whatever, he challenges her maturity which makes Stubborn!Joey pop out and decide to stay to prove him wrong. Reverse psychology works so easily on her. Geez, all Dawson needs to say when he wants her back is "I bet you're just not mature enough to give us another shot" to which she'll jump into his arms right then and there and I will throw up in my mouth because they are the worst together.

Where was I? Oh yeah, Joey decides to stay and douchey college guy kicks her out of his room for the next two hours so that he can work on his assignment. I'm sorry but people who act like this clown with their homework are assholes. Just ask if she can give you some space for a bit to get your work done instead of being horrifically condescending and racist about it:

Racism is so charming...or at least, the writers think it is

Andie bumps into Jack and asks him what he's about to do and Jack acts all cagey for some reason. She suggests he check out an art museum and he agrees that he'll probably check one out. The minute Andie leaves, he pulls out this thing:

Ummmmmmm?

Ok, so this made me a bit uncomfortable because the writers have a history of kind of mocking gay culture and when I saw this I kind of went "they did NOT" But, I looked into this and it does appear to be a legitimate thing that I just was unaware of. I get that it can be hard when you're just realizing your sexuality and you don't really know where to go to meet people so I can definitely see why this is necessary. Reading up on it, made me feel a lot better about this scene and, shocking to say, this is something that the writers got right. Can you blame me for thinking that the show was being insensitive at first, though?

I don't understand why Jack was so secretive about wanting to explore the gay community because Andie has been really supportive of it. I guess he didn't want a repeat of her pushing him into something too fast like with the Ben Street debacle.

Andie excitedly walks up to the Dean's assistant to check in but the assistant says that her appointment isn't until March. That's super dumb, why the hell did Andie act like she was getting an interview then? Andie persists because her dad tells her that if you want something, make sure to be the first in line. Andie, your dad is the Worst Parent in Capeside for all eternity, don't take advice from him. She asks if anything might open up and the assistant is all "would you cancel your university interview at the last second?" Schooled.

Oh my God, this next scene is my everything. Dawson's movie is screening and people are not impressed and openly mocking it. It finishes and people flock right the fuck out of the movie theatre because they don't give two fucks what Dawson has to say about his tired rip-off movie. It's bliss, it's total joy, you have no idea how much his pain and tears bring me joy.

Yes, keep crying, Dawson

Dawson meekly gets up to the podium to answer questions and literally no one raises a hand. My god, this is just the best most satisfying moment the series has given me so far. One girl does raise a hand and asks where Joey is because she's hot. Look, we have to be reminded that Joey is the hottest girl who ever lived and that no one else compares, it's in her contract. Ok?

Cut to Dawson storming out of his screening like a giant baby. Kendra follows him out and actually tries to make him feel better. She really shouldn't have tried because, of course, Dawson bites her head off about it. As if it's her fault that he sucks at filmmaking and that his movie opened poorly. Douche. So, Kendra lets him have Mr. Pointy right in his heart and it is glorious:

Movie title drop again!

Ooooohh, ouch!!

This is where I'd light a cigarette, if I smoked

Dawson acts like a little bitch and sarcastically tells her how perceptive she is. She snaps back that he shouldn't patronize her. Dawson, being Dawson which is to say a giant asshat, condescends her further by looking down on her opinion because he thinks she is just a volunteer at the festival and not a true artist like himself. She tells him to fuck off but in cleaner TV words.

Cut to Jack waiting nervously for a bus. I'm assuming it's a gay bus or something? Because it seems to be all men getting on and the driver just has to ask Jack if he's "in or out"

Get it?

Dawson is moping on a bench when Joey turns up and asks him how his screening went. He whines about how horribly it went and how he shouldn't be a filmmaker, which is true. Then Joey starts to pep talk him and tell him how great he is and those mean "film brats" don't know anything. "Whatever, guys! He just did it for fun, ok?" Sorry, it's just, Dawson can not take any valid criticism of his movie. Ever. So, forgive me if I constantly picture him as a whiny, 12 year old, fan fic writer. Joey gushes about how he's great at filmmaking and I vomit all over myself because Joey needs to stop undermining his valid criticism and enabling him to remain a crappy, yet egotistical filmmaker. I mean really, he can just continue to crank out crap movies and then whine that everyone is just haters that are jealous of his genius work.

