Absolutely half of the water within the fictional city of Capeside, Mass., is made up of tears — each from the characters on Dawson’s Creek and the followers crying alongside them.
When the teenager drama made its splashy debut on The WB in 1998 (earlier than the community grew to become The CW), viewers had been immediately hooked by the emotional storylines and unforgettable solid that carried the sequence by means of six seasons. And with all that coming-of-age angst got here loads of tearjerker moments, from household struggles and sudden tragedies to the bitter lows of younger love.
One of the crucial iconic episodes, season 3’s “True Love” — which aired on Might 24, 2000 — introduced the Joey-Dawson-Pacey love triangle to its final peak, gifted us one of many web’s most beloved crying memes and marked a watershed second with the primary passionate on-screen kiss between two homosexual male characters on primetime community TV. Now, 25 years later, it is the right time to revisit the moments that made the present such an emotional curler coaster.
Listed here are the Dawson’s Creek episodes assured to have you ever reaching for the tissues.
Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”
If there was an episode that might predict Michelle Williams because the breakout big-award winner for performing later in life, “Pilot” is the furthest one needed to look. Initially getting into the sequence as one thing nearly out of a dream (a lot in order that it is used once more in a trance-like flashback in the course of the sequence finale), Jen Lindley exits a taxi and introduces herself to the gang. Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), after all, is immediately intimidated, and thus begins the notorious Jen vs. Joey debate of 1998.
Much more breathtaking than Williams’ entrance, although, was her transient scene beside the mattress of Jen’s dying grandfather, which might in the end kick off the primary of numerous tearjerker moments peppered all through the sequence.
And let’s not overlook Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), who all however attached with English trainer Tamara Jacobs (Leann Hunley) within the very first episode. Not gut-wrenching in the identical method, however all the identical.
Standout quote: “Grams, I am an atheist.” —Jen Lindley
Season 1, Episode 12: “Magnificence Contest”
Whereas many followers bear in mind the episode the place Joey enters the Miss Windjammer pageant within the hopes of profitable $5,000 towards her school tuition for her rendition of “Personal My Personal” from Les Misérables or Pacey’s outlandish monologue within the fashion of Braveheart‘s William Wallace as the one male contestant, there was much more occurring.
“Magnificence Contest” is the primary time Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) sees — really sees — his lifelong greatest pal as one thing extra. Jen immediately picks up on this backstage as they watch Joey carry out, and Dawson grasps it even more durable afterward when he and Joey have one more dialog about how their emotions are altering. It is no shock their first (actual — the staged one in “Detention” would not rely) kiss was just one episode away.
Standout quote: “It is simply make-up — and hairspray — and tomorrow I will be again to being Joey. Simply Joey. The too-tall lady that lives on the mistaken aspect of the creek.” — Joey Potter
Season 1, Episode 13: “Selections”
Whereas the season 1 finale delivers the primary DJo kiss (right here come the glad tears), it is the lead-up that actually crams the intestine punches. First, Joey lastly will get the prospect to talk along with her incarcerated dad (Gareth Williams) on his birthday, the place she asks him if he loves her.
In the meantime, atheist Jen and her conservative Grams (Mary Beth Peil) put aside their clashing beliefs to deal with what really issues: Gramps (Ed Grady), who’s in intensive care after struggling a stroke and later dies by episode’s finish. That heartbreaking scene when Jen begs her comatose grandfather to remain alive is the very scene Williams used for her audition — and it landed her the half. The youngest solid member on the time, Williams set the tone for the uncooked emotion the present was not afraid to indicate over time.
Standout quote: “What can I do to get you out of this mattress and get again into my life? As a result of I really feel so helpless sitting right here proper now, as a result of I need to enable you to so badly, and I can not. As a result of I need you to assist me. I need you to smile at me, and I need you to hearken to me. I need you to magically uncomplicate my life the way in which you used to.” —Jen Lindley
Season 2, Episode 12: “Uncharted Waters”
Season 2 showcases a deeper have a look at Pacey’s dysfunctional house life, and this episode introduces viewers to his father, John (John Finn) — the city sheriff residing with an alcohol drawback. Throughout a father-son fishing journey alongside Dawson and his dad (John Wesley Shipp), Pacey’s strained relationship together with his mother or father bubbles up.
John spends the day tearing his son down, ignoring his life and consuming till he must be carried house. As his father lies handed out on the seaside, Pacey offers himself the phrases he is at all times wanted to listen to. The ensuing breakdown is among the sequence’ most painful moments, with Pacey begging for solutions to a lifetime of neglect.
