Thursday, September 06, 2012
Dawson's Creek Final Seasons
I’d forgotten that an even thinner-looking Chad Michael Murray appeared on this show as a love-interest for Jenn. As the fifth season begins Dawson suffers a crisis of confidence the realities of Hollywood not meeting up with his idealistic expectations. His appearance in Capeside generates a rare parental confrontation with Mitch. Nothing to match the ah shucks moments generated by a newborn.
As part of this story arc Mitch dies in a car accident. In a typical Witter moment Pacey takes Dawson to the scene of the accident with the skid marks still prominent on the asphalt and tells him in effect to get over himself, a driver who fell asleep at the wheel killed his Father. Gale experiences one of her many breakdowns when as a matter of routine she asks Dawson to go for milk, then realizes she has just used the very words that were her last to her husband. Dawson finally breaks down when the store attendant tells him his Father’s last words were in praise of him.
Although I realize the quotidian grind may not make for good television if the average person had to undergo the amount of trama in their lives these characters suffer they’d run screaming. I suppose the fact that I watch these episodes back to back serves to amplify the effect.
Actions have consequences and if shagging your boyfriend takes precedence over making it to your exam on time don’t expect sympathy from your prof. Newfoundland actor, Sebastion Spence who played the adult Kevin Reavy in the Boys of Saint Vincent shows up as a prof who takes a sexual interest in Jack, seems he’s still playing confused sexuality roles. Everyone on this show seems to have commitment issues though to his credit Pacey + when he discovers his New Orleans paramour is a paid hooker. The idealistic Dawson discovers the perils of the Hollywood casting coach and suitors who find sex as a means of cementing their roles and future casting opportunities but find no need for lasting commitments. Joey’s roommate, the rich west coast Audrey begins a drug and alcohol fueled spiral toward rock bottom. Jenn’s parents make the most mature decision of her life and announce their divorce. Gran goes back to school and hooks up with a black widower. Dawson’s mother proves she’s too young and pretty to withdraw to a life of widow’s weeds and shocks him with her new boyfriend.
The show may be Dawson’s Creek but Joey is the only character to appear in all 128 episodes of the run. Joey becomes more unsympathetic as the series goes on. A heartbreaker who lures men in but when the chips are down cannot commit to a lasting relationship. When she spurns Eddie and then reaps the whirlwind of his rejection one has the feeling that she got exactly what she deserved.
The series ends with a five-years-later episode which leaves the Love Triangle at the centre of the show unresolved. Joey is hopelessly in love with both best friends Dawson and Pacey and hopelessly unwilling to choose between either. The carnage continues as she dumps yet another suitor in New York where she works as a junior book editor. Pacey has taken over the Icehouse with loans from various family members and Dawson is in Hollywood shooting Dawson’s Creek. Jack is teaching English at Capeside where he is reliving his own coming out experience with Sheriff Doug who is a closet gay after all. The group reunites for Gale’s wedding. Grams is suffering end stage breast cancer but the shocker comes when we learn that unwed mother Jenn’s pregnancy brought to light a fatal congenital heart condition. God-father Jack adopts Jenn’s child. Andy makes an appearance as an intern at a Boston Hospital, Audrey is on the road with a rock band. In the background Dawson’s younger sister is chasing Joey’s nephew around the yard while the extension ladder lies propped against the Leery veranda. History repeats itself. Hopefully not with another boy loves two girls triangle.
Coming to the end of the cycle feels like losing friends. The child is father of the man. One cannot run from one’s problems as one brings oneself along. Although we age we do not necessarily mature. And the beat goes on.
As part of this story arc Mitch dies in a car accident. In a typical Witter moment Pacey takes Dawson to the scene of the accident with the skid marks still prominent on the asphalt and tells him in effect to get over himself, a driver who fell asleep at the wheel killed his Father. Gale experiences one of her many breakdowns when as a matter of routine she asks Dawson to go for milk, then realizes she has just used the very words that were her last to her husband. Dawson finally breaks down when the store attendant tells him his Father’s last words were in praise of him.
Although I realize the quotidian grind may not make for good television if the average person had to undergo the amount of trama in their lives these characters suffer they’d run screaming. I suppose the fact that I watch these episodes back to back serves to amplify the effect.
Actions have consequences and if shagging your boyfriend takes precedence over making it to your exam on time don’t expect sympathy from your prof. Newfoundland actor, Sebastion Spence who played the adult Kevin Reavy in the Boys of Saint Vincent shows up as a prof who takes a sexual interest in Jack, seems he’s still playing confused sexuality roles. Everyone on this show seems to have commitment issues though to his credit Pacey + when he discovers his New Orleans paramour is a paid hooker. The idealistic Dawson discovers the perils of the Hollywood casting coach and suitors who find sex as a means of cementing their roles and future casting opportunities but find no need for lasting commitments. Joey’s roommate, the rich west coast Audrey begins a drug and alcohol fueled spiral toward rock bottom. Jenn’s parents make the most mature decision of her life and announce their divorce. Gran goes back to school and hooks up with a black widower. Dawson’s mother proves she’s too young and pretty to withdraw to a life of widow’s weeds and shocks him with her new boyfriend.
The show may be Dawson’s Creek but Joey is the only character to appear in all 128 episodes of the run. Joey becomes more unsympathetic as the series goes on. A heartbreaker who lures men in but when the chips are down cannot commit to a lasting relationship. When she spurns Eddie and then reaps the whirlwind of his rejection one has the feeling that she got exactly what she deserved.
The series ends with a five-years-later episode which leaves the Love Triangle at the centre of the show unresolved. Joey is hopelessly in love with both best friends Dawson and Pacey and hopelessly unwilling to choose between either. The carnage continues as she dumps yet another suitor in New York where she works as a junior book editor. Pacey has taken over the Icehouse with loans from various family members and Dawson is in Hollywood shooting Dawson’s Creek. Jack is teaching English at Capeside where he is reliving his own coming out experience with Sheriff Doug who is a closet gay after all. The group reunites for Gale’s wedding. Grams is suffering end stage breast cancer but the shocker comes when we learn that unwed mother Jenn’s pregnancy brought to light a fatal congenital heart condition. God-father Jack adopts Jenn’s child. Andy makes an appearance as an intern at a Boston Hospital, Audrey is on the road with a rock band. In the background Dawson’s younger sister is chasing Joey’s nephew around the yard while the extension ladder lies propped against the Leery veranda. History repeats itself. Hopefully not with another boy loves two girls triangle.
Coming to the end of the cycle feels like losing friends. The child is father of the man. One cannot run from one’s problems as one brings oneself along. Although we age we do not necessarily mature. And the beat goes on.
# posted by garthmailman@gmail.com @ 1:31 pm 
