The Longest Day:
Written by: Gina Fattore
Directed by: Perry Lang
Original airdate: May 3, 2000
Synopsis:
As things heat up between Pacey and Joey, they make the decision to tell Dawson what has been going on, with Pacey asking Joey to let him do it. After the group christens Pacey’s boat, Dawson congratulates Pacey on his accomplishment before heading off to work.
Joey talks with Jen and reveals that she feels for Pacey the way he feels for her. Jen gives her the advice to tell Dawson, with Joey commenting on how fearless Jen and Pacey both are about just saying what they feel or doing what they want, who counters with the thought that they’re not as tough as she thinks and can still easily have their hearts broken as well.
Pacey, looking for Dawson at the library, misses him but sees Andie who tells him she’s heading out to a date with Will later that evening, which Pacey is glad to hear. Andie then sees and talks with Joey and reveals that although she accepted a date with Will, after having run into Pacey she realizes she still has strong feelings for him and is confused about what to do. As a shaken Joey leaves the library later, she bumps into Dawson and hurriedly makes an excuse to leave, before calling Pacey to tell him not to say anything to Dawson yet, but unfortunately has to leave him a message on Doug’s answering machine.
Meanwhile Jen and Henry are hanging out on her porch with Grams away for the weekend. As Dawson comes walking up, Jen pushes Henry inside the house and tries to comfort Dawson, thinking he has already been told by Pacey about him and Joey. Dawson reacts badly to the revelation and storms off. Henry comes out as Jen explains to him what just happened, but Henry pays no attention to her words because apparently while he’s always been a sensitive young man well beyond his years, he suddenly decides to do an abrupt about face and interrupt her by trying to kiss her and just “get some”. Jen, of course, kicks him out.
Pacey returns home to find Doug, who was helping Pacey by watching Buzz, who just accidentally broke his answering machine. Doug tells Pacey that things have changed now that he and Joey are not just sharing a fleeting kiss but actually sneaking around behind his back, leaving Pacey to head out to try and find his friend again.
Meanwhile Joey heads over to Dawson to find him in his room watching the movie they watched on their first date, in which the two male leads fight over a woman and ultimately ends up leaving all three characters alone and depressed. Uncomfortable with the subject, Joey hurriedly rushes back out the window and runs into Pacey who was about to knock on Dawson’s front door. She and him start to argue about what they are going to do but Dawson overhears them from his window and comes down to confront them. Pacey reveals that he and Joey are an “US” now as Andie and Will pull up in Dawson’s boat, returning it after their date.
Dawson handles the news badly and lashes out at the two fo them, insulting Pacey, believing that Pacey is just in the relationship for sex and retreats to his room where Joey confronts him trying to explain. Dawson tries to make her choose between the two of them but ultimately she leaves without choosing. Back below on the front lawn, Andie is shocked that Pacey has such strong feelings for Joey and that he would give up his friendship with Dawson and rushes off with Will in tow.
Jen heads over to Dawson’s to talk with him, trying to offer him some understanding, offering the fact that trying to tear Joey and Pacey apart will just bring them closer together, but Dawson decides that he is going to fight for what he wants.
Back at Pacey’s boat, Joey arrives and talks with Pacey, with her ultimately deciding that their relationship isn’t going to work now, as Pacey asks her to leave first as a tear falls from his eye.
Dawson's Trivia:
Perry Lang is an actor and director. He got his start appearing in ABC Afterschool Specials in the late 70’s. He’s appeared in a lot of different films, such as Teen Lust (with Kristen Baler from Friday the 13th Part II), 1941 (directed by Steven Spielberg), and Alligator (with Robert Forster), and show like M*A*S*H, Miami Vice, Tales from the Darkside, China Beach, and NYPD Blue. As a director, one of his earliest jobs was on 4 episodes of Dark Skies, followed by Millenium, Hyperion Bay, Young Americans, Charmed, Alias, One Tree Hill, Medium, and Weeds to name just a few.
Show Me Love:
Written by: Liz Tigelaar & Holly Henderson
Directed by: Morgan J. Freeman
Original airdate: May 10, 2000
Synopsis:
The gang finds itself estranged from each other as they try to go about their school day, leading to them spending more time alone and apart. Even Jen is separated from Henry who keeps showing up at her door with a sign begging forgiveness for his actions, actions which, Grams reminds her, are normal for a teenage boy and that it’s human to make a mistake but divine to forgive those mistakes. As Joey contemplates her wall, Dawson approaches her and invites her to a good ol fashioned movie night like they used to have in order to rebuild their friendship, but Joey isn’t sure at this time.
Back at Leery’s Fresh Fish, Dawson finds out that Gail had decided that her restaurant would sponsor Pacey in the upcoming boat race as a way of advertising the new venue. Dawson delivers the restaurant flag to Pacey but it ends with them insulting each other and going their separate ways.
Bessie ropes Joey into cooking for the race as a way to advertise the B&B and upon seeing Pacey’s boat flying the Leery’s sign, gets hopeful that the two have made up. Unfortunately at that moment, Dawson is asking Jack and Andie to let him borrow their dad’s boat so that HE can enter the race as well, in a bid to show Joey how much he cares, even asking Bessie to advertise THEIR business with the boat. Andie, still angry about Pacey falling for Joey, pushes Jack to agree to the favor.
Soon enough Joey finds out that Dawson has entered the race and is not happy about it, but Bessie reminds her that this is what being an adult is: dealing with the repercussions of one’s actions.
Elsewhere Will comes to see Andie to tell her about his scholarship coming through, but then tells her that he is worried about Pacey, explaining that he isn’t to blame for falling in love and didn’t set out to hurt her. Andie is angry that he would try to defend Pacey and brings up how she didn’t mean to hurt Pacey either, but he never offered HER forgiveness. Will advises her to try and get rid of her anger because it will stop others from seeing her for the kind person she really is inside.