Andie is still trying to get in to see the Dean of the university and is sucking up to his assistant. The lady tells Andie about her seven kids and how none of them got into this university and how they all aren't bothered by it and turned out fine. I think she's supposed to be some kind of zen person for Andie to learn to relax about being perfect all the time.

Cut to Joey in a college class waiting for the lecture to start. AJ walks in and continues being a douche to her. In a surprise twist, AJ turns out to be the teaching assistant for this lit class and he has to fill in for the professor that day. Oh, Dawson's Creek contrivance, how I've missed you. Are teacher's assistants, who are undergrads, taking over the professor's classes a thing in the US? Because I can't recall that ever happening in Canada. If the professor didn't show, class was cancelled usually. Anyway, he starts a "great books" discussion and singles out Joey to ask her what her favourite book is. She says "Little Women" and he proceeds to tear her the shit down. It's kind of funny because she can be stuck up her butt but this is pretty damn cruel because he obviously wanted to humiliate her and I can't figure out why. It's so obvious that the writers have no clue why either, they just want to make him as mean as possible so that Joey can be reasonably upset with him. The problem is, when you don't give your character a reason for being so shitty to another character, my conclusion is that they are just a shitty person and I have no time for them which means, I don't buy into the drastic character change later.

Scratch that, the drastic character change comes in pretty much the next scene. Joey is storming out of class as AJ runs to catch up with her and ask her to wait up for him. She tells him off and he admits he was "a little harsh" and that he was just "trying to give her the college experience" Dude, no. You were not just trying to give her the college experience, you were trying to humiliate her. No one's college experience is getting humiliated for liking a book. That's ludicrous. Joey doesn't buy it either and proceeds to chew him out which makes him cower with fear and apologize sincerely and ask if he can make it up to her. Cue him falling for her. Just wait for it.

Dawson is sitting through a different screening where the audience is apparently extremely awed by the movie being shown. It is going over extremely well and earns a standing ovation. Dawson is confused by the movie, I think as here is his reaction:

D'uuuuh, I guess I should clap since everyone else is clapping

Everyone wants to know who directed it and who else but Kendra turns out to be the director. Suck on that, Dawson!

Dawson walks up to Kendra after the screening to whine at her some more. She says she needs a chocolate fix after her stressful experience and Dawson bitches at her that what she went through wasn't stressful, it was a love-fest. You're an ass, Dawson. I feel like I can't say that enough. She tells him that if the roles were reversed, she would have been happy for him.

YEEEESSSS!!! Everyone is!

Kendra, bless her soul, actually tries to start over with Dawson and be nice. She asks him what he honestly thought of her film and asks him to use constructive criticism only. Oh, Kendra...you naive, naive girl.

Dawson: I, uh, I thought your film was– was technically accomplished.
Nikki: Technically accomplished. That sounds like a nice dismount off the balance beam.
Dawson: Well, it’s better than derivative. Or unclear. Or not understanding your own material.
Nikki: OK. Maybe I was a little insensitive in my comments. I’m sorry.

So, not only is Dawson childish and vague with his criticism of her movie, he also whines at her about her actual helpful criticism and guilts her into apologizing for it. Dawson (writers), she has absolutely nothing to apologize for. Her criticisms of Dawson's film were completely valid and were not even mean but truthful. Seriously, you have Dawson show up to this film festival with a video project he made for a homework assignment, refuse to write down a summary because there was "not enough room", and then ask me to be upset for him because someone rightfully called him out on not understanding his own story? No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Just no all over this conversation. Kendra deserves better than this. Even what happened to her on Buffy was better than this. Dawson storms off even after she apologizes too because he can't stand it when people aren't basking in the glory of his genius and constantly calling him a "wunderkind". Barf.

Andie is pouring her heart out to the Dean's assistant as they drink coffee together. Andie tells her about how she wants to write about her mother and how she influenced her. The secretary, Fran, tells her that she should let herself off the hook for things which she can't control. She also says that Andie shouldn't beat herself up for getting over her brother's death when her mother couldn't. It's a nice scene for Andie.

AJ is suddenly trying to impress Joey because why the hell not? It's what every girl dreams of, right? A guy totally humiliating her in public and then making up for it in private. *swoon* This is the worst ever. When are Joey and Pacey going to be a thing? It feels like it's taking forever. Anyway, to make things up to her, he takes her to a secret library.

