Dawson's Creek - 220 - Reunited

Original air date: May 12, 1999

Welcome back, folks. When we last left off, Andie thought she saw Abby in the mirror but that can't be right because Abby is dead and this show doesn't have supernatural elements in it. I have to admit, when I was younger and I saw that scene, I was stoked. I loved anything to do with creepy stories and ghosts and I was most disappointed to tune in for this episode and find that it was not about Abby 's ghost haunting Andie. I think that would have been fairly interesting but what we got was quite a bit different but pretty interesting none the less. 

So, we start off the episode with the entire gang hanging out in Dawson's room. Before I can get too excited about this show actually developing friendships between our characters, they immediately start arguing about whether or not they are actually friends and Joey seems absolutely disgusted by the idea. 

Ew, does this mean I have to be nice to you guys?

This kind of disappoints me. Why can't our gang be friends? Why do the writers seem to hate this idea or seem to make our characters hate the idea of friendship? Is this the way they think teens really are? Because I had friends in high school and I never competed for guys against them. I just don't get this weird thing with this show not liking friendships. Romantic relationships are all they care about exploring. It's sad. 

But, I digress. Pacey makes a comment about them being one step away from the Peach Pit, (for those unaware, the Peach Pit was the popular hangout spot for the gang of 90210) and for some reason, this results in everyone attacking Pacey with really feathery pillows. 

Pillow fight of non-friendship!

Next day, Pacey bumps into Andie only to find that she's not quite the same as she was before. She has...gasp...brown hair! Pacey is taken aback by her drastic change and Andie is offended that he doesn't like it. I'm super excited about it because I just realized that this is the episode about Andie's breakdown and I remember it being pretty cool. Then I get sad because this is the episode about Andie's breakdown which means, spoiler alert, it is almost the end of her relationship with Pacey. 

Team Pandie forever!

Andie is extremely agitated and won't take any compliments about her hair since Pacey was surprised by the change first. She's also forgotten her textbook and is overly angry about this as well. Pacey tries to cheer her up by saying it's in her locker but she just storms off. He turns to Jack who just says she's overly sensitive about her hair because she did it herself. 

Cut to Dawson and Joey who are trying to figure out what to do that night. Surprise, surprise, Joey is complaining that they only watch movies together and Dawson whines that she thinks he's boring. Ugh, I can totally see why people think these two are soul mates. That was sarcasm, by the way. To be fair to Dawson/Joey fans this is, at least, playful banter but I still find them boring together. Anyway, Dawson finally lets it slip that he's actually taking Joey to a fancy restaurant for their one month milestone which was supposed to be a surprise but Joey kept harping on what they were doing and complaining about watching movies so he had to tell her to get her off his back. Feel the romance. Also, I kind of chuckle at the fact that one month together is such a milestone for teens that they go so far as to call it a "monthaversary." This isn't a condemning of Dawson and Joey, just an observation about how all teens and emotionally immature adults think. Here's a hint, one month together is not an achievement, you're still in the honeymoon phase so everything is still easy and new.

This is how adults feel about anything other than an actual anniversary
In other words 1 full year

Gail tries to talk Jen into making up with her grandmother but Jen doubts it will work at this point and says that sometimes people just can't work things out, much as they'd like to. Jen realizes who she's talking to and apologizes to Gail trying to say that she didn't mean to insinuate that her and Mitch couldn't make up. Gail has supposedly accepted that they won't be getting back together and brushes Jen's apology off, saying that it is not needed. She then suggests a girl's night for them.

Speak of the devil, Mitch is clearly on a date with Dawson's Arch Nemesis again. She shows off her French skills and then kisses Mitch who is taken aback which means that I guess up until this point, they really had just been hanging out and hadn't kissed before. News to me. They step into a fancy looking restaurant. Dawson and Joey show up at the same fancy French restaurant as Mitch and Dawson's Arch Nemesis. I sense shenanigans are afoot!

But you're not Dawson's Creek so these shenanigans will be contrived and forced

So the host seems to not have Dawson's reservation because he didn't realize there were two Leery reservations. What a shitty host. Anyway Dawson spots his father and Mitch spots Dawson. Awkwardness and shenanigans to follow.

Back to the serious drama, Andie is talking to her therapist about her issues that have arisen since Abby's death. It appears that Andie told her therapist that she saw Abby after her funeral because the therapist is very concerned with this and wants to focus on it. Now this is juicy drama. She asks Andie if she's seen Abby since the incident at the end of last episode but Andie says she hasn't and then says that she probably didn't see her at all. The therapist wants to prescribe Andie some real medication this time, no free night for Andie this time.

Andie leaves the therapist's office and gets in her car where a guy is waiting for her. He is a stranger to us but Andie seems to know him. He asks Andie if she told the therapist about him and she says she couldn't. He tells her that it's good that she didn't tell because what they have is secret. Ooooooohhhh things are getting interesting up in the Creek. Is Andie cheating on Pacey? We'll have to wait to find out, unfortunately.

The mysterious other guy

Gail and Jen are hanging out at the Leery house and Jen brings up the subject of Mitch again. She asks Gail if she's tried to get Mitch back. Gail claims to have made a few attempts here and there but I haven't seen any indication of this all season other than last episode where she claimed she was going to win him back only to not try at all because Mitch showed up with Dawson's Arch Nemesis. Gail says that she can't force love, love has to find her and says that she's waiting for the right sign. Jen says she smells smoke because apparently Gail was attempting to cook a pot roast and sucks at it.

