The 2011 Summer Re-watch: Dawson's Creek "Hurricane" Review

Dawson and Jen were fighting when I randomly decided to watch Dawson's Creek on TBS in the spring or summer of 2003. As I recalled in the pilot write-up, I knew plenty about the show beforehand because the Kevin Williamson biography had the episode descriptions for the first two seasons. "Hurricane" had five minutes to engage my attention before I switched the channel, and Katie Holmes engaged my attention. Following Dawson and Jen's fight, Dawson finds Joey hiding in the closet. The rest of the scene's unspectacular. Dawson bitches about his life and his mother. Joey uses the "mother card" and reminds Dawson that he's blessed to have his mother, and for one of the seven times in the entire series, Dawson's speechless. Joey doesn't have a story in the episode either--she just drifts from storyline to storyline. She's so pretty during the entire season and that's why 15 year old me stuck around.

TheWB and The CW borrowed from the concept of "Hurricane." Of course, I'm sure Williamson borrowed from other series. The basic story is, a hurricane's heading towards Capeside and every notable character finds shelter in the Leery residence (except for Pacey, Doug and Tamara). The episode's in the top three of season one episodes because it establishes characters in a way the previous four episodes hadn't--it's more effective than the pilot in world building. The characters are confined in one house with secrets and prejudices concealed within the hearts and minds of those characters. The hurricane storm isn't the only hurricane in Capeside, and the storm won't be as destructive as the metaphorical hurricane descending upon Leery manor.

Dawson assures his mother that he's prepared for Hurricane Bob. Bob, of course, is the name of the co-anchor Gale's been sleeping with when she's not sleeping with her husband. The name startles her and essentially forces her into admittance of the truth. Well, Dawson's passive-aggressive strategy forces his mother into admitting the truth to her husband. Dawson offers cryptic comments and accusatory stares at his mother. So, Gale finds courage and confesses her adultery to her husband. Her explanation's long and self-involved. If the writers wanted the audience to feel sympathy for her then they failed miserably. Gale explains how her life achieved perfection and, well, that's it. The affair destroyed her perfect life and now she seeks perfection yet again. What the hell kind of explanation is that? Considering her son's a selfish, self-involved individual then it makes sense that he got those traits from one of his parents.

Hurricane Bob destroys their relationship more than the actual Hurricane Christopher could. Mitch tells his wife about how he made the decision to love her when he first met her because love's a decision one makes (how Erich Fromm of him). As quickly as he decided to love her is as quick his decision was to hate her. Mitch leaves for awhile as Gale cries. Meanwhile, Grams (in her first redeeming moment of the series) offers advice to Dawson in the face of the storm which just moved into his life--buy a large umbrella. And she also tells Dawson that forgiveness is one of God's most wonderful gifts--with forgiveness comes understanding.

The advice extends to Dawson's drama with Jen. Throughout the episode, he treated her badly because he hadn't gotten over her confession about her old life in New York. With his parents' marriage crumbling before his eyes, Dawson decides NOT to burn his bridge with Jen. He apologizes to her and explains that he took his anger out on her that should've been directed at his mother. The two relate on how sex doesn't equal happiness--that it can bring pain. When she forgives him, he finally begins to learn and understand. As for his parents, that storyline continues well into season two. Mitch returns to the house. They sit in silence outside.

Pacey, Doug and Tamara spend the day in Tamara's luxurious house on the coast (a high school English teacher makes THAT much?). Obviously, this is the first episode with Doug Witter. Throughout the series, Pacey suggests his brother's a homosexual and Doug denies it. Pacey uses the homosexual lie when Doug's clearly trying to woo Tamara into a courtship. The purpose of the B story isn't some weird brotherly feud for the affections of an older woman but, rather, the deepening of Pacey and Tamara's relationship--she declines Doug's offer to have dinner because she's involved with someone else. The reason for this is, the honeymoon's going to end in episode six when the high school learns of the student-teacher sexual relationship. Again, it's a misguided effort to cultivate sympathy and investment in a misguided storyline.

"Hurricane" moves Mitch & Gail's storyline forward and even Bessie's with Bodhi and Grams (Grams holds prejudices about the race of the child and the immorality of having a baby out of wedlock...so of course Grams will deliver her baby next week); however, besides Pacey, nothing happens with the Capeside teens. Dawson pouts. Jen and Joey wait patiently for Dawson's bad mood to pass. At the end, Joey wishes that she could return to her childhood for one night to remove herself from the drama of everyday life. Dawson indulges her and they reenact the third act of JAWS. The characters talk about the past when they need to confront the future.

Kevin Williamson & Dana Baretta wrote the episode; Lou Antonio directed it.

UP NEXT: "Baby"--Bessie goes into labor and Grams becomes an unlikely ally in the delivery; the school finds out about Pacey and Tamara.

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