I'll just leave this here...

He shows her a first edition copy of the first volume of Little Women which was apparently also Louisa May Alcott's personal copy. They read from it and then Joey admits that her mother used to read it to her because it was her favourite book. This is why she named her Josephine. Screw Bessie, she wasn't the favourite, so she gets the cow name. AJ picks up on the "was" and Joey tells him that she passed away which makes him apologize and probably feel guilty. He then admits that his favourite book is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which I think we're supposed to find charming but I find it incredibly hypocritical and awful of him. It also makes me hate the character more. Seriously, don't fall for him Joey, he's a douche.

Jack walks into a bar and tries to order a drink. He's extremely, adorably, awkward and it's the cutest thing ever. Apparently a random bar dude agrees with me and orders a drink for him while chatting him up. He comes on really strongly which makes Jack freak out and bail on the guy once his back is turned. I kind of think Jack made the right choice because, for some reason, the guy was giving off major creepy vibes to me. I don't know, he was attracted to his shyness, then trying to get him to go somewhere else with him, then added the little "we can just talk and get to know each other..." I don't know, red flags went up. Run like hell, Jack.

Prizes are being handed out to the filmmakers and Kendra is obviously expecting to win. She doesn't and surprisingly, Dawson runs after her to tell her she was robbed. That he saw every film at the festival and hers was hands down, the best. In a shocking twist...Dawson actually becomes supportive and learns something! I'm shocked, check it out for yourselves:

Dawson: Well I learned that I have to dig deeper, and– and reveal more of myself in my work if I’m going to make a film that’s worth anything. You learned that film festivals don’t necessarily award the meritorious. 

Nikki: (more calmly) I wanted to win, Dawson. 

Dawson: Nikki. Your film just wasn’t technically brilliant, OK? It was inspired. It inspired me. It-- it made me remember why I got into film in the first place. Not to win festivals, not for glory, but to reach people. And you did, you made them laugh, you moved them. No matter what happens to me, I’m not gonna give up until I reach that goal.

You see? I didn't make it up. Dawson actually admitted his faults and was supportive. They part on good terms.

The next day, Dawson and Andie meet up at the train and tell each other about their weekends. Both admit to getting what they wanted and learning something but not the way they expected to. It's nice to see them talking and for how much Dawson pissed me off this episode, it's nice that he's actually able to end on a good note.

Jack is already on the train and saving seats for everyone. Mysterious guy with nice blue eyes comes and asks if he can sit with him. Jack starts to explain and then gets lost in his beautiful blue eyes and relents. The guy's name is Ethan and he is also headed for Capeside. Jack is happy.

Dawson bumps into Kendra on the train who is apparently also a child of divorced parents and she's going to live in Capeside with her father. It turns out, through contrived writing, that Kendra is Principal Green's daughter and she'll be attending Capeside. Dawson tries to talk himself up by saying that the film class is full but how he thinks he has "pull" with the teacher and can totally get her in. She's already in and is getting private email lessons from the teacher too. Dawson looks butthurt and it pleases me greatly.

Please do, Kendra. Dawson could use a good ass kicking

Jack is conversing with Ethan and is obviously interested in him. Who wouldn't be with those eyes? Anyway, Ethan is apparently just getting over a break up and is heading home to his parents for some TLC. He then reveals that the breakup was with a boy which gets Jack very excited.

AJ has walked Joey to the train. Apparently, they have been up all night talking and they are into each other now. *SIGH* I guess I have to endure this further but I still don't get what the hell his problem with her was in the first place or why she thinks he's such a great guy now. Whatever, she gives him her number and walks onto the train where she bumps into Dawson and Kendra. Dawson introduces Joey to her but Joey is too preoccupied with making moony eyes at AJ to notice or care that Dawson has made a female friend.

Dawson is not pleased

We end the episode with Dawson and Joey talking about their weekend in his room. Dawson is still whining about the festival and saying that he should go into fast food. Joey rolls her eyes at him and tells him to stop worrying about winning and just love what he does and learn to be excited about the process. Win for Joey. Joey then expresses her fear but ultimate excitement at the prospect of college, showing that she's finally ready to open herself up to new experiences. Ladies and gentlemen, we end the episode with a very telling quote that seems to show just how ill suited these two are for each other:

Joey: So is it just me, or– or does this room seem a lot smaller all of a sudden?
Dawson: Really? I was kinda thinking it seemed ... safe.

