How do you do.
In 1999, Paul Stupin and the producers in Columbia TriStar Television were facing a task of epic proportions. The dark ending of Season Two of Dawson's Creek was casting an enormous shadow on the show, especially since Kevin Williamson had left to take on other projects. Yet, Stupin wanted the show to go on and the question was, how? How do you carry on when the best part of the show's genesis is gone? It took some time but Stupin was able to put together another season, one that would take some time to get use to.
In 1999, Paul Stupin and the producers in Columbia TriStar Television were facing a task of epic proportions. The dark ending of Season Two of Dawson's Creek was casting an enormous shadow on the show, especially since Kevin Williamson had left to take on other projects. Yet, Stupin wanted the show to go on and the question was, how? How do you carry on when the best part of the show's genesis is gone? It took some time but Stupin was able to put together another season, one that would take some time to get use to.
Season Three (A season of change, of abandoned plotlines, of social commentaries, and the unexpected romance)
If Season One could be summed up as a hormone driven soap opera, taking place in New England, with a slight Southern touch, and Season Two being character driven teen agnst with plenty of sex and lies, then Season Three would be summed up as something of a work in progress. It doesn't really gets its identity until the later episodes, thus making it a terrible season, but it does have a few good episodes in it, as I learned from re-watching.
In my opinion, had Williamson stayed in Dawson's Creek, many of the plots from Season Two would have kept going and it's possible that Season Three would have come out very dark: with Joey becoming increasingly moody and going down a life of crime, Andie returning to a ruined reputation, Jack dealing with more anti-gay bigotry, Jen having a strained relationship with Grams, Dawson struggling to deal with divorced parents while trying to get back with Joey, and Pacey using his experience to have a different understanding of Doug and try to help him in his coming out. Such a dark season would easily make for a follow up to such a dark season finale like "Parental Discretion Advised." However, Williamson left, and Stupin may have felt that such a dark season would have alienated fans and the show's plug would be pulled. So, instead, we get what we see in Season Three where we see so many plot ideas of the season brought up and then get discarded, which is why I call it a season of abandoned plotlines.
Season Three opens with "Like a Virgin" with Dawson returning to Capeside from a summer in Philadelphia with a story of encountering a smoking hot woman on a bus. He tells Pacey about it while they start their junior year in high school (sophomore year ended back in Season Two) which has a new principal, Howard Green. Somehow, the previous principal had retired and Green took his place. He proves to be friendly with the students, even making Pacey's detention sound funny. Meanwhile, Joey is working as a gas attendant in a docking yard while being harassed by her boss (I think the job was just an excuse to show Katie Holmes in a swimsuit) while her older sister is waiting for money for the ruined Ice House and Bodie is no where in sight. She is still not talking to Dawson but has decided to forgive him. However, things don't go her way. The reason why is because Dawson doesn't want to be near her, as it hurts him. Perhaps now, looking back at it, his expression in "Parental Discretion Advised" foreshadows this as it shows hurt. Pacey decides to help him out by taking him to a strip club and that is where they run into the woman on the bus.
The said woman returns to Capeside and gets Dawson into his dad's boat and reveals her name as Eve. Eve then seduces Dawson, causing him to crash into the pier, where Joey is working (which is why one shouldn't have a blow job while driving, to use the vulgar term). Eve feels sorry for Dawson as the accident costs money and conspires with Pacey to raise money by turning the Leery house into a bordello. Teenage boys come from all over Capeside to see the girls do erotic dances for a fee and it gives Dawson plenty of money. Yet, Dawson is eventually cornered by Joey who proceeds to strip in front of him. However, Dawson rejects her and tells Pacey to look after her for awhile.
As if "Like a Virgin" was enough, we are then given "Homecoming". Jen has become a cheerleader, Jack joins the football team, and Pacey brings home Andie a day early. However, it turns out Andie slept with a boy in the medical home and it breaks Pacey's heart. Meanwhile, Dawson decides to lose his virginity with Eve, leading to a comedy of errors (Jen's advice on how to make sex good with ice cream as a metaphor, not withstanding) that climaxes with him shirtless in front of the school at the prep rally. Mitch and Green are seen smirking at this, though I am sure some words were said after, while Joey is disappointed. Then comes "None of the Above". It's time for the PSAT and Eve has brought the metaphorically forbidden fruit in form of the cheat test (the Biblical allusion is brought up in "Like a Virgin"). Dawson brings the folder before his friends, loses it during a fire drill, and wonders who stole it. Dawson becomes paranoid on it that he alienates his friends in his search for the thief until a blow up makes him realize Eve was poisoning his friendship. Meanwhile, Pacey and Andie make their break up official while Jack handles a tough tackle.
In short, the first three episodes shake things up. We see Dawson thinking with his groin while acting like a jerk and we hear Andie sleep with another guy. Not only that, it turns out Andie was the thief in "None of the Above". These things, along with Eve, show that the series is clearly suffering an identity crisis, as the writers had no idea where to take the show since they could not make the season dark. I also believe that Eve was put in there to add some sex appeal to the show, which back fired. She is brought in one more time in "Indian Summer" where she breaks into Grams' house at the opening, causes Dawson to set off into a search for her and finds her in a boat. The picture of her in Grams' house introduces a possible use for Eve other than just a sex object and it's suggested in "Guess Whose Coming to Dinner" that she is the half sister of Jen Lindley. However, the Eve plot line ends there and the whole thing is never brought up again. It is disappointing how a character that's just only there for guys to drool over, shake the show up, make everyone go out of character, have a possible connection with another, only to be written out right when they are starting to develop her. However, that is the tip of the iceberg.
Jen is a cheerleader for only four episodes. Instead of creating the Dawson's Creek version of Bring It On, Jen calls cheerleading demeaning and objectifying of women, mocks the spirit by wearing fish net stockings in her uniform, come up with unimaginable cheers at the prep rally, and finally tosses in her pomp pomps. Ironically, she was made head of the cheerleaders after a passionate speech against Barbara, previous head cheerleader, about how things go down hill after high school, making good Karma for her bitchiness against other girls. The cheerleaders then make Jen become Homecoming Queen and she gets to kiss a freshman named Henry. Henry is introduced episodes back and is shown to have a crush on Jen. Jen and Henry get further bonding in the Homecoming Queen Gala in "Secrets and Lies" where Jen brings in drag queens to spice up the party.
"Secrets and Lies" is one of the better episodes in the early part of Season Three. Joey was recently fired from her job after gatecrashing on her boss' date with Andie. The boss shames Andie and Pacey rescues her and the boss goes to Joey to try to prove his innocence while Andie believes she and Pacey are together again. People who loved the Pacey / Andie troupe would have rejoiced in this episode, though Pacey coldly declines to resume their relationship. The themes of possible rape are covered in the episode which is something that should have lead to an arc of episodes. Instead, we have Pacey and Andie not together, Joey out of a job, her former boss disappearing with nothing done about it, though Joey does warn him that his libido would get him in serious trouble some day. This is followed by "Escape From Witch Island" where the four head to an island where a group of girls were sent after being accused as witches. While a rip off of Blair Witch Project, the episode is another improvement after the disappointing early episodes, though one has to hand it to Jen to spew out New Age, feminist rhetoric on the matter. The episode also brings in the dynamics of Dawson taking the romantic view of William and Mary while Joey takes the cynical. The episode also has Andie become head of the discipline committee where she takes things a little too far.
