Dawson's Creek: Pilot
So many teenage feelings
Season 1
Episode 1
Original air date: 20 January 1998
Oh, how obsessed I was with Dawson’s Creek when it first aired. I’m not sure if I can explain why. I was like eleven when it came out. I did a bit of a rewatch a few years ago, but lost interest after they got into the college years.
So, come back to 1998 with me! Let’s dive into the lives of these loquacious small town teens, and the drama. Don’t worry, even though I know what’s going to happen there will be no spoilers.
The opening shot pans over the creek…DAWSON’S CREEK. Spoiler alert: it is not Dawson’s creek, the title is A LIE. I am just now realising that I don’t even know if the creek has a name.
We head into an enormous house where Dawson Leery and Joey Potter are watching E.T. The movie, not Entertainment Tonight. Joey asks if it won the Oscar, and Dawson says NO, SPIELBERG WAS ROBBED.
The news comes on, featuring Dawson’s mum Gail and her enormous hair. Joey jokes that it’s a wonder she can walk upright with all that hair.
Joey puts on her shoes and says she is going home. Dawson asks why, because she always spends the night?
“I have breasts! And you have genitalia!”
Dawson is very confused because he’s always had genitalia. Joey says they’re fifteen now, they’re starting high school on Monday. She doesn’t want their hormones to get in the way of their friendship.
Dawson tells her not to get all female on him, or he’ll have to start calling her Josephine. Joey starts play wrestling with him on the bed, and I don’t think that is helping her argument.
It is a beautiful sunny day in Capeside and Joey is sunning herself on the pier. BUT SUDDENLY, a gross sea monster grabs her and pulls her into the water.
Don’t worry guys, Dawson’s just making a movie. Pacey, the sea monster, has attacked too early. Dawson’s annoyed because they’re behind schedule, Joey is annoyed because Pacey grabbed her ass.
They notice that a taxi has pulled up, and a gorgeous girl emerges.
Pacey’s eyes burst out of his head like a cartoon. They introduce themselves, this is Jen. Ah yes, Dawson heard she was coming. Her grandad has a heart problem and she’s here to help out her Grams.
Joey is immediately irritated at this stranger and the boys’ reaction to her.
Pacey and Dawson head back to the Leery house as Pacey asks ‘think she’s a virgin? wanna nail her?’ Nice, Pacey.
They hear a commotion and walk in on Dawson’s parents ravaging each other on the coffee table.
Gail says she has to get to work anyway, and kisses ‘Mr. Man Meat’, yes that’s what she actually says, goodbye. Dawson looks like he wants to claw his own eyes out. PARENTS, KISSING, BLEURGH.
Joey row row rows her boat down the creek to her house. Her house is much smaller than Dawson’s, more of a cosy shack. Bodie bursts out of the house and forces Joey to try his cooking.
A very pregnant Bess appears, scolding Joey for not returning her clothes.
Dawson and Pacey are working at the video store. The uniform is a vest lol.
A girl, who I’m assuming also works there, though is not wearing a vest, asks if Forrest Gump is a drama or a comedy. Pacey asks her how many times she is going to ask that, then calls her a ‘wet brain’ to Dawson, but she overhears.
Nellie, whose dad owns the place (I guess that’s why she got out of wearing a hideous vest), goes on about how Pacey is a nobody. But Pacey doesn’t have long to dwell on her cruel remarks, because for the second time today *a sexy lady appears*.
Dawson says she’s somebody’s mother. Is she, Dawson? How would you know? Of course, every 40 year old woman has kids.
This is Tamara, she’s new in town and would like to rent a video. Pacey makes her fill out a form.
Pacey offers to help her find a video and Tamara says she’s in the mood for romance. He shows her the new releases but she’s into the classics. She asks if they have The Graduate, you know, about the older woman who seduces the younger man?
Dawson produces it for her and tells her to pay when she returns. She says
“Nice to meet you, Pacey”
and he just about cums in his pants.
Pacey is adamant that she was flirting with him but Dawson doesn’t buy it.
