List of Dawson's Creek episodes
Dawson's Creek, an American television series, was created by Kevin Williamson, who was the executive producer until the end of the show's second season. Paul Stupin shared the executive producer role until Williamson left, and remained until the series finale along with Tom Kapinos and Greg Prange. It is produced by Outerbanks Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television.
The series stars James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery, an aspiring film maker. Katie Holmes portrays his best friend and love interest Joey Potter, with Joshua Jackson as their fellow best friend Pacey Witter. Michelle Williams plays Jen Lindley, who moves from New York City to Capeside after being sent away by her parents. Kerr Smith and Meredith Monroe plays siblings Jack and Andie McPhee.
Between January 20, 1998, and May 14, 2003, Dawson's Creek aired six seasons on the American television network The WB, the first a mid-season replacement and the following five as regular seasons. One hundred and twenty-eight episodes were produced over the show's six-year run, and concluded with a two-hour series finale. All six seasons are available on DVD in Regions 1, 2 and 4.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 13 | January 20, 1998 | May 19, 1998 | ||
| 2 | 22 | October 7, 1998 | May 26, 1999 | ||
| 3 | 23 | September 29, 1999 | May 24, 2000 | ||
| 4 | 23 | October 4, 2000 | May 23, 2001 | ||
| 5 | 23 | October 10, 2001 | May 15, 2002 | ||
| 6 | 24 | October 2, 2002 | May 14, 2003 | ||
Episodes
Season 1: 1998
"No. in series" refers to the episode's number in the overall series; "No. in season" refers to the episode's number in this particular season. The first season, 13 episodes, ran from January 20 to May 19, 1998. The episodes were shot in 1997, before the series premiered.[1] Season one regular cast members include James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, with Mary-Margaret Humes and John Wesley Shipp portraying Dawson Leery's parents Gail and Mitch Leery, Nina Repeta as Joey Potter's sister and guardian Bessie Potter, Mary Beth Peil as Jen Lindley's grandmother Evelyn Ryan "Grams". This season takes place during the characters' sophomore year of high-school.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Steve Miner | Kevin Williamson | January 20, 1998 | 101 |
| Film addict Dawson is making an amateur movie with his friends Pacey and Joey when filming is interrupted by the arrival of Jen, the beautiful granddaughter of Dawson's next-door neighbor. Pacey develops a crush on Tamara Jacobs, an older woman he meets at the video shop, but is stunned to discover that she is his new English teacher. As the friends start high school, Joey discovers Dawson's mother, Gail, is having an affair, a fact that neither Dawson or his father, Mitch, know. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Dance" | Steve Miner | Kevin Williamson | January 27, 1998 | 102 |
| Dawson casts Jen as the new leading lady in his film, but creates a messy off-camera scene during her date at the school dance. Meanwhile, Joey confronts Mrs. Leery about her liaisons and Pacey gets under Tamara's skin with his public flirting. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Kiss" | Michael Uno | Rob Thomas | February 3, 1998 | 103 |
| While working on the film class's movie, team player Dawson has a hard time being stuck in the background. Meanwhile as he plots to give Jen the "perfect kiss", Joey is swept away by a handsome stranger and Pacey tries to graduate to manhood with the help of girlfriend/teacher Tamara. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Discovery" | Steve Miner | Jon Harmon Feldman | February 10, 1998 | 104 |
| Dawson learns of his mother's affair, and upon discovering that Joey already knew, he turns to Jen for comfort and advice. He regrets doing so when she tells him about her past and the real reason she moved to Capeside. Meanwhile Pacey and Tamara continue to tempt fate with their fling. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Hurricane" | Lou Antonio | Kevin Williamson & Dana Baratta | February 17, 1998 | 105 |
| When a major hurricane moves inland, several characters take refuge in the Leery home, where Dawson rages at Jen about her past, and Mitch storms out after Gail confesses to her affair. A tormented Dawson is left to deal with the fallout. Elsewhere, Pacey ruins his brother's chances of a date with Tamara when they are all trapped at her beach house during the hurricane. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Baby" | Steve Miner | Story by : Joanne Waters Teleplay by : Jon Harmon Feldman | February 24, 1998 | 106 |
| Another student overhears Pacey and Dawson discussing Pacey's relationship with Tamara, and within hours the rumors are all around school and the rest of Capeside. Tamara and Pacey find themselves in legal trouble before the day is out. Over at Dawson's house, Bessie gives birth to baby Alexander, aided by Joey, Dawson and Jen and an unlikely ally, Evelyn Ryan. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Detention" | Allan Arkush | Mike White | March 3, 1998 | 107 |
| Dawson, Pacey, Joey and Jen all wind up spending a Saturday in detention at Capeside High under the supervision of Mrs. Tringle, the school librarian. The day takes on a "Breakfast Club" type air as Abby Morgan, the school trouble-maker, stirs the pot by initiating a telling game of truth or dare to break up the monotony of the day. Joey's secret longing for Dawson threatens to reveal itself. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Boyfriend" | Michael Fields | Story by : Charles Rosin & Karen Rosin Teleplay by : Jon Harmon Feldman & Dana Baratta | March 10, 1998 | 108 |
| Dawson feels the heat when Jen is visited by an old boyfriend from New York. Elsewhere, a guy creeps on Joey at a beach party and she is almost sexually assaulted, saved only by Pacey's intervention. In the Leery family, tensions between Mitch and Gail reach boiling point as they attempt to rebuild their marriage. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Roadtrip" | Steve Robman | Rob Thomas | March 17, 1998 | 109 |
| Hoping to get over Jen, Dawson agrees to skip school and join Pacey and Billy (Jen's ex) on a road trip. The three of them end up in a bar where Dawson finds some emotional clarity. Meanwhile, Jen handles damage control after Joey becomes the subject of a wild rumor at school. The two of them join forces to perpetuate an act of revenge on Warren who claimed to have had sex with Joey. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Double Date" | David Semel | Jon Harmon Feldman | April 28, 1998 | 110 |
| A double date finds Jen and Cliff joined by Dawson and Mary-Beth, whom Dawson asks out solely as part of a plot to make Jen jealous. Pacey and Joey work together on a school project, with a strange turn of events leading Pacey to admit possible feelings he may have for Joey. He later discusses this with Dawson, who is passionately against Pacey pursuing his emotions. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "The Scare" | Rodman Flender | Mike White | May 5, 1998 | 111 |
| Friday the 13th dawns in Capeside, and Dawson plans a séance for the group. While shopping for supplies for the evening, they meet a distressed woman in the middle of a nasty row with her boyfriend. She accompanies them back to Dawson's house. In addition to being spooked by the woman and the séance, emotions are heightened by the knowledge that a serial killer may be headed towards Capeside. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Beauty Contest" | Arvin Brown | Dana Baratta | May 12, 1998 | 112 |
| Capeside's annual Miss Windjammer beauty pageant gets turned on its ear when it draws some unexpected contestants. Jen tries to persuade Joey to enter but she is very reluctant. After finding out the winner receives a $5,000 prize for college tuition, Joey changes her mind. Even more shockingly, Pacey enters, and in the process exposes some hypocrisy. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Decisions" | David Semel | Mike White & Dana Baratta (teleplay) Jon Harmon Feldman (story) | May 19, 1998 | 113 |
| In the season finale, Dawson and Joey are forced to confront their true feelings. Joey visits her father in prison and debates leaving to go to France. Jen's grandfather dies and she turns to Dawson for comfort. | ||||||
Season 2: 1998–1999
The second season ran from October 7, 1998 to May 26, 1999. This season takes place during the characters' sophomore year of high-school.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "The Kiss" | David Semel | Jon Harmon Feldman | October 7, 1998 | 201 |
| After their kiss at the end of season one, Dawson and Joey have doubts about the future of their relationship as Joey is still mulling over plans to go to France. Meanwhile, Pacey plays a trick on new girl Andie, but later finds himself the victim of her revenge trick on him. | ||||||
| 15 | 2 | "Crossroads" | Dennie Gordon | Dana Baratta | October 14, 1998 | 202 |
| Dawson violates Joey's privacy by reading her journal. Dawson unreasonably gets upset about what he finds, and forgets Pacey's 16th Birthday. Andie gets her brother Jack a job at the Ice House. Meanwhile, Abby and Jen start to bond. | ||||||
| 16 | 3 | "Alternative Lifestyles" | David Semel | Mike White | October 21, 1998 | 203 |
| An economics class project pairs Dawson and Jen as husband and wife, Pacey and Andie as a married couple and Joey as a single mother with two children. Jen tries to use the project to get closer to Dawson. Pacey gets to know more about Andie's troubled family life and Joey begins to see that she has a chance of success in the real world while doing her project solo. | ||||||
| 17 | 4 | "Tamara's Return" | Jesus Trevino | Mike White | October 28, 1998 | 204 |
| Tamara Jacobs, who left town after her assault of Pacey was exposed, shares an awkward reunion with her former victim. The encounter triggers old emotions in Pacey and curiosity in Andie, who sheepishly confesses to Dawson that she has feelings for Pacey. Meanwhile, Jack and Joey bond over their shared interest in art. | ||||||
| 18 | 5 | "Full Moon Rising" | David Semel | Dana Baratta | November 4, 1998 | 205 |
| Parental problems cast a shadow over Dawson and Joey's new romance. Pacey is troubled when he sees the McPhee's homelife and struggles to comfort Andie when she unloads her emotions onto him. Jen has a date that makes Abby jealous and Joey and Jack share a late night kiss. | ||||||
| 19 | 6 | "The Dance" | Lou Antonio | Jon Harmon Feldman | November 11, 1998 | 206 |
| Two tragedies rock Dawson's world. First he learns the awful truth about his parents' marriage. Then, at the Homecoming dance, he witnesses a heated moment between Joey and Jack, during which their illicit kiss is revealed. Dawson is heartbroken as his lifelong friendship and newfound romance with Joey is shattered. The big night also introduces Jen and Jack for the first time. Pacey tries to open his heart to Andie, but something she witnesses ends up hurting her. | ||||||
| 20 | 7 | "The All-Nighter" | David Semel | Greg Berlanti | November 18, 1998 | 207 |
| Facing the scariest English test of their lives, the gang has an all night study session at wealthy, horny Chris Wolfe's house. During the night, secrets are revealed and friendships are altered. The truth about Pacey's "affair" with Tamara is publicly revealed, much to Andie's horror. Dawson and Joey discuss their relationship. | ||||||
| 21 | 8 | "The Reluctant Hero" | Joe Napolitano | Shelley Meals & Darin Goldberg | November 25, 1998 | 208 |