"Guess Whose Coming to Dinner" follows, noted for the Eve plot line mentioned, a continuation of Pacey and Jen in a no-strings attached relationship, and more questions on Mitch and Gail, in the first ever Thanksgiving episode of the show. However, the season's plot line then jumps ahead to January with "Four to Tango". Joey and Pacey are once again paired for the latter's falling grade and this time it's not over snails. Joey also demands Pacey help her in dancing lessons in return. Of course, Dawson and Jen catch wind of the issue and it's an awkward moment when the dance instructor claims that Pacey and Joey are in the opening stages of a mating ritual while they dance. Of course, Pacey and Joey deny the idea. Meanwhile, Pacey and Jen decide to cool it with the friends with benefits approach.
Jack is given a plot line in football, though the drama of being a gay football player is not covered much. It does make him a celebrity in "Home Movies" where Dawson is asked by Gail to make a report on while Mitch doesn't want it. There is a good moment where Dawson comes up with a plan to help win the game as the opposing team keeps targeting Jack. After the victory in the Homecoming game, Jack is then left to kick around until the show decides he should date. "Four to Tango" has Jack paired with another gay guy, making this his first same-sex date. Of course, it doesn't go well. Then, in "First Encounters of the Close Kind", Jack explores the gay community. From the way it happens, gay guys suffer from not getting a date just as straight ones do. It is evidenced in "Barefoot in Capefest" where he hits on one during a camp out. The boy singled out by Jack is named Ethan. Jack and Ethan have the on-again, off-again approach during the season, but they aren't officially a couple until "Anti-Prom".
Of course, Jack's relationships don't occupy the center of the season. Instead, the middle of the season tackles everyone trying to get over the ground shaking moments of the start. The Potters have invested in making a bed and breakfast and by "A Weekend in the Country" they are yet to have guests. "A Weekend in the Country" is my favorite episode in the season because it has plenty of character development, drama, and some humor (like when Pacey announces everything is under control and the heat pump dies). Best moment is when everyone goes nostalgia over smell and talk of the first things they smelled or remembered smelling. Best of all, Bodie returns to make pancakes. Plot wise, "A Weekend in the Country" cements the thread that Pacey has feelings for Joey.
At the same time, Andie gets over Pacey by directing a play, which Pacey gets a starring role in. "Northern Lights" has the play come into fruition. Jen and Henry start to date and have a special one at a restaurant in "Valentine's Day Massacre" where Henry gives so much blood to get the money for this date that he faints during it. Of course, it doesn't ruin the date but makes them a couple. "First Encounters of the Close Kind" has the main group visit a college where Joey meets a guy named A.J.. The two become a couple by "Northern Lights", though they experience a long distance relationship. Pacey takes up to restoring a sail boat that was beached by a hurricane and he intended to call it True Love. It's wonderful to see Pacey have some project, though I wonder how he was able to juggle his school work, the bed and breakfast, the play, and that at once. Another change is that Pacey is shown moving out of his family's house because an unseen sister divorced her husband and brought her children with her, thus robbing Pacey of a room. Pacey moves in with his brother, Doug, where he spends the remainder of his teen years. But the main change happens with "First Encounters..." when Dawson sees the bad reception of his project and meets Niki Green. It turns out that Niki is Principal Green's daughter. Dawson gets an identity crisis in "Barefoot in Capefest" over this and then by "Northern Lights" gives up film making entirely, even dropping out of film class.
One thing I hated about this last is that Niki's introduction opens the avenue to a relationship between him and her, which would really change things and have an interracial relationship that would function well. They both like to make films, that's a start, they are living with one dad, both of who are working at school, and they are trying to find their own. Yet, the writers allowed this potential to pass by and anyone hoping for a person of color in the Creek Gang has not forgiven Stupin for this.
Pacey's feelings for Joey and Joey's relationship with Dawson are brought up in "Valentine's Day Massacre." Joey is upset that Dawson is going to a party that Matt Caufield is hosting while Pacey wants Dawson to be free. Since they aren't dating, one would think that Joey shouldn't be that protective of Dawson. It is frustrating that even after this, Joey has Dawson on a pedestal and hardly gives Pacey a second look. But the whole thing is best said by Pacey when he comments on their tired out process and how "it makes a guy want to puke" and then, on cue, he goes to the prison sink and vomits. We can feel for Pacey as he does his best to be the good friend to Joey and all he gets is his head bitten off while putting up with the tired out soap opera of Dawson and Joey. In that moment, Pacey has become the voice of the audience. Mitch bails the others out but Pacey is left with Doug and they talk about Pacey's feelings for Joey. At his encouragement, Pacey goes to tell Joey, but chickens out and teaches her to drive. Meanwhile, Dawson and Mitch have a talk where Mitch decides that if Dawson is going to act like a child than he must be the parent in this and puts Dawson into a state of servitude until he understands that being a child doesn't give him "license to be reckless and irresponsible."
Then we come to "Crime and Punishment." Joey paints a unity mural and chooses some Chinese style mural over football players and light houses. When she gives a speech, pointing out that the traditional unity symbols, even their own mascots, are divisive and she points to the one thing that does unite people is possibility, and then she finds her mural ruined. Joey feels persecuted but while Dawson takes the traditional approach of painting over the graffiti to show that she cannot be bullied, Pacey goes looking for the perpetrator and finds Matt behind it. The ensuring fight brings both to the office of Principal Green and Matt reveals his motives. Green expels Matt while sentencing Pacey to community service. The fall out of the mural scandal is massive. First, Joey gets mad at Pacey for picking a fight for her, causing him to tell her of the reasons he has been doing things good for her (but not his feelings), and, in turn, Joey accuses Dawson of wife swapping. Andie comes clean on the PSAT scandal and resigns from her post. However, all this is nothing compared to the following episode "To Green, With Love" where the school board demands Green reverse his decision or resign. Parents of Capeside hold protest signs around the school while Green refuses to comment on the action as the press does a character assassination. Joey rallies her friends help Green and faces a stubborn superintendent, a harassing phone call, a fair weather college boyfriend, an nonsupporting sibling, yet brings up a good rally worthy of recognition in archives along with the Pro-Life March. Still, Green leaves, along with Niki, and a power vacuum exists in Capeside High until a new principal comes.
Joey finally comes to terms with her college boyfriend in "Cinderella Story" and returns home to Capeside. Dawson is assigned to work with his mom, who was having troubles getting a job earlier in the news and has opened a new fish restaurant, and Pacey starts his community service where he mentors a little boy. The boy helps Pacey develop while Dawson remains the same. "Cinderella Story" concludes with the surprise kiss between Pacey and Joey. In the next episode, "Stolen Kisses", Joey starts out mad at Pacey. Then she realizes she may have feelings for him. She, Jen, and Andie then have a girls night out, which ends with Jen running into Henry in the latter's birthday party. Meanwhile, Dawson and Pacey go on a camping trip at a fort that was to be demolished, and are joined by a group of little boys. Why Jack wasn't invited to the latter is beyond me, especially as he and Andie helped with his mom's restaurant in the previous episode. At least, Dawson does one thing good and it's bring his parents together again. Mitch and Gail have gone through the season resisting the urge to reunite but the chemistry is undeniable (remember back in Season Two where Mitch and Gail started doing it after the new dishwasher malfunctioned?). Gradually, Mitch and Gale are able to reconcile. "Neverland" follows, with nothing much but the introduction of Dawson's aunt and a guy named Will Kopowski, who is never mentioned before and disappears after a few episodes and is never mentioned again. It turns out, Will was to be the main character of a spin off show called Young Americans, to air during Dawson's Creek hiatus.
