The 2012 Summer Re-Watch: Dawson's Creek "Alternative Lifestyles" Review

The Capeside teens are assigned a microeconomics project titled Alternative Lifestyles. Students pair up with the task of creating an annual budget for the fictional household. The project, of course, reveals more about the characters and their relationship to their partner than it reveals about their ability to successfully create a budget for a whole year. Dawson and Jen work together. Andie and Pacey work together. Joey works alone. Dawson and Jen are a childless couple and need only think about how to use their lucrative income on vacation homes and how often to have sex, which is perfect for Jen, because she wants Leery back. Andie and Pacey's lower class lifestyle contrasts with Pacey's perception of Andie's actual lifestyles which inevitably causes tears and drama. Joey's assignment to budget for a single careerwoman is so close to home she doesn't quite realize it; and sure enough, her story becomes one in which little sister learns alot from big sister.

I started thinking about "Alternative Lifestyles" shortly after completing the "Crossroads" review. Immediately, I thought of Joey Potter's horrible moment in season five when she sings "I want you to want me" with Charlie's band. The moment, I'll add, is horrible for the viewer; but, for Joey Potter, the moment is triumphant, an actualization of the self's dormant desires held back by insecurities. I imagined Jen Lindley, before going to Dawson's, dancing around her room singing this same song. Jen wants nothing more than Dawson wanting her. She gazes forlornly at him while Abby struggles to understand Jen's attraction for Dawson Leery. The economics project allows Jen to aggressively pursue Dawson without interference from Joey. The two need to be alone, to think alike, to think married, and to complete the assignment. "Crossroads" used Jen's scenes to remind the viewer of her wild New York City past. Jen uses sex to entice Dawson. She either wears tight tops around him or loose dresses. Jen even feigns exhaustion in the hopes of sleeping over. When Dawson tells her such a thing isn't okay, Jen kisses him on the mouth and tells him all he's missing by choosing to be with Joey. Jen looks like she hates herself seconds after this aggressive tactic.

Dawson doesn't care about sex the way other teenage boys do. The teaser showed Mitch taking the Joey ladder down so to prevent Dawson and Joey from fornicating under the Leery roof. Dawson laughs and makes fun of his father for being afraid of his son's sexual behavior. Dawson doesn't doubt he'll have sex with Joey eventually, but sex isn't the foremost thing on his mind. These scenes are significant to the Jen/Dawson drama. Jen sacrifices her reformed self in hopes that Dawson's just like the boys she dated in New York; however, she's drawn to him because he's not like any boy she's ever met. Her behavior throughout the episode drove her further from him. Jen thinks she needs Dawson because he'll help her remain the person she wants to be. Jen's experiencing an identity-crisis. The Dawson thing isn't really the issue; it's more an instance of a girl becoming more attracted to a guy because he's not available. She dumped him last season. Jen is just lonely, and she needs a friend who isn't bad influence Abby Morgan.

Dawson and Jen, despite the drama, complete the project successfully.

The Potter household will never be an example of domestic stability. In season 1, Grams looked down on Bessie for having a child out of wedlock with an African-American man. Mr. Potter is in jail. Joey developed her attitude in reaction to her lot in life. No matter how much love she feels for her sister and Alexander, Joey can't help but look down on her life. Joey wanted to travel to Paris to escape. Joey needs to research a single careerwoman but doesn't bother considering her sister. The reason being she considers her sister to be a mess. Bessie struggles to clean The Ice House in time for a health inspection. Joey wonders how she can consult her sister about annual budgets and success. Joey's feelings create a rift between her and Bessie. Joey goes to another single careerwoman instead, an artist, who credits hard work more than talent for her success. Indeed, this businesswoman isn't different from Bessie. Their jobs are different, their incomes are different, but both work incredibly hard. Joey absorbs this lesson. The eventual apology to Bessie stems from feelings of guilt. Bessie wants to make her sister proud. Joey is proud of Bessie.

Joey's story actually sets up her personal arc for the season. Joey's artist single careerwoman asks her for an opinion of a blueprint. Joey's observation is smart and practical, which convinces the woman to invite Joey back to get her take on other designs. Joey smiles for the first time in the series when it's not related to Dawson. I was stunned to watch Joey become the single careerwoman's right-hand-girl within ninety seconds of meeting. Perhaps 1998 truly was a different time. I mean, Clinton was in office, Bush didn't turn everything to shit, and English majors still had bright job prospects.

Joey completed the project successfully, but more importantly, she learned so much more about her sister and herself.

It's only a matter of episodes before Pacey and Andie become a couple. Anyone reading who's never seen a single episode of the show shouldn't surprised. Pacey shares scenes with two characters: Dawson and romantic interest. Pacey and Andie have been engaged in cutesy banter two episodes. Pacey makes fun of her spoiled lifestyle. Andie kills Pacey's chances with girls. Fun stuff! The future lovebirds bicker over the project. Pacey doesn't recognize that he can't buy a viper with a bus driver's salary. Andie forces Pacey to look at 12 apartments for their fictional family. Pacey loses it and lashes out about how she doesn't know anything about him. The Witters view Pacey as the black sheep and no grade in the world can change that. Pacey insults Andie for being out of touch because of her privileged background. Andie tearfully shouts at him and leaves. But, of course, Andie isn't spoiled at all. Jack informs Pacey the McPhee wealth is in the past. Pacey feels bad and apologizes.

The story hints at a darker side of Andie. Pacey wonders if she's on medication. Jack doesn't answer that question. Andie remarks that her life resembles a movie-of-the-week, that is, a LIFETIME movie-of-the-week. Oh, does it ever, friends and well-wishers, does it ever. I'm not looking forward to revisiting that old chestnut. Pacey finishes the annual budget. The teacher says it looks comprehensive which validates Pacey as a student and thinker. Pacey's ability to perform well on projects and tests is related to Andie, but we'll get there (as Thomas and Bays would write Bob Saget on How I Met Your Mother).

"Alternative Lifestyles" is sort of light on the needless melodrama. This is the third episode of the season so the writers were planting plot seeds. The episode is completely average. The trope of the school project that tells the characters more about themselves and each other is a lazy slam-dunk. The episode lacks imagination. I like it less the more I watch it.

Other Thoughts:

-Mitch and Gale began their open marriage. That is all.

-Mike White wrote this episode. David Semel directed it.

UP NEXT: "Tamara's Return"--Oh yeah. I forgot Tamara showed up at the end of the episode. This will be miserable.

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK