The 2011 Summer Re-Watch: Dawson's Creek "Decisions" Review

The dreaded kiss.

Season finales have always been BIG events. Well, they're supposed to feel significantly different from the previous twenty episodes (premieres also fall into the season finale category). I won't ramble on about the history of the season finale because that'd be a waste of time. Kevin Williamson, though, values the season finale. In the teaser of Dawson's Creek's season finale, Dawson and Joey go Meta. The teenagers argue about the purpose of the cliffhanger in a season finale--is it a device designed to manipulate the audience into thinking that change will happen, only to be disappointed the following season when everything's the same, or are they natural ways to keep the audience engaged and excited in the show's future? Joey and Dawson don't find any answers to their questions. The dialogue's designed to be clever and self-aware (well it's self-aware). Dawson and Joey were used by the writers to comment on their ending in advance, to show that Dawson's Creek is different kind of television program.

Well, the theme of the episode is change. Does anything change? I can't answer the question until season two but "Decision" presents the threat of change. "Decisions" also follows the standard beat sheet of any season finale for a drama series. Joey learns that she's been offered a scholarship to study in France for an entire semester. Dawson's become aware of his love for Joey. The circumstances of the characters inject urgency into each scene as the minutes and seconds wind down--will Joey and Dawson kiss or will Joey decide to study in France? Meanwhile, Jen hopes to win Dawson's heart back before he kisses Joey. Also, Jen's in an increasingly fragile and vulnerable place as her gramps struggles to survive following another devastating stroke.

"Decisions" is essentially another Joey episode. Her story's about being loved, her need to be loved and to feel loved. She reluctantly visited her father in prison for his birthday, still angry that he destroyed her family and cheated on her mother when she was sick with cancer. The girl understandably wants nothing to do with her father; however, she's forced by Bessie to visit her dad. The visit's brief because Joey cannot stand to sit across from him. Later, Dawson suggests that she express her honest feelings about her dad to free herself from the anger, resentment and hate she feels towards the man. She decides to be honest. The scenes build towards the cathartic moment outside of the prison when her father tells her how much he loves her and ends her fears about being loved. He mentions that another person loves her as well--Dawson Leery.

The story with her father's problematic because her issues with the man are too complicated to be resolved within one episode. Her issues with visiting the man are justified and those around her shouldn't push her but they do, and the issues are resolved with a confirmation of live. It's a nice idea but it's lazy storytelling. Also, the stuff with her father's designed to move Dawson and Joey closer, which hurts the gravity of the issues between father and daughter. For example, Dawson and Joey stay at a hotel for a night because they missed visiting hours, and the scene elevates the sexual tension of the friendship as Dawson's suddenly awkward when in the same bed as Joey. Later, after Joey left the visiting area, Dawson told Mr. Potter about his daughter. By the end of the monologue, Dawson's realized he loves Josephine Potter. Mr. Potter knows too as his redeeming act (according to the writers) is bringing Dawson and Joey together.

The 4th act follows the formula of a rom-com. Jen slept with Dawson (clothes on, folks). Joey raced towards Dawson's, full of confidence and love following her visit with her dad, climbed the ladder, looked in the window and saw Jen kissing Dawson on the cheek, in bed. Joey took off. Dawson followed. A montage featuring the music of Edwin McCain followed until Dawson returned home and found his best friend hiding in his closet. The best friends tried to communicate their feelings without directly admitting that they both like-like one another. Joey complained about how nothing changes, citing how she and Dawson always watch movies and feel superior for their perception abilities; however, their perception means nothing when they aren't honest about the things that matter. Joey waits for the kiss, opines that France is the big cliff-hanger, becomes irritated and bitterly wishes Dawson a nice life. Dawson rushes towards her, turns her around and kisses her. They look at one another and kiss passionately at the window.

The scene's an iconic moment in the series. Joey and Dawson finally kissed. In the spring of 1998, perhaps fans were delighted by the development and in agony because of the long wait for season two. I'm as cynical as most Dawson's Creek fans but I'll admit the final scene's still effective. The scene's not effective because Joey and Dawson kiss, though--it's the song. The damn "Say Goodnight, Not Goodbye" song is oddly moving (the producers used the song for the final montage in the series). I'd like to write that change is imminent for the show following the kiss, that Williamson avoided becoming a victim of the manipulative cliffhanger device but he didn't.

As for Jen, Grams and Gramps, there's no poignancy in the B story. Mary-Beth Piel single-handedly saved the story from disaster in the church scene as she mourns the death of her husband. The death of her grandfather's the last thing Jen needed as she's fragile and vulnerable. She's questioned Grams' faith and lost Dawson. Things aren't a St. Petersburg spring for Jen Lindley. The story doesn't work because the writers spent about forty seconds developing Gramps into a character and even less time into showing how much the man meant to Jen.

Overall, "Decisions" is a classic episode just because of the dreaded kiss between Dawson and Joey. I do have a fondness for the first season of Dawson's Creek. The build towards the kiss could've been handled better. The writers waited too long for Dawson's eureka moment. They spent too much time on post-Jen nonsense. There's some episodes I still love like "Dance," "Hurricane," "Detention," and "Beauty Contest." And Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen are still relevant characters in the land of pop-culture. The show endures.

Other thoughts:

--Pacey's an after-thought in the episode. Deputy Doug reminds his brother how he's a loser and the black sheep of the Witter clan. One would think Pacey's due for a triumphant second season.

--Katie Holmes is great in the last scene. I just like the candor in her delivery. Her performance is natural--something the scene needed and something van der Beek wouldn't have provided.

--Mike White and Dana Baratta wrote the script. Jon Harmon Feldman earned the story credit. David Semel directed it.

--The summer re-watch of Dawson's Creek will be over soon. I'll post my review of "The Kiss" tomorrow and wrap up the re-watch next Tuesday with #206.

UP NEXT: "The Kiss"--What happens after the kiss? It's nonsense.

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