So, since the host sucks and the plot says so, Dawson, Joey, Mitch, and Dawson's Arch Nemesis decide to share a table. Dawson's Arch Nemesis claims that she can find an agency or production company that Dawson could intern at over the summer and Dawson snarks back that he thought she said that Hollywood would "eat him for breakfast." She tries to apologize to Dawson for being hasty with her analysis of his film but Dawson does not accept her apology. I demand an apology from her for going back on her truthful analysis of his film making skills and drinking the "Dawson is super talented kook-aid"

Mrs.Kennedy: You asked me to be truthful, Dawson. Now I may not be a fan of your work, but I am a fan of your enthusiasm. There are plenty of opportunities in the film business, not just creatively speaking.

OK, you're partially forgiven. Dawson then gets pissy because she insinuated that he wasn't creative enough but she has a point. The most creative we've seen Dawson was in season one with his creature feature movie and even then he horse-shoed in a major plot-point from a way better movie. You know, if this year he made the equivalent of The Room and last year he kind of ripped off Alfred Hitchcock, do you think the title of his unnamed movie from last year was Psychodemic: Shock and Terror?

It's totally a romantic thriller, guys!

Joey pulls Dawson aside and yells at him for ruining their romantic date celebrating their one month of dating by being a whiny douche. He whines some more about how she trashed his super awesome movie that he worked months on and how she crushed his Hollywood dream before finally giving in and promising to be good. Just then Gail and Jen walk into the restaurant.

Did I not tell you shenanigans would ensue?

Pacey and Andie are studying when Andie claims she needs to go for a drink. The mysterious guy from before is in her kitchen waiting for her. Andie, you hussy, Pacey is right upstairs! Andie calls him Brown and tells him that he has to leave because she's not ready to tell Pacey yet. Brown tells her that she has to choose but Andie doesn't want to. Pacey hears her talking and goes downstairs to investigate. He listens to her for a bit and then pops into the kitchen.

But she's by herself! Dun, dun, DUNNNNNN!

Joey confronts Jen about being at the restaurant with Gail and points out to her that Mitch is there with Dawson and Gail's Arch Nemesis. Jen agrees that this is a bad thing but then she reconsiders it and thinks it may be a good thing. You see? You see? Shenanigans, they are brewing, I tell you. 

Dawson goes to confront his father about Gail being at the restaurant while his Arch a nemesis is in the bathroom. Dawson is upset that Mitch acts cool about the whole thing. 

Cool as Icccce!

Dawson begs him to ask Gail to stay if he thinks there is even a small chance that he wants to work things out. Mitch points out that he is not relevant in her choice to stay or go which it shouldn't be but totally is. 

Gail bumps into Dawson's Arch Nemesis in the bathroom and the two have a catty exchange where Gail actually comes off more bitchy. I mean, she's mad that this woman is dating her ex-husband but that's not her fault. Mitch made the choice to ask her out and Mitch wouldn't have been in a place to ask her out if Gail hadn't been...how did Abby put it? 

Thank you, Abby

Back with the more interesting storyline, Pacey confronts Andie about who she was talking to and Andie denies that she was talking to anyone. So Pacey asks her flat out if she is seeing anyone else and she says she isn't and Pacey asks her if she's having mental issues. Andie freaks out about this because it is a sensitive topic for her but Pacey points out that it's the logical place to go. He then asks her about a photo album that she was looking through and if it has any meaning since, in the pictures, she has the same hair that she's changed to now. Andie claims that it doesn't mean anything and demands to get her photos back. Pacey ignores her and keeps asking questions so she tries to rip the photo album out of his hands and ends up breaking a vase. She claims she's tired and runs upstairs to bed, leaving Pacey to clean up the mess. But what's this? TWIST!

The guy Andie has been seeing was her dead brother all along!

Pictured: Andie McPhee

Back at the French restaurant, Gail pretends like she hates romance but Jen isn't buying it. Jen then asks Gail if she and Mitch had a song that they danced to. Before Gail can answer, a waiter brings them some wine which was apparently sent over from Mitch. Do I sense...shenanigans?

Meanwhile, Dawson's Arch Nemesis is being bitchy about Dawson not making movies that "try" to make money once he becomes a Hollywood big-wig. Uh, lady, I like you. You ripped apart Dawson's dream and that was cool by me but right now, you are coming across as a phony.

Exactly

Joey uses her powers of bitchyness and making catty comments that she honed to an art with Jen last season, to put Dawson's Arch Nemesis in her place. Dawson is confused by this as he thought he was supposed to make nice with them to save their romantic evening.

1. I argue that their romantic evening is ruined by having to share it with a parent already and
2. Dawson should know by now that rules never apply to Josephine Potter. She can call you out for doing something but she can do the exact same thing because she says so. 

Can we go back to the interesting storyline, please?

Pacey is cleaning up the broken vase when Jack comes home. He asks what happened and Pacey explains that Andie is a bit off. Jack looks worried and then extremely concerned when Pacey mentions that she was talking to a guy called Brian or Bron or something. Andie has been listening to them and she confirms what we already know, Brown was her name for her brother, Tim. She explains when she was younger, she couldn't say Timothy, so she called him by her favourite colour, Brown. I argue that Tim is a perfectly simple and easy to say name, who said she had to use his full name? But whatever, the writers wanted to keep who she was talking to a mystery so, Brown it is. Andie then gets upset that they don't believe her and she runs and locks herself in a bathroom.

