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

Sometimes, a director needs to opt against a close-up, Semel

So, what happened after the momentous kiss between Dawson and Joey? Well, they immediately sucked the fun out of the kiss. They immediately over-analyzed the act. Dawson regressed into the hesitant fool he was sixty seconds prior. Joey went on the defensive, convinced that she and Dawson made a mistake. She nearly departed through the window until Dawson regained his senses and kissed the girl once more. The next day the friends were beaming. Joey dressed beautifully in a violet tank-top and a white skirt. Dawson went to the barber's to cut the lion's mane he wore for an entire season. All is well? Not so fast, friends and well-wishers.

Dawson's Creek is an insufferable show after awhile. The first season, despite my fondness for it, is no less insufferable than other seasons of the show. "The Kiss" is an insufferable episode because of the primary focus on Dawson and Joey, the romantic couple. Now that they've kissed, the friendship between the two, as well as their relationship, becomes an absolute chore to sit through because it's handled terribly. Van Der Beek and Holmes had terribly chemistry that become even worse in later seasons. The writers had no idea how to handle the characters as a couple and never did regardless of who ran the show or how much turnover the writing staff had following Williamson's departure. Williamson nor Feldman nor Stupin nor whoever steered the DC ship in season two had direction for Dawson and Joey. Yes, it was nice that the first season ended with Joey getting the guy she's always wanted; however, it's not so nice when the writers had no idea what post-kiss life would be.

"The Kiss" is a frustrating episode because Dawson and Joey act like morons. The central conflict between the two is the second kiss. Bessie warns Joey that the second kiss is more important and momentous than the passionate first kiss, which is driven by desire and attraction. The second kiss, she opines, is rational and more meaningful because of that rationality. In the hallways, their lips nearly touch but never do. Each failed second kiss lingers between them, increasing the tension and, in Joey's case, internal doubt. For their first date, Dawson took Joey to The Rialto for its last show. The Rialto's the metaphor of the episode--the ancient cinematic institution closing down so that a new theater can be built with better screens and better sounds. Their friendship was the old Rialto, an ancient thing that needed to evolve to thrive. Joey wondered why bother to change something that worked. Dawson responds, "To make it better."

The Rialto was the theater where Dawson and Jen had their first date. Jen showed up for the evening in hopes that she hadn't lost Dawson completely to Joey. Jen's mourning for her Gramps, who just passed away. Jen's the most sympathetic character in the episode (with the exception of Grams and Pacey). Unsurprisingly, though, Feldman paints her with an unsympathetic brush, an antagonist to Joey and Dawson's sacred love. Joey and Dawson feel initial sympathy for Jen, as long as she doesn't interfere with their date. Earlier in the day, Dawson told Jen to feel happy because of the beautiful day. Dawson has many awful moments in the series and his disregard for Jen's grief and loss is among the worst of those moments. When she follows Dawson's advice, she's met with stares as if she destroyed Dawson's collection of Spielberg films. She quickly leaves. Dawson tried to make amends for his behavior. Jen tries to guilt Dawson into being with her again by wondering if Dawson always wanted Joey while they dated. She tearfully leaves. Unfortunately, Joey left as well.

Joey went to a bench by the Capeside pier. Throughout the episode, she wondered if she made a mistake by kissing Dawson. The thought of she and Dawson together suddenly felt wrong. Presumably, those thoughts circle her head as she sits on the bench. Dawson finds her. Joey swears that she didn't leave because he went after Jen. Joey's been thinking about France and her decision to remain in Capeside. She informs Dawson that she didn't stay for him; she stayed because leaving would be the easy way out and remaining should make her stronger because she can't flee from her "pathetic life." Joey's confession is important because of it's about her identity. Joey mentioned their relationship only once. It's a piece of foreshadowing that won't make the events in #206 any less of a cop-out, though (more about that on Tuesday).

Dawson charms Joey by bringing France to Capeside. They sit on a swing-set and share their second kiss as the picture fades to black. "The Kiss" established their relationship, the dynamics and promised that it'd be as irritating as the 'will-they-won't-they' nonsense that dominated season one. I don't have much to write about Pacey's B story because I'm not writing about the entire season. I just want to dot the I's of the Dawson-Joey romance. I'll say that Pacey will enjoy a break-out season with Andie McPhee as his girlfriend, will have a cathartic episode with his father and will rescue Jack McPhee from a hateful teacher when Jack comes out as a homosexual. Jen, meanwhile, meanders for a bit before she gets herself together and forms one of the greatest friendships of all-time with Jack.

Feldman wrote the episode. Semel directed it.

UP NEXT: "The Dance"--the final episode of the Dawson's Creek Re-Watch is a game-changer.

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