Standout quote: “Why cannot you see me? When did you quit on me? Once I was 5? 10? 12? I am 16 years previous now, Dad! And I am right here and I am not good, however I strive so exhausting for you. It is your job to like me, irrespective of who I’m or what I change into since you’re my father!” —Pacey Witter
Season 2, Episode 14: “To Be or To not Be…”
The primary half of this two-parter revolved round Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) — who’s new to Capeside, alongside his sister, Andie (Meredith Monroe) — coming to phrases with the truth that he’s homosexual and being compelled by the precise worst trainer within the historical past of educating to learn a poem out loud that he’s not able to learn.
The close-to-tears tone in Jack’s voice and Mr. Peterson (Edmund Kearney) forcing him to proceed studying are sufficient to get the waterworks going.
Standout quote: “At present was a day. The world received smaller, darker. I grew extra afraid. Not of what I’m, however of what I may very well be. —Jack McPhee
Season 2, Episode 15: “…That Is the Query”
The second half sees a particularly emotional Jack pleading together with his estranged father (David Dukes) to face the scenario head-on, and Kerr Smith’s performing throughout this heated trade nonetheless has many followers questioning why he would not have an Emmy on his house mantel.
Fortunately, Jack has an enormous quantity of help from his sister, associates (Pacey spits on Mr. Peterson’s face in Jack’s protection) and Jen’s Grams. And he and his dad do work it out, however not for a season and a half.
Standout quote: “If Jack is homosexual, he would not want your judgment, younger man. The Lord above would be the one to evaluate him, as he’ll decide all of us.” —Evelyn “Grams” Ryan
Season 2, Episode 20: “Reunited”
The top of sophomore yr is tough for Andie McPhee, who was simply launched at first of the season and has slowly been descending into scary territory, listening to her useless brother Tim’s voice and seeing visions of him. In “Reunited,” she breaks fully, spiraling inside a locked rest room.
She lastly permits boyfriend Pacey and brother Jack to consolation her, however what occurs over the summer time when she’s away getting assist made it tough for all Pacey followers to ever rejoin Workforce Andie.
Standout quote: “You need to, Andie. You need to select. And I am begging you, from the underside of my coronary heart, to please select me. Open this door, come out right here, and select me.” —Pacey Witter
Season 2, Episode 22: “Parental Discretion Suggested”
Joey’s sophisticated relationship along with her father involves a head in season 2’s penultimate episode, which sees her going towards her intestine instincts by sporting a wire to ship him again to jail for dealing medication but once more — one thing that led to the household restaurant, the Ice Home, burning down because of a deal gone unhealthy. (Don’t fret — Pacey ultimately reopens it.)
Even sadder than the tears shed by the Potter household as its patriarch surrenders himself to the police? The damaged relationship between Joey and Dawson. The boy whom she has cherished her whole life and has appeared to develop up with an ideal household (save the entire dishonest factor and, just a few seasons later, Mitch Leery’s literal dying by ice cream) out of the blue turns into somebody Joey would not acknowledge anymore.
Standout quote: “Some conditions are too tragic to have a hero.” —Dawson Leery
Season 3, Episode 20: “The Longest Day”
Season 3 stays one of many strongest seasons of Dawson’s Creek, because it represented the true climax of the sequence. Boiled down to 1 episode, that peak is “The Longest Day,” when Joey and Pacey lastly work up the (admittedly hesitant) braveness to inform Dawson they’ve romantic emotions for one another. It is advised from three completely different factors of view, which additionally makes it a fairly distinctive episode, emotional impression apart.
As one would count on, Dawson reacts very poorly, though he was the one who requested Pacey to maintain an eye fixed out for Joey after Dawson himself rejected her. However that is textbook Dawson — and it would not change the truth that anybody who has been on the receiving finish of betrayal from their greatest pal/assumed romantic soulmate knew what the poor man was feeling, lash-outs and all. And it sucked.
Standout quote: “Ever had a type of days you would like you possibly can reside once more?” —Joey Potter (voice-over)
Season 3, Episode 23: “True Love”
Season 3’s finale packed a number of punch in several methods: Mitch and Gail Leery (Mary-Margaret Humes) remarry; Joey sails off into the sundown with Pacey; Jack and his dad lastly attain an understanding. However most significantly, it was the start of the Dawson Leery cry face meme.
It occurs when Joey runs off after his dad and mom’ marriage ceremony. So not solely did the poor man have to look at his mother and pa tie the knot for a second time, however he grew to become the outcast third wheel but once more within the romantic lifetime of his two greatest associates. Savage.
Jack and his dad have a particularly heartwarming scene on this episode, when Mr. McPhee lastly accepts that his son is homosexual with literal open arms, and the 2 sweetly hug it out. On the kitchen ground.