Mitch offers to help Dawson and Jack with the race, seeing as how they aren’t doing too well on their own, and explains that while Leery’s Fresh Fish is sponsoring Pacey, he is free to help his son personally rather than as part of the restaurant.
Pacey confronts Joey about sponsoring Dawson in the race, but she explains she had no say in the matter, but Pacey sees that she wants him to drop out of the race, leading him to explain to her that no matter what happens, whether he wins the race or drops out, the result is the same in that he loses.
Gail convinces Jen to talk to Henry who is now standing outside the restaurant with his forgiveness sign. He asks her to the roof where he has laid out flowers and a small picnic, and the two talk and resolve their fight, spending the night in each other’s arms. The next morning, grams is distraught and angry that Jen never came home and assumes that her and Henry slept together, commenting on her slipping back into her old ways.
Pacey and Dawson have another standoff with Pacey goading Dawson into taking a swing at him, but they trade barbs instead of fists. Pacey insults his idea of a soulmate and Dawson can't believe that his former friend is capable of actually loving Joey, and insults him even further before walking away.
The day of the race comes and all is going well as Pacey and Will lead the boats. Dawson however, with Mitch’s help, manages to find a way to gain distance and end up neck and neck with them, causing a dangerous situation: if one of the two boats do not pull off course, they’ll have a collision. Pacey, who by all rules has the right of way, decides that instead of destroying the two boats, he will pull out, leaving Dawson to seemingly come in first. His elation is short lived as Joey explains that his crazy stunt was actually illegal and got him disqualified from the race. Pacey shows up and berates Dawson for his behavior. As the two argue about what happened with Joey, she interrupts them and tells them she hates them both for various reasons before storming away.
Dawson goes after Joey and explains he was threatened by Pacey and was trying to be the kind of guy she would want, someone who was like Pacey and impetuous, but she explains that that isn’t him, and says that Dawson doesn’t really want her, but rather just doesn’t want to lose her. She says that what she needs is a friend right now, without any agenda, and he asks to let him be that person but she walks away.
Grams goes to Jen and gives her a dress she wore early on in her Capeside days and explains it reminds her of when she first arrived and was just a child, but that she’s come so far since then and grown into a strong mature young woman who speaks her heart and finally believes that she is deserving of love. Jen interrupts her to explain that she and Henry didn’t have sex, which Grams is delighted to hear, and reinforces that she still means everything she said.
Mitch returns to the restaurant to find Gail has sent away the customers so that the two of them could have a date night to themselves, all in response to Mitch complaining earlier that it seems the teens of Capeside are doing more than them as far as relationships go because they were using actions instead of words to show their feelings to their loved ones.
Pacey finds Joey at the rented wall and talks with her, asking her if she could ever love him the way she loves Dawson, like a soulmate, but she begs him not to make her choose. He says he will renew the wall’s lease in the morning and leaves her be, promising that he is making no ultimatums. Andie goes to find Pacey and apologizes for her actions, saying that she doesn’t hate him, mentioning that hate is a strong word, as is love.
Meanwhile, Joey clubs the ladder to Dawson’s bedroom and they watch a favorite from their past movie nights, E.T. As they watch, they steal glances at each other when they aren’t looking at each other, but Joey’s expression seems to show more of a sadness than Dawson’s.
Dawson's Trivia:
This episode of Dawson’s Creek is writer Liz Tigelaar’s first credit on IMDb. Since then she’s written and produced on many shows like Dirty Sexy Money, Brothers & Sisters, Kyle XY, Once Upon a Time, and Bates Motel. She was also the creator behind Life Unexpected, a show we’ve discussed before which had Kerr Smith in the cast.
This is also the first script for co-writer Holly Henderson. She went on to write and produce on shows like Stargate: Atlantis, Smallville, 24, and most recently Batwoman.
Further to writing this episode, Liz Tigelaar and Holly Henderson also wrote the first two of three novels in the Dawson's Creek Suspense Trilogy; Lighthouse Legend, Mysterious Boarder, & Bayou Blues.
Essential Playlist:
Classic Creek Critiques:
Zepher says: I agree that this was one of the best episodes, in terms of dramatic tension. I liked the scene where Jen tells her boyfried to get his "horny Freshman butt" out. The line where Andie tells Pacey that he's stupid for interfering with Joey's "first love" was poignant. (Of course, we learned that Andie still has a thing for Pacey.) What I would have liked to have seen was a stronger Pacey. Everyone was telling him what a loser he was, making him feel bad and worthless. I'd like to have seen Pacey sweep Joey off her feet and take her for a quick get-away on that boat. That would have been exciting. Maybe that'd gotten into an accident on the water and all their pals would come to their rescue. Perhaps, we'd find Dawson giving mouth-to-mouth to Joey on the beach. . . .
If Dawson really loved Joey, he'd have swooped her off her feet and told her he loved he, rather than crying about how he'd been betrayed. There was a chance for real romance here, but we didn't see it. This episode might have made a great season finale, but it was much too sad to make us want to wait several months to see what happens next.
James_R_Crawford (Jasmyn) replies: I cried, I never cry and I cried. I was laying on my bed my cat by me. I grabbed my cat and I bawled! It was the best episode ever.
wahldawg posting with the subject line “Deputy Doug is HOT”: They really need to give Deputy Doug more air time. Make him a love interest for Jack, make him a love interest for Grams, don't matter, just give him more air time.
Tigerlily responds: Those are 2 images I just didn't want in my head....
DeputyDoug chimes in: Damn, I thought this post was going to be about me.
bashton posts: Why? Why? Why? Why would anyone dump Pacey for the manipulative baby Dawson? Why would Joey leave Pacey, who made her feel alive, for Dawson, when she already realized she doesn't have any real spark (and don't give me any of that soulmate b.s., if they were soulmates they would have stayed together originally)? Why would anyone walk away from a heart-on-sleeve Pacey?