 Joey wants to get out and explore the world and be exposed to new things and different ways of thinking, Dawson wants to hole himself up in his bedroom and be a kid forever. If there was ever a moment that so accurately showed why these two don't work as an endgame couple, it's this. And that, my friends, was First Encounters of the Close Kind. A little slow at times but I got a lot of entertainment out of the much needed calling out of Dawson this episode. Loved it.

Stay tuned for Barefoot At Capefest where Jack continues to pursue Ethan and the psychotic Henry returns to manipulate Jen with his icy demeanour into liking him. I'm not joking, that happens. Until next time, folks.

Dawson's Creek - 309 - Four to Tango

Original air date: December 1, 1999

So, here we are at another recap and all I can hope is that this episode is more entertaining than the last one was.

It gets off to a really great start with opening on Jen and Pacey again. They are making out but then stop and say they feel nothing. Now, correct me if I'm wrong...but wasn't that the point? Or is it that they can't get aroused? It's probably that and yeah, they'll have a hard time having casual sex if they can't get aroused. Then I get creeped out because they have chosen Dawson's room to consummate their casual arrangement and just no. That is super creepy. What is with all of the characters sneaking in to Dawson's room to do things? Just the thought that someone snuck into my house and used my bed for sexy times without my knowledge and then I go to lie down and sleep on their love juices....

Excuse me

Ugh...anyway, lucky for Dawson, they don't get very far before he comes. Jen bails out the window while Pacey dives for Dawson's gaming console and pretends that he was playing Crash Bandicoot. Dawson asks him what he's doing in his room during a school day and Pacey acts really suspicious while spouting some excuses about how not everyone has the array of electronics that Dawson does. He then quickly tries to make an exit...until Dawson points out that Pacey is missing a shoe.

My God, he's adorable

At school, Andie is sitting at a table when Jack comes to join her. He is carrying a bunch of papers and Andie asks what's up. Jack explains that Dawson put the video of him and the football team on the web (I hope he asked Jack before doing that), and he's holding all the emails he got. Ok, this show was sooooo written by a bunch of old people who had no clue how "the email" worked. Seriously, who prints out emails? Old people, that's who. High school students would not. Not even back then. You're showing your ignorance of youth culture, writers.

Anyway, Jack explains that most of the emails are hate mail because people are tools. Andie finds one letter that is nice and is from someone else who is gay and went through sort of the same thing as Jack. The guy in question, took a guy to his prom. Andie is excited for Jack and says he should write the guy back because he seems nice. Jack doesn't know what to say and Andie tells him to Say Anything... because it worked for John Cusack. Yes, she really did reference that movie. Awesome.

A random guidance counsellor has called Pacey into his office. He mentions to Pacey that he's failing math which shocks Pacey and I've never understood this. Why are characters always so shocked when they hear this news? Don't they know that they haven't handed assignments in, gone to class, scored horribly on tests? Why are they always so shocked? Whatever, Pacey tries to shrug it off because he's gone back to his slacker ways and the counsellor mentioned that the other guy, Mr. Milo, told him about a girlfriend Pacey had. Pacey says that she's not his girlfriend anymore and storms out. The counsellor tries to tell Pacey not to let whatever's bugging him win and Pacey says that it already has.

Huh, I should do something but...my purpose has been served

Andie complains that her search on "the internets" has given her too many hits and Jack tells her that she can't search for such a broad topic, she has to "decide what you wants, what you don't want and then, you know, establish some restrictions." Ladies and Gentlemen, the writers trying to explain how to search for stuff on the internet. Don't worry, it just sets up Andie's remark about how it's kind of like deciding what you want in a romantic partner. Jack then suggests that she start her own website, "www.annoyingsister.com"

Uuuuuuummmmmmm...burn?

Andie then prattles on about how Jack should contact the email guy who's name is Ben Street, which sounds like a made up name to me. I don't know why, it just does. As Andie is going on and on about how Jack should seize the day, Jack is in shock because he's just gotten an instant message from Ben Street that says "Anybody out there?"

Really?