Then comes "The Longest Day" where everything is revealed. Pacey and Joey have become a couple, but have to sneak around Dawson's back. The day is replayed but it shows Dawson learning the truth and confronting his two friends. Jen and Henry spend time in the Ryan house when Grams leaves and have a spat while Andie goes on a date with Will, only to get upset at Pacey dating Joey. Dawson gives Joey an ultimatum while ending his friendship with Pacey. It comes into effect in "Show Me Love" where Pacey and Dawson get on opposite boats in a regatta. In fact, Dawson is so determined to win back Joey that he goes in without any knowledge of boating (ironic as he handled one), uses the Potter B&B to sponsor despite one Potter member dating Pacey, and then almost kills Pacey and Will during the race. Joey becomes sick of it and shouts at both Dawson and Pacey for making her a prize in a war. Jen forgives Henry and spends the night (but did not have sex) with him. What follows is "Anti-Prom" where Dawson hosts an alternative prom because Barbara would not accept Jack and Ethan as a couple. Dawson goes to this with Joey, Pacey with Andie, and Jen with Henry. The fall out of this is a big mess. Joey tries to dance with Pacey to make a truce and it results in an argument with Dawson, Ethan is leaving town and it upsets Jack, and Henry reveals that he is going on a football camp during the summer which upsets Jen enough to say they are not going to have sex. Yet a silver lining comes with Gail and Mitch becoming a couple again, with Mitch proposing to Gail. Finally, we come to "True Love". Pacey decides to sail out during the summer while Dawson and Joey are sort of a couple again as they witness Mitch and Gail's wedding. Grams fills the teens with news of her lost love and then drives Jen to face Henry and tell him how she feels. Jack is also driven to Ethan where he bares his heart and implants the first gay men kiss on network television ever before being rejected because Ethan has gotten back with his ex. Pacey and Dawson don't reconcile, yet Dawson eventually comes through and allows Joey to go to Pacey and does his infamous crying face as she runs off. Joey then runs to the docks, finds Pacey, tells him that she loves him, boards his boat, and they sail off into the sunset.
Because Season Three has spent so much time changing itself, it really isn't until the Joey and Pacey relationship that anything memorable shows up, though some stand alone episodes are good. If Season Three can be remembered on anything, it would be for change. The set up in Season One is out the window now and the point of identification has changed and now we have the famous Dawson, Joey, Pacey love triangle. I guess the theme of Season Three, besides change, would be the same as the title of episode six "Secrets and Lies". Everyone is having secrets and lying about it, which makes all the revelations more hurtful. The episodes with Eve are just enough to make perverted fantasies yet episodes like "A Weekend In the Country" provide humane moments that one wants to stay in that island of tranquility forever.
The change has some bad parts, however. In this season, Dawson becomes unsympathetic as a character with his wrecking of his dad's boat, making out with Eve in the prep rally, accusing everyone of stealing a cheat exam, pick fights with people, come close to taking a drunk girl, get drunk at a party, force Joey to chose between their friendship and her relationship with Pacey, almost get Pacey killed in the regatta, rub Pacey's face during the prom and wedding, and refuse to reconcile. Quite frankly, he has gone from the idealistic youth to relate to to a full blown jerk. Pacey, meanwhile, is a jerk for a short time in his break up with Andie but improves in time for Joey. By the time the season ends, everyone girl watching Pacey will say "be still my heart." Joey, meanwhile, almost seems not deserving of either one of them, as she is so oblivious to Pacey's affections and self-sacrifice while treating Dawson like a child. It is shown in "Crime and Punishment" that she has to be told that Pacey is the right guy for her. Andie has transformed some in the start and covers up on the cheating for many episodes because she wants to prove she has recovered. If the plot line of the darker season was kept, it would have made more sense as the pressure from the mockery would motivate her into pushing people away and cheating on exams. This new plot thread makes no sense and erases all liking we had in her. That changes, of course, in the later episodes as she handles a play in a professional manner, goes through trauma of a near rape, supports her brother in his dating, and she helps Dawson out at the end. I do feel that Jack's line should have been developed more while Jen has a chance to change with Henry. Instead, we just get an awkward dance. Grams has developed more and Gail and Mitch are a better improvement than before.
Other improvements come in story telling. First, the dialogue is less wordy and more easy to follow, and memorize. Secondly, the standard plot formula that once reigned supreme in Season One and Season Two has been removed for a new one. In the first episode, Dawson and Joey are not in his bedroom in the first scene. Instead, Dawson is on a bus. In fact, of the twenty-three episodes in the season, not one opens with Dawson and Joey watching a movie on his bed (opening to "First Encounters With a Close Kind" doesn't count as Joey is seen entering the room while Dawson is watching the movie). Instead, we get openings in other places: a bus, the Potter house, school, etc. When there is a scene in Dawson's room, Dawson is with another person. In "The Longest Day", Dawson even makes it clear that they can never go back to that now.
One thing I consider Season Three is some kind of social commentary. The episodes make this commentary on many social aspects, anywhere from football to social lives. The fixation with football in America is handled with some minor detail, largely only used to give Jack some plot. Once Jack is on the team, a few mentions of football are brought up, mostly when talking about bad things. In "Guess Whose Coming to Dinner", Pacey speaks of his dad watching football while the Witter women slave away at making Thanksgiving dinners only to be critiqued on it. Mitch spends more time with his football team than with Dawson in the earlier episodes, leading some to believe Dawson's actions are a cry for attention. Later, Joey finds the football player too cliche for a mural. Jen joins the cheerleaders largely to protest the objectification of girls. She also protests the Homecoming Queen as "people being what they aren't". "None of the Above" also comments on the fact that PSATs are done in high school as a means of determining one's future and yet it puts stress on kids and makes them do wrong things. There are also times that season comments on our fixation with Dawson and Joey, climaxing with Pacey vomiting in the cell. Other social commentaries include the legend of Witch Island where we see Grams regurgitate the same, traditional story that was pass down from the Puritans while younger people come up with all sorts of theories on what goes on in the island (there's a part where a black girl claims the Government is doing things and making up excuses while a black guy behind her looks on, as though he were going to assault her later). What I get from that is that older people, who had only one avenue of information, will only just repeat what was told to them and call it a closed case while younger and more informed people will come up with ridiculous notions to explain a supernatural phenomenon.
