#302 - Homecoming
In what will probably be a standard opening sentence for my comments on any new episode of Dawson’s Creek, I had very mixed feelings about tonight’s show. Once again, I noted with dismay how the show tends to veer off in rather surreal directions, especially as the story unfolds of the "relationship" between Dawson and Eve, but there were also elements in the show that I found very touching.
I watched with comic amusement as the Capeside cheerleaders modeled themselves on Jen’s cynical and sardonic example, and Jen has to be the most unenthusiastic cheerleader that every raised a pompom. Still, though, you have to laugh at the way Jen has absolutely no enthusiasm for the role she unwittingly assumed.
I liked the new character of Henry, a freshman in a school where high school begins in sophomore year! Quite an accomplishment! ;-) In a comical turn, we see him literally stumble and gaze upon what most clearly be the object of his infatuation, Jen. I think that Henry’s character has potential, and I wait to see how his story will unfold. I think though that the unfolding story of Jack emerging as a football hero is even more ludicrous than all the other contrivances we are being presented, especially in light of the fact that through much of last season, Jack was presented as a comically klutzy character who made dishes break at the Ice House merely by looking their way, and it is obvious that the writers are trying to contrive a "gay character breaks the stereotype" scenario for our formerly hapless friend Jack. Still, though, I was glad to see Jack get cheered as he entered the pep rally, and the touching friendship between him and Jen is one of the only really positive character developments that I’ve seen this season.
Dawson and Eve continue to be the most ridiculously mismatched couple since Felix and Oscar, and it is one aspect of the show that I find to be completely unrealistic, as Dawson allows himself to be manipulated by this wily "mystery woman" into behaving in a manner so completely inconsistent with his character. The scene where Dawson and Eve get caught making out at the pep rally was funny, but completely ludicrous, especially due to the fact that neither Dawson nor Eve seem to suffer any consequences for their actions, either from the school authorities, or Dawson’s father. I was happy to see Dawson finally come to his senses a little bit and say that the first time he slept with someone, he didn’t want it to be for ANY reason, but for EVERY reason. I enjoyed the scene where Jen gave Dawson advice about "pacing" for Dawson’s "first time," not only for its comic allusions to eating an ice cream sundae, but because it also showed the fact that Jen had truly moved beyond her feelings for Dawson, which injected a badly needed dose of reality into the show.
I have to admit that Andie’s confession of her indiscretion came off as much more sympathetic than I thought it would, but my heart broke for Pacey as his whole world collapsed, and he expressed the agony he felt as Andie’s betrayal had ruined something that had been really special to him, and that he realized that her feelings for him weren’t as strong as his feelings for her. I hope that Pacey learns to stand on his own and "be the man he can be" without Andie, and that his character continues to grow. I really enjoyed seeing Joey give Pacey advice on the concept of forgiveness, and the words she spoke were both touching and true.
I thought the show ended well, as we got to see Dawson and Joey talk to each other as equals, and it was good to see them start to connect as friends again, and it was really touching to see Dawson give Joey his necklace. Still, though, I think they both realized that what they had was truly over, at least for now, and Dawson’s statement that you could still love someone but that you could stop needing them the way you used to was very sad, but very true. But knowing Dawson’s Creek, neither Dawson nor Joey will stick to this supposition. It will be interesting to see what course the show takes in the upcoming weeks.
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