The writers have absolutely no clue how the internet or emails or instant messaging works. You would know who you were sending an instant message to, unless you are using an anonymous messaging site but you'd have to go on that site. So, the fact that Ben Street writes "Anybody out there?" is stupid because he's not looking for "anyone" he's looking for Jack. If he was just sending out a random message trying to get "anybody" in some magical randomized messenger thing, then chances are highly unlikely that the message would magically end up on a school computer that Jack was magically sitting at. You see how little the writers understand stuff like this? Now, what I can buy is Jack logging into his messenger account at school and Ben deciding to try and chat with him but then why not just say "Hey, Jack?" or "Are you on, Jack?" but clearly, this was a time when the internet was a new and scary place and writers just did not get it.

Not even on good shows

Anyway, Jack is completely nervous and doesn't know what to do at all. Andie tells him to respond and tells him to type something in before Ben gets bored and leaves. Jack slowly types in "hi" and then sits there, staring at the computer. Then Andie is all "you have to hit send, genius" and it's really cute but kind of confusing because why would he be logged into instant messaging if he has no clue how to use it. I'll just chalk it up to nerves though.

Pacey runs into Joey and tries to schmooze her by complimenting how she looks. She sees through him and guesses that he wants her notes for the class he missed. She actually does give them to him but tells him she needs them back by the next morning. Pacey then realizes he doesn't even understand her notes and asks if she'll tutor him. She refuses because he's done nothing but slack all semester while she's been working hard. Pacey claims that he was busy but Joey points out:

Joey: Busy, right. Pacey, you have a very undemanding part-time job, your
only familial obligation is to feed the dog everyday, and your social life
is basically a triangle consisting of you, me and Dawson.

Pacey has a dog? Why have we never seen his puppy? I want to see the puppy! Er, I mean, what a slacker. Pacey then begs her to tutor him because he's failing and he'll do whatever she wants in return.

Cue them at a waltzing studio and Pacey is unhappily dancing with an equally unhappy Joey. They are also dancing really far apart like kids would because they don't want to be too close in case of cooties. She complains that he keeps stepping on her toes and Pacey demands to know what they are doing at a dance studio. Joey explains that the studio offers a $1,500 scholarship to the high school student who best embodies the spirit of ballroom dancing and since the class consists of the two of them and then a bunch of old people, Joey is basically going to be given a scholarship no matter what. Pacey asks her why she didn't ask Dawson or Jack and Joey explains that they don't owe her like he's going to when she helps him up his math grade.

The teacher then comes over and yells at them for not dancing together properly, with ribcages touching. They then try again but Pacey keeps stepping on her feet so this happens:

Adorable!!

In Dawson's bedroom, he is cleaning or something and picks some books up off the floor. He then notices a condom there and since he's not getting any, he wonders where it came from. The funny thing is, he looks more confused than disgusted about finding a mysterious condom in his room. My reaction would be to drop it as if it's infected once I realize that it's not mine and that must mean that some strangers...or my parents (BRAIN BLEACH!!!) have been having sex in my room.

The next day, Joey tells Pacey to do some math problems from the textbook and that she'll look at them after school. She'll help him study math for an hour after school and then they will head back to the dance studio to do another lesson. They both agree that no one can know about their after school activity since ballroom dancing is really uncool and when they say "no one can know" that's when Dawson sneaks up behind them and asks what no one can know. Cue Pacey and Joey scrambling to make up something about Pacey being horrible with home improvements and that they need Dawson's help with the addition to the Potter's home. Dawson agrees to help but is clearly still suspicious as Joey and Pacey try to make an exit. Dawson tries to call Pacey back but Pacey makes something up about how he can't be late for class again and bails. Dawson then looks even more suspicious and if I've learned anything from the time that he walked in at the tail end of a conversation between Pacey and Jen in season 1's Detention, Dawson is going to get very jealous of Pacey right about now. Someone keep the basketballs away from him, please.

Back in the computer lab, Andie is excitedly looking over Jack's shoulder as he types, waiting to hear word on the Ben Street situation. Jack tells her that apparently the guy who Ben went to prom with was never his boyfriend and they just did it as a statement. Andie is pleased with this information and asks Jack if he's going to ask for a picture. Jack claims that looks don't matter especially since they are just writing each other and not going on a date. Andiie says "yet" and then points out that the guy has seen Jack so it's only fair that Jack know what Ben looks like. A librarian who was listening in mentions that she went on a date with someone from the internet once and they were hideous, which prompts Jack to decide to ask for a picture after all. Andie gets a bit...super creepy about it.