| Joey's "semi-date" with Jack prompts a resentful Dawson to join Jen at a party where he carries her like a caveman outside to stop her from doing some things she'll regret. Pacey proves his worth when Andie's mother has an episode during their study session. Mitch fails to understand Dawson's views on their divorce. | ||||||
| 22 | 9 | "The Election" | Patrick Norris | Darin Goldberg & Shelley Meals | December 16, 1998 | 209 |
| Andie's decision to run for student council takes a dark turn when Abby begins advertising her family situation. Jen helps Dawson take steps to deal with his powerlessness over his parents divorce and tries to teach him how to be a teenager. Jack shuts out Joey during a family crisis. | ||||||
| 23 | 10 | "High Risk Behavior" | James Whitmore, Jr. | Jenny Bicks | January 13, 1999 | 210 |
| Epic tryouts for Dawson's new movie prompt a steamy dialogue between him and Jen that could recast her role in his love life. Jack poses nude for Joey's art project, which prompts an intimate moment between the two of them. Pacey sets out to give Andie her dream date and to make their night truly memorable. Andie collects her anti-anxiety medication and lies to Pacey that it's for her mother. | ||||||
| 24 | 11 | "Sex, She Wrote" | Nick Marck | Mike White & Greg Berlanti | January 20, 1999 | 211 |
| Abby and Chris find an anonymous note at school which reveals that one of the class couples had sex the night before. Abby sets out to expose the affair. Working from clues about Joey's night of nude sketching with Jack, Dawson's steamy stop over at Jen's, and Pacey's bed and breakfast trip with Andie, Abby calls together her list of suspects and reveals the dirty secrets of Capeside. Jen is furious and berates Abby for her endless cruelty to other people. | ||||||
| 25 | 12 | "Uncharted Waters" | Scott Paulin | Dana Baratta & Mike White | January 27, 1999 | 212 |
| The gang explores uncharted waters when Dawson and Pacey go on a father-son fishing trip with Mitch Leery and Pacey's critical and abusive father, Sheriff John Witter, who uses the trip to tell Pacey how useless he is. But tensions really begin to rise when Pacey invites Jack along, who tries to make amends with a reluctant Dawson. Meanwhile, Jen, Joey, Andie and Abby spend a day with Gail doing a report on teenage girls in the consumer world with Abby naturally not passing up the opportunity to insult and provoke conflicts and tension between Mrs. Leery and the girls. | ||||||
| 26 | 13 | "His Leading Lady" | David Semel | Shelley Meals & Darin Goldberg | February 3, 1999 | 213 |
| The filming of Dawson's new movie, Creek Times, brings back memories for the filmmaker and for Joey, who grows to dislike the actress playing her. Andie's emotions are running high and she attempts to break up with Pacey, who refuses to let her dump him. Dawson begins to bond with Jack. | ||||||
| 27 | 14 | "To Be or Not to Be..." | Sandy Smolan | Greg Berlanti | February 10, 1999 | 214 |
| In a compelling two-part episode, the Capeside High School gossip mill kicks into overdrive after Jack bears his soul in an English assignment and is forced to expose his innermost secrets while reading his poem aloud in class. The poem alludes to feelings that Jack may have towards another boy. Dawson, Joey, and Andie are shaken by the implications of what it all means. Meanwhile, Pacey tries to defend Jack in the face of an adversarial teacher and Jen finds her latest suitor, Tyson "Ty" Hicks, is full of surprises. Jack later tells Joey that the poem meant nothing sexual and that it may have been about his deceased brother. | ||||||
| 28 | 15 | "...That Is the Question" | Greg Prange | Kevin Williamson & Greg Berlanti | February 17, 1999 | 215 |
| On Dawson's advice, Joey attempts to heal the wounds of her new romance with Jack, which were left exposed by the poem and the resulting innuendo. Jack again reassures her. However, when Jack confronts his innermost secrets, their lives and everyone's close to them will never be the same again. Elsewhere, Pacey takes on Mr. Peterson and challenges his abusive teaching methods. His insistence on making things right in the school alienate Andie, and the two of them must work hard to put their relationship back together. | ||||||
| 29 | 16 | "Be Careful What You Wish For" | David Semel | Heidi Ferrer | March 3, 1999 | 216 |
| On the night of Dawson's 16th birthday, Dawson and Andie follow her therapist's advice and throw themselves into an unabashed night of recklessness. They arrive at a blues bar, and unbeknownst to Pacey, Andie and Dawson start drinking. Meanwhile, back at the Leery house, Joey is putting together a surprise party for Dawson, and Jack has a few surprises of his own. Jen and Ty face up to their potentially irreconcilable differences, and Gail and Mitch come to a decision about how to raise their son in light of their separation. | ||||||
| 30 | 17 | "Psychic Friends" | Patrick Norris | Dana Baratta | March 10, 1999 | 217 |
| Dawson's confidence as a filmmaker is shaken when Miss Kennedy, the new film teacher, turns out to be a movie studio executive on sabbatical in Capeside, who gives his amateur movie a scathing review. The future is unsure for Joey as well, when a psychic advises her to be open to every new opportunity that crosses her path. Andie also visits the psychic and is told less than positive things about her future. | ||||||
| 31 | 18 | "A Perfect Wedding" | Greg Prange | Mike White | April 28, 1999 | 218 |
| With Joey's father suddenly back in town, Bessie and he decide to expand the Ice House to also cater for weddings. Needing help, they enlist Andie, who says she hates weddings, and Pacey, who loves them. Joey doesn't think her father, recently out of jail, should be seen so publicly in Capeside. Dawson feels sorry for his mother, who arrives to the wedding alone, a feeling that is exacerbated when his father shows up with Miss Kennedy. Jack and Dawson battle to help a scared bride, while Andie and Pacey scramble to fix the cake. Dawson and Joey reconnect romantically. Jen and Abby sneak into the wedding, but when Andie kicks them out, they head to the local docks, leading to tragedy. | ||||||
| 32 | 19 | "Abby Morgan, Rest in Peace" | David Semel | Mike White | May 5, 1999 | 219 |
| Abby's death shocks everyone, and all of Capeside is attempting to "whitewash" her life. All the hypocrisy is making Jen crazy and in a later discussion with Grams, she denounces God and angers Grams in the process. When making a speech at the funeral, she further embarrasses Grams by announcing that Abby taught her the falseness of God. Abby's mother asks Andie to give the official eulogy, thinking wrongly that they were friends. Memories of Andie's brother are brought up and Andie's emotional reactions scare Pacey. Joey is reluctant to go to the funeral, since she hasn't been to one since her mother died years earlier. While at the graveyard, she and Dawson decide to visit her mother for the first time. Grams is so disgusted with Jen's speech at the funeral that she packs her bags and tells her to find somewhere else to live. | ||||||
| 33 | 20 | "Reunited" | Melanie Mayron | Greg Berlanti | May 12, 1999 | 220 |
| Dawson decides to take Joey out to dinner to celebrate their first month together. Mitch Leery also makes reservations at the same restaurant, and when the management fail to realise there are two Leery parties, all four are forced to sit together. Miss Kennedy, Dawson and Joey fight causing Miss Kennedy to leave. Later, Jen (who is now living at the Leery house) arrives with Gail, which inspires a plan to get Gail and Mitch together again. Also reunited are Andie and her deceased brother. Pacey and Jack catch on that she thinks he is with her, but it is just a figment of her imagination. After a showdown with Andie, Jack and Pacey engineer a plan to aid her medical recovery. | ||||||
| 34 | 21 | "Ch...Ch...Changes" | Lou Antonio | Dana Baratta | May 19, 1999 | 221 |
| All of the gang's lives go through changes. After Andie begins seeing her dead brother Tim in the last episode, Jack and Pacey agree to call Mr. McPhee, who decides that he wants his daughter to be treated in Providence, not Capeside. All are stunned at the new changes, and Andie and Pacey must decide if Andie's mental health is more important than being together. Jack also must decide whether or not to go with Andie or stay. His decision is complicated when his father implies that Jack's homosexuality can be 'treated'. Dawson, while helping Mr. Potter extend the Ice House, interviews him for a film project about his supposedly changed life, but inadvertently catches him in the act of a drug deal. Jen decides to make a change so she calls her mother and inquires about returning home or visiting. She is upset to be told that it is an inconvenient time. She ends up moving in with Jack, as she has no other place to go. Andie leaves, and Jack and Pacey watch her go. | ||||||
| 35 | 22 | "Parental Discretion Advised" | Greg Prange | Greg Berlanti | May 26, 1999 | 222 |
| Dawson is unsure about whether to tell Joey about her father's drug dealing. Sheriff Witter stakes out the Ice House, believing that Mr. Potter is back to his old tricks. When the gang is studying in the restaurant, one of Mr. Potter's unruly competitors sets it on fire with everyone still inside, making Dawson's conflict greater. Gail tells Mitch about her new job offer in Philadelphia. Pacey becomes depressed now that Andie is gone and his father mocks his pain, which results in a physical confrontation between Pacey and the Sheriff. As a result, Sheriff Witter comes to understand Andie's importance in Pacey's life and that he has been a bad father. Jack becomes worried that Jen is suicidal when she doesn't immediately leave the burning Ice House. Later, Grams and Jen reconcile, causing Jen to move back in, taking Jack with her as well. Joey aids the police in arresting her father, having been forced to do so by Dawson. Afterwards, she tells Dawson she will never forgive him and wants him out of her life, bringing their romance to a second grinding halt. | ||||||
Season 3: 1999–2000
Season 3 aired from September 29, 1999 to May 24, 2000 and features twenty-three episodes. This season takes place during the characters' junior year of high school in Capeside. There were several cast changes from season two. Kerr Smith and Meredith Monroe joined the main cast as Jack and Andie McPhee, respectively. The two had previously held special guest star roles in the previous season with Smith appearing in twenty episodes and Monroe appearing in twenty-one.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1 | "Like a Virgin" | Greg Prange | Tammy Ader | September 29, 1999 | 301 |
|
Dawson returns from spending the summer in Philadelphia with his mother, and on the journey home meets a beautiful blonde girl, Eve, who takes a liking to him. He hasn't spoken to Joey all summer. Jen gets an unexpected offer after she stands up to the school's popular crowd. Mitch becomes the new coach of the high school football team, and leaves for a coaching conference. In a moment of madness, Dawson crashes Mitch's boat and he and Pacey hatch a crazy plan to raise money to fix it. Joey offers herself to Dawson but he rejects her. Pacey awaits the return of Andie, who has spent the summer in the hospital. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 37 | 2 | "Homecoming" | Melanie Mayron | Greg Berlanti | October 6, 1999 | 302 |