I don't understand how Joey can dump Pacey for the big crybaby Dawson. When will she realize how self centered he is? He went for other people before (Jenn, Eve). Joey gave him several chances and they never could work it out, so he has to go and make it impossible for Pacey to have any happiness in his life. And what was with the total mind screw with the movie? I also don't understand why everyone has sympathy for Dawson, but none for Pacey. All Pacey got all day was how he was going to end up with no friends in the end (even deputy doug and Andie got in on the Pacey bashing)....what is their problem?
Joshua Jackson and his portrayal of Pacey is the best part of this show.....I just wish the producers would realize that even though it is called Dawson's Creek, Pacey's character keeps the show legitimate....without Joshua this would just be another cheesy teen-angst show....
Daniel D. Bauer posts: I was extremely disappointed that Pacey's little mentee didn't have any speaking parts in tonight's episode. My other complaint about the episode was that very little happened in terms of plot advancement. All that really happened was that Dawson found out about Joey and Pacey and got upset. This probably could have been effectively covered in a 15-minute segment, and as such I was disappointed that it comsumed the entire hour. The plot with Andie and Will was incredibly worthless. Also, I hated when Will asked Dawson for advice about his first date with Andie...no guys ask other guys for relationship advice.
Vinny missing the point of the way the episode was presented: There was actually only about 20 minutes or less of "time movement" They just kept showing the same things over and over
Daniel D. Bauer replies: Actually, it was pretty effective for what it tried to do -- show the situation from three points of view -- Pacey, Joey and then Dawson. I suppose it was an homage to Kurosawa's Rashomon.
thomas rondt adds: Or a ploy stolen from the movie "Go."
Ace Greenhaigh points out the inconsistency of the shooting method used: Yeah, it did seem a bit questionable. That and it kept repeating scenes with no apparent order. The idea was to show it from different people's POVs, but we were shown things that the person who's POV was being shown couldn't possibly know about, like in one scene we saw Joey and Pacey make-out but the segment didn't seem to be from either of their POVs. I think it was Dawson's segment, actually.
gayPixie21 chimes in: I noticed this too. There really were no clear lines, they kept blurring. Yet again another example of how much the show sucks lately.
BRUSTROM says: yes, it was pacey, joey, then dawson. it was done in the rashomon style popularized by japanese director hikira kurasawa.
Dee adds in: Don't forget they had Jen's view and Andie's view.
Christina feels for everyone: oh boy i just saw the episode this afternoon didnot you feal for everybody the look on dawsons face when joey steped out the window and on paceys face when andi said joey will never love him oh and joey when dawson was yelling at her. I understand this from all points, dawson just does not want things to change and pacey cant help the way he feals, didnot you see the way he's been looking at joey for months and joey is stuck in the middle of her 2 best friends. We have to keep in mind that they are not adults (how old are they) i think dawson needs to hit paceys boat next week then pacey olmost dies and dawson comes to his sences. When your hurt you dont realize that outher people night be hurt also
thomas ronde replies: Be that as it may, Dawson needs to learn how to deal with not getting his way. Eventually, a boy must become a man, and maybe the real world would be less screwed up if that were more widely realized.
Black Dahlia (Diane from Vancouver) says: Woah is he an angry boy... But isn't it a double standard when dawson was fooling around with eve and joey was feeling that hurt and rejection, and now its joey and pacey with dawson left hurt and rejected. I think Joey should say screw you Dawson because I think her and pacey might really have something! And shame on you dawson for not opening your eyes and seeing what was developing to tell you the truth its all his fault. Joey and pacey are not responsible for how he feels because joey isn't property of Dawson and doesn't need to ask him for permission he just needs to wake up and move on
abcd agrees: The last time, around the time he was with Eve, Joey came back to him, but he told her to take a hike. He didn't want her, but apparently he doesn't want her to have anyone else either, thus the double standard.
Andrew jumps in: Why in god's name does Dawson expect Joey to wait for him forever? he's done nothing but push her away while he has his crisis, and then gets upset when she remembers that she has a life she can lead? what struck me most about their relationship was how unfair it was on joey (although i have to admit she didn't deal with it well tonight).
JackFlake says there are rules: Ah ha but we seem to forget it's not as easy as Dawson and Eve or Joey and Jack or whatever. Sometimes there are things, very difficult things that you must give up to maintain a friendship. There are just some things that are off limits and taking your best friends girl is one of them. Doesn't matter if they were together or not, it's just one of those situations that you try to avoid. Same goes for Joey, you don't go after your "soul mates" best friend, another off limits sort of situation. You really can't compare any of the past situations to this terrible triangle they have going. I wish they never went there.
Digerati01 agrees: True, true, I think the issue isn't so much about a "double standard" being used. I think Dawson could handle it if Joey were dating someone outside of their little group. He might not like it, but he would handle it alot better. I think the anger comes from the fact that Pacey is the one Joey is seeing. Dawson may see it as a betrayal. As a friend who has known both Dawson and Joey forever, and as the friend who understood the Dawson/Joey true love thing before either one of them did, Pacey was the one person who should have known better. It's unfortunate that Pacey may have fallen for Joey, but as a true friend fully aware of the situation he should have done the right thing and stayed away. Dawson could have taken it from anyone else but him.
Ditto to that (referring to wishing they never went there from previous comment). It just brings up alot of ugliness that if they somehow manage to clean up, i fear it will be cliched and unsatisfing. Something as hard as this doesn't get fixed in a few episodes.
Imogen agrees: Yeah your right, I would never go out with my best mates ex boyfriend no matter how long they had broken up for unless like I asked her first and she gave me her blessing. Its just not part of friendship. I think Dawson should be angry and upset.