Oddly specific but at least she's not asking for nude pics...yet

At the video rental store that Dawson and Pacey work at, Jen walks in, looking rather mischievious and rings the desk bell for service. Dawson pops around the corner and this is her face:

Pretty much my face whenever I see Dawson on camera

Dawson doesn't seem to notice and happily greets Jen, who asks him where Pacey is. Dawson says that Pacey isn't working until Tuesday and Jen says that Pacey told her he was working tonight but that she must have gotten confused. Dawson says he wouldn't be too surprised because Pacey has been such a flake lately...says the guy that forgets his friends birthday. Dawson then asks Jen if there are any do-able faculty members since the last time Pacey acted all weird, he was doing Miss Jacobs. Jen asks Dawson if he thinks Pacey has returned to his older woman fetish which, no show, stop pretending that whole debacle was Pacey's doing because it was Miss Jacobs who pursued a relationship with a minor. Anyway, Dawson then mentions that he found a condom in his room after catching Pacey there earlier and that when he tried to ask him about it, Pacey and Joey were all huddled together like it was a conspiracy. Jen looks worried because she doesn't want Dawson to find out about her arrangement with Pacey but Dawson says he didn't get a chance to talk to Pacey yet.

Joey is trying to get Pacey to work but Pacey is restless and distracted. He then complains that Tamara and Andie trained him to equate studying with sex and now he studies but doesn't get sex so he can't get motivated to study.

Excuse me while I go hurl again

Joey plays into his theory by saying that all he needs is some able-bodied girl to help him cue up his Pavlovian cue for studying. Pacey confirms this and she tells him that's the worst pick up line she's ever heard. He claims hhe wasn't hitting on her and that he has some prospects lined up. Joey looks amused and asks him who and Pacey explains the situation with Jen while keeping her anonymous. He then asks Joey's advice on the matter and Joey says that if he really wanted to be having casual sex, he'd be having it instead of having a hypothetical conversation about it.

Jack and Andie are waiting anxiously at the computer screen because apparently, the only class they have all day is computer lab. I love how they get the picture to load, by the way.

More proof that the writers just don't get how computers work

I know they probably did this for dramatic effect or something but seriously, pictures didn't load this way. They still don't load this way. The writers are showing their internet/email ignorance again.Anyway, he apparently doesn't look bad and Jack agrees which Andie is all giddy about because he's finally expressing attraction for the opposite sex. Andie prompts Jack to ask him out but Jack is really nervous about it and isn't sure he should move so fast. Andie steamrolls over him and asks the guy out for Jack. Ben Street accepts. I still hate that name and I still don't know why it irks me so much, it just does. Maybe because it sounds more like an address than a person.

At the video store, Jen is helping Dawson make a Hitchcock window display when she spots Pacey across the street. She points him out to Dawson and then they both see Joey join Pacey. They both look super confused and Jen asks Dawson if he has a sign that says he'll be back in 5 minutes.

They walk into the ballroom to find Joey and Pacey dancing and looking happy because they are together and all is right with the world...sorry, I'm getting off track. Their curiosity satisfied, Dawson and Jen try to leave but the dance instructor pushes them to dance because contrived reasons. I mean, what dance instructor pushes random people into their class to dance, for free? Maybe she was hoping she'd get new clients or something? Anyway, she pushes them together and announces to the entire class that they are there. Joey and Pacey do not look impressed.

What bugs me about Dawson's Creek is that they can never just let couples happen organically. They were doing really good with Pacey and Joey this season, building up their friendship, making subtle little moments between them that I was thinking that they finally learned to just sit back and show the audience, instead of tell them. I was wrong. Because in this scene, the dance instructor becomes one of those extra characters that has to spell out who the couple we want to get together is and it annoys the pants off of me.

Penny: Right, see what I mean? See the hostility, the way they're wary with each other, not to mention the constant bickering and name calling. Now these two clearly are in the early stages of some screwball mating ritual.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Penny

I got that Joey and Pacey were starting to develop feelings for each other just fine, I didn't need some random guest character to spell things out for me. It's what I hated the most about the Dawson and Joey relationship, that they were constantly having extras tell us how connected they were instead of showing us, but luckily, I actually like Pacey and Joey together so I can try and ignore this scene. It's still annoying though.

