#304 - Home Movies
This was the first episode of Dawson’s Creek that I have seen in a very long time that I found enjoyable and satisfying on almost every level. This show simply had it all, good interaction between the characters, realistic interaction between Dawson and his father, and a wistful look back for Dawson and Joey on how it began for both of them.
I liked seeing Pacey and Dawson talking as friends again, and I liked Pacey’s comment about Dawson’s recent life being as thrilling, sexy, and far fetched as any fictional story that could be depicted. Once again, the ironic self awareness that the show wryly alludes to from time to time was played to good effect here. Pacey’s comment about Joey being a heartbreaker then and now was also very true.
I was glad to see some interaction between Jen and Grams, even if it was brief, and I hope to see some more of it in upcoming shows. I liked the way they showed the other cheerleaders following "Jenny" around like she was some kind of goddess, and the way she told them off and quit the squad was funny. The cheerleaders are comically vapid, but they do provide a break from the normally heavy angst filled tension that is usually so prevalent on the show.
Andie’s strident neurotic mannerisms are more annoying than ever, and when I re-watched my tape of this episode tonight, I simply fast forwarded through any scene she was in. I especially disliked her rehearsing her sob story to give to the principal when she thought she had been caught cheating on the PSAT. It simply proves, once again, how cold and calculating she has become. I simply dislike her character now from the very core of my being! ;-)
I thought that Dawson and Mitch both brought up some very valid points during the arguments that they had, and Mitch telling Dawson not to be so theatrical and that he can be very self centered and self righteous were dead on, but Dawson’s comment that their roles were often reversed was an equally valid statement of fact. I was glad to see them finally connect at the end, though, and Mitch telling Dawson how he cried when Dawson was born was incredibly touching.
I liked how Dawson stepped in to help his father, and devise a plan to help the team win , and his awareness that he had unwittingly exposed Jack to a situation where he would be singled out and targeted shows some growth on the part of his character. I thought that having the entire team wear makeup was hilarious, but I thought that Henry’s comment "try and find the homo now" was unnecessary. The team winning smacked of Varsity Blues, but I’m not complaining, and it was good to see them win. I also liked seeing Jen and Dawson interact as true friends.
Henry’s infatuation with Jen is so comically endearing and a delight to watch, and it’s one of the only realistic depictions of high school life that I’ve seen this season. Henry selling off his prize possession to get the chance to kiss Jen was incredibly captivating and sweet, and Jen being crowned Homecoming Queen was simply rife with irony, and the expression on her face as she was crowned was priceless.
Joey and Pacey’s growing friendship is a good thing to see, and their sarcastic banter is fun to watch, although the scene where they play hooky and then get caught by the principal was very contrived, and Joey looking in to see the principal when she hitchhiked was certainly a different outcome than the ominous overtones the ever misleading show previews seemed to have us believe. But for once, I’m not going to complain, because seeing the two of them having to literally make "asses out of themselves" to get off the hook, and then having them get out of their humiliating assignment in a very Pacey like resourceful way was very amusing, and fun!
I liked seeing both Dawson and Joey watch the home movies of their childhood, and the mixture they both displayed of amusement, sadness, and nostalgic wistfulness for the friendship they had shared seems to hearken to a rebuilding of their friendship, as evidenced when Dawson went to Joey for advise about the disagreement that he was having with his father.
Overall, I really enjoyed this show, and I hope to see more shows like it in the future.
Best
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