David G has experience with this: Actually, I find this series of events on the creek to be very eerily parallel to my own life. It's almost frightening. Anyway, I was in the exact same situation as Dawson (except the whole girl next door thing) with the sole difference being that my friend decided to tell me about it as soon as the girl came on to him. I had it for this girl quite badly but I stuck through it and told my friend to go ahead. Turns out he didn't like her anyway. So at least I am back to square one though I don't think I'll be settling for second best. Now, this makes what I did the complete opposite of what Dawson did.
Why? It's called selflessness. Basically, you put the needs of others before your own, especially when logic dictates that you should do so. It was the necessary thing to do because it allowed me to keep my friendship with bth people in a scenario where absolutely no one is at fault.
People, Joey and Pacey can't control how they feel about each other. Life is naturally complicated that way and we can't go around over-simplifying things, like Dawson seems to want to do. The whole "me or him" idea is extremely self-centered and unfair to Joey in the fact that she has to choose. As of now, she seems to be choosing her childhood friend which makes sense. However, I have no idea how Joey can POSSIBLY forgive him for making her choose. He is basically keeping her away from well, whatever she has with Pacey which does actually seem pretty deep.
I know that the whole "girl likes best friend" thing can be extremely painful but sometimes any kind of man has to suck it up, ad let others get on with their lives. Not doing so and even resorting to blackmail is the act of a coward, although I am not surprised, I knew dawson was a whiny little bitch since season 1.
Dammit, guys, it's their lives and Dawson has absolutely no rights to be issuing ultimatums to anyone. As for the never date a best friend's ex law, that is overly simplistic and life doesn't work like that. Coward, Coward, self-centered. Urgh, people like that just piss me off. Sort of like my ex-girlfriend.
To play Devil's Advocate for a second, Dawson does have every right to be upset simply because the girl he loves cares for someone else. On the other hand, he has no right to be a bastard about it nor to blackmail people. The only hope I see for his character is if he gets over it in future episodes. Otherwise, screw him and the horse he rode in on. I am watching Young
america!
Dee was in the same spot as well: I was once in a similar situation where I made the same decision as Joey. Gave up on a new relationship before it really got started just because my ex who was still a good friend of mine threw a big fit (just like Dawson). I still cared for him so I ended with the other guy. Which I now regret, I often wonder what could have happen. It's the old I don't want to be with you right now and I don't want you to with anyone else. Joey should give it a try with Pacey. They may find out that they really are not in love with each other. But they will never know if they don't at least try. If Dawson and Joey really are soulmates they will find their way back to each other.
Aesha replies: Well, what I don't get is... we have seen very little Dawson/Joey interaction this year. Even that which we have seen has been pretty superficial... not *real* deep or anything, until the last couple of episodes. I think Joey is starting to think/realize that Dawson's going to be there for her when it's convenient for him... Pacey will be there whenever she needs him to be.
Claire Essame responds: She is not his best friends girl, they have been broken up long enough that it is not really an issue. Once you have got to the stage where you can be mates again with your ex you are no longer "their girl/guy"
Joey and Pacey are entitled to do what they want. If Dawson had been obviously still in love that would have been different, but he made it quite clear he wasn't. If that isn't true then that is his fault, but I suspect it's just that he doesn't want her to be with anyone else.
kim close says: now I think of Dawson wants joey like a trophy, you badly want it so you can be the best of what ever it is, but when you have it you forget about it and don't care about.. he sees her as a prize to be one.. and he's losing the race...
Josh Tillman says: it seems i am not the only one who was upset with the way that last episode ended. after all that was said, especially the foreshadowing by doug, i was still hoping joey would realize she had a good thing going. but no, she gave
it all up for dawson. ARGH! the worst thing was that you knew doug would be right, but i know i was hoping when she approached him at the end on the pier she would prove us all wrong. i hope both dawson and joey both come to their senses, and dawson lets go of his "joey and me" fantasy and joey recognizes her feelings for pacey. but should pacey take her back after all this? she proved she is weak and ran at the first sign of trouble with dawson..... will she do it again???
any thoughts?
Mia Parang agrees: could not agree with you more... I felt so bad for Pacey (well, as much as one can for a fictional character) I have wanted Joey and pacey togetehr since season 1 and I am so sick of dawson's arrogance and egocentrism..
When joey wanted t get back togetehr at the beginning of teh season, he was with Eve.. and threw Pacey at her to "take care of her" because he was unavailable.. Now he wants her back because someone else wants her ARRRGH hate dawson!
Jeff Mills has ideas to help the show: What would you do? Well, here is what I would do and what I think the show should do.
1. Try and get this season over with as soon as possible and begin next season with a clean slate. Yes, that means some house cleaning. First, Andie and Jack move out of Capeside. That way the show goes back to focusing on the four main characters.
2. Keep Pacey and Joey together. I think it was a mistake bringing Dawson and Joey together so quickly in the first place. Part of the dynamic between them was the tension BEFORE they were involved. After that, it was over. It got boring. I think Pacey and Joey make a good couple and that they should focus on the two of them making each other better people. Joey can convince Pacey that he's not a loser and he can convince her that she is loved and he needs her and loves her.
3. Bring the old Dawson back. The one who was into his movies. Have him go away to Universal Studios for the summer and come back with tales of how he bluffed his way on the lot a la Spielberg. And maybe on the way he meets a girl. Have it be a long distance relationship and them meeting. And make it a nice, decent, ordinary girl. The women on this show have more baggage than O'Hare International Airport. Just once, let someone be normal for Christ's sake!
4. Have Mitch and Gail get back together and Gail gets pregnant. I think this would be interesting because they are both still young enough to conceive and it would give Dawson a sibling.
