Dawson's Creek The Complete Seriesby Jennifer M. ContinoReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Studio
Credits Grade: 8 I remember not wanting to watch Dawson's Creek when it made its debut all those years ago. I didn't want to get into a "high school" series, when I clearly was a mature adult. I also was kind of worried I'd like the show, but it would be cancelled after a few episodes like others of its kin seemed to be during that point in time. But, for whatever reason, I watched the first episode and liked it. It didn't seem like the saccharine sweet, goody-goody teenage fare that I was used to seeing on television. It kind of had heart, depth, and mature storylines. So, almost from day one, I was on the boat for Dawson's Creek, even if I didn't want to enter the waters at first.Outside of one of the teen actors in the series, Joshua Jackson, who I knew from The Mighty Ducks, I wasn't familiar with any of the others in the young cast. I think that was a bonus for the series, to start with some unfamiliar faces, and let the viewers get to know the characters from the beginning, without having any ideas about who this person is supposed to, or not supposed to be. So I went into this, not listening to all the people saying negative things about the series, not thinking these people are supposed to be anything other than what each of them brought to the role, and, almost from day one, really cared about the characters. This wasn't just the typical kid with a great home, popular with everyone, having a few high school misadventures. Not everyone in this series had a perfect life. Some of the young leads were the kind of tarnished anti-heroes types. Some of the leads had secrets that would take several episodes of years to unfold. I liked that these teens weren't like the typical teens you'd see on other television series. Maybe it was because the series aired on the WB that the writers could take a few risks. I liked from the beginning how Joey just would climb in Dawson's window and make herself at home. It was something that was always done there, so it wasn't looked at in any kind of odd way, even if some of the viewers (who didn't see Doogie Houser M. D., where his friend did that all the time.) were shocked at seeing a person enter a household in that manner. I liked how Dawson had dreams of being a filmmaker and was always trying to create his own works. I liked how Pacey was brash, always getting in over his head, and, sometimes, doing the same thing over again. But I really liked the girls in this cast – the opposites who really did have a lot in common. With each new season, the series seemed to tackle more mature ideas and situations. You never knew what was going to happen next and even the predictable elements had a few bits of whimsy and wonder to them. Perhaps that's because Kevin Williamson put so much of himself into the series and came to television from a film background. He was outside the box … he was making coherent episodes the way he made his film. It worked. I was hooked and came back week after week, wanting to see what happened to not just the young teen leads, but the supporting adult players in the show. The parents, grandparents, teachers – even the people who you just came across occasionally – they all seemed so real. But what I think worked about this series the most was that the characters grew. You got to see some of them achieve their dreams, some of them fail, some of them lose out on things and some of them face impossible odds. You also got to see most of the main cast throughout all of the seasons, although Katie Holmes was the only one to be in every episode. There are moments from the series that I still remember as vividly now as when I originally saw them. That's what was great about Dawson's Creek, were all the powerful scenes. I remember Pacey and the teacher, I remember seeing Andie's breakdown, Jen's arguments with her grandmother over religion, and so many more moments. Each of those left their mark. Each of those key moments were what I judged other shows of this genre on as time passed. That is just one of the things that made Dawson's Creek so magical. I couldn't watch other shows of this genre without thinking if I saw this already, and how it paled in comparison to what was done on Dawson's Creek. I like how this series pushed the boundaries. I like its acceptance of things that were different or out of the ordinary. I think it set a good example and influence for those who were different, but didn't, necessarily, feel different. I liked the tolerance. Dawson's Creek was a breath of fresh air when it made its debut. This is the series that led to series like One Tree Hill, The OC, and Gilmore Girls, to name a few, taking all the chances they take on television now. After the groundbreaking Dawson's Creek led the way for controversial teen topics to be tackled with dignity and grace, other series weren't as much at risk when playing up the hot topics. The complete series was recently released in a gigantic collection that I had the pleasure of getting a review copy of recently. What I noticed immediately was the presentation: it was like a gigantic year book, with each page containing information and tidbits about the series. It was fun to peek inside the mock yearbook and look at the series as if I were looking at their actual yearbook. The collection includes dozens of special features like interviews with cast members, the creators, a trivia game, a music CD with songs that most people associate with the show, and a few other fun items. But what I like best about a collection like this is having everything at your fingertips. Now, you can take your time and watch the entire series at your leisure. You don't have to keep track of several boxed sets, this is all in one compact place. It's a great way to see the evolution and natural progression of the show. Plus, the price of the complete collection is less than buying all the individual seasons, especially if you look at places online which offer incredible discounts on DVDs. Written: November 30, 2009
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