| As Pacey and Joey leave Capeside to collect Andie from hospital, Dawson is manipulated by his father and the school principal to produce a film about football for the upcoming pep rally. However, the ultimate stars of the film, which is seen by many students and teachers, are Dawson and Eve, who inadvertently appear semi-clothed. The same night, Jen is revealed to be the new head cheerleader and Jack, the new star of the football team, two facts which stun Pacey, Joey and Andie, who are watching from the audience. Pacey is overjoyed to be spending time with Andie, but she doesn't appear as excited to see him, and when confronted by her boyfriend, Andie makes a shocking confession to sleeping with someone else. Jack has an unexpected encounter with his father, who has returned to Capeside. | ||||||
| 38 | 3 | "None of the Above" | Patrick Norris | Bonnie Schneider & Hadley Davis | October 13, 1999 | 303 |
| Dawson is stunned when Eve presents him with an advance copy of the PSAT exam he and his friends will be taking shortly. The entire gang are tempted to cheat for various reasons, and when the test goes missing, it becomes obvious that one friend in particular was unable to resist the temptation. In the quest to discover who stole the paper, Dawson gets into a fight with Pacey, who is still reeling from his break-up with Andie. As the gang takes the exam, the thief is revealed to be Andie, who is desperate to ace the test to prove that she is recovered from her medical problems. None of the group yet know who the guilty party is. Elsewhere, Jack is adamant he will be giving up football until a persistent Jen manipulates him into thinking otherwise. | ||||||
| 39 | 4 | "Home Movies" | Nick Marck | Jeffrey Stepakoff | October 20, 1999 | 304 |
| Mitch and Dawson clash when Gail gives Dawson an opportunity to produce a news report for local television. The subject of the report is Jack, Capeside's first gay football star, and Mitch is concerned that the timing of the piece could jeopardise his chances to win the upcoming game. Joey and Pacey are handed a strange punishment for skipping classes together, but when Pacey later reveals a personal project to Joey (that he has acquired a small boat that he is restoring), she stops blaming him for getting her in trouble. Meanwhile, Andie begins to panic when Principal Green asks to speak to her, and Jen decides to quit her position as head cheerleader, but the other girls will not let her go without a fight, especially when she is voted homecoming queen. | ||||||
| 40 | 5 | "Indian Summer" | Lou Antonio | Gina Fattore & Tom Kapinos | October 27, 1999 | 305 |
| Dawson gets increasingly annoyed when Eve won't give him any details about her mysterious life. He and Pacey set out to find out more, but Dawson is knocked sideways when he discovers the shocking connection that Eve has to Jen. Joey's misgivings about her slimy boss, Rob, lead her to gatecrashing his date with Andie, but her goodwill backfires when Rob later fires her. Jack deceives Jen in his effort to set her up on a date with Henry, one of his teammates. | ||||||
| 41 | 6 | "Secrets and Lies" | Greg Prange | Greg Berlanti & Alex Gansa | November 10, 1999 | 306 |
|
Dawson struggles with whether or not to tell Jen the truth about Eve, who has by now left town. Later, his mother returns to Capeside, but it isn't initially clear why. Jen is reluctant to plan a big homecoming event, but is persuaded to get involved by Henry who is friends with the host of the event. She repays him by asking him to be her date to the party, but later disappoints him when she rejects his advances. Dawson also attends the event as an escort for his mother, a former homecoming queen, and accidentally discovers that she is having career difficulties. Andie accuses Joey of sabotaging her chances of a reunion with Pacey, but the two girls end up bonding when Andie realises Joey is not to blame. Absent: Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 42 | 7 | "Escape from Witch Island" | James Whitmore, Jr. | Tom Kapinos | November 17, 1999 | 307 |
|
In an effort to add excitement to a dull school project, Dawson decides to make a documentary, enlisting the help of Joey, Pacey and Jen. The group head to a small island near Capeside, rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of some 18th-century girls, killed after being accused of witchcraft. Joey finds similarities between her own life and that of one of the dead girls which provokes some deep reflections on her strained relationship with Dawson. After some exploratory conversations, Jen and Pacey make the decision to become more than just good friends, albeit on a casual basis. Back at school, Andie gets a little too involved with her role as head of the school disciplinary committee. When Dawson screens his documentary for his class, Joey is forced to again question her opinions about love and happiness. Absent: Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 43 | 8 | "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" | James Charleston | Heidi Ferrer | November 24, 1999 | 308 |
| When Jen's mother, Helen, unexpectedly arrives in Capeside to spend Thanksgiving with her mother and daughter, Dawson tells her what he knows about Eve and this clearly flusters Helen, who asks him not to tell Jen. A poignant speech at the dinner table forces Helen to think again, and she eventually tells Jen that she has a half-sister. Upset and confused by her mother's confession, Jen attempts to change her relationship with Pacey to the more physical, but finds comfort in another unexpected way. Mitch and Gail reveal that their divorce has become final. | ||||||
| 44 | 9 | "Four to Tango" | James Whitmore, Jr. | Gina Fattore | December 1, 1999 | 309 |
| Dawson almost uncovers Pacey and Jen's secret after they get frisky in his bedroom and leave an unused condom on the floor. Crossed wires lead him to believe that Joey is the one apparently having sex with Pacey, but when the friends discover the truth, an excessive reaction from Joey leads to teasing from Pacey. After careful consideration, Pacey and Jen realise that things will never happen for them, and they go back to being just good friends. To win a scholarship for college, Joey enrolls at a local dance school with Pacey as her partner. Meanwhile, Jack attempts to meet up with a gay student from another high school, who saw the story Dawson produced about him. Andie annoys Jack with her relentless encouragement, but ends up soothing him when things don't go as planned. | ||||||
| 45 | 10 | "First Encounters of the Close Kind" | Greg Prange | Leslie Ray | December 15, 1999 | 310 |
|
Dawson, Joey, Jack and Andie spend the weekend at a Boston university for an advance look at college life. Dawson enters his "Witch Island" documentary in a student film festival. He is later stunned when it doesn't get the reaction he was hoping for. Elsewhere on campus, due to a clerical error, Joey's weekend guide is not what she expected. Andie's pursuit for an advanced admissions interview leads her to some inspirational advice from an unlikely source, and Jack takes a risk and explores the local gay community. Dawson encounters another young filmmaker, Nikki Green, who coincidentally turns out to be his principal's daughter. Absent: Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams | ||||||
| 46 | 11 | "Barefoot at Capefest" | Jan Eliasberg | Bonnie Schneider & Hadley Davis | January 12, 2000 | 311 |
| Dawson experiences an identity crisis when Nikki emerges as filmmaking competition, and Joey experiences her own crisis when Dawson won't open up to her about the pain of his parents' divorce. Meanwhile, Jack's first efforts to hit on another boy are rebuffed, Pacey and Andie uncomfortably find themselves sharing the same after school activity, and Jen finally sees that she may have passed up the chance at something special with Henry. | ||||||
| 47 | 12 | "A Weekend in the Country" | Michael Katleman | Jeffrey Stepakoff | January 19, 2000 | 312 |
| Joey's friends and their families work together to ensure the success of the Potter family business, a new bed and breakfast. Joey explodes at Pacey after he invites a critic to spend the weekend with them, but ultimately ends up grateful for his help and support. Jack and Andie find some common ground and Jack ends up moving back home. Jen works through some issues with Henry, who is surprisingly calm when he hears about her past indiscretions. Dawson attempts to reconnect with his parents, as Mitch helps Gail rediscover a long forgotten dream, by showing her a potential venue for a restaurant. New developments in the Pacey/Joey relationship force Pacey to think about how he really feels about the new bond between the two of them. | ||||||
| 48 | 13 | "Northern Lights" | Jay Tobias | Gina Fattore | January 26, 2000 | 313 |
| Dawson, lacking inspiration, makes the radical move of dropping out of film class to spend some time re-evaluating his life. Back at the bed and breakfast, Joey is torn between attending Pacey's opening night and her date with A.J., who has come to Capeside for the evening. At the play, Andie must take over as director when Mr. Broderick falls ill. Jen agrees to meet Henry, but she throws him another block by bringing Grams as her date. | ||||||
| 49 | 14 | "Valentine's Day Massacre" | Sandy Smolan | Tom Kapinos | February 2, 2000 | 314 |
| Joey is disapproving when Dawson is convinced into attending a party by Pacey, who berates Joey for being too protective of Dawson. After reconsidering, Joey decides to attend the party, along with Jack and Andie, who bring along Kate, a childhood friend of theirs. The party soon descends into total chaos, and the gang are rounded up by Doug and thrown in the drunk tank. All except Pacey are later rescued by a stern looking Mitch. Doug retains custody of his little brother on the advice of their father, and the two later have a heart to heart, during which Pacey reveals for the first time that he has feelings for Joey. At the end of the episode, he attempts to talk to her about it, but ends up offering her driving lessons instead. Elsewhere, Jen goes on a date with Henry, which ends in a hospital trip when Henry tries too hard. | ||||||
| 50 | 15 | "Crime and Punishment" | Joe Napolitano | Gina Fattore | February 9, 2000 | 315 |
|
Joey is chosen as one of only a handful of students selected to paint an inspriational mural on a school wall. At the unveiling, it is revealed that Joey's mural has been vandalised, and when Pacey discovers the identity of the culprit, he takes vigilante action which lands him in trouble, and gets the vandal expelled. As part of his punishment, Principal Green enrolls him in the Capeside mentoring scheme, and Pacey seems excited at the chance to help local kids. Andie's PSAT scores come back and Principal Green reveals that she is one of the country's top scorers. Racked with guilt about her dishonesty over the test, Andie, against the advice of Jack, confesses the truth to Principal Green who is deeply disappointed. Pacey's home life becomes over-crowded when his sister Carrie and her children come to stay. He decides to move in with Doug, who is less than pleased with the idea. Pacey and Joey bond further when Dawson inadvertently pushes Joey to see how much Pacey genuinely cares for her. Absent: Michelle Williams | ||||||
| 51 | 16 | "To Green, with Love" | Kenneth Fink | Gina Fattore | February 16, 2000 | 316 |
| Joey enlists the help of her friends to rally the school in protest after Principal Green is pressured to resign over the student he expelled. Dawson talks Gail into making a news report on the situation, which leads to her being offered another job in television which she happily turns down in favour of starting her restaurant. Pacey's feelings for Joey are becoming more and more obvious, and he turns to Jen to talk about things. In an effort to encourage Joey's creativity, Pacey rents her a public wall to paint as she chooses. | ||||||