5. Get rid of Henry. I don't like the boy. Nothing personal against the actor who plays him. Jen needs to find another guy. I'd introduce a new character who is black and have him and Jen get together. Put an interracial relationship on the show. I think the show needs to have people whose skin is not white. They live in Capeside, not Des Moines, Iowa. It would be nice to see some non-white faces on the show.
thomas ronde replies: Absolutely not. Have Andie join a convent or something, but keep Jack!
Allison :) agrees: I agree with everything you said except the Andie and Jack part. I might not mind if Andie moved away. But I don't want Jack going anywhere. Get that boy a storyline and get him one fast.
Adam loves the Pocey ship as well: Definitely numbers 1 and 2! Jack and Andie need to leave the show, I really hate this whole story line of Andie still having feelings for Pacey! And of course, keep Pacey and Joey together forever!
Imogen says dump Andie too: You can't get rid of Jack. Ok Andie maybe coz she's just annoying and you could just get her to go really mad again and have to go to some hospital but Jack is kinda important. I agree episodes with just the 4 main characters like Escape From Witch Island are good as was the first but the extra characters don't make it worse just more interesting. I mean Gail and Mitch are extra characters that have their own storylines but you couldn't get rid of them.
chan channels his inner Dr. Evil and says: joey and pacey wont last, i bet u ONE MILLIAN DOLLARS. *me takes little fingure away from mouth* man i really hope this show doesn't turn into a 90210. please whoever makes DC, don't drag it on more than 4 seasons either. coz as it drags on it loses itz magic.
Adam catches the symbolism: Well, for your information, for the people who saw the irony and symbolism behind Pacey turning off course, then I think it was an excellent way to relay the situation! I mean, Pacey and True Love are forced off course by
this force (Dawson) holding back true love and it also represents all of the adversary that Pacey and Joey have had to overcome. Just my opinion......I believe that the deeper meaning is more important than two boats crashing just for ratings
Mike Jakeman gives a UK perspective: The DPJ love triangle thing really bugs me. Season 3 could have been a great season, there have been some great plot ideas (Jen and Jack, Pacey's boat etc.) but they've been overlooked by some shockers. Andie
sleeping with another guy - totally out of character, and then a feeble love triangle which really is the lowest of the low. They are teenagers and they will change their minds again and again but DC is a smart show, the humour, the irony, the acting and the plotlines are what has kept the show above 90210 and the other 'teen dramas', but really, a love triangle involving half of the main cast? It's cheesy. The writers keep changing their view of the Dawson/Joey relationship, like *they* don't know how to approach it, I just hope they decide soon, before Season 4 suffers the same as this season has done.
Piere-Benoit Gauthier asks: Why does fuckin' Dawson wins ? I mean, Joey loved Pacey last week and now she loves Dawson (or at least, she doesn't hate him) even if he tried to kill Pacey.
rogera such replies religiously: Well Dawson will always get the dirl, because her heart is always with him, no matter how much of a git he is to her or Pacey, because she loves him, and they were totally meant to be, right from the beginning of their existence together. They are soul mates, and nothing but God himself is more powerful than love.........
AngelnBvff has thoughts: i freeze framed my tv and i got the collision of theboats i wonder if anyone gets hurt dawson has every right to be pissed off and not wanting to be friends with pacey anymoer cos pacey is at fault totally partially joey too and dawson too for not taking joey back his soul mate how
ironic was that movie he was watching also... but if dawson had never told pacey to take care of joey they wouldve never gotten so damn close to eachother the hatred of eachother broke apart and the liking came...bad decision on dawson's parrt. but i still love him.
Aesha replies: mI don't think the movie Dawson was watching was a coincidence... he already knew about the whole Joey/Pacey thing at that point. I don't think it's quite fair to say that it is completely Pacey's fault. I, personally, love the Pacey/Joey pairing. But if there's blame to be laid here, it belongs to both of them... Joey had just as much opportunity to tell Dawson about what was happening between her and Pacey, and she didn't.
bobc (and Howard Rappaport with a ditto)replies: well your gonna be upset when Pacey and Joey ride off together at the season finale. But I won't.
RockyR has a fun idea: i'm interested to see what people think because i'm trying to avoid studying!! so what do people think? or like if Michelle played Joey or Andie ...if the roles were switched round at the beginning... would be it be a whole different show... actors bring in their own qualities so..... ya know
NeTGaLia replies: You're very right, I think the story would be a whole lot different. For one, I can't see Josh Jackson using all those huge words, or being an old film buff like Dawson. Not that I don't think Josh is intelligent enough or anything, but he's kind of a big hunk of a man. *laugh* And the big word-using, old movie-watching, film-making role is a stereotype of a geek. Which urmmm... Dawson looks like, and brings to the role. Josh I see as more down to earth, and people that are down to earth, typically don't use words like "solace" in normal everyday conversation, and definitely not when they're ANGRY! It simply wouldn't work if we exchanged them role for role... can you see James punching the lights out of that rich guy?
This is not an insult to either of the actors, but rather a compliment... to do the job so well that we couldn't imagine them as any other role but their roles, and to try to imagine them in another role kind of makes our heads spin. But go watch any of their movies, and mainly they're in completely different types of roles (with the exception of Josh in the Skulls, he played a very similar character to Pacey there I think), and
they're believeable in those roles... We don't see Dawson or Pacey, we see their characters. As for the girls... well... Both Jen and Andie bug me when they talk. I don't know what it is, but I have a hard time looking at their mouths or anything when they're speaking. Kind of like Drew Barrymore. Andie bugs
me a bit because she's so timid, Jen is kind of brash, and Joey... while being what I consider the main character, despite the title of the show, Joey just is. It certainly would be interesting, if we could go back in time and switch roles and replay the seasons like that... Think it would be very different... not better, not worse.. just different. :)
Madforit50 replies: Funny thing is I can definitely see James and Joshua switching roles. And honestly it might have initially worked better than that. Most young film buffs I knew in high school were rather awkward and very sarcastic. They knew they were geeks and would use their low-key wit to bounce off the remarks. Josh could do that; the characters I've seen him play tend to have a low-key slacker charm about them. And, yes, James could do tough guy, down-on-the-luck. I've only seen Varsity Blues, but he easily carries a bit of superior confidence in both characters. He has the face to bully and level
insults as well as reveal a bitter childlike side to him. I read that DC is based a lot on Kevin's own life. So, my theory is that Pacey and Dawson are really the opposites of the real-life people he knew. So, in "real life", Pacey would be the film buff and Dawson would have been his best friend. I got a feeling that Kevin was probably most like Joey, if Joey was a filmmaker rather than painter. How else to explain the pounds of drama she has, compared to everybody else?
