As a gamer who grew up watching TV shows that were as much a part of my childhood as playing Super Mario Bros., I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgic joy when I hear about the influence of “Dawson’s Creek” on modern series like “All American: Homecoming.
Spoilers ahead for the final season of All American: Homecoming.
The TV series “All American: Homecoming” has concluded on The CW, according to the 2024 television schedule. Its series finale aired shortly after the sixth season ended, and it seemed like a fitting conclusion. Despite showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll not knowing that “Homecoming” would be its final season when planning it, they managed to tie up loose ends and provide Simone and Lando with a happy ending. Interestingly, this happy ending might have been less impactful if not for an episode earlier in the season that was influenced by one of “Dawson’s Creek”‘s top episodes. Isn’t that something?
Following the conclusion of the series, All American: Homecoming‘s showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll discussed the final season with Deadline. Among other topics, she revealed a unique episode primarily focusing on characters Simone and Lando. She explained that this episode’s concept was influenced by a program broadcasted on the same network years prior to its transformation from The WB to The CW. Carroll stated:
It’s no surprise to anyone that Dawson’s Creek is one of my most cherished shows. One episode from Dawson’s Creek that stands out for me is when Joey (Katie Holmes) and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) got stranded in a store, presumably Walmart, overnight. This episode was mostly focused on these two characters, and it was during this time that Joey came to understand that Pacey had never truly stopped loving her; he just learned to cope with it. To this day, it’s one of my all-time favorite episodes, and I frequently bring it up in conversation. My friends, however, are quite tired of hearing about it – they’re fed up with my ongoing affection for Pacey. In fact, I discussed this topic at length with my co-showrunner, Marqui [Jackson].
Nkechi Okoro Carroll mentioned that the episode of “Dawson’s Creek” she’s referring to is titled “Castaways”, which was aired during the latter part of the sixth season, marking the final season. This episode is among TopMob’s top picks for the best “Dawson’s Creek” episodes and is considered a classic, particularly for those who support the relationship between Pacey and Joey (Team Pacey/Joey). If you fall into this category, you can now rewatch “Castaways”, as “Dawson’s Creek” can be streamed with a Hulu subscription or an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Nkechi Okoro Carroll further added…
In our days as companions, he was penning stories for House, while I tackled Bones, and our respective careers were on an upward trajectory side by side. Since then, I’ve discussed this particular episode countless times with him. When it came time to plot the upcoming season, I suggested, “We must create opportunities to solidify the bond between Simone and Lando. It won’t do for her to simply turn around and say, ‘I want to be with him now.’ We need to witness that moment of connection, and when he truly supports her during her cancer treatment and beyond.
If Simone and Lando were destined to be the main pair in All American: Homecoming, they needed to reconnect, or at least find themselves in the same storyline again. Co-showrunner Marqui Jackson devised an episode reminiscent of “Castaways” from Dawson’s Creek, which left Carroll taken aback yet pleased. She summarized:
Marqui essentially said, “You know what? I’ve got this great idea for an episode, one that I think will really take you by surprise. As we gear up to start working on it, he hinted, ‘I’m planning to reinterpret your favorite episode and deliver a delightful 42-minute romantic comedy, focusing solely on the blossoming love between these two characters without them even realizing it.” Hearing this from a friend like him, I couldn’t help but think, “That is one heck of a friend!” He had been talking about it for 14 years, and when I tried to discuss something else, he playfully told me to move on. Eventually, Marqui Jackson decided to bring this concept to life as a two-character solo performance.
To catch up on the initial two seasons of “All American: Homecoming” following its finale, you have the opportunity now with a Netflix subscription. The third season is also expected to debut on the streaming platform soon. Additionally, all six seasons of “All American” currently airing are available on Netflix too.
If Nkechi Okoro Carroll’s comments remind you of the days with Dawson, Joey, and Pacey, you can re-watch Dawson’s Creek on Hulu or Prime Video… or alternatively, catch the series premiere of Joshua Jackson’s Doctor Odyssey on Hulu, which surprisingly had a similar feel to Creek.
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2024-10-01 07:07