| 52 | 17 | "Cinderella Story" | Janice Cooke | Jeffrey Stepakoff | March 1, 2000 | 317 |
| Joey travels to Boston for a date with AJ, but when she senses that he has feelings for another girl, she becomes tense and wants to leave. Upon arriving at the train station and seeing that there are no departures for several hours, Joey calls Pacey, who drives to pick her up. Pacey pushes Joey to tell him what went wrong with AJ, and when she confesses, the conversation leads to Joey telling Pacey she feels like he is one of the few people who has ever really known her. Hearing this, Pacey instantly pulls the car over to the side of the road, and after a fractured and emotional speech, dramatically kisses Joey. Jen, Jack and Andie assist Dawson and Gail in the restaurant, before Dawson admits defeat and angers his mother by asking his father for help. | ||||||
| 53 | 18 | "Neverland" | Patrick Norris | Maggie Friedman | March 8, 2000 | 318 |
| After the kiss, Joey is upset by Pacey's impulsive actions and they both head home to discuss the situation with their siblings. Pacey receives encouragement from Doug that Joey might be protesting a little too much, and attempts to tell Dawson how he feels, in the hope that he will then give Pacey the green light to tell Joey everything. However, he fails to confess when events conspire against him. Joey attempts to make sense of everything by having a rare girls night with Jen and Andie, and a moment of clarity with Jen forces her to acknowledge that Pacey might not be the only one in a state of confusion. Jen has a fight with Henry, but later forgives him when she realizes he was lying to her with the best intentions. | ||||||
| 54 | 19 | "Stolen Kisses" | Greg Prange | Tom Kapinos | April 26, 2000 | 319 |
|
Dawson, Joey, Andie, Pacey and Will (a childhood friend of the gang who has remained close with Pacey) head to Dawson's aunt's house to spend their school holiday away from Capeside. The trip is filled with tension as Joey and Pacey attempt to fight their feelings. Andie and Will appear to have a connection, and Dawson tries to bond again with Joey, who is preoccupied by her feelings for Pacey. Encouraged by Dawson's aunt, the friends have a karaoke contest. Pacey kisses Joey again and informs her that she must make the next move. They are interrupted by Dawson's aunt but later Joey initiates a kiss with Pacey. Back in Capeside, Jen and Henry go through a bumpy time when she is consumed with jealously over his friendship with a waitress at Gail's restaurant. Absent: Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 55 | 20 | "The Longest Day" | Perry Lang | Gina Fattore | May 3, 2000 | 320 |
| In a story reminiscent of the film Go, the day Pacey and Joey's relationship goes public is played out four times, each time revealing a little more of what happened. Capeside's newest couple struggle to tell Dawson about their relationship, but end up not needing to say anything after Jen unknowingly lets the cat out of the bag. Dawson is not the only one hurt by the relationship, as Andie also gets upset and sours her first date with Will. Dawson gives Joey an ultimatum; if she continues her relationship with Pacey, she will be subsequently ending their friendship. Joey is brokenhearted at losing either Dawson or Pacey, but reluctantly ends things with Pacey out of guilt. | ||||||
| 56 | 21 | "Show Me Love" | Morgan J. Freeman | Liz Tigelaar & Holly Henderson | May 10, 2000 | 321 |
| As Capeside prepares for their annual regatta, Dawson and Pacey compete to win, although Dawson selfishly tries to make Joey the prize and comes close to physically injuring Pacey in the process. She scolds him for it, and tells both boys that she is not worth fighting over. After many weeks of deliberating, Gail finally makes things happen with Mitch. Jen and Henry, reeling from another fight, spend a romantic night together on the roof of the restaurant. | ||||||
| 57 | 22 | "The Anti-Prom" | Greg Prange | Maggie Friedman | May 17, 2000 | 322 |
| Dawson, Joey and Andie organise their own unique prom when they learn that Jack has been the victim of homophobic discrimination over his choice of prom date. Dawson asks Joey to be his date to the group's anti-prom, but misleads Joey into believing that the night is about their renewed friendship, hiding the fact that he wants to win her back. Pacey attends the prom with Andie on his arm, who has plans to make things happen between the two of them. Dawson and Andie are both upset when they see the chemistry between Joey and Pacey who share an intimate moment on the dance floor. Joey goes to visit Dawson the next day, and tells him she isn't ready to make decisions. Jen breaks up with Henry after he selfishly makes plans for an entire summer at football camp without considering her feelings. Gail responds to Mitch's doubts about her commitment to their relationship by proposing to him. He accepts, witnessed by Dawson and Joey from the doorway. | ||||||
| 58 | 23 | "True Love" | James Whitmore, Jr. | Story by : Greg Berlanti & Jeffrey Stepakoff Teleplay by : Tom Kapinos & Gina Fattore | May 24, 2000 | 323 |
| Gail and Mitch prepare for their hasty wedding, while elsewhere in Capeside, Pacey finalizes plans to leave straight after the ceremony. As the day goes on, it becomes blindingly obvious that Joey must make a choice, and when a conversation takes place between her and Dawson, during which he accepts he must cease being selfish and allow Joey her freedom to make her own choices, she leaves to find Pacey, hoping to tell him how she really feels before he leaves Capeside. Meanwhile, Jen regrets ending things with Henry the way she did, and ends up chasing his camp bus to tell him how she feels. In another carpe diem moment, Jack pursues Ethan, the boy he took to the prom, although he is unhappy with the outcome. However, his heartache leads to a new connection with his father, and the two embrace for the first time in years. When Dawson returns to his house after crying for Joey at the side of the creek, he finds Jen, Jack and Andie sitting on his bed, waiting to support him after his rejection by Joey. Joey, meanwhile, manages to catch Pacey before he leaves, and instead of stopping him, confesses that she is in love with him, and leaves on the boat with him. | ||||||
Season 4: 2000–2001
Dawson's Creek fourth season started on October 4, 2000 and ended May 23, 2001. This season takes place during the characters' senior year of high school in Capeside.
Meredith Monroe left the series after episode, "You Had Me at Goodbye", but continued to be credited episodes remaining in the season, returning only to participate in the episode "The Graduate".
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 1 | "Coming Home" | Greg Prange | Greg Berlanti | October 4, 2000 | 4.01 |
| Pacey and Joey return from their summer vacation on "True Love". Now they have to deal with Dawson's feelings, who has been deeply hurt over the past few months. At first, he doesn't want to talk with either one of them, but Jen convinces him to talk to Joey. Meanwhile, Pacey's older sister, Gretchen, arrives in Capeside and moves in with Doug, making Pacey homeless. He refuses to live with his parents anymore (going so far as to declare that he would rather sleep on death row), and after exhausting all other options, ends up back on his boat. Dawson tells Jack about his childhood crush on Gretchen. Andie meets two French boys, and she is attracted to both of them. Joey apologizes for hurting Dawson, but he tells her he isn't sure if he wants their friendship back. Everybody is wondering if Pacey and Joey had sex while on their trip, but both refuse to discuss it. However, when Dawson asks the same question, Joey tells him the answer wouldn't kill him, confirming that she and Pacey have not yet slept together. | ||||||
| 60 | 2 | "Failing Down" | Sandy Smolan | Tom Kapinos | October 11, 2000 | 4.02 |
| Joey is looking for a new job and gets one at the Yacht Club pretending to know a very influential family. She is tricked by her boss's son, Drue Valentine, who instantly sees through her lies. Mitch (now a guidance counselor at the school) tells Pacey he will not graduate unless he makes up for his bad grades from the previous academic year. Pacey doesn't want Joey to know, but Mitch tells Dawson, who tells Joey, showing that he still cares about Pacey. Pacey and Joey have a fight and Pacey admits he needs help. | ||||||
| 61 | 3 | "The Two Gentlemen of Capeside" | Sandy Smolan | Jeffrey Stepakoff | October 18, 2000 | 4.03 |
| Pacey's hard work pays off and he gets an 'A' in an assignment. To celebrate, he decides to go sailing, taking Jen with him. Dawson, Joey and Drue are forced to reluctantly team up for a project, which they have to work on at the Yacht Club because Joey is working. During the evening, a huge storm hits Capeside, putting Jen and Pacey's lives in danger. Andie is also at the club, having an interview with Drue's mother for college, but her medical records cruelly prejudice Mrs. Valentine against her. When the storm gets bigger, Andie takes control of the situation and initiates the rescue of her friends. Pacey and Jen talk on the boat, with each admitting to their regrets. Jen regrets never being in love, while Pacey regrets the destruction of his friendship with Dawson. Dawson and Joey risk their own lives to rescue Pacey and Jen and in the process steal a boat from a cranky Yacht Club patron, Mr. Brooks. Pacey later gives an emotional apology to Dawson for the fact that he got hurt. Both admit that they miss the friendship and allude to a potential reunion. | ||||||
| 62 | 4 | "Future Tense" | Michael Lange | Gina Fattore | October 25, 2000 | 4.04 |
| Everybody starts to think about their future, and their higher education options. Joey is concerned about Pacey not having grades good enough to get into college and gets drunk to forget her worries. Drue makes everybody think it's Jen's birthday so he can have a party to get to know more people. Andie takes over Jack's applications and drives him crazy with her obsessive behavior. Gretchen applies for a job as bartender at the Leery's restaurant and appears reluctant to admit her reason for not going back to college. | ||||||
| 63 | 5 | "A Family Way" | Nancy Malone | Maggie Friedman | November 1, 2000 | 4.05 |
| Gail drops a bomb on the family by confirming she is pregnant. Joey discusses her lack of sexual experience with Jen, who advises her to go visit a doctor for contraceptive advice. Jack begins to coach a children's soccer team, and later finds himself in an awkward situation when a girl is making moves on him and he feels pressured to tell her he's gay. | ||||||
| 64 | 6 | "Great Xpectations" | Bruce Seth Green | Nan Hagan | November 8, 2000 | 4.06 |
| Andie gets accepted into Harvard in advance, but accomplishing what should be the biggest thing in her life doesn't exactly makes her happy. She decides to explore different paths in her life by going to a rave. At the party, ecstasy tablets that Drue has given to Jen find their way to Andie, who takes them in a bid to feel happy for one night. The tablets react with her anti-depressants, a disastrous combination which almost leads her to death. Mitch and Gail decide to keep their baby, news that makes Dawson very happy. | ||||||
| 65 | 7 | "You Had Me at Goodbye" | John Behring | Zack Estrin & Chris Levinson | November 15, 2000 | 4.07 |