Christine Teal has some comments: I have been a fan of DC since the first season. I was a die hard Joey/Dawson fan. I wanted them together so bad. The episodes where Dawson
realized his true feelings and fell in love with his best friend were amazing. When they finally got together, for the couple of shows it lasted, they were cute together. I was jumping up and down when they first kissed. (and I'm 27. My husband was laughing at me at first for being so enthralled with a teen show, but now he is just as hooked as me.)
But, a lot of things have changed. The whole Joey wanting to find herself thing , and finally decided she wanted Dawson he didn't want her, made me dislike the two of them as boy/girl friend. At that time, I thought it's your on fault, Joey.
I don't remember in any episode since Dawson/Joey split that Dawson has said anything to Pacey about him still being in love with her (that is, since Pacey has realized his feelings for her). I realize Dawson is upset with the fact that Pacey has fallen in love with Joey and vice versa, but he doesn't own Joey. And like Pacey said in one episode, look at her, she is gorgeous, any guy would be lucky to have her (This is not an exact quote).
Dawson has had plenty of opportunity to try to rekindle his feelings for her. I think it took him knowing she was interested in someone else for him to realize them. Well, its your own fault Dawson, you're too late. I know in real life it would be horrible for a best friend to start dating your old flame. But, what if they have a chance to be really happy together. If he truly cared about his friends, then he would want them to be happy. It may
take some time for him to realize this. He needs to move on. If they are soulmates (which I think is BS) then they'll eventually get back together. As Christina Aguillera says in one of her songs, "... let em go, if they come back to show, that's how you know, that their for keeps, yeah their for sure, their ready, their willing to give it more" (not an exact quote). Now, I'm a diehard Joey/Pacey fan and want to see them together so bad. At
this point I think it would ruin the show if Joey/Dawson reunited. I think she needs to move on with Pacey. And Dawson needs to move on with his little fantasy world.
Epiphany is in agreement: You are SO right! I feel exactly the same way. Actually I really really am growing to hate Dawson. He's just such a pain in the ass! I had similar reactions early on in the show and now to the romances between D/J and now J/P. And I'm 28 so don't worry you are not bizarre!
Turtle jumps in: Hey, If you worry about your age when watching these shows, then your really gonna laugh at me... I'm in my 50's & I watch it every week & I do wish they would have written the show where Dawson & Joey actually became more then just friends into a deep romance, or have them remain very good friends forever, but not hurt everyone by letting her be with Pacy.. he is adorable, but I just don't see him & Joey together either.. they were friends too... I think this summer they should all find new love interest (including Jen) but not sure if they can remain close friends now cuz the hurt/damage has already been
done. :(
Lisa Harrell adds: Well, I'm 29 and I thought I might be weird liking this show! I am also a Joey/Pacey fan. I think that is where they are headed. They are all growing up and Dawson will have to accept changes. He seems to want to hold on to the past but he can't. I think Joey and Pacey will get together
Aesha reviews the episode: First off, Dawson. I don't like the fact that he's living this double standard. He's more than willing to forgive Joey, but won't even talk to Pacey without starting a fight. Joey is just as responsible as Pacey is for anything that has happened.
Okay, now Joey. I really thought Joey was smarter than that. I don't understand how she can completely forgive Dawson for what he did at the Regatta?! I am no sailor, but I think what he did could easily have caused people to be injured, but Pacey turned his boat around. Dawson likes to say that he's the bigger man in this situation... well, if he ever was (though I don't think so), he lost his footing when he used his jealousy as a reason to possibly injure other people. I would think it might not have looked so good for the B&B, either. I think Joey hit the nail on the head when she said Dawson doesn't want her, he just doesn't want to lose her. He likes to throw his history with Joey in Pacey's face- fine. But what about for the past year? I don't think Pacey should have blamed Dawson for "throwing him toward Joey", nor do I think it was fair for Joey to blame Pacey for "kissing her and forcing her to figure out what it all means". I, personally, think Dawson does not care about anyone but himself and what he feels. It's like he's not maturing- he's regressing.
I also am upset that Joey is willing to take Dawson back so quickly, but is doing nothing to repair her relationship with Pacey. Yes, in the past, Pacey and Joey loved to razz on each other. But in the last year, they have become closer friends than they ever were, and Pacey was the only one who was there for her throughout everything during the last several months. That means nothing to her, because she and Dawson have this ancient history? I'm not saying she and Dawson shouldn't rebuild their friendship, I am just saying she needs to do the same thing with her friendship with Pacey. If I were her, I would see that Pacey honestly has my best interests at heart- regardless of what he's feeling. Isn't that a friendship worth fighting for, too? She isn't even willing to barely speak to Pacey, even though she's the one who hurt him in the last episode. Is it because she doesn't care what happens with him, or is she too afraid to have to face her feelings for him- really, without
all the distractions?