Ugh, shut up, Penny! We get it!

Jack is getting ready for his date with Ben and is really nervous. Andie tries to give him a pep talk and I just want to note that she had to go over to the Lindley's house because Mr. McPhee is awful. If I were Andie, I'd want to live with Grams too. Anyway, she tries to give him a pep talk about it but Jack is freaking because if he goes through with this date, he's not just telling the world that he's gay, he's actually going to be gay. I don't really understand this logic because I was always straight, even when I wasn't dating but then, I didn't have to struggle with coming out in the 90s so maybe this is a legitimate feeling that a lot of gay folks go through? Andie tells him that if he doesn't go through with the date, he'll be gay but without a boyfriend. Not sure why Andie is so invested in this, but whatever.

Penny, the shit disturbing dance instructor, has decided that they are doing to play musical dance partners, like musical chairs but you switch dance partners when the music stops. She pairs Jen and Joey together and Dawson and Pacey together because...I have no clue. Drama?

Jen asks Joey when she and Pacey discovered their love of ballroom dancing and Joey gets all bitchy, saying that it was obviously just moments before Jen and Dawson did. Dawson confronts Pacey about finding him in his room the other day. Pacey is still going with his story that he wanted to use Dawson's fancy electronics and enjoy the Leery kitchen but then Dawson throws down about finding the condom in his room. Pacey makes an "oh shit" face but is bailed out of the awkwardness by the music stopping and he quickly grabs Jen as a new partner and twirls her across the dance studio.

Pacey tells Jen that Dawson knows about the condom and is freaking out. Jen says she already knows because Dawson told her about it. Pacey is freaking about Dawson being on to them but Jen isn't worried because she knows Dawson isn't on to them. She then clarifies that Dawson isn't on to her because he seems to have cast someone else as the female lead. They both glance over at Joey who is dancing with Dawson.

This next paragraph, I could literally just write that Dawson is being a dick and be done with it but I'll go into a little more detail just for you guys. He asks her the same question Jen did but Joey doesn't answer with snark, she actually tells him about the scholarship. Dawson has the gall to be all, "but why didn't you ask me to do it?" because he's the worst. Joey explains that Pacey came to her first because he needed help with math and since she needed help with this, they helped each other out.

A concept that Dawson will never understand

Dawson of course has to push the issue and ask if that's all she and Pacey are because again, he's the worst. The music stops and Pacey quickly grabs Joey for a dance partner and whisks her away. Pacey quickly explains to Joey that Dawson thinks that they are doing it. Joey is confused as to why Dawson would think that and Pacey admits that normally he wouldn't but that certain events may have been misconstrued. Cue the music stopping and Dawson grabs Pacey as his next partner.

Dawson asks Pacey what's going on and Pacey explains that Dawson has the wrong idea. Dawson acts like a whiny bitch which makes Pacey completely school him by saying that it shouldn't matter to him who Joey is seeing, whether it's him or someone else because Dawson and her aren't together and he's the one that wanted a break. He has no business butting into her personal life and getting butt hurt over guys being into her because newsflash, she's gorgeous and guys are going to want to date her and she's probably not going to wait for Dawson forever.

You said it, Pacey

After completely owning Dawson in every way, Dawson still persists about the condom he found, which makes Pacey rage!quit and storm out of the dance studio. Jen hurries after him. Jen talks him down from his anger but Pacey is also upset that their fuck buddy arrangement has yielded zero fucks thus far. Jen comforts him by saying that they are hesitant because society tells them they should be and Pacey seems to take comfort in this. They cuddle together and then decide that they might try it out after all, which is weird because it's not like the coatroom is that far from where everyone is dancing and the class has been going on for a bit so it may end soon so...privacy is in question here.

Meanwhile, Jack is walking up to the restaurant when he spots Ben Street inside. He looks at him for a while and then completely bails on the entire thing.

