As a millennial who just recently dipped my toes into the world of Dawson’s Creek, I must say it’s been quite an eye-opener! With my hands over my eyes and peeking through the gaps during some scenes, I can’t help but wonder if we were really OK with the cringe-worthy plotlines back in the ’90s. The Jack and Tamara storyline made me squirm, and Pacey getting hazed about it? That was just too much for this 2024 palate!
To kick off this discussion, let me provide a bit of background: I’m a millennial, right smack dab in the middle of that demographic. Many people my age watched Dawson’s Creek, especially during its later seasons, back in the early 2000s. Since I was the eldest in my family, I didn’t catch the show when it first aired. However, now is the perfect time to revisit it, so here I am, binge-watching The Creek with an Amazon Prime subscription. Although there’s plenty to enjoy about this series and some aspects I like, I find myself pondering over three major questions for those who watched it during its original run.
Additionally, I wanted to point out that I wrote this piece before I had completed binge-watching the show. Right now, I’ve only made it through part of Season 3, so if there are any major twists or unexpected developments in the storyline later on, remember that I’m still relatively new to the series; I may not be aware of all the details yet, but I’m certainly not unintelligent!
Did Everyone Originally Cringe-Watch Through The Tamara And Jack Coming Out Plotlines?
Initially, I didn’t anticipate that joining this television series would involve hours of viewing a teen student romantically involved with a teacher who is significantly older, or witnessing a character identifying as LGBTQ+ being subjected to bullying by their teacher during coming-out. While it’s commendable that Jack’s coming out on one of the iconic ’90s shows was daring, I’ve heard that the show creator, Kevin Williamson (who is also part of the LGBTQ+ community), made this move to secure improved representation on television networks as a compromise. However, times have changed considerably since then, and Jack’s coming-out scene offers valuable insights for reflection.
However, the Tamara plotline and Pacey’s experiences with hazing surrounding it – I found myself needing to watch several of these scenes with my hands shielding my eyes, peeking through the cracks. Was this plotline acceptable in the ’90s? Did it hold some sort of appeal back then? Does it still seem as awkward and cringeworthy to me in 2024 as it did when I first saw it?
Why Does This Show Kill So Many People Off?
In a small Massachusetts town, it appears an unusually high number of Dawson’s Creek actors have passed away. While the death of Jenn’s grandfather might be expected due to the storyline, Monica Keena’s character met an untimely end in a tragic drunken drowning accident after deciding to leave the show. Joey Potter’s mother is already deceased when the series begins, and it seems Dawson may lose another parent later on. There might be more deaths I’m not aware of yet, but you get the idea.
Over time, many television series have become known for eliminating characters, particularly during the peak of shows such as “Game of Thrones,” “Breaking Bad,” “Justified,” “Sons of Anarchy,” and “Boardwalk Empire.” However, it’s important to note that those programs were inherently violent. This is a drama about growing up, which makes the sudden death of characters unexpected and more impactful.
Most Importantly: Did Everyone Hate Dawson In The ‘90s?
Frankly, I don’t feel it’s unkind to admit that Dawson isn’t my cup of tea, even though he seems less grating in Season 1. Yet, his overly precocious and self-conscious demeanor makes him more likely to induce eyerolls than admiration. Typically, I consider ‘self-aware’ as a positive trait, but not here it isn’t. Later on, James Van Der Beek himself has acknowledged that Dawson’s Creek veered off course and he wasn’t overly fond of some aspects of portraying his most iconic TV character.
From a casual glance, it seems I’m not the only one with disdain for Dawson. In fact, a peer of mine recently revisited the initial episode of Dawson’s Creek a few years back and expressed a similar sentiment. Yet, when the series initially aired, was the character of Dawson perceived as a misunderstood adolescent who elicited sympathy? Or is it merely the passage of time that has been unkind to our self-centered, title-bearing protagonist?
As a millennial latecomer, here are the questions that have intrigued me most as I dive into my binge-watching marathon. My sister has hinted there’s more to dislike ahead, particularly when the main group graduates from high school. Guess I’m eagerly anticipating what comes next!
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-28 15:37