The season is also a political commentary, if not an allegory of politics, some of which is shown in the Principal Green subplot. Prior to this point, we can safely assume that the adults on the show are either on the far left (Mitch, Gail, and Bessie) or on the far right (Grams, Sheriff Witter, Mr. McPhee) with the teens in the center of a political spectrum, which is a place where Principal Green also occupies. With that in mind, much of it doesn't result in much until Green comes to town. We don't see how Capeside reacts to a black principal until "To Green, With Love", which suggests the town didn't like him, despite overseeing Capeside High's victory at Homecoming Football, and his removal was some kind of coup d'etat. "Crime and Punishment" and "To Green, With Love" center on discrimination the most, often one against African Americans or people who act differently. Joey paints a mural different others and it gets trashed. The perpetrator turns out to be Matt Caulfield who justifies his actions: "I'm white and I'm rich; that's all the possibility I need." The commentary is more seen in "To Green, With Love." When the PTA is up, Joey thinks it's going okay if "you're an angry parent with a misguided agenda". When one thinks on it, it seems every meeting like that in the political field is made of angry parents with a misguided agenda. Later, as they leave, they note that only angry parents were present and point out that people who are happy with the way things are "don't attend emergency PTAs." There are alot of people who don't attend politic meetings or rallies, often never getting into politics at all, even if they have the numbers to effect the polls, and most people tend to dub them as "Silent Majority". Instead, it's the radicals who make most of the changes because they are the ones who go to such meetings. Joey is also silenced due to her age as well, to which Pacey points out that people with mental defects, incarcerated people, and those under eighteen "are routinely denied the chance participate in decision making that changes their lives." The last seems normal since they are the only things to keep one from voting in this country (go ahead and scream ageism and discrimination against the disabled all you want, but people in prison have momentarily lost the right to vote by committing a crime), but Pacey wasn't talking about that. Joey also pointed out that most won't put down their electronic entertainments (in this day and age, it'd be give up social media) for a few moments to help, and she's proven wrong. Not only that, we also see the misrepresentation of facts by the media. The reporter calls the mob "concerned parents" and gives a biased report on Green's expulsion of Matt, Joey's mural, and Joey's words (a feminist site claims ageism in the way she talks to Gail that comes in form of flattering statements that should have sounded like an homage but in reality is just reminding her that she's getting older). Eventually, Gail and Dawson go about to present the truth but Green refuses to present his side of the story, despite all the bad press he is getting. The only time the race card is ever pulled is after a phone call is made to the Potters and Joey argues with Bessie. Joey tells Bessie that the Caulfields have a personal agenda, to which Bodie bluntly says that if Green was white, the reaction wouldn't be that much (this was aired before Obama was president so there is no comparison). In an unusual direction, the fact gets shot down in the episode by Bessie who suddenly doesn't want to lose her business and it's never used again (divisive issues like this would have been enough to cause Bodie and Bessie to break up, also).
The issue of race that was touched briefly (meaning two episodes) does call for one to bring up the obvious fact that during show's run, there is not a person of color in the Creek Gang (apparently, they thought that having a gay guy was just enough diversity for the show). At first, it seemed that Dawson would date one but she is removed when Green leaves, thus removing the possibility. The only black character, other than Green, is Bodie, who doesn't show up until "A Weekend in the Country." The show does reinforce a racial role in the two: Bodie may have a white girl friend and begot a mixed race child, yet he is unmarried, and is only a cook in an ice house and a hotel, while Green has an all black daughter from his marriage that ended and he has a job as principal, a place of power. Yet, if black men are put in places of power, they are "scrutinized and studied," to quote H.G. Wells, whereas black men who take on servant roles like cooking come and go unnoticed. The apparent bad thing Bodie ever did was impregnate a white woman and then run off, something that everyone expects of him and thus the largely white cast lets him off with a slap on the wrist (and a disapproving look from Grams). Green, however, has a good family and a good standing character, making him a favorite to the younger characters, and that is not something the mostly white community expects of a black man. So, they feel threatened by him. Of course, they can't remove him for being black, which would get the town in trouble, so they use an excuse of a perceived abuse of power to have him removed. One thing one can catch in looking over anything made in the Eighties and Nineties is that all it takes is one black man (or woman) put in a position of power to make the white residents upset. Dawson is not above this sort of action as he feels threatened by Niki when they first meet. Exactly what a black girl would bring to the mix is open to interpretation. Yet, it seems strange that in a time when Colin Powell was Secretary of Defense and Condelizza Rice was Secretary of State, there would be people feeling threatened by one black man in a place of power.
The racial issues can be shown through the entirely white cast. In the First Season, one could consider the blond haired Dawson and Jen as white and dark haired Pacey and Joey as black. Besides their hair color, Joey has a sibling who is raising an illegitimate child, she doesn't conform to the norms of a white girl (such row boating, changing spare tires, punching out jerks) while Pacey acts as the cool kid and has bad relations with his father and brother because they are cops. This leaves Dawson and Jen as the traditional white guy and white girl sorts in the gang, the virginal and chaste as well as having a past, having a wide eyed and innocent view of the world (as opposed to the cynical view of African Americans). With that sort, the racism becomes mostly Dawson not wanting a black guy sleeping with a white girl (as he deleted the kiss in his movie after seeing Pacey kiss Jen, but was not above him kissing Joey then). Meanwhile, Joey is treated as a black girl that doesn't get the lady-like treatment by Dawson. She does get harassment from the other white guys (football players, jocks). Yet, at the end, Joey is "promoted" to white girl and becomes his to guard against "black boys", first in form of Jack and later Pacey, yet doesn't mind the "white guy" variants like the college boyfriend come in. When Dawson tells Pacey to take care of her at the start of the season, it seems like a case of white guy only trusting the black guy in being a bodyguard and not a boyfriend, while at the same time leading to a case of "the beard". If one leads this to conclusion, he could come out thinking that Dawson is somewhat racist, not only by declaring girls hands off to surrogate black guys but also promoting a black girl to white (which is an inverse of declaring them black just for giving birth to mixed race children). It can also make Dawson even worse in the season.
Gay rights play a minor role in Season Three. Jack doesn't want people to get use to him being gay or people to put up with it. He just wants to be normal and his sexual orientation prevents that. Of course, he has problems with siblings who pair him up with guys and the relationship shows one form of being normal: the awkwardness, a few problems, a kiss, break up, etc. Yet the fact he will cause a ripple effect shows up twice: the first with his being a football player and the second at prom. Once again, a Christian stock character is brought in to be the opposition, as she holds couples as the theme and refuses to admit Jack and his date. When the alternative prom is set up, she calls the guests dregs of society and demeans the prom. Despite being an "everybody is welcome" sort of prom, Jack and Andie can't resist in saying that her kind are not invited. "What kind is that? The good Christian kind?" she asks. This prompts Jack to point out that it's not about religion but the bigotry and judgmental remarks that are not allowed: not allowing the close-minded, hypocritical, and immature kind. The girl then makes an arrogant, and very predictable, statement that she is not going to hell, which is treated as a hallow threat that wasn't her's to make.