Back at the boring restaurant, Joey is stirring things up with Dawson's Arch Nemesis, getting her to admit, in front of Mitch that she disliked his precious son's perfect film. She tries to brush it off but Mitch jumps in by saying that as a teacher, it is her job to encourage kids to pursue their dreams. Not really, it's her job to prepare them for their future and pass down knowledge, Mitch. Dawson's Arch Nemesis says that is a "cosy fantasy" but that "life has a much meaner bite." Joey points out that people who focus on life's meaner bites, tend to be bitter about something. After all, she supposedly made it in Hollywood but is for some reason now slumming it in a small East Coast town teaching high school. She probably flamed out. Dawson's Arch Nemesis gets offended by this and excuses herself from the table.

Dawson asks to talk to Joey and points out the fact that not ten minutes after asking Dawson to behave, she has been pushing every button at the table. Joey plays coy about the whole thing but won't let Dawson in on what's going on. Jen then comes up and says that "Operation Reunited" (Ooooh, episode title drop!) is underway. Dawson is now upset because Jen knows and he doesn't. Then the Maitre D' shows up and asks them if they got the wine they asked for. Now Dawson is really upset because the Maitre D' knows and he still doesn't know.

Aw, honey, it's probably because you're useless

Anyway, the song Reunited starts to play because apparently that is Gail and Mitch's song. That's a horrible song to be their song because it sucks. But, they love it and Mitch actually goes over to Gail and asks her to dance, so success, I guess. Mitch thanks Gail for the bottle of wine that she apparently sent to his table and Gail quickly figures out that it was Jen and Joey's doing and plays along. Mitch then asks Gail about her decision to move away and she points out that it's none of his concern since he's obviously moved on with Dawson's Arch Nemesis. Mitch says that he's making a plea on Dawson's behalf for her to stay but she shoots back that Dawson could ask her to stay and look, I understand that they are talking about Mitch while using Dawson but Dawson did ask Gail to stay, she just made it clear that she didn't care if her son wanted her to stay as long as Mitch didn't want her back. So, no I don't buy that she would stay if Dawson asked her to but I do buy that she'd stay if Mitch asked her to which is what she's implying. I forget what my point was so the song ends and they both go back to their respective tables, having nothing really resolved.

Bang up job, guys

Back with the infinitely more interesting storyline, Pacey and Jack are trying desperately to get Andie to open the door and come out of the bathroom but she refuses. She is yelling at Tim to go away but Pacey thinks she is talking to him so he refuses. She clarifies that she means Tim so Pacey tells her that he does believe that she's seeing Tim and that it's not fair that he can't see Tim. So Pacey asks Andie to tell her what Tim is saying. What follows is a really engaging scene and I am going to post it for you below because it's that awesome.

Notice how most of the really great scenes I've shown 

have involved Pacey?

The only thing about that scene is that it's really awkward having Jack stand idly by offering up nothing to talk his sister out of the bathroom. I get why he had to be there, to set up the next episode's conflict, but I wish they'd given him a little something else to do. I mean as it stands it's like:

Uh, yeah...what Pacey said

Uh, me either 'cause I'm your brother...and stuff

Yay, you came out and...you know what, you guys should just have your moment
It's cool. I'll just hang back here until you need me...

It's just kind of sad and a bit awkward to watch him standing uselessly in the background while Pacey gets to save the day. I love the scene but it's staged awkwardly. It would have played better if Jack wasn't there, but I guess he kind of had to be because of what follows.

Jack says that he got Andie to go to sleep and Pacey asks what they should do. Jack says sensibly, that he should call his father. Pacey is livid at that idea and Jack says he's not thrilled about it but his sister clearly needs more help than they can give her and his father can afford that help. Pacey tries to say that she'll get better with time but Jack, rightfully, slaps Pacey with some truth and his first hand experience with this type of psychosis. Andie will not get better with time, untreated. She will get worse, like her mother did. Jack doesn't want her to get as bad as their mother did to the point where nothing could help her. So Pacey agrees that Jack should call Mr. McPhee.

Gail thanks Jen for the evening, even if the shenanigans were a little too much for her tastes.

But it's such a fun word to say

Jen asks Gail if she decided to stay in Capeside and Gail admits that she really wanted to leave, to run away from her feelings for Mitch but that she could move 10,000 miles away and still be connected to him. She thinks that Mitch felt it too and seems happy but then she spots Mitch with Dawson's Arch Nemesis looking intimate and she runs away. Uh-oh, looks like Gail probably will move to Philly.

Dawson and Joey are hanging out in a row boat, talking about their evening. Joey asks Dawson if he planned the romantic evening specifically so that they'd close the deal on their relationship. IE: fuck. Dawson plays innocent but then admits that he didn't think the idea was that preposterous. She says that it isn't and that she thought about it too. Dawson tells her that the night is young and Joey counters that so are they. Sorry, Dawson/Joey shippers, their love is not to be consummated.

We fittingly end on the true tragic and romantic couple, Pacey and Andie. Andie is scared about what will happen to her and Pacey says that he is scared too. She admits that she doesn't want to lose him and he says that she won't "not now, not ever" and then they say "I love you" to each other.

Awwwww!

This scene just breaks my heart and angers me because of what is going to happen next season but we'll get to that drama when it unfolds. For now, they are team Pandie and they are the strongest and most endearing couple on this show.

Stay tuned next time for Ch-Ch-Changes, yes that actually is the episode title. I guess the writers figured it was time for our fellow Creekers to turn and face the strange.

Ba-dum TISH!

No, but seriously, it's really obvious that the episode is named after this song. We'll see if they do encounter any real changes or face anything strange, next time in the Wastelands.

