Granted, I’ve only watched the pilot. But I almost shut it off before it was even over. I have been going back and watching shows I missed upon their first airings. Dawson’s Creek yielded some white hot talent, most notably Michelle Williams. I am also a big fan of Joshua Jackson on Fringe. Then there is always the infamous Mrs. Cruise (Katie Holmes), as well. Where on earth is Dawson (James Van Der Beek)?
In all fairness, I am not the target audience for this show about four high school sophomores. But I don’t think my 17-year-old son is the demographic either. This show must have lasted for six seasons and been wildly popular thanks to teenage girls. TV pilots can be rocky, too. I felt embarrassed for Joshua Jackson playing the “friend” who is “quirky.” Pacey? Really?
Williams is the only one who really shows her potential in this first episode. Holmes, whom I had enjoyed tremendously in Go, seems stilted here, and I can definitely see the girl who would grow up to marry Tom Cruise and consequently check her brain into Scientology Headquarters.
The pilot addresses lots of Big and Important issues right away: Pacey is flirting with his English teacher, who behaves like a bonafide cougar when she rents The Graduate from him. Joey and Dawson, best friends since age five, have hit puberty. Joey is freaking out because she thinks (correctly) that their relationship will change as a result. New girl, Jen, catches Dawson’s eye. Joey hates her at first — I bet they end up best friends, don’t they? Then, at the very end of the episode, right when I thought I couldn’t watch any more of the show (ever), Joey sees that Dawson’s mother IS having an affair with her co-anchor on the news.
Damn.
They used a weak little hook, and the peanut butter has mostly fallen off it, but I sort of want to find out what happens next with the parent storyline. So, maybe I’ll watch the next episode. But that’s it.
Really.
Please tell me it gets better. It was on for six seasons, so it can’t be as bad as it was in the pilot, can it?
Clacked by Jen Creer
on Mar 30, 2011 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
I too decided to watch Dawson’s Creek recently and see what I missed as a teen. Season 1 is only 13 episodes and I enjoyed it enough to go a head and get the next season from the library too. Last week I watched all of season 3 and loved it more than season 2. Somehow it hooks you and is compelling.
It gets better!! It actually does. (But you don’t have to take my word for it …)
Congrats on 100 posts, by the way!