Season Three is something that grows on you. When I was a college student, I hated it. Now, I find parts of it better than the first two seasons. In the DVDs, they have a way of showing the lack of Kevin Williamson involved by having Paulie Cole's "I Don't Wanna Wait" replaced by Jane Arden's "Run Like Mad". Somehow, the song fits the show far better than Cole's did, though since the latter is a part of Dawson's Creek mythology, the switch is messed up. Another problem with the DVDs is that for some reason the footage in the opening titles change. The credits for Season Three are in the first half but there's no excuse for Season Four's to be used from "A Weekend in the Country" onwards (there are times I wonder if that was from syndication or it did happen when they aired). But on the plus side, the credit footage is a big improvement, being less choppy and less confusing. Also, we finally get to see Kerr Smith and Meredith Monroe on the credits. So, to conclude, Season Three is not the best or the worst, if anything, it is just okay.
If Season One could be summed up as a hormone driven soap opera, taking place in New England, with a slight Southern touch, and Season Two being character driven teen agnst with plenty of sex and lies, then Season Three would be summed up as something of a work in progress. It doesn't really gets its identity until the later episodes, thus making it a terrible season, but it does have a few good episodes in it, as I learned from re-watching.
In my opinion, had Williamson stayed in Dawson's Creek, many of the plots from Season Two would have kept going and it's possible that Season Three would have come out very dark: with Joey becoming increasingly moody and going down a life of crime, Andie returning to a ruined reputation, Jack dealing with more anti-gay bigotry, Jen having a strained relationship with Grams, Dawson struggling to deal with divorced parents while trying to get back with Joey, and Pacey using his experience to have a different understanding of Doug and try to help him in his coming out. Such a dark season would easily make for a follow up to such a dark season finale like "Parental Discretion Advised." However, Williamson left, and Stupin may have felt that such a dark season would have alienated fans and the show's plug would be pulled. So, instead, we get what we see in Season Three where we see so many plot ideas of the season brought up and then get discarded, which is why I call it a season of abandoned plotlines.
Season Three opens with "Like a Virgin" with Dawson returning to Capeside from a summer in Philadelphia with a story of encountering a smoking hot woman on a bus. He tells Pacey about it while they start their junior year in high school (sophomore year ended back in Season Two) which has a new principal, Howard Green. Somehow, the previous principal had retired and Green took his place. He proves to be friendly with the students, even making Pacey's detention sound funny. Meanwhile, Joey is working as a gas attendant in a docking yard while being harassed by her boss (I think the job was just an excuse to show Katie Holmes in a swimsuit) while her older sister is waiting for money for the ruined Ice House and Bodie is no where in sight. She is still not talking to Dawson but has decided to forgive him. However, things don't go her way. The reason why is because Dawson doesn't want to be near her, as it hurts him. Perhaps now, looking back at it, his expression in "Parental Discretion Advised" foreshadows this as it shows hurt. Pacey decides to help him out by taking him to a strip club and that is where they run into the woman on the bus.
The said woman returns to Capeside and gets Dawson into his dad's boat and reveals her name as Eve. Eve then seduces Dawson, causing him to crash into the pier, where Joey is working (which is why one shouldn't have a blow job while driving, to use the vulgar term). Eve feels sorry for Dawson as the accident costs money and conspires with Pacey to raise money by turning the Leery house into a bordello. Teenage boys come from all over Capeside to see the girls do erotic dances for a fee and it gives Dawson plenty of money. Yet, Dawson is eventually cornered by Joey who proceeds to strip in front of him. However, Dawson rejects her and tells Pacey to look after her for awhile.
As if "Like a Virgin" was enough, we are then given "Homecoming". Jen has become a cheerleader, Jack joins the football team, and Pacey brings home Andie a day early. However, it turns out Andie slept with a boy in the medical home and it breaks Pacey's heart. Meanwhile, Dawson decides to lose his virginity with Eve, leading to a comedy of errors (Jen's advice on how to make sex good with ice cream as a metaphor, not withstanding) that climaxes with him shirtless in front of the school at the prep rally. Mitch and Green are seen smirking at this, though I am sure some words were said after, while Joey is disappointed. Then comes "None of the Above". It's time for the PSAT and Eve has brought the metaphorically forbidden fruit in form of the cheat test (the Biblical allusion is brought up in "Like a Virgin"). Dawson brings the folder before his friends, loses it during a fire drill, and wonders who stole it. Dawson becomes paranoid on it that he alienates his friends in his search for the thief until a blow up makes him realize Eve was poisoning his friendship. Meanwhile, Pacey and Andie make their break up official while Jack handles a tough tackle.
In short, the first three episodes shake things up. We see Dawson thinking with his groin while acting like a jerk and we hear Andie sleep with another guy. Not only that, it turns out Andie was the thief in "None of the Above". These things, along with Eve, show that the series is clearly suffering an identity crisis, as the writers had no idea where to take the show since they could not make the season dark. I also believe that Eve was put in there to add some sex appeal to the show, which back fired. She is brought in one more time in "Indian Summer" where she breaks into Grams' house at the opening, causes Dawson to set off into a search for her and finds her in a boat. The picture of her in Grams' house introduces a possible use for Eve other than just a sex object and it's suggested in "Guess Whose Coming to Dinner" that she is the half sister of Jen Lindley. However, the Eve plot line ends there and the whole thing is never brought up again. It is disappointing how a character that's just only there for guys to drool over, shake the show up, make everyone go out of character, have a possible connection with another, only to be written out right when they are starting to develop her. However, that is the tip of the iceberg.
Jen is a cheerleader for only four episodes. Instead of creating the Dawson's Creek version of Bring It On, Jen calls cheerleading demeaning and objectifying of women, mocks the spirit by wearing fish net stockings in her uniform, come up with unimaginable cheers at the prep rally, and finally tosses in her pomp pomps. Ironically, she was made head of the cheerleaders after a passionate speech against Barbara, previous head cheerleader, about how things go down hill after high school, making good Karma for her bitchiness against other girls. The cheerleaders then make Jen become Homecoming Queen and she gets to kiss a freshman named Henry. Henry is introduced episodes back and is shown to have a crush on Jen. Jen and Henry get further bonding in the Homecoming Queen Gala in "Secrets and Lies" where Jen brings in drag queens to spice up the party.
"Secrets and Lies" is one of the better episodes in the early part of Season Three. Joey was recently fired from her job after gatecrashing on her boss' date with Andie. The boss shames Andie and Pacey rescues her and the boss goes to Joey to try to prove his innocence while Andie believes she and Pacey are together again. People who loved the Pacey / Andie troupe would have rejoiced in this episode, though Pacey coldly declines to resume their relationship. The themes of possible rape are covered in the episode which is something that should have lead to an arc of episodes. Instead, we have Pacey and Andie not together, Joey out of a job, her former boss disappearing with nothing done about it, though Joey does warn him that his libido would get him in serious trouble some day. This is followed by "Escape From Witch Island" where the four head to an island where a group of girls were sent after being accused as witches. While a rip off of Blair Witch Project, the episode is another improvement after the disappointing early episodes, though one has to hand it to Jen to spew out New Age, feminist rhetoric on the matter. The episode also brings in the dynamics of Dawson taking the romantic view of William and Mary while Joey takes the cynical. The episode also has Andie become head of the discipline committee where she takes things a little too far.
