The Dawson’s Creek impact

Dawson’s Creek, a 90’s teen soap opera that consisted of an idealist, ambitious teenage boy, a tomboy girl-next-door archetype, and a litany of cringey wholesome adolescent angst altered television, ultimately becoming a phenomenon. 

Dawson’s Creek first aired in Jan. 1998 and followed a group of high school friends who soaked up the Cape Cod air and created a love triangle that would live on for years to come. 

Created by Kevin Williamson and signed to the WB network, Dawson’s Creek was set to air immediately after “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, which would ultimately play in the Creek’s favor. 

The show aired for six seasons with 120 episodes, and its premiere received an average of 6.8 million viewers. 

From left to right: Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, and Joshua Jackson

Williamson, who had just sold his script for the Scream franchise, threw out an idea for a show that was reflective of his childhood, growing up near a creek as an aspiring filmmaker with an admiration for the work of director Stephen Spielberg.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Williamson said, 

“I started talking about growing up in North Carolina on a creek with my video camera filming movies in the backyard and wishing to be Stephen Spielberg”. 

According to a 2015 interview with Access Hollywood, he explained that every single character represents an aspect of his personality.

In fact, he even had a friend, Fannie Norwood, who would row over to his house and spend the night for years. 

This may have been what inspired Katie Holmes’ character, Joey Potter, one of the key characters in the show.  

His obsession with filmmaking and Stephen Spielberg is what inspired main character Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), and, being an LGBTQ+ director and writer, the character of Jack Mcphee (Kerr Smith), a gay teenage boy finding his footing in life is a reflection of Williamson too. 

Jack Mcphee, as claimed by Bustle Magazine, was one of the first LGBT characters on television. 

     Kerr Smith and Kevin Williamson 

But amongst these fun facts, one of the most important parts of the show is the dialogue that takes place. 

Each character talks like they are walking thesauruses’, but, this was for a reason. 

He once stated that prior to Dawson’s Creek, teens only really had Beverly Hills 90210. 

Williamson wanted to create a fresh coming-of-age story that showed how intelligent teenagers are, and how adults should every now and then follow in their lead. 

“It sounds like all of these kids are psychology majors; it doesn’t ring true”, is what one of Williamson’s agents said when initially reviewing the script. 

He responded to this by saying that it was all about what they were trying to say, and that an ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words, even if the way they spoke was a bit stylized. 

The characters on the show all go through unique struggles. 

Pacey (Joshua Jackson) ends up failing the majority of his classes in high school, but receives an opportunity to graduate, and he ultimately does. He comes from a family that never really had high expectations of him in the first place, creating insecurity and self-doubt. 

He ends up taking a less traditional route than his friends by working instead of going to college. 

Jen Lindley, played by Michelle Williams, is shown in the pilot of the show fresh out of a cab from New York, as her parents sent her to live with her grandmother due to her “party girl” past and goes through many ups and downs throughout her time on the show. 

Michelle Williams and Busy Phillips who plays Audrey Lidell

One of the characters even cheats on her PSAT’s, struggles with a mental illness and has a mother who is also mentally ill, while other characters struggle with alcoholism per the college life and stresses that come with it.

Joey Potter has a felon for a father, and a mother who passed when she was young. With this, her sister Bessie and her boyfriend Bodie end up taking care of her and pushing her to make something of herself. 

But, one thing they all have in common is a supportive, close group of friends. 

Sarah Wilson, a 44-year-old from Tennessee, and a longtime Dawson’s Creek fan says that she related to the characters when the show first aired, and was going through the same kinds of dilemma’s and growing pains that come with being a teenager. 

“I was 19 and watched the very first episode the day it first aired. I was obsessed from the start”, Wilson said.

Wilson also mentioned that no other show has ever had such an impact on her life like Dawson’s Creek, and she thinks that the reason it has that same effect today is because it didn’t shy away from real issues that teens go through. 

“I don’t think it compares to any other show. It was so wholesome, but also edgy for its time”, Wilson said. 

She added that the show is comforting to rewatch and that people are still talking about it because it has left a lasting impression on their lives.

Joey and Dawson in the pilot episode of the show watching E.T

Daniel Cook, a 25-year-old college student has only just recently finished the show but he says he can understand why it had such a great impact and why it can still be relevant and helpful today. 

“The show creates this dynamic connection between the audience and the characters. It talks about real life struggles like the pressures of coming out, college, and even fights with close friends. I think it shows things a lot of people can relate to”, Cook said. 

A plot line that plays throughout the entirety of the show is the romantic tension between Dawson and Joey who had been best friends since they were extremely young.

However, the plot would later thicken as Pacey Witter, Dawson’s best friend takes a liking to Joey, ultimately ending up with her forever.

Initially, Kevin Williamson wanted Dawson and Joey to wrap up the show by also wrapping up their relationship, finally putting a ring on it.

But, Joshua Jackson had other plans in mind, and said he fought for Joey and Pacey to end up together. 

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jackson said, 

“I had a whole conversation with Kevin {Williamson} about this. Like, look, I get it. This is the idea you had in your head, but I’m just gonna ask you to watch the tale of the tape and this is a much more interesting end for these characters.” 

This love triangle was one that fans would talk about for years to come, even the younger ones. 

Boston Tidwell, a 19-year-old full time college student says even though he may not completely agree with the outcome being a fan of Dawson, he understands why Joey ended up choosing Pacey.

“It makes perfect sense that Joey ended up with Pacey. Joey and Dawson’s dynamic was just too real and Joey and Pacey represented something that was so different and unique”, Tidwell said. 

Tidwell also said that he relates to Dawson Leery’s character, describing himself too as a hopeless romantic type who sometimes feels like the show calls him out. 

Dawson’s Creek is not only one of Warner Bros’ biggest TV shows, but it is one that related to millions of teens in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and thousands of members gather on different fan group forums to talk about the show and even debate the Pacey and Joey relationship. 

Today, the topics the show covers can possibly still be relatable and helpful for today’s youth.