We are introduced to characters Dawson Leery and his best friend, Joey Potter. They battle with the knowledge that their lifelong friendship may be changing, and their sleepovers might have to become a thing of the past. Adding to the confusion and emotions is the arrival of the radiant Jennifer Lindley. She appears to be "the girl next door," but has an air of mystery surrounding her as clues of a dark secret from her past uprise. Rounding out the clique is Pacey, whose got a gift for sarcasm and has been labeled as the family black sheep.

2. "Dirty Dancing" (January 27)

Dawson casts Jen as the new leading lady in his film. He creates a awkward scene during her date at the school dance, when he tries to break up the "budding romance" between Jen and Cliff. Joey confronts Mrs. Leary about her scandalist affair and Pacey gets his English teacher, Tamara's attention with his public flirting.

3. "A Prelude to a Kiss" (February 3)

Dawson's dream of a perfect, storybook first kiss with Jen may finally be a reality, but his plans don't exatly go according to plan. Dawson gets the opportunity to join the film class as a silent observer, but can't keep quiet when he sees that the film is an obvious flop. Joey finds herself swept away by Anderson Crawford, a wealthy preppy whose family has docked their sailboat in Capeside. Pacey and Ms. Jacobs' ( Leann Hunley) secret rendezous may no longer be just between them.

4. "Carnal Knowledge" (February 10)

On the day of Dawson's parents' twentieth wedding anniversary he has the misfortune of seeing his mother with another man. Dawson turns to his best friend Joey, rather than his girlfriend Jen, when he needs a friend to confide in. He feels betrayed when he finds out that she has known about his mother's dishonesty, and didn't tell him. Jen finally reveals to Dawson her dark past about her life in New York. By his surprise reaction, Jen feels like Dawson is slipping away. Pacey and Ms. Jacobs continue to grow closer, but are having a hard time keeping their love a secret after Dawson's rolling camera accidently captures their romance on videotape.

5. "Blown Away" (February 17)

When the Leerys, the Potters, Jen and her grandmother (Mary Beth Peil) are confined to the Leery house during a hurricane, temperaments run high when Dawson angrily confronts his mother about her affair. Gail fesses up to her extra-marrital affair, shattering Mitch's world. Jen's grandmother exchanges scornful words with Bessie and Bodie about their relationship and their unborn child. Across town, Pacey and Tamara struggle to keep their emotions under control in her house with Pacey's older brother, Deputy Doug Witter.

6. "Look Who's Talking" (February 24)

As Bessie goes into labor at the Leery household, Joey turns to Dawson for comfort when her sister's anguish floods her with memories of her mother's death. Jen must put aside her religious differences with Gram, who in turn must overcome her own racial judgements, when they are the only ones left to deliver the baby. Rumors of Pacey's relations with Miss Jacobs' begin to spread, the school board calls for an emergency meeting to decide her fate.

7. "The Breakfast Club" (March 3)

After committing various violations at school, the gang gets stuck together during Saturday detention. Dawson and Pacey turn against each another. Joey offers a tearful partial explanation for her anger toward Jen. Emotions run high when they get involved in a game of 'Truth or Dare'.

8. "Escape From New York" (March 10)

Jen's ex-boyfriend (Eion Bailey) tries to win her back. She knows that he's onlybrought her trouble, and uses her better judgement to turn him away.

9. "In the Company of Men". (March 17)

Dawson, Pacey and Jen's ex-boyfriend (Eion Bailey) embark on a road trip.

10. "Modern Romance". (April 28)

Dawson sets up a double date in a failed effort to get back at Jen. They all go to thecarnival for a day of fun and games, but plans change when his date finds out his real intentions.

11. "Friday the 13th" (AKA "The Scare") (aired May 5)

Dawson creates some Friday the 13th havoc while Jen, feeling left out, has an unusual evening; Pacey brings a strange woman (guest star Jennifer McComb) to Dawson's seance.

12. "Pretty Woman". (May 12)

Joey gets noticed when she enters a beauty pageant, which Pacey also enters on the grounds that he is equally qualified to win. Dawson makes an attempt to spillhis true feelings to Joey, but has the wrong timing. Jen seems to want Dawson back more and more.

13. "Breaking Away" (Season Finale)(May 19)

Dawson is forced to consider his true feelings for Joey when he hears she may leave Capeside. Joey must face her own emotions when she is forced to visit her father, who's in jail, for his birthday. In the end of the episode, a rather steamy kiss occurs between Joey and Dawson in his bedroom.