Dawson's Creek - 219 - Rest in Peace

Original air date: May 5, 1999

OK, so here it is. We've had our "don't drink alcohol. Alcohol is bad, m'kay" message and now we move onto an episode dedicated to the aftermath of Abby's passing and it does it surprisingly well. Not only do they address the general publics reaction to a young girl's death but also how we tend to whitewash people after death, no matter how bad they are.

OK, there are some exceptions to the rule

At any rate, this episode is another example of the theme song kind of draining the emotional weight of the opener with its cheeriness. We have Dawson and Joey giggling as they make their way up to his room, only for Dawson to be cock blocked by Jen breaking the news of Abby's death. I like yo think that this was Abby's last blow to the gang, delaying the grossness of Dawson and Joey, and I salute her for it.

Joey comforts a sobbing Jen as Dawson stands uselessly in the background because real human emotions frighten him, remember. But it's OK, people, this episode won't get too heavy, the theme song will relax us after the sad!

Awwwww, Abby's dead... :'(

Yay! Dancing on the beach!

Joey, no surprise, copes with Abby's death by making it about her and her mother's death. OK, to be fair, I get that a death can bring up old feelings again and losing your mom at a young age would suck, so joking aside, I do get why she'd be thinking of her mom. Her dad walks in and tells her a story about the dress her mom is wearing in the picture. He then says that he never got a chance to talk to Joey about her mom's death. That's Joey's cue to run away. 

Running away is my one and only response to all problems!!

Meanwhile, Jen is also acting out and running away from her problems but she kind of has better reason to. She's in a group counselling session with a bunch of other students, including Pacey, Andie, and Jack. The counsellor asks if anyone has anything to say about Abby, Jen refuses but Andie speaks up. She talks about how Abby was full of life and has such a great spirit which disgusts Jen so much that she storms out. I have to agree with Jen's disgust though. Andie didn't like Abby at all, hated her even and she had every right and very good reason to. However, why is she suddenly trying to talk nicely about Abby? Shouldn't she be venting about her real feelings about Abby? I get why that would be hard to do in a group so for that matter, why the hell are they just doing random group sessions? Usually counsellors will talk to classes and then offer for students who need to talk to come by their office. 

Meanwhile, Dawson and Joey confess to each other that they hated Abby and how weird it is that people who hated her are making a big deal about her death. Dawson says that Abby was weird, that she died was weird and the way she died was weird. I don't really see how drowning is a weird way to die, I'd say it's a horrific and terrifying way to die but not weird. Whatever, Dawson doesn't understand how humans react to things anyway. Joey says she's not going because, in case you didn't know, her mom died and that's the last funeral she's been to. Dawson says that happened three years ago so she should probably deal with those emotions. Oh Dawson, Joey doesn't deal with her emotions, she runs from them. It's the Potter way. She confirms this by saying:

Joey: I don't know. I guess I'm just...there's a part of me that's still holding on. That little girl inside is just waiting for her return. You know, that her death was just some cosmic error and eventually, God will realize he made a terrible mistake and he'll send her back to me like he did my dad. And ...(smiles) I'll have my mom again.

Andie finds Jen to see if she's OK and Jen lashes out and calls Andie a hypocrite for waxing poetic about Abby's free spirit when before she died, Andie would've said she was a bitch. Andie doesn't think it's appropriate to malign someone's character post-mortem but Jen points out that it's not maligning if it's the truth. Andie then tries to defend herself by saying that she tried multiple times to reach out to Abby but she rejected her. Jen then spits that it was Andie who rejected Abby at the wedding and that's why they were at the docks and why Abby died. 

Totally

Dawson comes home from school to find his mother waiting for him. She asks him how school went but she's not really interested in that, she wants to tell Dawson about the job offer she got in Philadelphia. Dawson says he doesn't want to move to Philadelphia and Gail agrees that it's too late in his life to move him and she doesn't want to uproot him or take him away from his friends. Good, Gail, I thought I'd have to slap you for a second there. Then Dawson asks if she's going to take it and Gail explains that she's thinking seriously about it, so seriously that she's planned it out. Mitch will move back to the house to take care of Dawson, she'll come home and visit as often as she can and Dawson can visit in the summer. She says that if she doesn't take the job and she loses her marriage, what else does she have?

Seriously, Gail?

Exactly!

You still have your son, Gail. You know, the person you created? The person you should be putting above your selfish needs?

oh, honey...

That's not enough

Heinous bitch!

Ugh, did you see that look? That look totally said, "oh honey, you don't matter. I just want want your father back. You can't fuck me." Just, heinous. Gail is one of the worst TV parents ever. All that matters is her husband, her kid doesn't factor into her decision at all. It's just, "Mitch doesn't want me back? Nothing's left for me for me here! Nothing!"

Even his mother doesn't want him

Grams checks up on Jen, who is still in bed. She's worried about Jen and even though Grams never liked Abby, she's sad that Jen lost her friend. That's nice but unfortunately she's using her religious views to talk to Jen. Now, I get that this is how Grams deals with death bug ultimately I get as pissed as Jen does when people try to tell me that someone being taken from you, people you care about, is "God's plan" because you know what? If God's plan is to take a young girl's life, Then God's plan fucking sucks. 

We next cut to Pacey and Andie who are at a restaurant. Pacey is absolutely indignant that Jen blames Andie for Abby's death but Andie does feel guilty for sending her away from the wedding. Just then, Abby's mother walks up to them and this, my friends, is where Abby becomes the most interesting side character Dawson's Creek ever produced. Now, one would assume up to this point that Abby's friend that she would have talked to her mother about was Jen but apparently, she talked the most about Andie. Andie, the girl she was constantly ridiculing and terrorising, was the one that she told her mother about. I mean, I find that fascinating. Was Andie the friend she always wished she had or was Andie the perfect cover friend that her mother would approve of, thus letting her go out to do other things? I'm mixed on this one, it could honestly go either way. There were glimpses where Abby did seem to genuinely want to be friends with Andie, case in point the time Abby offered her a ride home after that teen girl thing Gail did. Also when Abby did the mystery project on the sex note, then opted to take a failing grade rather than expose Andie's pain to the entire class. I don't know, I think through all of Abby's nastiness, she was actually just a lonely, bored and mixed up girl. 

Not as cartoonishly evil as we thought?

Anyway, Abby's mom is having a hard time finding someone to do a eulogy because Abby was a bitch to everyone, no mistaking that. She asks Andie to do it since Abby apparently only mentioned her as a friend and Andie actually agrees despite how anxious this makes her. 

Andie decides that to make the eulogy respectful but truthful, she has to get to know Abby. So she and Pacey sneak into Abby's house during the memorial and go up to her room. I briefly wonder why Abby's mom is having both a memorial and a funeral but this could be more common than I think so I'll shut up. Andie finds Abby's journal and despite Pacey's protest, she reads it and discovers that Abby pretty much hated everyone, including her. So, I guess Abby was just using Andie as a way to trick her mother to let her go out? 

In death, you became so much more interesting

Dawson finds Mitch in a classroom and sits down to talk. Mitch thinks Dawson wants to talk about Abby's death but Dawson doesn't care about that. He tells Mitch about Gail's job offer in Philly and Mitch just says that's good for her. Dawson is angry that his father doesn't care and is willing to let his mom walk out of their lives. Yet another reason Gail is a complete bitch here. She blatantly told Dawson that she's leaving because his father won't get back together with her so now Dawson is blaming his father for Gail leaving. That's horrible, she's leaving Mitch with a son who will hate him for making his mother leave town. I fucking hate Gail in this episode because she's being an awful and selfish person which is funny because the writers are clearly trying to make her sympathetic so that the audience will want Mitch to take her back. Well, it's not working on me. 

Jack asks Joey what's up with her and Dawson and she says they're putting things on hold because of reasons. I'm not bothering getting into it because we sell know they're together, this is just a bullshit thing to make you wonder just a little longer. 

Pacey is complaining to Dawson about not being able to protect Andie from dealing with death which is pretty misguided. I love Pacey and I love him with Andie and I remember loving how much he fought for her but this is getting kind of ridiculous. It's not his job to protect her from her feelings or stop her from going over the deep end. He can support her but ultimately, it's her job. 

Your hero complex is showing

Grams confronts Jen on her drinking again. Jennifer wigs out on her for it and lashes out even more about Grams' God speak. She goes out of her way to offend Grams and when Grams gets angry, Jen then chastises Grams for not being infinitely patient. She then says that if she can't speak her mind, she will just move out. 

Whatever! You don't know me!

Joey is pouting over the fact that she can't remember her mother very well so her dad comforts her by telling her that she reminds him of her mother. He also says that her mother isn't gone because she lives on in Joey. It's nice, I'll leave it at that. It's really just there to tell us again about how awesome and strong and beautiful Joey is but it's at least trying to have some heart about it. 

Andie is freaking out because she couldn't figure out what to write for Abby's eulogy. If she makes up nice stuff, she's lying and if she tells the truth, she'll break Abby's mom's heart. Pacey offers to do the speech for her so that she'll stop stressing about it which Andie is moved by but also sets Pacey straight about his role in their relationship. That he shouldn't always rush to be her knight in shinning armour. She says she has to learn to take care of herself so she is going to do the eulogy herself. 

The day of the funeral the people of Capeside show up. Despite the fact that our characters have spent the entire episode going on and on about how awful Abby was and how much they all hated her and that she was a harpy who rode to school on a broomstick, etc the entire gang shows up for her funeral. Why? Because the plot says so. Really, it only makes sense for Jen, Grams, Pacey, and Andie o be at the funeral. Dawson and Joey have no business being there. They flat out said they didn't like her at the beginning, so why show up? Because Joey has made Abby's death about herself and the loss of her mother? 

This funeral for Abby is totally about me and my issues with my mom's death!

Grams sits next to Jen and apologizes for the fight they had last night and says she forgives Jen. Jen says she doesn't need her forgiveness, she needs her understanding and she thinks Grams has never been able to give that. Uh, Jen look in the mirror because you haven't given your Grams any understanding either. Before they can get too into it, people are asked to say a few words about Abby. Jen is the only one yo stand up and she says this:

Jen: My name is Jen Lindley. And I was friends with Abby, as much as anyone could be because Abby had a toxic personality, in fact it was almost bordering on radioactive. Abby could be cruel and Abby could be spiteful, and Abby could certainly be petty. She spent her days mischievously stirring up trouble, and creating calamity, and generally, taking pleasure in other people's pain. You know, in Sunday School, they teach us that God made Man in his image. Well, if God made Abby in his own image then what does that say about God? God has always been such a mystery to me. I mean, what kind of Deity creates a world that is so full of suffering and so full of pain. I tell you what, Abby taught me a lot. She taught me how to do a tequila shooter with one hand tied behind my back, and she taught me to live life by my own set of values, and not follow the crowd, in hopes of winning some phantom popularity contest. But most of all, what's most important, is Abby taught me the sadistic nature of our God and as much as that knowledge is disturbing, it's true. And it's real. And for a world that is so saturated with phoniness and lies, for that small amount, for that little bit of honesty, I will always be grateful to her. 