Angpagz adds: The sad thing is they are making Dawson look like a jerk and changing his personality to fit the role. His real personality would have still been mad at Pacey and maybe Joey, but he would have just went on his own way and let things
fall where the may. This Dawson is acting crazy...it's almost sad to watch. I still think he is right for being pissed but, his actions are ridiculous...
Whitney is on Team Andie: honestly think that Andie is the only one who knows what she's talking about. The line about forgiving Pacey so easily when he gave her such an impossible
time was perfect. Summed up her feelings, thoughts and the truth all in one. He gave her hell... yet now he wants everyone to treat him like nothing happened when he makes such a huge 'mistake'? The ending scene with the two of them was so sweet. They have some of the cutest scenes when the two of them get together. I was waiting for Andie to say, though.. "I could never hate you, Pacey. I love you!" and then give him a big hug. Never happened. And she looks so hurt in next weeks episode! Poor
girl. ps- what's so special about JOEY anyway?
NeTGaLia replies: I don't really think Pacey is expecting that. But you have to admit at the same time, there's a HUGE difference between what happened with Pacey and Andie, and Pacey and Joey. First of all, Pacey and Andie had been together for quite a while. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the
assumption they were still a couple when she was at the mental
institution. Which means that she had sex with someone else when they were still together. And she didn't tell him right away, either, that I remember, he had to drag it out or something, but I could be wrong about that because that was a lot earlier this season. After that he wasn't really MEAN to her, although one could interpret it that way... he just couldn't be with her anymore. Joey and Pacey are getting involved when they are NOT involved with anybody else. Pacey and Andie had been broken up for a while, Andie seemed interested in his friend, Will, which I might add, Pacey took in stride, didn't flip out that a good friend and his ex girlfriend might be getting together. Joey and Dawson had been broken up for a while, as well, and the last person to do rejecting was Dawson... he was interested
in Eve and let everybody know that, through his actions.
The only mistake they made was not to tell people right away. But what they shared was maybe a total of 5 minutes of lip locking, and not much more than that. They tried numerous times to explain this to Dawson, but things kept popping up that made it harder to tell him. I am really starting to like Andie. I didn't at first. But she, above everybody else (well except maybe Will) is taking this thing and coming out a better person for it. It might have taken a bit of encouragement from Will for her to do this, but you can see what a mature person she's grown into being. She's going to end up doing the ultimate in sacrifice; She's going to end up advising and helping Pacey get Joey despite the fact that she still loves him. Truly noble, and a lot better than how Dawson's been acting.
Targus (Tracey) asks: This is what I _don't_ get: if D&J were soulmates, why haven't they been together romantically at all the entire season? If anything, dawson started the year by shoving her off on pacey so he could chase eve; ignored joey even longer [after eve left the show]; slowly started hanging around w/ her in a very non-romantic way; seemed to approve of her dating AJ... geez, just a few episodes ago he was chasing Jack's former lover (the episode where they all ended up in jail, with pacey making his affection towards joey rather obvious). Maybe it's the writing or the acting, but I was totally *surprised* when dawson proclaimed his love for joey last night (in 'show me love')... I think even dawson was surprised (since he started with "I LOVED her..." past-tense, and then added the present tense "still love her".) And that surely caught joey off-guard, as well. So the question (imo) isn't about "soulmates", but about a best friend (Pacey) taking a shot at the ex-girlfriend (Joey). This might have been better fleshed out had Nikki stayed around, and had Dawson and Nikki had a relationship concurrently to this P&J revelation (and I don't think a Dawson/Nikki relationship was too far of a stretch, either -- had nikki stayed in town!). Would Dawson still have been as mad at Pacey if Dawson wasn't about to try reconciling with Joey? I doubt it. Even with Pacey being the new 'beau'. Of course, P&J might have revealed their relationship to Dawson earlier if he'd been involved with Nikki.
Whitney replies: Yes, they may be completely different, but they're both drastic in their own way. Obviously Andie was out of her mind and out of character when it happened and she's right- she was absolutely shut out with no chance to explain herself. She may have deserved it, but it was pretty harsh. Pacey and Joey, while not cheating on anyone, were cheating on Dawson in their hearts. Even they knew it. Pacey was doing Dawson a favor and it just ended up stabbing him in the back.
They felt guilty, they know that they ruined everything between the 3 of them forever. Dawson will never trust Pacey the same way again (much like Andie). Andie didn't say it was the same thing, she just said that they knew it would destroy everything and they did it anyway. Now they want sympathy, but they need to take responsibilty for their actions (like she was forced to do). If I recall correctly, wasn't Joey jealous of Nikki- even when nothing happened? Imagine if Joey and Jen had been best friends forever. Dawson leaves Joey and then develops this love for Jen behind her back. Don't you think Joey would have been hurt just as badly as Dawson is now?
Targus (Tracey) replies: didn't that 'jealousy' actually stem from dawson being more open with nikki, the new friend, than joey, the old "locked out" friend? Yes, I'll agree joey was jealous then (though I'm not sure it was a 'romantic' jealousy, or a more common 'friend gets new friend' jealousy), but it begs the question
why dawson wasn't talking to joey at that time (at least halfway through S3, right)? Underscores (for me) the point that he didn't treat joey like much of a friend, much less a soulmate, until these last few episodes of S3! At some point, Joey is under no obligation [to herself] to "wait" anymore, and *anyone* she wants is up for grabs. As to whether Pacey was "wrong", that's tougher, of course. Except that -- once again -- I didn't see Dawson show affection towards Joey until late in the season.