Dawson and Joey leave the dance studio, only to walk into the coat room to find Jen and Pacey making out. Joey has put two and two together and knows now exactly who Pacey had the fuck buddy arrangement with and she is pissed (because she's totally jealous it's not her with Pacey). She proceeds to yell at both of them while Pacey insists that it's nothing. I'm kind of sad for Jen in this scene, because she looks a little hurt by Pacey so quickly saying that it's nothing. Joey doesn't believe Pacey is like this and starts to accuse Jen of starting the whole thing. Pacey, thankfully, snaps her off that train of thought by saying it was as much his idea. Joey isn't having it and bails. Dawson follows her.

Jen is confused by Joey's overreaction to them kissing but Pacey explains that she knows about their arrangement because he went to Joey for hypothetical advice. Again, I feel really bad for Jen because she looks so hurt and asks him why he went to Joey for advice about them. She asks Pacey what is it about Joey that makes guys flock to her for advice.

This may actually be a sound theory...

Pacey tries to explain to her that Joey just happened to be there and it's not like he could talk to Andie about this since they are exes and then, funnily enough, he asks her if he should be talking with his brother about it. Jen points out the obvious, he could go to Dawson since they are supposedly best friends and this is his reaction:

Jen, you of all people know why he can't go to judgemental
Dawson for advice. He's the worst

Then Jen calls him out by saying that he's probably too afraid to talk to Dawson about his sex life, since the girl Pacey currently likes used to be his. Pacey still isn't getting who she's talking about because he points out that Dawson just found out he was messing around with her, so Jen has to spell out that she's talking about him and Joey. Pacey is incredulous because Joey can't stand him, of course, he never says anything about him not liking her so clearly he's repressing his feelings because of his last rejection by her. At least, that's what I'm reading into this scene. Anyway, Jen points out that it isn't going to work out between the two of them and they part on good terms. Thus endeth the weird fuck buddy story arc.

Jack walks into Grams' house to find Andie waiting for him. She excitedly asks him about his date and he admits that he flat out bailed on the guy. He said he got to the door and saw him but then he saw a straight couple and felt shitty about himself because he wanted to be like them, so he bailed. Now he feels like a failure and a coward. Aw, I want to give Jack a hug. Andie reassures him by saying that he is very brave but that fear is sometimes life's way of telling people that they are not ready for certain things. She tells him that when he is ready, he'll walk through that door. 'Kay but poor Ben is sitting in the restaurant like a chump right now. I hope Jack writes him an apology or something.

Dawson proves what a shitty human being he is by saying that the Jen and Pacey pairing was inevitable because:

Dawson: Pacey's brooding, disillusioned, tough guy persona was destined to collide with Jen's fake sexual bravado. It was inevitable.

Hey, Dawson? My fist is destined to collide with your Nice Guy, judge-y face! Although, in a surprise twist, Dawson actually becomes less judgemental about the whole situation than Joey. While Joey is railing against how wrong it is, Dawson reasons that he can understand their need to want some type of comfort in whatever form that took. He says that he couldn't do it himself but he can understand the want for someone to be there to hold because you are lonely. This is the most tolerant Dawson has been about anything ever. Joey gets a thoughtful look and then says she has to get her jacket because she stormed off without it and says good night to Dawson.

While getting her coat, Joey notices Pacey watching the dance class. She walks over to him and he tells her that nothing happened between him and Jen and Joey rightfully says that it's none of her business anyway and then apologizes for overreacting to the whole thing. I love season 3 Joey, you guys. I love her. Pacey tells her that he and Jen have called it quits on their fuck buddy experiment and Joey looks happy about that (because she wants Pacey). She then grabs him to leave but they are stopped by the dance instructor who tells them that things have been tight and there's no scholarship. Joey looks disappointed so the dance instructor offers her six months of free lessons. Lady, this might be why your finances are so tight. We end the episode with the adorableness that is Pacey and Joey which makes this probably one of the better episodes I've seen this season.

The absolute best way to end an episode

That was Four to Tango. I have to admit, I'm kind of glad they got rid of the fuck buddy subplot, it felt really awkward and forced and I really like Jen and Pacey as strictly friends. I'm looking forward to more of Pacey and Joey though, it is really the highlight of this show and saves this season from being a train wreck.

Next up is First Encounters Of The Close Kind, in which most of the gang heads up to Boston to get a feel for the college experience, Dawson is showing his Blair Witch ripoff at the film festival, and Jack tries once again to gay. Pacey is sadly absent which could have made the episode completely unwatchable for me if it weren't for the fact that we get a very special guest star to make up for it. Stay tuned.