DAWSON'S CREEK: DECISIONS {FIRST SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The first season finale in this series about the romantic exploits of Dawson Leery and his friends in coastal Massachusetts. In this episode, Joey arrives in Dawson’s room for their usual evening of TV-watching and banter, but she complains that their lives have become too predictable and routine, like their TV shows. At her home, Jen is ecstatic when her grandfather, who has been in a coma for three months, suddenly awakens and is taken to the hospital for tests. At school, she invites Dawson out to celebrate, but he says he has plans with Joey. Joey, however, arrives and reveals that she has an opportunity to study in France for a semester, but is unsure if she wants to do it. When she talks with her sister, Bessie reminds her that it is her turn to visit their father in prison for his birthday, and Joey is reluctant. Elsewhere, Doug confronts Pacey about failing his midterms and says he has become a “bad punchline” and is embarrassing the family.
Dawson accompanies Joey to the prison to visit her father, but they soon learn they have missed visiting hours. They opt to stay over in a hotel and return the next day, but Dawson is nervous about sharing a bed with Joey, as they have done for years. He admits that he would miss her if she went to France, and says he is not sure “where they are,” but cannot articulate his feelings. At the prison, Mr. Potter is happy to see Joey, but she is still angry at how he cheated on her mother and then landed himself in jail, and is not interested in a conversation. When she leaves, Mr. Potter asks Dawson to tell him about his daughter, and he talks about how wonderful and special she is, concluding that she is “everything.” Later, Joey and Dawson talk and he encourages her to work out her resentment toward her father, but she maintains that she hates him. When she states that she has decided to go to France, he cannot find the words to tell her why she should stay. At the hospital, Jen is stunned to learn that her grandfather has had another stroke after seemingly improving, and doubts the effectiveness of her grandmother’s prayers on the situation. Distraught, she turns to Dawson and admits she regrets breaking up with him, asking to stay the night in a platonic fashion, as Joey does, and he agrees, comforting her.
Pacey visits Joey and tells her about his brother’s words, saying he has always felt like an embarrassment and known that his father prefers Doug. They discuss their shared father issues, and Joey decides to return to the prison. Pacey “borrows” his father’s car and bribes the guard, and Joey and her father talk through the gate after hours. She tells him that he doesn’t know her and missed his chance, but he assures her that he loves her and adds that Dawson does as well. He encourages her to examine her feelings for Dawson, and she tells him she loves him before leaving. She hurries straight to Dawson’s home to admit her feelings, but she sees Jen beside him in bed and, misunderstanding, runs away, and he pursues her. Jen, returning home, receives a phone call that her grandfather has died, and ends up going to church with her grandmother as they grieve together. When Dawson locates Joey, he assures her that what she saw was innocent, but she says they need to “grow up” and determine the nature of their relationship. She says they are on a “cliffhanger” because of the possibility of her France trip, and asks if they are ready to really be honest with one another. In response, Dawson kisses her for the first time. Ccommercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: WB
- DATE: May 19, 1998 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:69844
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Teenagers
- SERIES RUN: The WB - TV series, 1998-2003
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Paul Stupin … Executive Producer
- Charles Rosin … Executive Producer
- Kevin Williamson … Executive Producer, Created by
- Jon Harmon Feldman … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Greg Prange … Producer
- Steve Miner … Producer
- Lori Jane Coleman … Associate Producer
- David Semel … Director
- Mike White … Writer
- Dana Baratta … Writer
- Adam Fields … Music by
- Jann Arden … Theme Music by
- James Van Der Beek … Cast, Dawson Leery
- Michelle Williams … Cast, Jen Lindley
- Joshua Jackson … Cast, Pacey Witter
- Katie Holmes … Cast, Joey Potter
- Mary-Margaret Humes … Cast, Gail Leery
- John Wesley Shipp … Cast, Mitch Leery
- Mary Beth Peil … Cast, Evelyn 'Grams' Ryan
- Nina Repeta … Cast, Bessie Potter
- Dylan Neal … Cast, Doug Witter
- Gareth Williams … Cast, Mike Potter
- Helen Baldwin … Cast, Mrs. Tringle
- Richard Fullerton … Cast, Guard
- Ed Grady … Cast, Gramps