Dawson arrives home clutching some videos. He sees Jen, sitting on the dock and goes to talk to her. Ah, the sunset, the 90s music (As I Lay Me Down by Sophie B Hawkins, FYI), what a moment.
He asks about her grandad, she says he’s breathing. Her Grams is into praying, which is not her jam. She asks about his videos. They are all swamp monster type movies, research for the movie he’s making.
He offers to show her his ‘studio’, which is a shed full of Spielberg posters.
Joey heads up the giant ladder to Dawson’s room, but what’s this? Jen is there! Joey pauses at the top of the ladder.
Jen hears Grams calling out for her (who needs a phone?) and she leaves. Joey climbs in the window and Dawson makes her watch his mum on the news. He has recorded it and is assessing the footage, he thinks that his mum is sleeping with her co-anchor Bob.
Joey tells him he’s just looking for conflict and to accept his perfect life.
I think Dawson’s ’studio’ was just his bedroom, it just looks like a shed with its rustic doors.
Jen says hi to her grandad, who is asleep. Grams tells her breakfast is ready and to hurry so she’s not late for her first day.
Jen says she doesn’t usually eat in the mornings, just has coffee, and asks Grams about Dawson.
Grams tells her to STAY AWAY. That boy is trouble. Joey has been sneaking in his room for the last ten years, and NEITHER OF THEM GO TO CHURCH.
Grams asks Jen to say grace, and then nearly has a heart attack when Jen tells her she’s an atheist.
*Tubthumping by Chumbawamba plays* Honestly, what a banging soundtrack.
Jen is accosted by Nellie, who says that Jen’s grandad is on the prayer list at church, and asks if she parties, all in the same breath.
Jen says she likes to have a good time, substance free, and Nellie is like LAME, BYE.
Dawson asks Jen how she’s going. Jen says she could use a cigarette. Dawson’s like *gasp* you smoke? Jen says she quit, but she’s just really tense.
Pacey is balancing a book on his head, when who walks into the classroom but Tamara, AKA MS JACOBS. Uh oh, Pacey’s hot for teacher.
Jen is happy to see she has a class with Joey. Joey is not.
Dawson sneaks up behind the film teacher who is watching Psycho.
“You know the film?”
he asks, looking down his nose at Dawson. Yes, dude, it’s one of the most famous movies of all time.
Dawson hits him with some fun facts about the filming of Psycho.
He has come to see him because he didn’t get into the film class. Film Teacher says it is a very popular class, and priority goes to upperclassmen. Dawson gives him an impassioned speech but he tells Dawson that ‘No.’ is a full sentence, because *boundaries*.
Jen asks Joey if her and Dawson are a thing. Joey says no, just friends. Jen says ‘just like us, I hope!’. Jen asks Joey why Grams doesn’t like her. Joey tells her to pick a topic; her dad is in jail for conspiracy to traffic marijuana, her sister is having a baby with a black guy. Joey tells Jen that Dawson likes her, and to not abuse his feelings.
Dawson and Jen are joking around, making up stories about teachers. Dawson says he should get Jen to punch up his dialogue because she’s SO FUNNY. Joey is not amused.
Pacey goes to see Tamara-I meeean Ms Jacobs. He asks her if she enjoyed The Graduate, and if she’s looking for romance tonight.
He asks if she’s seen Summer of ‘42, another young man, older woman romance. She says it’s a favourite, but tells him she’s seeing a new movie at the cinema tonight.
Pacey tells Dawson they’re going to the movies to stalk the English teacher. He thinks he has the chance of losing his virginity to her. Dawson thinks he’s crazy.
Pacey tells him he can bring Jen, but they see her talking to a football player. Better lock that down quick, Dawson.
Dawson begs Joey to come to the movies, so it’s more of a group thing and it’s not awkward with just him, Jen, and Pacey. Joey is not keen but relents.
Grams is totally happy for Jen to go to the movies, as long as she’s home by ten, AND COMES TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY. Aha, gotcha. But Jen will not be sucked in. She asks Grams to respect her beliefs, but Grams will not be swayed, she will convert her, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.
Grams says after what happened in New York (ooh, what happened in New York?) Jen could use some church.