| While Andie is recovering from her near-fatal drug overdose at the party, Jack is blaming Jen for the whole incident and is refusing to talk to her. Jen blames Drue for her life falling apart when he turns Grams and the whole town against her by telling everyone that they intentionally gave Andie the drugs. After Andie comes home from the hospital her dad offers her the chance to spend the rest of the school year in Italy with her aunt, telling her that she has more than enough credits to graduate. Andie decides to go and plans a goodbye dinner with the whole gang. She tells them how important life is and not to waste valuable time with useless bickering. Jack and Jen get things straight and Andie tricks Dawson and Pacey into playing nice with each other. | ||||||
| 66 | 8 | "The Unusual Suspects" | James Whitmore Jr. | Jon Kasdan | November 22, 2000 | 4.08 |
|
Principal Peskin's sailboat turns up in the school swimming pool with the words 'Class of 2001' emblazoned on the sail in white paint. On board the boat is his dog, Chester, who was kidnapped the previous day. Dawson, Pacey and Jack are all prime suspects in the prank. Pacey is the only senior with access to the boatyard from where Peskin's boat was stolen, Dawson has keyholder access to the school through his father's job (and therefore would have the ability to get the boat into the pool after hours), and a nervous Jack attracts attention from Chester, as well as admitting to buying white paint. After their interrogations reveal seemingly air-tight alibis, another culprit surfaces and some poetic justice is dished out. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 67 | 9 | "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" | Perry Lang | Tom Kapinos | November 29, 2000 | 4.09 |
|
Dawson asks Mr. Brooks' advice on becoming a director. Mr. Brooks gives Dawson some insight on his past and why he is the way he is. Joey takes Pacey to a dinner hosted by an exclusive college. She is a nervous wreck but Pacey saves the day. The Leery's host a Christmas party which provokes well hidden feelings between Dawson and Gretchen to surface. Joey and Pacey arrive late at the party and witness a kiss between their friends. Jen hasn't filled out a single college application, and Jack is concerned. Grams, who hasn't spoken to Jen since the incident with Andie, has an idea to get Jen's college applications in on time and enlists Jack to help with her plan. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 68 | 10 | "Self Reliance" | David Petrarca | Gina Fattore | December 20, 2000 | 4.10 |
|
Joey can't find a moment alone to study or deal with her feelings. Dawson's collaboration with Brooks begins, rejuvenating his filmmaking spirit. Jen takes Jack to a "Gay-Straight Teen Coalition" meeting but she seems to fit in with the crowd more than Jack does. They meet one of the lead members, Toby, and he clashes with Jack, leading to him being exceptionally keen to putting Jack down. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 69 | 11 | "The Tao of Dawson" | Keith Samples | Jeffrey Stepakoff | January 10, 2001 | 4.11 |
|
Pacey and Dawson finally start hanging out together again when Dawson tells him that he has feelings for Gretchen. Pacey hates the idea, so when he and Gretchen go on a road trip to her ex-boyfriend's house to pick up her truck, Pacey tries to get them back together. However, after being there for a while, Pacey sees that the guy he's trying to get Gretchen back together with is not who he thought he was. Back in Capeside, Joey has her fair share of problems when she gets locked in a storage area at the Yacht Club with Drue Valentine, an event he set up to avoid going to visit his father. Meanwhile, Dawson observes the feelings growing between Brooks and Grams and fears that Grams will get hurt when she finds out that Brooks is terminally ill. Gretchen finally gives into her feelings for Dawson. Absent: Michelle Williams and Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 70 | 12 | "The Te of Pacey" | Harry Winer | Maggie Friedman | January 17, 2001 | 4.12 |
|
Joey decides to help Pacey's mother throw a surprise 18th birthday party for Pacey, not knowing about Pacey's self-professed 'birthday curse'. The party goes downhill fast as Pacey's family makes Pacey feel worthless and everyone else feel uncomfortable. Dawson becomes upset when he feels that Gretchen doesn't want anyone to know about their new relationship and postpones their first real date to go to the party. Pacey and Joey again walk in on Dawson and Gretchen kissing, this time more passionately. Jen correctly suspects that Toby might be harboring romantic feelings for Jack. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 71 | 13 | "Hopeless" | Krishna Rao | Nan Hagan | January 31, 2001 | 4.13 |
|
The senior trip is coming up and Joey needs to get the time off from work – not an easy task seeing that Drue's nasty mother is her boss. However, she decides to give Joey a few days off if she agrees to go on a double date with Pacey and a wealthy girl named Anna Evans. During their night out, Joey starts to get concerned about Drue's offensive behavior towards Anna. Dawson has his own problems when he and Gretchen go out with her friends and he is surprised at the problems their age gap cause. Jack gets some positive attention from Toby. Absent: Michelle Williams and Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 72 | 14 | "A Winter's Tale" | Greg Prange | Zack Estrin & Chris Levinson | February 7, 2001 | 4.14 |
|
While the rest of the class is on the ski trip, Dawson stays behind to care for a near-death Brooks, but he is overwhelmed when he is asked to make a life or death decision. Meanwhile, there's a lot more than skiing going on when the senior trip doesn't go exactly as planned. The evening takes an unexpectedly romantic turn for best friends Jack and Jen, while Pacey and Joey find their own ways to keep warm on the cold night, finally taking their relationship to the next level. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 73 | 15 | "Four Stories" | David Petrarca | Tom Kapinos | February 14, 2001 | 4.15 |
|
The morning after, Joey and Pacey discover they have overslept and missed the bus back to Capeside. While they wait for the next one, the couple find themselves confronted with the tensions that accompany the latest development in their relationship. Meanwhile, as punishment for breaking into her hotel mini-bar during the class ski trip, Mr. Kasdan decides to send Jen to a psychologist where she can discuss her issues. Back in Capeside, Joey and Dawson's paths collide and they spend an evening catching up on the past weekend and its many happenings. Sensing a change in Joey, Dawson poses an intrusive question, once again asking Joey if she has slept with Pacey. She lies and tells him she hasn't, feeling bad when Dawson expresses relief. Dawson comes to terms with the death of Brooks and is surprised to discover he has been named in his will. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 74 | 16 | "Mind Games" | David Straiton | Gina Fattore | March 28, 2001 | 4.16 |
|
The results of the senior polls have ramifications for Dawson, Joey, and Pacey, as the three try to ignore the tauntings of Drue Valentine. While Pacey and Joey try to find some alone time, Dawson finds his night with Gretchen more awkward than he'd expected. Meanwhile, Jack is suspicious when Jen drags him on some mysterious errands, and his suspicions are confirmed when he learns that she is stalking her therapist. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 75 | 17 | "Admissions" | Lev L. Spiro | Barb Siebertz | April 11, 2001 | 4.17 |
|
Joey receives some good college news, but while she glows, Dawson is forced to face a crushing rejection. Joey's elated mood, however, is tempered by a sobering revelation that her family's lack of savings may prevent her from achieving her dreams. Dawson offers her a financial solution but she feels she must confess to sleeping with Pacey before she can really consider Dawson's offer. Jen and Jack want to attend college together but hit a stumbling block when Jack decides that New York is the place to go and Jen isn't so sure she's ready to return to the Big Apple. A therapy session forces her to confront her past with the help of Drue. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 76 | 18 | "Eastern Standard Time" | David Grossman | Jon Kasdan | April 18, 2001 | 4.18 |
|
As senior ditch day arrives, Joey is excited to find herself accompanying Jen on an excursion to New York under the guise of attending a college meeting. It isn't long before Joey sees that they are there for an entirely different reason. Jen finally talks to her father, for the first time since she left for Capeside. She witnessed her father in bed with another woman before she moved to Capeside, and that her attitude towards men and herself has been harmed by what she saw. Meanwhile, Gretchen and Dawson take off on a road trip. Back in Capeside, Pacey and Drue find themselves the only seniors in school. Out of frustration, they head for a bar. The night ends in disaster, however, when Pacey is arrested for public drunkenness. Absent: Kerr Smith and Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 77 | 19 | "Late" | David Petrarca | Jeffrey Stepakoff | April 25, 2001 | 4.19 |
|
As Gail's delivery date approaches, the women in her life throw a baby shower for her, but it's an experience that throws Joey through a loop when she discovers she might be pregnant. Pacey is nowhere to be found. While Dawson awaits the arrival of his new sibling, he and Gretchen wonder what their future holds. Meanwhile, Jack faces an unexpected situation when he learns that Toby has fallen victim to a violent crime. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 78 | 20 | "Promicide" | Jason Moore | Maggie Friedman | May 4, 2001 | 4.20 |
|
As everyone gets ready for the year's senior prom, some bad news causes Gretchen to reflect on her life. Joey worries about Pacey and they confront once unspoken issues. The festivities cause conflict for Gretchen, as she questions her relationship with Dawson, while an unhappy Jen is rescued by unlikely hero Drue after she and Jack meddle in each other's lives and arrange dates for each other. Joey and Pacey have a screaming row at the prom and break up. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 79 | 21 | "Separation Anxiety" | Krishna Rao | Rina Mimoun | May 9, 2001 | 4.21 |
|
The school year draws to a close, and changes are abound for the class of 2001. While Joey and Dawson deal with their respective break ups, Jen makes a startling decision about her future. Meanwhile, Dawson has his own decision to make with regards to Gretchen when an unusual opportunity comes their way. A professor from Worthington asks Joey to bring Pacey with her to a party for incoming freshman, which fills the pair with hope that they might be able to have a future together after all but eventually, Joey and Pacey have to come to terms with the end of their romance. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
| 80 | 22 | "The Graduate" | Harry Winer | Alan Cross | May 16, 2001 | 4.22 |
| As graduation approaches, Joey has a tough time preparing her speech, and Dawson helps her find some bittersweet inspiration. Joey gets a surprise gift from her late mother. Pacey wonders if he's going to graduate at all, and he worries that his last final will be the toughest one. He walks out of the test after the teacher makes a comment to him, nearly costing him his diploma. Meanwhile, Andie McPhee returns home for the cap and gown ceremony, and is surprised to meet Jack's new boyfriend, Toby. Drue, who is staying at Jen's after a fight with his mother, convinces Jen to help him pull a hilarious senior prank. Pacey tells Andie he has decided to take a job offer on a boat for the summer. | ||||||