“True Love” was additionally the first time on community tv two homosexual males had been proven kissing — which appears late now, however on the time was fairly great and, sure, lengthy overdue.
Standout quotes: “I did not ask to be homosexual.” —Jack McPhee / “Not more than I requested for a homosexual son … however boy, am I glad I received one.” —Joseph McPhee
Season 4, Episode 20: “Promicide”
Pacey spends two whole seasons making everybody fall in love with him as Joey does (bear in mind when he watched her sleep, and as a youngster that wasn’t in any respect creepy however now form of is?), then promptly smashes that visage with a mood tantrum on the gang’s promenade that ends with him dumping Joey in entrance of your entire senior class.
And it isn’t as a result of Joey is upset that he tousled the flowers and the limo or different gadgets on the laundry record of issues he thinks he has to do to make Joey glad. Deep down, Pacey would not assume he is adequate for her, and he or she’s going off to school to change into one thing nice whereas he is caught in Capeside together with his insecurities.
For individuals who had been rooting for this couple from the start, it was a tough 44 minutes. Fortunately, the writers put Joey and Pacey collectively ultimately, and for that, they deserve the world.
Standout quote: “You break my coronary heart right into a thousand items, and also you say it is as a result of I deserve higher?” —Joey Potter
Season 5, Episode 15: “Downtown Crossing”
Whereas seasons 5 and 6, a.okay.a. the faculty years, did not fairly embody the attraction of the primary 4 seasons, just a few episodes stand out in reminiscence. One is “Downtown Crossing,” which tells the story of a time Joey will get mugged however grows near her assailant, Sully, after he’s hit by a automobile following the scuffle.
On the hospital, she slowly learns that not solely is he a dad, however that his daughter is called Sammy, which additional encourages Joey to attract parallels between his scenario and her tough one along with her personal father.
Standout quote: “It is humorous how issues are at all times shifting like that. In the future, you will have the higher hand, you are in management, and the following, you are completely at someone’s mercy.” —Sully
Season 6, Episode 23: “All Good Issues …”
The primary hour of the sequence finale, “All Good Issues …,” jumps 5 years into the long run, when the gang — now 25, which, for Creek followers in 2003, appeared so previous — reunite at Capeside for Gail’s marriage ceremony and atone for one another’s lives. Joey’s a profitable e book editor in New York Metropolis; Dawson is a Hollywood producer; Pacey is a restaurant supervisor; Jen is an artwork gallerist and single mother residing with Grams in N.Y.C.; and Jack is a Capeside trainer relationship Pacey’s not-out brother, Doug (Dylan Neal).
The thought of the present ending is sentimental sufficient, however watching Dawson and Joey go to sleep in his mattress, curled up in the identical place they did within the pilot, is a full-circle second that pulls at each fan’s heartstrings. Issues take a darker flip, although, when Jen out of the blue faints close to the tip of the episode, and Grams reveals her granddaughter is affected by a terminal coronary heart situation.
Standout quote: “You guys are one of the best associates I’ve ever had.” —Jen Lindley
Season 6, Episode 24: “… Should Come to an Finish”
The ultimate boss of Dawson’s Creek gun-wrenching moments? Jen’s video message to her child daughter, Amy, whom she places BFF Jack and Doug accountable for elevating.
The video rivals Jen’s first look on the sequence. The viewers sees the identical robust individual she was 10 years earlier, radiating by means of her phrases and her eyes as she speaks to her daughter’s future … and digicam operator Dawson, one way or the other, manages to not shed even a single tear.
And who can overlook the second she lastly succumbs to her sickness, with Grams by her aspect — a lady who has cared for Jen as if she had been her personal child over the previous decade — and uttering her ultimate phrases (“I will see you quickly, baby”) to her granddaughter. Tissues, anybody?
Standout quote: “The factor that I’ve come to comprehend, sweetheart, is that it simply would not matter if God exists or not. The essential factor is so that you can imagine in one thing, as a result of I promise you that perception will preserve you heat at evening, and I need you to really feel protected at all times.” —Jen Lindley
Honorable Point out: Season 3, Episode 22: “The Anti-Promenade”
Followers know the second — the road that sealed the deal between Pacey and Joey shortly earlier than they boarded the True Love in the course of the summer time of 2000 and set off Dawson’s iconic cry face.
Pacey notices Joey is sporting her late mother’s bracelet, and recounts phrase for phrase and element for element the trade between them when she advised him the day she discovered it, six months earlier.
Standout quotes: “You keep in mind that?” —Joey Potter / “I bear in mind the whole lot.” —Pacey Witter