And Grams looks like this:

I will rain God's vengeance down upon thee!

Then Andie finally gets up and says her piece. She paints Abby as a person who challenges people and pushes them to be stronger. It was truthful but so much kinder than Jen's words. This rightfully makes Jen feel like shit. 

Dawson tells Joey that he's happy about what happened between them but she's too busy being sad face about her mother to show any emotion:

Yes. I am thrilled to be back with you too. Can't you tell by my face?

She snaps out of it and says that she is happy about being back with Dawson too but says she needs to do something first but wants him to walk her there. He looks extremely happy and smug that she needs him. 

Pacey congratulates Andie on how well she's handled everything. Andie spots Jen and goes to talk to her. Jen apologizes for blaming Andie for Abby's death because it was really her own fault. Andie tries to comfort Jen by telling her she was only speaking the truth. Jen says that she was being stupid and that the truth should not be said sometimes. Andie remembers Abby's diary and is worried that Abby's mom will find it and be heart broken. 

Jen returns home to find Grams has packed up all of her things. Grams is pissed, y'all. Grams yells at Jen for basically shitting all over her olive branch and did it in a house of God. She also points out what I did about Jen demanding understanding without giving any of her own. Then Grams tells her to find someplace else to live and, I'm not gonna lie, this scene was hard to watch. They were getting along so well and then this happens and it breaks my heart. 

Noooooooo!

You were getting along so well!

Andie is getting Abby's diary out of her room when she spots Abby in the mirror, like this:

The fuuuuuck?

But she's not really there:

Don't bother trying to find her, Andie

So, what happened? Did Andie see Abby's ghost or is she going coo coo for cocoa puffs? I guess we'll have to find out next time in Reunited but time will tell if it feels so good. 

Dawson's Creek - 218 - A Perfect Wedding

Original air date: April 24, 1999

This episode opens in the most hilarious way ever. Dawson is showing his movie to his mother so that he can feel better about himself because she of course praises it, saying it was "funny" and "real" and that Dawson is "very talented" while Dawson mopes about what a meanie Miss Kennedy was for dissing his masterpiece. Awww, puddin' had to run to mommy for a self-esteem boost? 

Pictured: Dawson Leery

Gail at least gives some realistic praise by saying that while his film is "no Citizen Kane" it's definitely not as horrible as "Bride of Chucky". Hey, at least Bride of Chucky was funny bad, I'd bet Dawson's is just boring bad. I mean, he basically just made a movie glorifying himself while he's dumped by the girl of his dreams, despite how awesome and nice he was to her and she left him for another man...holy shit. You guys, Dawson basically made The Room. Dawson is Tommy Wiseau!

You are tearing me apart, Joey!

Joey enters her kitchen to find her father cheerfully making breakfast and she's weirded out. Her dad doesn't notice because he's in too good of a mood being out of jail and all. You know, you'd think they'd be notified by the jail that their father was being released so that they wouldn't be blindsided but then again, I don't really know much about this. Anyway, Bessie comes in and is equally happy about their father's return. She goes on about how they're going to get out of debt because her and her father stayed up all night talking about ways to expand her restaurant business. One of these ways is to cater. Somehow, since Papa Potter came back last night, Bessie found out that her friend needs caterers for her wedding and she agreed to the job. She asks Joey to ask her friends to be caterers. 

Joey complains about the catering idea to Jack later and confesses that she feels overwhelmed suddenly having her father back, catering an upscale wedding, and having her father jump into the business right away. Jack tells her to tell her father that it's too much too soon and to back out of the catering idea but Joey knows how excited Bessie is and doesn't want to rain on their parade. It's a surprisingly decent thing for Joey to do, I'm shocked. Jack says he'll be there to support her because the show is still trying to pretend that Joey is going to be Jack's fag hag. 

Dame Maggie Smith has spoken, bitches

Dawson whines to Pacey about how he's going to re edit the ending of his movie because he probably "put the pieces together wrong". No, you put the pieces together right, the picture just sucks. Jack then comes up and asks them if they want to work as caterers. Pacey jumps at the chance to make money while Dawson questions why the Ice House is catering now. Jack explains that it was Joey's father's idea which confuses Dawson. Jack looks awkward as he realizes that Joey hasn't told Dawson yet and explains that her father was paroled. 

Dawson has a sad

Jen corners Abby in the bathroom and starts going on about how bored she is. Abby tells her that she is like a rat trapped in a box. Jen then goes on to say that she "tried changing her image" but that no one accepted her so she might as well have fun. Where the hell is this coming from? Who's not accepting her? Ty? He was a cock. You and Grams were finally getting along and you seemed to be getting along OK with Dawson and Joey. What the hell, Jen? Also, Abby has been absent since she made out with Jack and she hadn't been friends with Jen since the very beginning of this season so why does Jen want to be friends with her again? Oh Dawson's Creek writers, you suck at continuity. But, apparently, Jen says the only fun she's had all year has been with Abby. 

Super fun girl time!

They walk off together planning to have even more fun on the weekend. 

Pacey tries to convince Andie to do the catering job with him because if they both make $60, together they will have $110 and they can have a super romantic date night. This is a nice thought but I can't help but correct his math skills, they would actually have $120 together and at first I think Andie makes fun of him for his lack of math skills but she was apparently complimenting him for adding that in his head because she too talks about them having $110. Andie, you're supposed to be the smart one! 