I don't disagree that they could've told Dawson sooner; but I don't think that would've helped much. P&J sort of realized their feelings for each other when Dawson started acting 'romantically interested' in joey again. Even had P&J never touched each other by that time, Dawson's renewed interest in Joey would've been too late. (Oh, btw -- I thought Joey had feelings for Pacey back when AJ first kissed her, and she ran off to Pacey's play. She might not have recognized her feelings for what they were, of course, but things were a'brewing back then)
but I digress... I am *not* a die-hard P/J-only fan. Just color me a feminist who finds the "soulmate" idea a little bit too favorable to the men in the show than the women ;-) If Pacey's and Dawson's roles were switched, with Pacey as the official "soulmate" who'd ignored Joey all season, I'd be fine Pacey's friend Dawson falling in love with his best friend's ex. I don't think "soulmates" should put the other on hold indefinitely, and then expect the other to be around a year later!
Madforit50 says: I do see Dawson + Joey as soulmates, mainly because the sheer volume of history between them prevents any other couple (including Joey + Pacey) from competing. I'm afraid that Pacey relationship is going to be the "stepping stone" for both Dawson and Joey to grow to be with each other.
On the other hand, soulmates more often than not end up as just friendships. You end up marrying somebody else. Take the other TV soap operas -- Dylan + Kelly, Winnie + Kevin, etc.
Yeah, Pacey made a big no-no going after Joey. One of the rules goes that you NEVER EVER go after your best friend's ex/girl. So, Dawson (even though they did break up) has every right to act like he did. How else? But, Pacey + Joey have a wonderful chemistry, it's so natural.
Rented is on team Pacey: Pacey did not make a mistake kissing Joey. The best line of the night was when Pacey told Dawson "At least now your anger is directed at the right person." Can you imagine the nerve of a guy like Dawson to tell Joey that she has to choose him over Pacey because if she doesn't he will take himself out of her life?
I was with Dawson when Joey left him for Jack for a dumb reason but now Dawson is way off-base. This immature garbage with the boat and everything else just shows that Pacey has matured into being the better man of the two.
The sad thing is that the point was clearly made from these last two episodes is that Joey still desperately wants Dawson and that Dawson still desperately doesn't want anyone else to have Joey. Further, I don't believe Dawson feels as passionately about Joey as he did about Jen way back and Eve not so long ago. Joey better decide what it is that she wants and make it completely clear to Dawson that he does not have the right to ever give her selfish ultimatums.
Allison :) replies: Actually what I got from the last two eps is that she just doesn't want to lose Dawson as a friend. The friend he used to be before they go together. I think she wants what Dawson said she couldn't have, Pacey as a b/f and Dawson as her friend. I think that's why she walked away when Dawson asked whatever want I'll do. Because she knew if she told him
what she really wanted he wouldn't comply. And she's lost so much in life as far as Family, that she doesn't want to lose Dawson either. So she is giving up Pacey so she won't lose the friendship she has with Dawson. But I think the last scene clearly showed that no matter if that's how she wants it, it's no longer like that and it will never be that way again. Just the akwardness between Dawson and Joey at the end showed that. It seemed forced, and I think it was supposed to feel that way. To show that these two have grown apart and they are never going to be what they were. Joey just needs to realize she can't use Dawson as an excuse not to confront what she feels for Pacey
Lily replies: The only thing with that is the fact that Pacey still knew about Dawson's feelings and as a friend he had no right to move in on Joey.
afynn replies to Rented: I totally agree with you !!! Pacey has nothing to apologize for. Joey basically said that she needs someone who doesn't have any "agenda" and Dawson clearly does - I like the end scene where Joey is in front of her wall and Pacey says almost exactly what she said to Dawson - well not
really he just says that he'll be there -- of course I can't remember exactly what he says but he's doing exactly what Joey said she wanted. And didn't Joey basically admit in a previous episode that she doesn't really have "those" feelings for Dawson anymore ... Argh ! Joey and Pacey should be together - they can build an Adult relationship - that she can just never have with Dawson - there is too much history between them - which is what I think she's trying to hold on to not the "relationship".
Liilangel3 replies to Allison :): That's what I got, too. She's afraid of losing that security blanket..and he knows this and is taking advantage of everything. Personally, that last scene
just about said everything- the way, she didn't want to be there, the way he noticed...it was just..uncomfortable.
NeTGaLia replies: I think the scene with her and Pacey said a lot, too, where he said "If that's all that you want"... and she couldn't even look at him when she said that it was. She wants more! :)
Madforit50 replies: Ya gotta give credit for Pacey's sensitivity too in that scene. It's funny how Pacey, not Dawson, ends up being the more sensitive person in this Joey drama.
Madforit50 has love for Kevin Williamson: I really believe the secret of Dawson's Creek is its dialogue. I really do see DC as the "Scream" of teen soap operas; though I bet there's a bit of Kevin's life in the show, all those experiences and inspirations gets filtered through the soap opera genre. It's kinda interesting to step away a bit and see how Kevin played off other shows like 90210, Party of Five and Swan's Crossing.
But, the main thing is that dialogue. Buffy's dialogue is hip, snappy and witty, the best liners that I think we young folks would come up if we thought it through. Not Dawson's Creek. It also has great quips and the like, but 80% of it is deliberately wordy monologues treated as chat. The characters verbalize every nook and cranny of their emotions and confusions at the very moment they think it. In fact, Dawson's Creek can be watched as entries of each character's diary. Moreover, their choice of words seems based on the TV shows and movies and books. In my opinion, this was the stroke of genius for creator Kevin Williamson. The dialogue doesn't pretend to reflect how teenagers (or even adults) really speak. Neither does it play into TV teenspeak or seem plausible for all the characters (Pacey??!!!??) Perhaps the only TV show to approach this overwrought quality would be the X-Files and only rarely. But, because of this style, we the audience have unbelievable intimate relationship with these people. We may hate 'em; we may not understand 'em; but, we know what they're thinking. Moreover, this forces the characters to be three-dimensional and their developments to have consequences. Most of all, they can express the joys and pains of love - and understand they all do truly love each other - to each other. How many of us teens and adults wish we could.
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