Outside of the ending for Pacey, overall I prefer this episode as the finale as it was originally intended. Leaves a lot more open for the viewer to take how they want & doesn't pointlessly kill off a character who grew so much & make a running punchline a reality. This episode I felt left it open with no matter where you are, there's always hope. You could feel the heart in this one & knew it was more than just another episode. If I could take the time jump of the actual finale & add them to this just showing the careers of them all - that would be fine. I was content with Joey finally going out into the world not relying on a man. Overall the show is brilliant & I love almost everything about it but this episode right here feels right.
Dawson's Creek (TV Series)
Joey Potter and Capeside Redemption (2003)
User Reviews
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Finally (pun inteded)
Jackbv12314 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I agree that this should have been the finale. This one would have closed the circle. Joey makes a reference to life imitating art imitating life. Dawson tells her that his movie, which is this episode capsulized, is about a girl. Not two boys, but a girl - Joey. Dawson's movie closes with the character Joey rowing her boat. Joey's closing monologue in this episode is especially appropriate and fits my thesis.
The only thing that this episode shows is that neither one of them deserved Joey Potter. Both Dawson and Pacey are in the process of proving that they are true losers.
Dawson has given up. In the usual course of things Joey would point out to him that is his own fault that the money is gone. (Perhaps that didn't come up because neither Joey nor Dawson are financially sophisticated enough to realize how stupid Dawson was to leave it all in Pacey's hands and trust him unconditionally in the Las Vegas that is Wall Street.) But Dawson's guilt is far more than that. All of his basic character flaws combine to trigger his tantrum and surrender to despair.
Pacey does exactly the same thing. He has also surrendered to despair. And the everything that has come before in this terrible season has proven that Pacey deserves no respect, especially from a woman. We even see that continue into the next episode.
Joey changes everything. Finally after all these episodes, Joey's heroism comes through. Beauty, brains, compassion, valor and a bit of sneakiness. And love.
And now we have a chance to do what has been missing for I can't remember how long in this series. Fun.
Unfortunately the fans have decreed a different resolution to this love triangle. Rather than freeing Joey to find someone worthy of her, there must be a choice, no matter how bad the candidates. The end of Eddie's story in the previous episode has already informed the viewers that Joey can have no one other than one of these two. So be it.
It is especially bad that the last two episodes include such a sad story that robs Jen of the respect she deserves. It makes that brave woman with such an excellent heart and wisdom developed from all her trials and it makes her a tragic victim. It is SO unnecessary and does nothing for the overall story.
It is total coincidence that I write this on the eve of the 20thh anniversary of the close of this series.
The only thing that this episode shows is that neither one of them deserved Joey Potter. Both Dawson and Pacey are in the process of proving that they are true losers.
Dawson has given up. In the usual course of things Joey would point out to him that is his own fault that the money is gone. (Perhaps that didn't come up because neither Joey nor Dawson are financially sophisticated enough to realize how stupid Dawson was to leave it all in Pacey's hands and trust him unconditionally in the Las Vegas that is Wall Street.) But Dawson's guilt is far more than that. All of his basic character flaws combine to trigger his tantrum and surrender to despair.
Pacey does exactly the same thing. He has also surrendered to despair. And the everything that has come before in this terrible season has proven that Pacey deserves no respect, especially from a woman. We even see that continue into the next episode.
Joey changes everything. Finally after all these episodes, Joey's heroism comes through. Beauty, brains, compassion, valor and a bit of sneakiness. And love.
And now we have a chance to do what has been missing for I can't remember how long in this series. Fun.
Unfortunately the fans have decreed a different resolution to this love triangle. Rather than freeing Joey to find someone worthy of her, there must be a choice, no matter how bad the candidates. The end of Eddie's story in the previous episode has already informed the viewers that Joey can have no one other than one of these two. So be it.
It is especially bad that the last two episodes include such a sad story that robs Jen of the respect she deserves. It makes that brave woman with such an excellent heart and wisdom developed from all her trials and it makes her a tragic victim. It is SO unnecessary and does nothing for the overall story.
It is total coincidence that I write this on the eve of the 20thh anniversary of the close of this series.
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