**Yeah so, ignore this last paragraph. Apparently their math skills are just fine. It's my listening skills that are off. They very clearly both said $120, so I mocked them for nothing. If I'm going to snark this show, I'd better get it right, so apologies on this one.**

Anyway, Andie is reluctant because apparently, she who believes in Fortune Tellers, does not believe in the sanctity of marriage. People promising to spend their lives together? Bull shit! A woman who claims she can predict the future? Totally legit, y'all! Pacey promises her that he'll show her that weddings can be awesome and if she doesn't agree by the end of the night, he'll let her keep all of the money, even his share. 

Challenge accepted!

Joey and her father are prepping for the wedding when her father spots Dawson. He is again creepily invested in his daughter getting together with Dawson. 

Mr.Potter: Dawson Leery, I thought for sure that when I came back you two would be dating, what happened?

Oh they dated, they just also broke up in that time frame, get with the picture, Mr. Potter. This is high school, relationships usually only last a week or two. Tops. 

Dawson walks up to Joey and starts fishing around for why she didn't immediately tell him first that her father was back. Joey delivers another punch to his nards by praising Jack's insight and ability to calm her down, she sees how hard she kicked and tries to back pedal by saying that she had been looking for Dawson but she had to cut school to help out with the wedding. Smooth. 

It does not help

Luckily two ladies start gossipping about Joey's father which makes Joey sympathetic again and makes Dawson feel like he can be a hero. Let's see how that works out. 

I'm busy, I have stuff to do! Run away!

But, I have so much more uselessness to give!

Awww, better luck next time, Dawson. 

It's now the night of the wedding and Joey is running around frantically giving orders to people. She seems to be the only one frazzled which leads me to think that Joey just doesn't handle stress well. Bessie even tells her to chill and that everything will be fine. Joey can't chill out though because then she won't look super important and busy or be the centre of attention. Dawson tries to show concern for her but she is just too busy to listen to sympathy right now. 

Since Dawson struck out with his lady, he decides to get a confidence boost again by talking to his mother. His mother is too concerned with where his father is though. She has decided that this is the night she is going to win him back but oh noes, he's shown up with Dawson's arch nemesis Miss Kennedy!

Double rejection fun time!

We next cut to Pacey and Andie who are arguing over weddings while assembling the cake. Andie gets upset that she has been forced to go to a wedding and flails her arms in exasperation. 

And this happens...

Dawson, meanwhile runs into the bride who is visibly upset. He tries to ask her what is wrong and she reveals that she doesn't want to get married, in fact she wants to jump out the window or die. Look, I know that cold feet before a wedding is a thing for some people but I, personally, have never understood it. I mean, you agreed to get married, you planned the day, you theoretically love the person you are choosing to marry, so, why the freak out? Shouldn't you want to get married or be excited? I don't know, I'm just not the type of person to freak out about commitment, I guess. I never experienced cold feet at my wedding, I had a blast but, I digress. The bride isn't sure she loves the groom and is worried she's making the biggest mistake of her life and Dawson looks like he wishes he were anywhere else. 

Oh god! Other people's emotions are scary!

Meanwhile, Jen and Abby are hanging out like besties again and it warms my heart but also fills it with dread. You see, this is a "very special episode" of Dawson's Creek in which something really bad happens in order to teach the audience a lesson as well as add shock value. I know what will become of this and I'm not happy about it. Abby asks what the rest of the gang are up to and Jen tells her about the wedding while lamenting the fact that they all forgot about her. Yeah, what the hell, guys? Not cool. Abby says they should crash it. Don't go, Abby. 

But, they're so cute together!

I thought this cry gif was appropriate

Jack comes by to check on Dawson and Dawson reveals that the bride is having a panic attack. Jack offers to try to talk to her and since Dawson is still butt hurt that Joey talked to Jack over him and praised his insight and ability to calm her down, Dawson tries to say that Jack wouldn't be able to help. 

Puh-lease! I've totally got this!

Oh shit, no I don't!

Joey has her usual freak out at the same time, claiming that the wedding is completely ruined and that they'll be humiliated and it's all her dad's fault. Bessie gets the fuck out of dodge because she saw that their dad had entered the room and heard everything Joey said. I like that she just went "fuck this, you said it, you can deal with Dad."

In another epic moment of "Dawson sucks at life", Jack starts talking to the bride and tells her what bullshit it is to throw away her real love for a fantasy about "perfect love and soul mates" that might not even exist. Amen, Jack. He also tells her that it's perfectly normal to gave wedding day jitters (again, I don't get questioning your relationship the day of the wedding but whatever) and that she'll walk down the aisle, look into her Fiance's eyes and all of her fears will melt away. She smiles at Jack and then we cut to her walking down the aisle with a big smile on her face. When she sees Jack after the ceremony, she whispers a thanks to him for saving her life, kisses him on the cheek, and continues on to the rest of her guests. 

Uhhh, but...but I talked to her too!

Dawson complains about this to Jack and the fact that Joey dared go to Jack with her problems instead of him too. Jack goes on about how he may be friends with Joey but Dawson and her are soul mates 4 life because all characters are contractually obligated to inform us of how magically connected Joey and Dawson are. 

Skip it

Jack tells Dawson to talk to Joey but Dawson says she won't open up. Jack then tells him to force a connection which sounds kind of rapey but I know he just means get her to open up so that she isn't bottling her emotions again. 