"Guess Whose Coming to Dinner" follows, noted for the Eve plot line mentioned, a continuation of Pacey and Jen in a no-strings attached relationship, and more questions on Mitch and Gail, in the first ever Thanksgiving episode of the show. However, the season's plot line then jumps ahead to January with "Four to Tango". Joey and Pacey are once again paired for the latter's falling grade and this time it's not over snails. Joey also demands Pacey help her in dancing lessons in return. Of course, Dawson and Jen catch wind of the issue and it's an awkward moment when the dance instructor claims that Pacey and Joey are in the opening stages of a mating ritual while they dance. Of course, Pacey and Joey deny the idea. Meanwhile, Pacey and Jen decide to cool it with the friends with benefits approach.
Jack is given a plot line in football, though the drama of being a gay football player is not covered much. It does make him a celebrity in "Home Movies" where Dawson is asked by Gail to make a report on while Mitch doesn't want it. There is a good moment where Dawson comes up with a plan to help win the game as the opposing team keeps targeting Jack. After the victory in the Homecoming game, Jack is then left to kick around until the show decides he should date. "Four to Tango" has Jack paired with another gay guy, making this his first same-sex date. Of course, it doesn't go well. Then, in "First Encounters of the Close Kind", Jack explores the gay community. From the way it happens, gay guys suffer from not getting a date just as straight ones do. It is evidenced in "Barefoot in Capefest" where he hits on one during a camp out. The boy singled out by Jack is named Ethan. Jack and Ethan have the on-again, off-again approach during the season, but they aren't officially a couple until "Anti-Prom".
Of course, Jack's relationships don't occupy the center of the season. Instead, the middle of the season tackles everyone trying to get over the ground shaking moments of the start. The Potters have invested in making a bed and breakfast and by "A Weekend in the Country" they are yet to have guests. "A Weekend in the Country" is my favorite episode in the season because it has plenty of character development, drama, and some humor (like when Pacey announces everything is under control and the heat pump dies). Best moment is when everyone goes nostalgia over smell and talk of the first things they smelled or remembered smelling. Best of all, Bodie returns to make pancakes. Plot wise, "A Weekend in the Country" cements the thread that Pacey has feelings for Joey.
At the same time, Andie gets over Pacey by directing a play, which Pacey gets a starring role in. "Northern Lights" has the play come into fruition. Jen and Henry start to date and have a special one at a restaurant in "Valentine's Day Massacre" where Henry gives so much blood to get the money for this date that he faints during it. Of course, it doesn't ruin the date but makes them a couple. "First Encounters of the Close Kind" has the main group visit a college where Joey meets a guy named A.J.. The two become a couple by "Northern Lights", though they experience a long distance relationship. Pacey takes up to restoring a sail boat that was beached by a hurricane and he intended to call it True Love. It's wonderful to see Pacey have some project, though I wonder how he was able to juggle his school work, the bed and breakfast, the play, and that at once. Another change is that Pacey is shown moving out of his family's house because an unseen sister divorced her husband and brought her children with her, thus robbing Pacey of a room. Pacey moves in with his brother, Doug, where he spends the remainder of his teen years. But the main change happens with "First Encounters..." when Dawson sees the bad reception of his project and meets Niki Green. It turns out that Niki is Principal Green's daughter. Dawson gets an identity crisis in "Barefoot in Capefest" over this and then by "Northern Lights" gives up film making entirely, even dropping out of film class.
One thing I hated about this last is that Niki's introduction opens the avenue to a relationship between him and her, which would really change things and have an interracial relationship that would function well. They both like to make films, that's a start, they are living with one dad, both of who are working at school, and they are trying to find their own. Yet, the writers allowed this potential to pass by and anyone hoping for a person of color in the Creek Gang has not forgiven Stupin for this.
Pacey's feelings for Joey and Joey's relationship with Dawson are brought up in "Valentine's Day Massacre." Joey is upset that Dawson is going to a party that Matt Caufield is hosting while Pacey wants Dawson to be free. Since they aren't dating, one would think that Joey shouldn't be that protective of Dawson. It is frustrating that even after this, Joey has Dawson on a pedestal and hardly gives Pacey a second look. But the whole thing is best said by Pacey when he comments on their tired out process and how "it makes a guy want to puke" and then, on cue, he goes to the prison sink and vomits. We can feel for Pacey as he does his best to be the good friend to Joey and all he gets is his head bitten off while putting up with the tired out soap opera of Dawson and Joey. In that moment, Pacey has become the voice of the audience. Mitch bails the others out but Pacey is left with Doug and they talk about Pacey's feelings for Joey. At his encouragement, Pacey goes to tell Joey, but chickens out and teaches her to drive. Meanwhile, Dawson and Mitch have a talk where Mitch decides that if Dawson is going to act like a child than he must be the parent in this and puts Dawson into a state of servitude until he understands that being a child doesn't give him "license to be reckless and irresponsible."
Then we come to "Crime and Punishment." Joey paints a unity mural and chooses some Chinese style mural over football players and light houses. When she gives a speech, pointing out that the traditional unity symbols, even their own mascots, are divisive and she points to the one thing that does unite people is possibility, and then she finds her mural ruined. Joey feels persecuted but while Dawson takes the traditional approach of painting over the graffiti to show that she cannot be bullied, Pacey goes looking for the perpetrator and finds Matt behind it. The ensuring fight brings both to the office of Principal Green and Matt reveals his motives. Green expels Matt while sentencing Pacey to community service. The fall out of the mural scandal is massive. First, Joey gets mad at Pacey for picking a fight for her, causing him to tell her of the reasons he has been doing things good for her (but not his feelings), and, in turn, Joey accuses Dawson of wife swapping. Andie comes clean on the PSAT scandal and resigns from her post. However, all this is nothing compared to the following episode "To Green, With Love" where the school board demands Green reverse his decision or resign. Parents of Capeside hold protest signs around the school while Green refuses to comment on the action as the press does a character assassination. Joey rallies her friends help Green and faces a stubborn superintendent, a harassing phone call, a fair weather college boyfriend, an nonsupporting sibling, yet brings up a good rally worthy of recognition in archives along with the Pro-Life March. Still, Green leaves, along with Niki, and a power vacuum exists in Capeside High until a new principal comes.
Joey finally comes to terms with her college boyfriend in "Cinderella Story" and returns home to Capeside. Dawson is assigned to work with his mom, who was having troubles getting a job earlier in the news and has opened a new fish restaurant, and Pacey starts his community service where he mentors a little boy. The boy helps Pacey develop while Dawson remains the same. "Cinderella Story" concludes with the surprise kiss between Pacey and Joey. In the next episode, "Stolen Kisses", Joey starts out mad at Pacey. Then she realizes she may have feelings for him. She, Jen, and Andie then have a girls night out, which ends with Jen running into Henry in the latter's birthday party. Meanwhile, Dawson and Pacey go on a camping trip at a fort that was to be demolished, and are joined by a group of little boys. Why Jack wasn't invited to the latter is beyond me, especially as he and Andie helped with his mom's restaurant in the previous episode. At least, Dawson does one thing good and it's bring his parents together again. Mitch and Gail have gone through the season resisting the urge to reunite but the chemistry is undeniable (remember back in Season Two where Mitch and Gail started doing it after the new dishwasher malfunctioned?). Gradually, Mitch and Gale are able to reconcile. "Neverland" follows, with nothing much but the introduction of Dawson's aunt and a guy named Will Kopowski, who is never mentioned before and disappears after a few episodes and is never mentioned again. It turns out, Will was to be the main character of a spin off show called Young Americans, to air during Dawson's Creek hiatus.