| 81 | 23 | "Coda" | Greg Prange | Gina Fattore & Tom Kapinos | May 23, 2001 | 4.23 |
|
Accepted early to USC, Dawson finds his last night in Capeside has arrived much sooner than everyone had originally anticipated. While Dawson looks forward to spending the evening with Joey, Jack and Jen, Mitch has other ideas. Meanwhile, Dawson is not the only goodbye Jen has to deal with, as she bids farewell to the house she's been sharing with Grams. Finally, Joey attempts to say goodbye to Dawson, but in the process ends up telling him that she wants him to stay. The two of them kiss. Absent: Meredith Monroe | ||||||
Season 5: 2001–2002
Season 5 started on October 10, 2001 and ended May 15, 2002. The season takes place during the characters's freshman year of college in Boston.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 1 | "The Bostonians" | Greg Prange | Tom Kapinos | October 10, 2001 | 501 |
| Dawson is a freshman film student in Los Angeles, while Joey starts college at Worthington College, an Ivy League university, in Boston. Instead of focusing on their new lives, they find themselves distracted by the distance between them and their unsettling last kiss. Jen and Jack try to settle into their new hometown of Boston, with Jack taking the chance to tease Jen about her lack of love life. Joey's new roommate Audrey makes her first appearance and Pacey is seen to be living on a newly docked boat in Boston, his location known only to Jen. | ||||||
| 83 | 2 | "The Lost Weekend" | David Petrarca | Gina Fattore | October 17, 2001 | 502 |
| Pacey reluctantly gets a job at a restaurant and meets an attractive waitress named Karen. Although Karen has a mysterious boyfriend, that doesn't stop Pacey from feeling attracted to her. Dawson arrives to visit Joey, but ends up spending more time with Audrey who jokingly flirts with him while giving him a guided tour of the campus. Jen helps Charlie at the radio station and lands a job there herself. | ||||||
| 84 | 3 | "Capeside Revisited" | Michael Lange | Jeffrey Stepakoff | October 24, 2001 | 503 |
| Joey is shocked to discover that Pacey has been living in Boston for more than three weeks and has made no attempt to contact her. Dawson heads home to Capeside, having made the decision to drop out of university and move to Boston to be with Joey and all his friends. While Gail is understanding, Mitch is not. Dawson and his father have a heated argument which Dawson refuses to concede. Dawson leaves the family home, still sure that he will not be returning to USC. Later, Mitch leaves for the local shop, but tragedy strikes during the journey. | ||||||
| 85 | 4 | "The Long Goodbye" | Robert McNeill | Tom Kapinos | October 31, 2001 | 504 |
| The group reconnects back in Capeside in order to support Dawson at the funeral of his father. They make separate attempts to let him know they are there for him; Pacey makes an emotional attempt at convincing Dawson that he was not to blame for his father's death. Dawson and Gail are devastated that Lily will never remember her father. | ||||||
| 86 | 5 | "Use Your Disillusion" | Perry Lang | Rina Mimoun | November 7, 2001 | 505 |
| Dawson takes Joey up on her invitation to spend a weekend in Boston, but the two have difficulty connecting once there. Meanwhile, Jack is surprised when his boyfriend Toby shows up unexpectedly forcing Jack to choose between fraternity hell week and spending time with Toby. | ||||||
| 87 | 6 | "High Anxiety" | Jason Moore | Joshua Krist & Allison Robinson | November 14, 2001 | 506 |
| Dawson is having trouble with anxiety attacks since his father's death, so he tries to escape reality on a night of debauchery with Jack and his fraternity brothers, which ends with Dawson accusing Joey of causing his father's death (by way of being the central cause of his decision to stay in Boston, which in turn was the cause of the argument on the night of Mitch's death). Jen seeks revenge on cheating Charlie. Audrey's critical mother visits. And Pacey makes a discovery about Danny and Karen. | ||||||
| 88 | 7 | "Text, Lies and Videotape" | Marita Grabiak | Karin Lewicki | November 21, 2001 | 507 |
|
Jen helps Dawson go to the grief counsellor (played by Pauley Perrette) he ran away from the week before. Dawson finds the idea of sharing his thoughts with a complete stranger uncomfortable, but he is surprised with how much he learns from it. Back in Capeside, Dawson and Gail run into problems handling Mitch's will, the main problem being that Lily is not included in it. Meanwhile, Joey is working on a project about old letters authored many years ago by a recently deceased writer, and with the help of Audrey's audition tape for "The Real World: Ibiza", she manages to catch something no one of the fellow students did. Pacey confronts Karen about the risks she is taking by having an affair with Danny. Later, Karen is hurt when Danny's wife shows up at a party they are both attending. Absent: Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 89 | 8 | "Hotel New Hampshire" | Lev L. Spiro | Diego Gutierrez | November 28, 2001 | 508 |
| Dawson takes Jen on a road trip to a small film festival in Hooksett, New Hampshire where his documentary about Mr. Brooks has won a prize. The spotlight is intoxicating for both of them as they share one of the single most momentous events in Dawson's life, which results in them becoming a couple. Meanwhile, Jack brings Joey and Audrey to a frat party under false pretenses. Pacey takes Karen on a non-romantic date. | ||||||
| 90 | 9 | "Four Scary Stories" | Krishna Rao | Jed Seidel | December 12, 2001 | 509 |
|
After watching scary movies, Joey, Pacey and Jack talk about their creepiest experiences and urban legends. Joey shares her story of how she was almost attacked by the librarian on Halloween and saved by the creepy man she was running from. Jack tells the story of when he was helping clean the frat house basement and found a guy strapped, who later he found out to be a ghost. Pacey reveals that he was chased by a black car while giving Karen a ride home, but there was nobody driving the car. Grams arrives and says she has the scariest story: the time when Jen got locked out of the radio booth. Absent: James Van Der Beek | ||||||
| 91 | 10 | "Appetite for Destruction" | Harry Winer | Anna Fricke | December 19, 2001 | 510 |
| Pacey offers to cook for the gang at their weekly dinner (an event they always plan on doing but have so far failed to stick to). Jen and Dawson return early and decide to keep what happened between them, but they are caught by everyone kissing at the door. The dinner continues with a tense atmosphere, with Joey's reaction being at the forefront of everyone's minds. She reluctantly accepts Dawson's new status with Jen, but is wounded when Dawson tells her that because of their history, it hurts to be around her. Charlie also drops by, causing some tension between Dawson and Jen. Joey talks to Pacey about her real feelings about Dawson and Jen. | ||||||
| 92 | 11 | "Something Wild" | Michael Lange | Jeffrey Stepakoff | January 16, 2002 | 511 |
|
Joey and Audrey go to a nightclub to celebrate Joey's excellent grades. There, Audrey tries to convince Joey to have some real fun. Charlie is also there and he hits on Joey, who turns him down because of what he did to Jen. But Charlie doesn't give up so easily and dares Joey to do something wild. She accepts the dare and goes on the stage to sing with the band. Excited about it, she impulsively kisses Charlie. Meanwhile, Pacey joins the girls at the club to celebrate his new promotion. Dawson and Jen go back to Capeside, where they have their first fight over what Dawson will do with his life. He ultimately decides to move to Boston and live with Jen and Grams. Absent: Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 93 | 12 | "Sleeping Arrangements" | Mel Damski | Jed Seidel | January 23, 2002 | 512 |
| Dawson and Jen see that living together is not as much fun as they hoped it would be. Between ruined toothbrushes and bathroom overcrowding, they get on each other's nerves. Jen faces a new challenge at work after she turns her regular show into an advice show. She mainly gives advice to other girls with problems, and makes statements on men that hurt Dawson's feelings. She comes home expecting a fight, but Dawson surprises her by saying he won't ever treat her badly. Meanwhile, Melanie (Pacey's ex) shows up offering Pacey a job working on her uncle's new boat in the Greek Islands. After a lot of thinking, Pacey decides not to go, since he has made a successful life in Boston. Jack, somewhat estranged from Jen, moves into the fraternity house and gets his own room, but has some problems staying there after he discovers he was supposed to be rooming with another guy who felt uncomfortable living with a gay guy. | ||||||
| 94 | 13 | "Something Wilder" | David Petrarca | Rina Mimoun | January 30, 2002 | 513 |
| Dawson's first day in his new film school arrives. Oliver (an acquaintance from the Hooksett festival) starts showing him around and wastes no time in asking Dawson to direct a movie he wrote. Reluctant to direct someone else's work, Dawson starts giving notes to Oliver on the script, and ends up accepting the job, thanks to Jen's incentive. Jen has problems of her own. Her current state of happiness from her relationship with Dawson is reflecting in her on-air performance. Now she has to go back to the sharp-tongued, edgy advice she used to give instead of the romantic, love-themed offerings. Elsewhere, Jack is on academic probation. Irritated, he goes out and has a few too many drinks, which results in a fight with his fraternity brothers. | ||||||
| 95 | 14 | "Guerilla Filmmaking" | Julia Rask | Jon Kasdan | February 6, 2002 | 514 |
| Directing Oliver's movie is not an easy task. First, Dawson has to deal with lead actress Audrey who has complaints about Oliver's kissing skills. Then he has to recast the other lead role after discovering that Oliver is a terrible actor. Jen's slimy ex Charlie is the only one who fits the bill. During the shooting Audrey has a crisis and locks herself in the bathroom because she kissed Pacey and felt like she was betraying her best friend. Joey arrives to help smooth things over and gives Audrey and Pacey her blessing. Meanwhile, Jack is fed up with his friends and decides to move out of the fraternity house after he and Eric almost kiss and Jack is accused of forcing himself on Eric. | ||||||
| 96 | 15 | "Downtown Crossing" | David Petrarca | Tom Kapinos | February 13, 2002 | 515 |
|
Joey is forced at gunpoint to clear out her bank account by a mugger, who is accidentally run over by a car just after robbing Joey. Joey stays with her attacker, checking up on him and trying to get an ambulance to get him to the hospital. Bizarrely, they find common ground, after Joey sees the similarities between him and her father. When the police and paramedics arrive, Joey faints and is also taken to the hospital. After recovering, she accidentally meets the mugger's estranged wife and daughter and soon finds out that the man died from his injuries. Joey decides not to tell the truth about the man to his daughter and tells her instead that her father pushed her out of the way when she walked out in front of a car and died a hero. Absent: James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 97 | 16 | "In a Lonely Place" | Keith Samples | Gina Fattore | February 20, 2002 | 516 |
