Dawson's Creek is one of those shows that
exists within a pseudo-reality where everyone looks great and
speaks with an eloquence that simply doesn't exist within the
bounderies of normal conversation. These are characters who
are never at a loss for words. Quite the opposite, in fact.
The teenagers in Dawson's Creek speak better
than most professional talkers. They sling words with the elegance
of verbal Jedi Masters. There is no hesitation, no stuttering,
just lightning quick dialogue. And every other word would get
you a triple-word score in scrabble.
I say this not as a form of complaint, but
as praise. This is smart show and watching it keeps you on your
toes.
Does it really matter that teenagers really
don't talk this way? At the end of the episode, no, it doesn't.
Dawson's Creek is all about idealism. And yet underscoring the
unreality are real emotions and real issues.
Dawson Leary (James Van Der Beek)is a 15-year
old aspiring filmmaker. Steven Spielberg is Dawson's god and
his bedroom has been decorated as an altar to the director.
The answers to all of life's problems, explains Dawson, can
be found within a Spielberg film. He is a dreamer and though
he is obviously highly intelligent, he is naive to the realities
of life.
Across the creek is Joey (Katie Holmes). She
and Dawson have been friends all of their lives. They spend
their weekends huddled in Dawson's room, watching movie after
movie. The trouble is they are rapidly leaving childhood. The
complications of a 15-year old girl sharing a bed with a 15-year
old boy are rapidly becoming apparent. Innocent Dawson still
believes things are as they've always been, but Joey knows better.
She recognizes growing feelings for Dawson and the implications
terrify her.
The volatile Dawson-Joey situation is made
more explosive by the new girl in town, Jen (Michelle Williams).
From the instant Dawson first spies Jen exiting a taxi he projects
all of his deep seeded romantinc notions upon her. She is the
girl of his dreams, much to the chagrin of Joey.
And then there is Pacey (Joshua Jackson).
In many ways, Pacey is the comic relief of the group, the troublemaker
who isn't afraid to vocalize what no one else will. Ultimately,
Pacey is just as insecure as Dawson, but he hides it behind
a facade of pranks and big talk.
These four characters set up the main focus
of the drama in the series. It is their relationships with each
other and those around them that provide the fertile ground
for the storylines. Underneath the multi-syllabic dialogue are
simple questions. Will Dawson see what's right in front of him?
Will Joey ever admit her growing feelings for Dawson? Will Jen
overcome the mistakes of her past?
Much is often written about the sexuality
of the show. Every episode contains innuendoes or blatent references.
I feel that those who complain about this aspect of the show
have simply forgotten their own teenage years, where an emerging
sexuality is a very real and important part of life. It is in
our teenage years where we wrestle the most with the differences
between sex and love and some of these frustrations are at the
heart of the show.
Dawson's Creek manages to do what few other
shows accomplish -- it is a smart and honest look at teenage
lives. Yes, the show is television melodrama, often containing
typically overblown or even outlandish plotlines. Everyone may
look like they were just pulled from a Gap commercial, complete
with the latest trendy pop songs, but at the same time, the
show gives its characters real personalities and feelings.
For my money, I don't want an unflinchingly
realistic drama about the teenage years. It was tough enough
when I lived it, thank you very much. I'll take Dawson's Creek,
which is what all of us wish those years were like.