Then comes "The Longest Day" where everything is revealed. Pacey and Joey have become a couple, but have to sneak around Dawson's back. The day is replayed but it shows Dawson learning the truth and confronting his two friends. Jen and Henry spend time in the Ryan house when Grams leaves and have a spat while Andie goes on a date with Will, only to get upset at Pacey dating Joey. Dawson gives Joey an ultimatum while ending his friendship with Pacey. It comes into effect in "Show Me Love" where Pacey and Dawson get on opposite boats in a regatta. In fact, Dawson is so determined to win back Joey that he goes in without any knowledge of boating (ironic as he handled one), uses the Potter B&B to sponsor despite one Potter member dating Pacey, and then almost kills Pacey and Will during the race. Joey becomes sick of it and shouts at both Dawson and Pacey for making her a prize in a war. Jen forgives Henry and spends the night (but did not have sex) with him. What follows is "Anti-Prom" where Dawson hosts an alternative prom because Barbara would not accept Jack and Ethan as a couple. Dawson goes to this with Joey, Pacey with Andie, and Jen with Henry. The fall out of this is a big mess. Joey tries to dance with Pacey to make a truce and it results in an argument with Dawson, Ethan is leaving town and it upsets Jack, and Henry reveals that he is going on a football camp during the summer which upsets Jen enough to say they are not going to have sex. Yet a silver lining comes with Gail and Mitch becoming a couple again, with Mitch proposing to Gail. Finally, we come to "True Love". Pacey decides to sail out during the summer while Dawson and Joey are sort of a couple again as they witness Mitch and Gail's wedding. Grams fills the teens with news of her lost love and then drives Jen to face Henry and tell him how she feels. Jack is also driven to Ethan where he bares his heart and implants the first gay men kiss on network television ever before being rejected because Ethan has gotten back with his ex. Pacey and Dawson don't reconcile, yet Dawson eventually comes through and allows Joey to go to Pacey and does his infamous crying face as she runs off. Joey then runs to the docks, finds Pacey, tells him that she loves him, boards his boat, and they sail off into the sunset.
Because Season Three has spent so much time changing itself, it really isn't until the Joey and Pacey relationship that anything memorable shows up, though some stand alone episodes are good. If Season Three can be remembered on anything, it would be for change. The set up in Season One is out the window now and the point of identification has changed and now we have the famous Dawson, Joey, Pacey love triangle. I guess the theme of Season Three, besides change, would be the same as the title of episode six "Secrets and Lies". Everyone is having secrets and lying about it, which makes all the revelations more hurtful. The episodes with Eve are just enough to make perverted fantasies yet episodes like "A Weekend In the Country" provide humane moments that one wants to stay in that island of tranquility forever.
The change has some bad parts, however. In this season, Dawson becomes unsympathetic as a character with his wrecking of his dad's boat, making out with Eve in the prep rally, accusing everyone of stealing a cheat exam, pick fights with people, come close to taking a drunk girl, get drunk at a party, force Joey to chose between their friendship and her relationship with Pacey, almost get Pacey killed in the regatta, rub Pacey's face during the prom and wedding, and refuse to reconcile. Quite frankly, he has gone from the idealistic youth to relate to to a full blown jerk. Pacey, meanwhile, is a jerk for a short time in his break up with Andie but improves in time for Joey. By the time the season ends, everyone girl watching Pacey will say "be still my heart." Joey, meanwhile, almost seems not deserving of either one of them, as she is so oblivious to Pacey's affections and self-sacrifice while treating Dawson like a child. It is shown in "Crime and Punishment" that she has to be told that Pacey is the right guy for her. Andie has transformed some in the start and covers up on the cheating for many episodes because she wants to prove she has recovered. If the plot line of the darker season was kept, it would have made more sense as the pressure from the mockery would motivate her into pushing people away and cheating on exams. This new plot thread makes no sense and erases all liking we had in her. That changes, of course, in the later episodes as she handles a play in a professional manner, goes through trauma of a near rape, supports her brother in his dating, and she helps Dawson out at the end. I do feel that Jack's line should have been developed more while Jen has a chance to change with Henry. Instead, we just get an awkward dance. Grams has developed more and Gail and Mitch are a better improvement than before.
Other improvements come in story telling. First, the dialogue is less wordy and more easy to follow, and memorize. Secondly, the standard plot formula that once reigned supreme in Season One and Season Two has been removed for a new one. In the first episode, Dawson and Joey are not in his bedroom in the first scene. Instead, Dawson is on a bus. In fact, of the twenty-three episodes in the season, not one opens with Dawson and Joey watching a movie on his bed (opening to "First Encounters With a Close Kind" doesn't count as Joey is seen entering the room while Dawson is watching the movie). Instead, we get openings in other places: a bus, the Potter house, school, etc. When there is a scene in Dawson's room, Dawson is with another person. In "The Longest Day", Dawson even makes it clear that they can never go back to that now.
One thing I consider Season Three is some kind of social commentary. The episodes make this commentary on many social aspects, anywhere from football to social lives. The fixation with football in America is handled with some minor detail, largely only used to give Jack some plot. Once Jack is on the team, a few mentions of football are brought up, mostly when talking about bad things. In "Guess Whose Coming to Dinner", Pacey speaks of his dad watching football while the Witter women slave away at making Thanksgiving dinners only to be critiqued on it. Mitch spends more time with his football team than with Dawson in the earlier episodes, leading some to believe Dawson's actions are a cry for attention. Later, Joey finds the football player too cliche for a mural. Jen joins the cheerleaders largely to protest the objectification of girls. She also protests the Homecoming Queen as "people being what they aren't". "None of the Above" also comments on the fact that PSATs are done in high school as a means of determining one's future and yet it puts stress on kids and makes them do wrong things. There are also times that season comments on our fixation with Dawson and Joey, climaxing with Pacey vomiting in the cell. Other social commentaries include the legend of Witch Island where we see Grams regurgitate the same, traditional story that was pass down from the Puritans while younger people come up with all sorts of theories on what goes on in the island (there's a part where a black girl claims the Government is doing things and making up excuses while a black guy behind her looks on, as though he were going to assault her later). What I get from that is that older people, who had only one avenue of information, will only just repeat what was told to them and call it a closed case while younger and more informed people will come up with ridiculous notions to explain a supernatural phenomenon.