Andie and Pacey are working on fixing the cake but it looks like he just mashed the pieces together and molded it with icing. As Andie put it, it looks like a blob. Just then the bride walks in and Andie and Pacey try to hide the cake-astrophy from her by saying it is bad luck to see the cake before eating or else she'll get fat. Nice save, there guys. But the bride seems to buy it and says that the only thing she's heard is that they are supposed to keep the top layer for good luck for their marriage and eat it on their one year anniversary. She then leaves send Andie starts freaking out about cursing their marriage. Pacey realizes that she does care about weddings and stops trying to fix the cake until she admits it. She does and thus ends that arc of the episode. I'm sure you were all worried that Andie didn't believe in weddings but now you can rest easy. 

Joey confronts her father and tries to play off her freak out to Bessie as stress and that she didn't mean what she said. Her father acknowledges that what she said was true and that he should have considered her feelings more. He promises that now that he's back that things will go back to normal but Joey argues that things can't just go back to normal. Joey's father responds by running away to "check the salmon."

Huh, so that's where Joey gets it from

Dawson checks up on his mother, who is upset about Mitch showing up with Miss Kennedy. Just then, Mitch comes over to rub Gail's nose in the fact that he got a hot date. I'm half "go Mitch, you show that cheating ho who's boss!" And half "Mitch, you're a douche, your son is right there!" on this one. Dawson thinks he's being a douche too and after Gail storms off, he asks to talk to Mitch alone. 

Mitch apologizes to Dawson because he didn't realize that Dawson would be there. Dawson, rightfully points out Mitch's pettiness by saying that he knew that Gail would be there. Mitch throws a bitch fit about how Gail will have to deal with him bringing Miss Kennedy because he can do what he wants. He then realizes what a petty dick he's being and apologizes for putting Dawson in the middle. Dawson says he's already put him in the middle by dating his teacher. Of course, Dawson is only upset about that because Miss Kennedy dissed his masterpiece of cinema, Creek Daze. She just didn't understand his vision. 

Everyone betray me. I fed up with this world!

Meanwhile, Abby and Jen have shown up to crash the wedding and Jen is lamenting the fact that everyone there is middle aged. Abby suggests that Jen should go after a fatherly type and just barf. She also suggests that they graduate from "nymphettes" to home wreckers. Abby, you're not making a case for sympathy here. Andie spots them and promptly throws them out. They leave but Abby steals a complimentary bottle of wine first. 

Dawson sees Joey crying and confronts her. She finally tells him that she's scared that her father will screw up somehow and leave her again. Dawson comforts her by telling her that she doesn't need to worry about what everyone thinks because she has a family again and she will always have him. They hug. 

Joey talks with her father and apologizes for the things she said earlier. She then tells him that she forgives him for his mistakes and that he's her dad who she's proud of. I'm not really sure, at this point what she's proud of, it made more sense in season one when she was pissed at him. I mean, he cheated on her mom and then got arrested for pot dealing when his daughters already lost one parent, leaving them orphans. Not to mention, putting Bessie in a spot where she had to become a mother to her teen aged sister, that's not really fair to her to have to shoulder that kind of responsibility at such a young age, I'm guessing she's maybe 21? I know Bessie isn't a main character but this show really glosses over the burdens she's had to bear, and plays up Joey's sadness about not feeling loved; which makes Joey look like a complete brat who is ungrateful for everything her sister did for her.

Ungrateful bitch!

Pacey manages to fix the cake and the bride and groom are ecstatic. He and Andie watch as the bride and groom share their first bite of cake. Problem solved. 

Sigh...at the docks, Abby and Jen talk about what they want when they grow up. Abby confesses that she doesn't think she'll ever be happy with whatever she has because she'll always want something different. 

That's...really sad

Now, I know that people hated Abby, hell I did when I was younger, and were probably happy, not necessarily because she hits her head and falls into the water and drowns, but because she wouldn't be on the show anymore. I now, however, am incredibly sad to see her go. Why? Because love her or hate her or love to hate her, she was a pretty damn entertaining and interesting character. I'd go so far as to argue that she was probably the best side character on the show. They tried to replace her in the later seasons but no one really compared to Abby. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the writers created a very interesting character in Abby. I'll save the reasons for the next episode though as she, ironically, gets more interesting after her passing.

*Sigh* Goodbye, Abby

Back at the wedding, Pacey and Andie dance and talk about when they will get married. Andie wants to get married in Venice because it's the "city of love" while Pacey thinks that by the time they get married, Venice will have sunk into the sea. Uhhhh, so did they swap bodies this episode? Pacey was all about weddings and marriage and Andie was against it. Pacey spent the whole episode trying to convince Andie how great weddings are and now that Andie is on board, he's suddenly thinking that Venice won't exist when they get married? I mean, it sounds like he wants to marry her bug that he thinks they won't get married for a really long time? Why? That doesn't mesh with the hopeless romantic he was presented to be at the beginning. It's just confusing. 

Dawson dances with his mom to cheer her up while Joey's dad dances with her. Her dad then points out that Dawson wants to dance with her because he's still weirdly invested in their relationship. 

Dawson and Joey dance and then they say they love each other and kiss. Then do you want to know what they end the episode on after their star couple gets together? Do you want to know? Because I think it's a pretty hilarious and fitting metaphors for their relationship. Right after Dawson and Joey confess their love and kiss, this is the next image you see:

Romantic! Does this mean their relationship will be dead on arrival too?

So we end The Perfect Wedding with our main characters getting back together and a dead body.  Abby, the best side character ever is dead. How will this affect Dawson and Joey's reunion? How will Jen cope with the loss of her friend? We'll find out all this and more in the next episode, Rest in Peace.