Jen says she’ll go to church when Grams says ‘penis’. Are you trying to give all your grandparents a heart attack?
Dawson’s dad, aka Mr Man Meat, aka Mitch, asks Dawson his opinion on the restaurant he’s designing. He wants the waitresses to wear SCUBA gear. Mitch, no. He tells Dawson to get out of the way of the TV, Gail is doing the news.
“Watching her at work is the best foreplay”
Dawson starts running off but Mitch tells him to ‘play safe’ which starts Dawson ranting about sex. IT’S ALL ANYONE CAN TALK ABOUT, I’M A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD BOY, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
“If sex is so important how come Spielberg has never had a sex scene in one of his movies?”
Check mate.
Bodie is reading a cooking magazine and Bess is painting a bird house when she stops Joey and puts lipstick on her before she leaves.
The gang is walking around town, wearing the same clothes as the opening credits, they must have filmed that the same day.
Jen tells Joey she likes her lipstick and asks what shade it is. Joey asks what number Jen’s hair is (ooh, she dyes her hair, burn). Dawson tells Jen to excuse Joey, she was born in a barn, but Jen is very gracious and tells Joey she just gets highlights.
Joey asks Jen if she’s a virgin. Damn, Joey. She says Dawson is, and you know, two virgins, awkward. Jen says she is, and asks Joey if she is. Joey says she lost it years ago to a trucker named Bubba.
Joey, damn, just tell Dawson you’re in love with him.
In the theatre, Pacey sees Tamara and goes to sit with her. Joey sulks and when she sees Dawson hold Jen’s hand starts asking if Jen cares about size. Dawson has had enough and drags Joey outside.
Tamara is shocked to see Pacey, like she didn’t subtly invite him. Pacey said he came with friends, but he can sit with her. He winks at her and tells her Summer of ‘42 is reserved in her name.
Awks, she is actually on a date. Her date tries to move Pacey along, and Pacey knocks the popcorn out of his hand, spilling onto the guy behind them, who, sick of all the commotion, punches Pacey in the face.
Joey tells Dawson that he hasn’t said one word to her since Jen showed up. She tells him to stop living in the movies and grow up, that he can’t see what’s right in front of him.
Dawson walks Jen home, but not to her door because Grams is waiting to pounce. Dawson tries to kiss her but Jen pulls away. They talk about their awkward evening, and Jen thanks him for being around while she’s having a bad time.
She says she’ll pretend they kissed.
Pacey runs into Tamara on his way home. Oof, that guy punched him good, his face looks sore.
She apologises for misleading him and he goes to town, telling her how OLD she is.
“I’m the best sex you’ll never have”
Okay, virgin.
“You’re wrong about one thing, Pacey, you’re not a boy”
AND THEN SHE KISSES HIM.
Ma’am. He is a boy. He is fifteen. Someone call the police.
Dawson arrives home and finds Joey hiding in his closet.
Dawson apologises for being an ‘insensitive male’, and says he doesn’t want to lose her. He says he thought she looked pretty at the movies when he saw her with lipstick on, but that’s all. Joey said she didn’t want to be the one holding his hand, she just didn’t want her holding it.
It’s all so complicated.
Joey goes to leave. She says she can’t stay over anymore, and they can’t tell each other everything like they used to.
Dawson’s like SURE WE CAN, until Joey asks him how many times he ‘walks his dog’ and when, and then he looks very uncomfortable. I mean, you don’t need to share your masturbation habits to be besties, come on.
Side note: when Pacey was going on about losing his virginity to Ms Jacobs earlier, Dawson told him he should go home and walk his dog. I did not realise what he meant haha, I was like…does Pacey have a dog?
Dawson says goodnight, and Joey climbs out the window.
Cue the dramatic music (I’ll Stand By You by The Pretenders).
Joey is about to get in her boat when Dawson yells out the window
“Joey! Usually in the morning! With Katie Couric!”
She laughs, delighted that she knows when Dawson masturbates. She starts rowing away, but stops in shock when she sees Gail kissing Bob.
I guess Dawson’s life isn’t so perfect, hey Joey?