The season is also a political commentary, if not an allegory of politics, some of which is shown in the Principal Green subplot. Prior to this point, we can safely assume that the adults on the show are either on the far left (Mitch, Gail, and Bessie) or on the far right (Grams, Sheriff Witter, Mr. McPhee) with the teens in the center of a political spectrum, which is a place where Principal Green also occupies. With that in mind, much of it doesn't result in much until Green comes to town. We don't see how Capeside reacts to a black principal until "To Green, With Love", which suggests the town didn't like him, despite overseeing Capeside High's victory at Homecoming Football, and his removal was some kind of coup d'etat. "Crime and Punishment" and "To Green, With Love" center on discrimination the most, often one against African Americans or people who act differently. Joey paints a mural different others and it gets trashed. The perpetrator turns out to be Matt Caulfield who justifies his actions: "I'm white and I'm rich; that's all the possibility I need." The commentary is more seen in "To Green, With Love." When the PTA is up, Joey thinks it's going okay if "you're an angry parent with a misguided agenda". When one thinks on it, it seems every meeting like that in the political field is made of angry parents with a misguided agenda. Later, as they leave, they note that only angry parents were present and point out that people who are happy with the way things are "don't attend emergency PTAs." There are alot of people who don't attend politic meetings or rallies, often never getting into politics at all, even if they have the numbers to effect the polls, and most people tend to dub them as "Silent Majority". Instead, it's the radicals who make most of the changes because they are the ones who go to such meetings. Joey is also silenced due to her age as well, to which Pacey points out that people with mental defects, incarcerated people, and those under eighteen "are routinely denied the chance participate in decision making that changes their lives." The last seems normal since they are the only things to keep one from voting in this country (go ahead and scream ageism and discrimination against the disabled all you want, but people in prison have momentarily lost the right to vote by committing a crime), but Pacey wasn't talking about that. Joey also pointed out that most won't put down their electronic entertainments (in this day and age, it'd be give up social media) for a few moments to help, and she's proven wrong. Not only that, we also see the misrepresentation of facts by the media. The reporter calls the mob "concerned parents" and gives a biased report on Green's expulsion of Matt, Joey's mural, and Joey's words (a feminist site claims ageism in the way she talks to Gail that comes in form of flattering statements that should have sounded like an homage but in reality is just reminding her that she's getting older). Eventually, Gail and Dawson go about to present the truth but Green refuses to present his side of the story, despite all the bad press he is getting. The only time the race card is ever pulled is after a phone call is made to the Potters and Joey argues with Bessie. Joey tells Bessie that the Caulfields have a personal agenda, to which Bodie bluntly says that if Green was white, the reaction wouldn't be that much (this was aired before Obama was president so there is no comparison). In an unusual direction, the fact gets shot down in the episode by Bessie who suddenly doesn't want to lose her business and it's never used again (divisive issues like this would have been enough to cause Bodie and Bessie to break up, also).
The issue of race that was touched briefly (meaning two episodes) does call for one to bring up the obvious fact that during show's run, there is not a person of color in the Creek Gang (apparently, they thought that having a gay guy was just enough diversity for the show). At first, it seemed that Dawson would date one but she is removed when Green leaves, thus removing the possibility. The only black character, other than Green, is Bodie, who doesn't show up until "A Weekend in the Country." The show does reinforce a racial role in the two: Bodie may have a white girl friend and begot a mixed race child, yet he is unmarried, and is only a cook in an ice house and a hotel, while Green has an all black daughter from his marriage that ended and he has a job as principal, a place of power. Yet, if black men are put in places of power, they are "scrutinized and studied," to quote H.G. Wells, whereas black men who take on servant roles like cooking come and go unnoticed. The apparent bad thing Bodie ever did was impregnate a white woman and then run off, something that everyone expects of him and thus the largely white cast lets him off with a slap on the wrist (and a disapproving look from Grams). Green, however, has a good family and a good standing character, making him a favorite to the younger characters, and that is not something the mostly white community expects of a black man. So, they feel threatened by him. Of course, they can't remove him for being black, which would get the town in trouble, so they use an excuse of a perceived abuse of power to have him removed. One thing one can catch in looking over anything made in the Eighties and Nineties is that all it takes is one black man (or woman) put in a position of power to make the white residents upset. Dawson is not above this sort of action as he feels threatened by Niki when they first meet. Exactly what a black girl would bring to the mix is open to interpretation. Yet, it seems strange that in a time when Colin Powell was Secretary of Defense and Condelizza Rice was Secretary of State, there would be people feeling threatened by one black man in a place of power.
The racial issues can be shown through the entirely white cast. In the First Season, one could consider the blond haired Dawson and Jen as white and dark haired Pacey and Joey as black. Besides their hair color, Joey has a sibling who is raising an illegitimate child, she doesn't conform to the norms of a white girl (such row boating, changing spare tires, punching out jerks) while Pacey acts as the cool kid and has bad relations with his father and brother because they are cops. This leaves Dawson and Jen as the traditional white guy and white girl sorts in the gang, the virginal and chaste as well as having a past, having a wide eyed and innocent view of the world (as opposed to the cynical view of African Americans). With that sort, the racism becomes mostly Dawson not wanting a black guy sleeping with a white girl (as he deleted the kiss in his movie after seeing Pacey kiss Jen, but was not above him kissing Joey then). Meanwhile, Joey is treated as a black girl that doesn't get the lady-like treatment by Dawson. She does get harassment from the other white guys (football players, jocks). Yet, at the end, Joey is "promoted" to white girl and becomes his to guard against "black boys", first in form of Jack and later Pacey, yet doesn't mind the "white guy" variants like the college boyfriend come in. When Dawson tells Pacey to take care of her at the start of the season, it seems like a case of white guy only trusting the black guy in being a bodyguard and not a boyfriend, while at the same time leading to a case of "the beard". If one leads this to conclusion, he could come out thinking that Dawson is somewhat racist, not only by declaring girls hands off to surrogate black guys but also promoting a black girl to white (which is an inverse of declaring them black just for giving birth to mixed race children). It can also make Dawson even worse in the season.
Gay rights play a minor role in Season Three. Jack doesn't want people to get use to him being gay or people to put up with it. He just wants to be normal and his sexual orientation prevents that. Of course, he has problems with siblings who pair him up with guys and the relationship shows one form of being normal: the awkwardness, a few problems, a kiss, break up, etc. Yet the fact he will cause a ripple effect shows up twice: the first with his being a football player and the second at prom. Once again, a Christian stock character is brought in to be the opposition, as she holds couples as the theme and refuses to admit Jack and his date. When the alternative prom is set up, she calls the guests dregs of society and demeans the prom. Despite being an "everybody is welcome" sort of prom, Jack and Andie can't resist in saying that her kind are not invited. "What kind is that? The good Christian kind?" she asks. This prompts Jack to point out that it's not about religion but the bigotry and judgmental remarks that are not allowed: not allowing the close-minded, hypocritical, and immature kind. The girl then makes an arrogant, and very predictable, statement that she is not going to hell, which is treated as a hallow threat that wasn't her's to make.
Season Three is something that grows on you. When I was a college student, I hated it. Now, I find parts of it better than the first two seasons. In the DVDs, they have a way of showing the lack of Kevin Williamson involved by having Paulie Cole's "I Don't Wanna Wait" replaced by Jane Arden's "Run Like Mad". Somehow, the song fits the show far better than Cole's did, though since the latter is a part of Dawson's Creek mythology, the switch is messed up. Another problem with the DVDs is that for some reason the footage in the opening titles change. The credits for Season Three are in the first half but there's no excuse for Season Four's to be used from "A Weekend in the Country" onwards (there are times I wonder if that was from syndication or it did happen when they aired). But on the plus side, the credit footage is a big improvement, being less choppy and less confusing. Also, we finally get to see Kerr Smith and Meredith Monroe on the credits. So, to conclude, Season Three is not the best or the worst, if anything, it is just okay.