| Jen and Audrey are tempted to risk their new relationships with Dawson and Pacey after interviewing a couple of cute musicians. Meanwhile, Pacey is caught by surprise when Jack takes him to a gay bar, and Dawson and Joey spend the evening together. | ||||||
| 98 | 17 | "Highway to Hell" | Sanford Bookstaver | Anna Fricke | April 4, 2002 | 517 |
| Charlie asks Joey to sing with his band at a distant club, which requires Pacey to drive them there. Pacey and Charlie hate each other, and it takes a patient Audrey to keep them from going at each other's throats. Joey is nervous and isn't well received by the audience, until Charlie helps her with a duet. Dawson, Jen, Jack and Grams drive to Capeside for Lily's first birthday, and Dawson is uncomfortable with his mother's friendship with a man. Jen confesses to Jack that she wants to break up with Dawson. | ||||||
| 99 | 18 | "Cigarette Burns" | Les Sheldon | Tom Kapinos & Jon Kasdan | April 10, 2002 | 518 |
| Oliver tells Dawson he has arranged a screening for their movie, which is yet to be finished. Dawson freaks out, but Joey comforts him saying the movie is brilliant. At the screening, Dawson meets a beautiful woman, and after exchanging insults she reveals herself to be Amy Lloyd, movie critic for Boston Weekly, whom Oliver secretly invited. She storms out, and it's up to Dawson to bring her back. They go out for coffee and have a heart-to-heart talk. Meanwhile, Joey is scared about her feelings towards Charlie and goes to Jen for advice. Jen, recently reunited with Jack, struggles to deal with the fact that Grams has a new boyfriend, Clifton Smalls, an African American member of the Baptist faith. Pacey asks Audrey how many men she's slept with, and she tests his reactions by saying 27, then 57, when it was really only five. | ||||||
| 100 | 19 | "100 Light Years from Home" | David Petrarca | Rina Mimoun | April 17, 2002 | 519 |
| It's Spring Break and the group goes to Miami to party. Audrey and Pacey go through their first relationship test when Audrey's high school boyfriend (and her first true love) shows up with tickets for the M2M concert at an MTV event. She is torn with the memories of the past, and eventually kisses Chris. Pacey stays cool about it and asks Audrey to be his official girlfriend after she confesses she loves him not Chris. Meanwhile, Dawson and Oliver hit to road to NY to meet a film agent who is interested in their movie, but never make it there. Dawson starts to tell Oliver his story with Joey and decides to surprise her in Miami, looking to resuscitate their romance. But when he gets there, all he finds is a drunk and depressed Jack (who is flunking out of college) and Pacey, who tells him his story with Joey is over. Charlie shows up and he and Joey end up spending the night together, while Dawson is left with nowhere to go and a broken heart over Joey. | ||||||
| 101 | 20 | "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" | Robert McNeill | Nicole Ranadive | April 28, 2002 | 520 |
|
Charlie's band lands a deal for a tour and he asks Joey to go with him, but she doesn't want to leave college in the middle of the semester. Charlie then decides to quit the band and stay with her, which freaks Joey, who thinks they're jumping too many steps. She breaks up with him so he can go with his band on tour. Meanwhile, Oliver and Dawson finally get to NY to meet with an agent, but Oliver ruins the meeting. Dawson threatens to end their partnership but Oliver begs for another chance. Pacey meets the nasty new manager of the restaurant, Alex Pearl. She promotes Pacey to head chef but fires Audrey. Pacey tries to get Audrey her job back, but all he gets is a kiss from Alex. Absent: Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 102 | 21 | "After Hours" | Mel Damski | Jeffrey Stepakoff | May 1, 2002 | 521 |
|
Pacey's new boss proposes more professionalism in the workplace and promises to leave behind her attraction towards him, even offering Audrey her job back. Audrey suspects something is going on between them and refuses to return. Later, Alex drops by at Pacey's and Audrey walks in on them talking about their kiss. She storms out in anger, leaving the future of their relationship unknown while Pacey struggles with the growing attraction he feels for Alex. Dawson runs into Amy Lloyd, the movie critic, and they end up in bed together. Afterward, they talk about movies and she gives him a copy of the Woody Allen film, What's Up, Tiger Lily?. Joey and Jack focus on studies, and while she has problems concentrating, he has to catch up an entire semester and even goes back to the fraternity house asking for help. Luckily, Eric (the same guy who caused Jack his expulsion) shows up with the needed notes. Absent: Michelle Williams | ||||||
| 103 | 22 | "The Abby" | Michael Lange | Diego Gutierrez & Jon Kasdan | May 8, 2002 | 522 |
| Pacey leads a revolt against Alex at Civilization. Dawson, Joey, and Audrey return to Capeside, leaving Audrey to wonder about their pasts. Joey decides to see her father for the first time since his latest incarceration, while Dawson finally pays a visit to his father's grave. Jack and Jen wonder how they'll spend the summer. | ||||||
| 104 | 23 | "Swan Song" | Greg Prange | Gina Fattore & Tom Kapinos | May 15, 2002 | 523 |
| As summer approaches, everyone gets ready for various travels. Dawson prepares to head out for LA with Audrey, while Jack and Jen get ready for their Costa Rican adventure. Left behind in Capeside for the summer, Joey and Pacey lament their fates – until they make a crucial last-minute decision that changes everything. | ||||||
Season 6: 2002–2003
The sixth and final season of Dawson's Creek began October 2, 2002 and ended May 14, 2003 with a special two-hour series finale. The season takes place during the characters' sophomore year of college and the series finale takes place five years later. The show saw the addition of Busy Philipps as Audrey Lidell, who previously guest starred throughout the entire fifth season.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | 1 | "The Kids Are Alright" | Greg Prange | Tom Kapinos | October 2, 2002 | 601 |
| Dawson returns to Boston after working as an assistant director in Los Angeles over the summer and reunites with Joey who has spent a relatively angst-free summer in Capeside. Audrey and Pacey return from LA with a surprise passenger, Audrey's childhood friend Jack Osborne. | ||||||
| 106 | 2 | "The Song Remains the Same" | Robert McNeill | Gina Fattore | October 2, 2002 | 602 |
| Dawson and Joey's reunion leads to an evening of truth and intimacy, which is ruined on Joey's birthday when Dawson receives a phone call from another woman. Pacey gets a job interview that could change his life. Sparks fly between Jen and C.J., a handsome new peer counselor she meets at school. | ||||||
| 107 | 3 | "The Importance of Not Being Too Earnest" | Joanna Kerns | Anna Fricke | October 9, 2002 | 603 |
|
Joey's worst nightmare comes true when she accidentally sends a very personal e-mail she wrote for Dawson to the entire student body. The next morning, Joey's e-mail is the topic of virtually all campus discussions when Professor Hetson decides to debate it with his students. Meanwhile, Jack makes an attempt to get to know a little better his cultural professor, Mark Freeman, who pays no attention to Jack. Pacey, while struggling to survive the first days on his new job, closes a very important deal for the firm, which his wheeling-dealing mentor Rich Rinaldi takes full credit for. Eddie, a student in Joey‘s reading class, who also works as the bartender at Hell‘s Kitchen, persuades Joey to confront any challenge that Hetson throws and not show any weakness since Hetson thrives on it. James Van Der Beek only appears in the last scene of the episode, and doesn't have any lines. | ||||||
| 108 | 4 | "Instant Karma!" | Robert McNeill | Maggie Friedman | October 16, 2002 | 604 |
| Dawson finds himself in an awkward situation when he is put between Joey and the intoxicated leading lady of his film. Audrey allows herself to be taken in by another man's charm. | ||||||
| 109 | 5 | "The Imposters" | Michael Lange | Gina Fattore | October 23, 2002 | 605 |
| Dawson manages to "get the girl" when a producer visits the "Wicked Dead" movie set to fire Natasha and close down production. Audrey is excited when asked to be the lead singer of Emma's band but is crushed when Pacey misses the gig. Joey demands the truth from Eddie. | ||||||
| 110 | 6 | "Living Dead Girl" | Les Sheldon | Tom Kapinos | October 30, 2002 | 606 |
| When Dawson assists Todd in throwing a blow-out Halloween party, Todd and Natasha have Dawson believing he is seeing the ghost of a legendary film actress. Jen becomes suspicious about C.J., and Joey gets stuck taking Professor Heston's daughter to a haunted house with Eddie. | ||||||
| 111 | 7 | "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell" | Jason Moore | Anna Fricke | November 6, 2002 | 607 |
|
Audrey gets drunk before her band performs and worries her friends, especially C.J. who suspects a deeper problem. Meanwhile, Eddie and Joey agree to go on a real date. Pacey hits it off with a beautiful woman while on a business trip to New Orleans, and is shocked to discover that she's a call girl. When Professor Freeman announces that he's leaving he and Jack have a heart-to-heart talk about their future. Absent: James Van Der Beek | ||||||
| 112 | 8 | "Spiderwebs" | Bethany Rooney | Gina Fattore | November 13, 2002 | 608 |
| Dawson comes through with No Doubt concert tickets, but his and Natasha's first public date ends in a brush with the law. Joey and Eddie have to sneak into the concert, while Pacey come to blows with C.J. at the concert when it is revealed that he slept with Audrey. | ||||||
| 113 | 9 | "Everything Put Together Falls Apart" | Kerr Smith | Maggie Friedman | November 20, 2002 | 609 |
|
Natasha is drawn to a handsome new actor who arrives on the set. Meanwhile, Joey spends the night at Eddie's apartment but misses Professor Heston's final exam which results in him flunking her. Later, Heston visits Hell's Kitchen restaurant where he harshly tells Eddie that he resents a guy like him taking up Joey's time and when Heston insults Eddie, he falls into Heston's trap by punching the mean professor in his face which results in Eddie getting fired. Elsewhere, Pacey invites Emma to his office party and sparks between the two turn to passion. Absent: Michelle Williams, Busy Philipps | ||||||
| 114 | 10 | "Merry Mayhem" | David Petrarca | Tom Kapinos | December 11, 2002 | 610 |
|
Dawson and Gail invite everyone back to Capeside for Christmas, but Dawson confronts Natasha about her one-night stand. Joey's happiness with Eddie turns sour when her father expresses his disapproval. Audrey gets loaded during the dinner at Dawson's. At the Christmas dinner, a drunk Todd delivers a hysterical prayer and ends up airing some dirty laundry. When he is finished Audrey airs the rest of the gang's dirty laundry then storms off. Absent: Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 115 | 11 | "Day Out of Days" | Robert McNeill | Gina Fattore | January 15, 2003 | 611 |
| Back in Los Angeles, Dawson is asked by the studio to direct re-shoots but is conflicted about being disloyal to his mentor. Meanwhile, Joey hasn't heard from Eddie since Christmas and finds his apartment empty. Pacey starts skipping work to spend time with Emma. Jen's insecurities as a peer counselor are compounded when C.J. is assigned to train her; and Audrey still on a destructive path, returns to Los Angeles to party with old friends including, Jack Osbourne. | ||||||
