(Almost) every thought I had while watching Dawson's Creek for the first time
Bows and arrows, stars and sunsets
The death of actor James Van Der Beek last week had me searching for what might be a contender for journalism’s oldest draft post. I remembered that about ten years ago - when I had a blog and TV listicles were all the rage - I’d meticulously recorded every thought I had while watching teen drama Dawson’s Creek for the first time.
Despite my commitment to noting my every reaction to six seasons of the show, I never published it, so here it is - a lightly edited version of an iPhone note from 2017. Never delete anything if you’re a writer, that’s my motto.
(Given I didn’t watched the show until 15 years after its finale, and there might be others about to discover the Creek for the first time, spoilers ahead!)
Season 1
Why are they talking like that? No-one talks like that, especially not teenagers
Wow, Joey is annoying
How dramatic is this theme tune
Nooooo are Pacey and his teacher about to have sex?
ARGG they are
This detention storyline is right out of The Breakfast Club
Dawson is so earnest. No-one broods this much
Joey is singing MAKE IT STOP
How does Dawson keep getting women to climb through his window and sleep in his bed?
Do his parents know about this?
WHY IS JOEY ALWAYS IN HIS CLOSET
Season 2
What has Pacey done to his hair
What has Jen done to her hair
Is that Busy Philipps? It’s not Busy Philipps. Shame.
Ew. Everything about Chris.
Ew. Everything about Chris’ creepy little sister
Ew. Dawson, don’t kiss the creepy sister’s forehead
Pacey calling out Dawson for his “psychobabble insight” is on point
Man, Dawson needs to get laid
Did Jack and Joey just have verbal art sex?
Joey is about as sexy as a plant
Did Dawson just rhyme “ran away” with “being gay”?
Gail’s wedding eyeshadow!!
Daddy McPhee is evil
Pacey’s shirt is both velvet and lamé
I actually hate Jen
Season 3
OMG the theme tune has changed! What is happening!
Dawson is definitely going to be lame about Joey taking her top off
Yep. He is such a drip
Jen just compared sex to eating an ice cream - awful
Ffs the theme tune is in my head all the time. Bows and arrows, stars and sunsets
Nooooo Andi, whyyyyy did you sleep with Mark
Jen’s discovered hair straighteners
When are Joey and Pacey getting together?
This Blair Witch episode is stupid
“There’s enough tension here to power a Kiss reunion concert” might be the best line so far
WOAH, is that Kendra from Buffy? TEEN WORLDS COLLIDING
JULIE BOWEN IS DAWSON’S AUNT
Joey and Pacey is happening and I like it and it’s going to be awful when Dawson finds out
Oh, it is. It’s awful
Oh look, Jen’s here to comfort him, what a surprise
Jesus - these kids are intense
Pacey painting “ask me to stay” on a wall and Joey asking: “what does this mean?” lollll
Is it me, or is Dawson is kinda manipulative
Ohhhh it’s the ugly cry meme
Season 4
Pacey and Joey were alone on a boat for three months and didn’t have sex? I find this… hard to believe
Jen’s hair is finally not shit
The Leerys had an entire conversation about abortion without actually saying it
Everyone appears to own an earth-tone corduroy jacket this season
Pacey has become the worst boyfriend ever in the space of two episodes
Oh wait, I forgive him
Season 5
Did Dawson suddenly get kinda hot?
Why is Jen wearing clown pants
Wait that actually is Busy Phillips and I think I love this addition
Wtf, they killed off Mitch?
They all drink coffee now cause they’re in college LOL
Jen has finally had her way with the Virgin Dawson!
No Audrey! Pacey is OFF LIMITS
Oh FFS Joey, are you gonna sleep with your teacher too?
No Joey, do not pour your heart out to your mugger
Yesssss it’s Harmony from Buffy
Ugh why does Joey like this professor, he’s not even hot
There’s no way on this planet Joey wouldn’t mind Audrey getting it on with Pacey
Oh god is Joey going to sing again
Every time Audrey and Pacey kiss she practically eats his face
Dawson would not have blown off that meeting with a director in a million years
Holy shhh THAT IS AUDREY HORNE
Wow there’s an awful lot of life changes happening in this one airport
Season 6
Why is Joey narrating. Is this going to be a thing?
WHAT is that on Pacey’s chin
Omg Joey and Dawson have FINALLY DONE IT
Jen’s ruined her hair again with a weird fringe
FFS Joey and Dawson have broken up ALREADY?!
Stockbroker Pacey is not the one
Since when could Audrey sing? Oh, she can’t. Wait! She can.
There are so many gaps in these storylines I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve lost consciousness for a portion of each episode
This episode is literally a No Doubt concert with some Dawson’s Creek in it
There’s not enough Grams in this show anymore
Audrey crashing the car into Dawson’s house!!!
The first sensible thing anyone has said so far this series is telling Pacey to shave off the goatee
Jen’s ruined her hair again
Love the Seth Rogan/Busy Philipps Freaks and Geeks reunion
Yesss I love this K-Mart episode
Yessssss Pacey’s goatee is gone
Omg please don’t kill Grams
Nooooooo Joey is breaking up with Pacey?????
NOOO! Do not go back to Eddie. Do not do this!!!
There’s only four episodes left and Pacey is still a full-on Wall Streeter and Dawson is.... painting his childhood room?
If Joey chooses Dawson I’m going to kick. off.
Wah. Jen is a sad single mom and I feel bad for her
Jack, who was crap in school, becoming a teacher. Makes total sense
Excuse me is Jen gonna die?
Oh my god she actually is
Ok there’s 40 mins left of the whole show and it all seems to be about Jen dying so when is Joey going to CHOOOOOSE
Wahhhhhhh Jen is dead I didn’t think I’d care but I do
GO AWAY GAIL PACEY AND JOEY ARE TRYING TO TALK
Finally. Everyone has realised soulmates can be friends and that’s just fine. Pacey and Joey forever. RIP Jen. Amen.