#309 - Four To Tango
I must say, for the most part, that there were elements of this episode that I really enjoyed, especially in terms of the interaction of all the characters, and I thought the show served as a good illustration of how complicated relationships can get sometimes.
I really enjoyed watching Jen and Pacey’s comical, and ultimately unsuccessful, attempts to "create sparks" with one another in Dawson’s room, and I especially enjoyed the way they both spoke at the same time, each person apologetically blaming themselves for the abject failure of their attempted tryst. I also thought that it was ultimately in character for both Pacey and Jen that they couldn’t go through with their "agreement" to have a relationship based purely on sex. The way I look at it, both these characters, despite their mutual claim that their "checkered" pasts confirms their affinity towards the idea of casual sex, are really caring, albeit wounded, individuals, and deep down, they’re really looking for someone to love and care about them. I think that Pacey and Jen finally realized that they are simply better off as friends, and that a purely sexual liaison wouldn’t work for them.
I felt bad for Jen in this episode, as she once again sees herself in the role as second fiddle to Joey. I thought that Jen observed, quite accurately, that Joey is the one both Dawson and Pacey turn to as a friend and confidante, and she is the one treated as an outsider.
I was very dismayed to see that Pacey has almost completely reverted to his "slacker" behavior, coming close, once again, to failing all his subjects. I think it’s completely wrong that it’s being implied that he owed all his scholastic success to Andie, instead of having him realize his own worth, and succeed on his own volition.
One aspect of the show that I had really mixed feelings about tonight was the way the Pacey and Joey story line was handled. I feel that the writers sent out a lot of conflicting signals concerning their friendship, and I grew rather weary of all the bickering between them. In many ways, I felt that some of their scenes together seemed forced and unrealistic, especially when they were so unwilling to get close to one another while they were dancing. It seems almost as if the writers are hitting us over the head with the idea that there’s some type of "sexual tension" between these two characters, and to me it comes off as contrived and disingenuous. I certainly know that many of us had complained about the lack of interaction between Pacey and Joey last season, but for me, in this episode, a lot of their scenes together simply rang false. I did enjoy certain scenes between them, though, especially when Joey expressed her moral indignation when she and Dawson caught Pacey and Jen making out in the coat room. In that scene, and in the scene at the end, I think that it was clear that Joey sees a side of Pacey that very few people see, and her heated words reflected her disappointment in what he was apparently doing. I think these scenes also showed that deep down, Joey cares for Pacey a great deal, as a friend. I do not, however, view Joey’s anger as reflecting any type of secret love for Pacey.
I really liked the interaction between Dawson and Jen, and I thought that dance teacher was completely correct when she said that Dawson and Jen were completely comfortable with one another, and had gotten over any "issues" between them. I thought that Dawson’s initial reaction to the idea of Joey and Pacey "hooking up" was rather immature and selfish, but also understandable, since it’s painfully obvious that he still loves Joey. To me, Dawson showed, once again, that he can sometimes have an incredibly self absorbed view of the world, pushing Joey away, but not wanting anyone else to have her. I thought that Pacey was very accurate when he said that Dawson doesn’t heed his own advice, and that he was in real danger of losing Joey to someone else unless he listens to his heart and acknowledges that he still loves Joey. On the other hand, though, I felt that Dawson showed real growth as a person in the later scenes in his understanding of Pacey and Jen’s situation, and that their proposed liaison more reflected loneliness and the desire to reach out to someone else than any prurient urges. I also liked the maturity and understanding he displayed when he explained to Joey that certain feelings among people are always there, even if those feelings are "wrong" in the terms of their own personal moral beliefs.
Finally, I really enjoyed the Andie and Jack story line, on every level. I welcomed the return of the "normal" Andie, and it was really nice to see her as a supportive and concerned sister, gently and solicitously helping Jack to "take the next step," and try to meet someone. I also liked the idea of Jack meeting someone through the Internet, and I really got a kick out of the way Jack "froze" when Ben contacted him on IM. In my opinion, IM and the Internet can be a wonderful way for anyone to open themselves up to a whole new world of friendship, so I thought that Jack "meeting" Ben "on line" reflects the large role that the Internet plays in the lives of so many people. I was really touched by the way that Jack said that this was a whole new level in his life that he didn’t know if he was ready for, and I was really touched by the loving support that Andie gave him, especially at the end. I was disappointed, but completely understanding, of the fact that in the end, Jack couldn’t go through with meeting Ben, but the scene where he explained to Andie why he couldn’t "walk through that door" was incredibly moving.
Overall, I enjoyed this episode, and I’m really beginning to see a real improvement in the story lines this season.
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