| 116 | 12 | "All the Right Moves" | Arlene Sanford | Maggie Friedman | January 22, 2003 | 612 |
|
Joey follows Eddie to his family home where they face up to their true emotions and the obstacles they must overcome to be together. Back in Boston, Pacey is invited to an exclusive party where he receives a promotion and is recruited to be part of a special project but is tipped off that the project maybe not be ethical. Audrey returns from Los Angeles and is welcomed back into the band, but blows her chances by getting drunk just before taking the stage. Absent: James Van Der Beek | ||||||
| 117 | 13 | "Rock Bottom" | Robert McNeill | Tom Kapinos | January 29, 2003 | 613 |
|
In Los Angeles, while directing re-shoots on "Wicked Dead", Dawson finds his authority questioned by Heather Tracey and the other producers when Natasha refuses to do a nude scene. As a result, Dawson adopts an aggressive take-no-prisoners attitude, similar to the one that Todd has, to take control of the situation. In Boston, Joey is unable to say good-bye to Eddie who is moving to California to register at a college when she convinces him to help her take Audrey to a rehab clinic in Los Angeles, and the three of them, plus a guy Audrey picks up, drive cross country where the four constantly quarrel with each other. Jen spends her time consoling a dumped Grams, and Jen and C.J. set a lonely Grams up with C.J.'s Uncle Bill, who turns out to be quite randy. Absent: Joshua Jackson, Kerr Smith | ||||||
| 118 | 14 | "Clean and Sober" | Michael Lange | Anna Fricke | February 5, 2003 | 614 |
| In Los Angeles, Dawson visits Audrey at the rehab clinic where he spots a big time film producer, named Toni Stark, and follows her into a therapy session hoping to talk to the woman who‘ll direct Dawson to better contacts. Meanwhile in Boston, Pacey throws a party at his place to celebrate his new success at his job as well as purchasing a new super-sized TV set and is surprised when Joey, still sulking over the departure of Eddie, lets loose by getting drunk and setting up a spontaneous game of spin the bottle. Jen catches the reformed alcoholic C.J. with a drink which leads to them arguing, and making up by having sex for the first time. Also, Emma tries to stay in the country to get her green card by courting a stoner to marry her until Jack offers to marry Emma. | ||||||
| 119 | 15 | "Castaways" | Greg Prange | Gina Fattore | February 19, 2003 | 615 |
|
After agreeing to pose as Pacey's sister at a business party, Joey demands to be taken home. When Pacey makes a quick stop at a local K-Mart they are accidentally locked inside the store. They're forced to spend the night there and talk about their friendship and relationship, both past and future. After the night is over they are both left to ponder what the future has in store for them. Absent: James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith, Busy Philipps | ||||||
| 120 | 16 | "That Was Then" | Perry Lang | Anna Fricke | March 26, 2003 | 616 |
|
Professor Heston orders Joey to baby-sit for Harley to make sure she does her homework. But Joey ends up serving as relationship counselor when she finds Harley's boyfriend, Patrick, hiding in the house. Patrick starts to drool over Joey which makes Harley jealous. Meanwhile, Dawson pays a visit to his past when he's asked to speak to Mr. Gold's class at Capeside High about how it is to be working in L.A. One of the students asks Dawson to watch his film. While watching the film Dawson realizes that he's moved on from the teenager he once was. Pacey also returns to Capeside when his father is admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Pacey has an argument with his brother, Doug, about the way Pacey's been treating the family by shutting them out. Absent: Michelle Williams, Kerr Smith, Busy Philipps | ||||||
| 121 | 17 | "Sex and Violence" | Frank Perl | Anna Fricke & Tom Kapinos | April 2, 2003 | 617 |
|
Joey agrees to be Pacey's temporary assistant but their mutual jealousy leads to disaster in the office. Dawson sells his idea for a coming-of-age movie, but when the studio wants to change it to a teen sex film, he must decide whether to stick with his original concept. Absent: Kerr Smith, Busy Philipps | ||||||
| 122 | 18 | "Love Bites" | Bethany Rooney | Liz Garcia | April 9, 2003 | 618 |
|
Jen's seemingly happy world comes crashing down when she learns that Grams has breast cancer. Meanwhile, Joey's tumultuous love life continues when Eddie reveals his true reasons for returning to Boston, and Pacey agrees to join Joey as she chaperones for Harley's school dance, but what should be a magical night doesn't feel right for Joey. Although he is at first reluctant, Pacey agrees to invest Dawson's life savings to finance his new film project. Absent: Kerr Smith, Busy Philipps | ||||||
| 123 | 19 | "Lovelines" | Joshua Jackson | Jason M. Palmer | April 16, 2003 | 619 |
|
Joey's and Eddie's emotional and sexual relationship is played out on stage during a counseling center benefit with hosts Dr. Drew and Adam Carolla (playing themselves). At the same event, Jack and David deal with the insecurities in their relationship; Jen opens up to C.J. about Grams' cancer; and a sober Audrey returns to Boston and surprises everyone at the benefit. Absent: James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson | ||||||
| 124 | 20 | "Catch–22" | Robert McNeill | Laura Glasser | April 23, 2003 | 620 |
| Pacey learns he has lost Dawson's money in the stock market after investing in a med stock that just went bust. Pacey then asks his boss Rich Rinaldi to borrow $18,000 to refund Dawson's money, but Rinaldi refuses. Frustrated and angry after Rinaldi insults Pacey one-too many times by calling him a loser, Pacey (having heard enough of that from everyone he knows) punches Rinaldi in his face which results in Rinaldi instantly firing Pacey. Back at school, Joey passes her English final with an 'A', which earns her a C+ average grade, and is relieved that her long ordeal with the insufferable Professor Heston is over. However, Joey later tells Heston that she wants him as her adviser when she decides to choose English as her major. Eddie surprises Joey with a trip to Europe for the summer, but a fiery conversation about how differently they live their lives leaves both of them questioning their future together. Eddie ends up breaking up with Joey with a letter. Elsewhere, David finally breaks up with Jack, who ponders if he was only with David to prove to himself that he could hold a steady relationship. | ||||||
| 125 | 21 | "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road" | Peter Kowalski | Anna Fricke | April 30, 2003 | 621 |
| Joey returns to Capeside to find Dawson's script on her doorstep and is overwhelmed that he has written a story about three friends, but Dawson's movie-making dreams are shattered when Pacey arrives comes clean about losing Dawson's money. The ensuing verbal fight opens old wounds and leaves the three friends believing their friendship will never be the same. Also, with classes at Worthington over, Joey says goodbye to Audrey who has to stay behind to attend summer classes. And Jen invites her mother, Helen, over to Grams' house where she wants her to tell Helen about her cancer. | ||||||
| 126 | 22 | "Joey Potter and Capeside Redemption" | Michael Lange | Gina Fattore & Tom Kapinos | May 7, 2003 | 622 |
| When Dawson gives up his dream of making his film, a strong-minded Joey rallies the old group back to Capeside to help Dawson begin production before pursuing her dream of traveling to Paris. Jen, Jack and Grams must say their goodbyes and leave for New York. | ||||||
| 127 128 | 23 24 | "All Good Things..." "...Must Come to An End" | James Whitmore, Jr. | Kevin Williamson & Maggie Friedman | May 14, 2003 | 623-624 |
|
Five years have passed and everyone is reunited in Capeside for a special wedding. Dawson has been living in Los Angeles producing his autobiographical television series The Creek and has never forgotten the love of his life, Joey. She is now a successful book editor living in New York City with her boyfriend, Chris, but comes home to realize she still loves her childhood sweethearts. Pacey is the owner of the new Ice House and still carries a torch for Joey, Jen is a single mom living with Grams in New York and managing an art gallery in SoHo, and Jack is a teacher at Capeside High and has fallen in love with Doug who is now the Sheriff of Capeside. Together all the secrets come out as tragedy and love becomes clear. With Jen in the hospital dying from a terminal heart condition, the gang tries not to be too sad about it. Dawson helps Jen make a video for her daughter, asking her to never stop loving and dreaming. Jen also asks Joey as her last wish to end the chasing and running and to finally pick between Pacey and Dawson. Joey tells Jen that she has always known who she is supposed to be with. Jack tells Jen that she's his soul mate and asks to raise baby Amy for her. Jen passes away and while mourning the death of their close friend, the gang has to move on. Doug tells Jack he's willing to spend his life with him and wants to help raise Amy. Joey breaks up with Chris over the phone while she tries to decide whom she will choose: Dawson or Pacey. After Jen's funeral, Pacey privately tells Joey that she's "off the hook"; despite his endless love for her, he can't hold her back any more despite them growing up together and relating to each other over their unhappy childhood and adolescence; Joey dealing with her mother's death from cancer and her father's imprisonment for drug trafficking, plus Pacey dealing with his outrageously immature and neglectful parents. But as much as Joey wanted, all her life, was to leave Capeside and travel the world, Pacey seems forever destined to be stuck there just like his alcoholic loser father and grandfather, etc. Before returning to New York, Joey sits with Dawson and confesses that even though they may never be together, he and she are soul mates and nothing should ever change that, but, in the end, she decides it is Pacey she wants to be with. In the final moments of the series, Dawson answers a phone call from Pacey and Joey who have just watched an episode of The Creek. Dawson tells them that he's meeting someone tomorrow and Pacey and Joey figure out it's Steven Spielberg, Dawson's idol. The episode ends when the camera lingers on a picture on Dawson's desk of him and his friends before cutting to a scene of them all walking down the beach from season one. In 2011, the whole two-part finale was ranked #16 on the TV Guide Network special, TV's Most Unforgettable Finales.[2] Absent: Busy Philipps | ||||||
References
General
- Dawson's Creek: The Complete First Season (2003-04-01) from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Dawson's Creek: The Complete Second Season (2003-12-16) From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Dawson's Creek: The Complete Third Season (2004-06-29) from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Dawson's Creek: The Complete Fourth Season (2004-10-05) from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Dawson's Creek: The Complete Fifth Season (2005-05-03) from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Dawson's Creek: The Complete Sixth Season (2006-04-04) from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Notes
- https://ew.com/tv/2018/04/01/dawsons-creek-cast-weekends/
- TV's Most Unforgettable Finales – Aired May 22, 2011 on TV Guide Network