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Dawson's Creek - OMG wtf?! Was it really that bad?

112 replies

GuitarRookie · 19/05/2023 17:18

Hi,

I grew up with this show and loved it! Didn't bother with the college years, but loved the first few series as an early-mid teen.

I suggested my teen dd watched it a few days a go, as noticed a re run from the beginning but wow, it's so bad!

I don't remember it being so racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic and oh yes, then there's the casual paedophilia story line! And did they actually talk about anything other than sex?! I mean, I know it's a coming of age, teen angst drama, but it's just ridiculous. All of the characters are unlikeable at best. The script is awful, the writing is amateurish.

I asked my dd what she thought and she basically said it was crap. It hasn't aged well.

Not sure why I needed to rant about this 😂 but here it is!

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 19/05/2023 17:20

I've been enjoying One Tree Hill from the start. It has just been bumped an hour earlier because of DC.

MrsMitford3 · 19/05/2023 17:21

So funny- was looking for something light to watch and saw it in the listings just yesterday-think season one episode 3.
Absolutely awful!! And I also loved it first time around but it really hasn't stood the test of time and some shocking acting!!!

readbooksdrinktea · 19/05/2023 17:22

Yes. Yes, it was.

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KateyCuckoo · 19/05/2023 17:22

Oh but Joshua Jackson season 3 onwards was worth watching for!

BarbedButterfly · 19/05/2023 17:23

Yes. I loved Dawson as a teen but now I can't stand him. He is so toxic

Lovingitallnow · 19/05/2023 17:29

I'm so ahead of my time. I thought Dawson was an eejit from the get go.

Pacey and Joey reading on the boat 😍 now no one ruin it for me pls.

BibbleandSqwauk · 19/05/2023 17:41

Yeah it's actually better from the college years on now, and the finale episode is still awesome but the early ones are so bad.. everything from the script to the acting. Except JJ. He is perfect and anyone who says otherwise is just wrong 😁

ChimChimeny · 19/05/2023 17:49

TeenDivided · 19/05/2023 17:20

I've been enjoying One Tree Hill from the start. It has just been bumped an hour earlier because of DC.

I can recommend the Drama Queens podcast, it's hosted by the three main women and they rewatch each episode then talk about it. I'm watching & listening at t the same time, I still love it

NewDelta · 19/05/2023 17:49

I adored DC. I thought Joey was so very pretty she still is and cool. Dawson not so much, loved Pacey too. I watched all the episodes on YT when I was pregnant with Dc2 and was signed off work with HG for a few weeks.

Bobbybobbins · 19/05/2023 17:50

It is pretty dire but I thought it was awful at the time, still watched it mind you. Thought Buffy was worse when I tried to rewatch that.

KillingMeDeftly · 19/05/2023 17:51

Who would've thought one of the leads would end up a 5-time Oscar nominee??

NancyJoan · 19/05/2023 17:52

I still quite love it. Series 3 and 4 Pacey is still The One.

Awrite · 19/05/2023 17:57

I was at uni when it first aired. I remember being completely gobsmacked at the dialogue. So, so bad. Dawson himself was never regarded as good looking either.

We watched it to laugh at it.

I did love Pacey though.

Seriously79 · 19/05/2023 18:21

I absolutely loved DC!!! I've watched it several times over and over.

Don't want to ruin it for anyone, but the song that plays when Jen makes her video, I only have to hear the first few seconds of that song and I'm a mess 😢

Londono · 19/05/2023 18:23

It was awful at the time - they were all so self-obsessed. Joey and Michelle are very pretty though.

hettiethehare · 19/05/2023 18:26

Dawson’s eyes were (and probably still are!) far too close together.

Ungratefulorunreasonable · 19/05/2023 18:26

It's quite reflective of its time, with regard to homophobia, sexism etc. I think they're tackled quite well in the context of the time period - Jack's coming out is good I felt and quite unusual in a teen drama back then. And the racism is intentional on the whole, as in highlighting and confirming it.

Viewed through modern eyes, then it's not great, and the storylines certainly wouldn't be done now, we've moved on massively in the last 20 years a culture however back then affairs with teachers were somewhat aspirational and we're only just becoming unacceptable - I had 2 teachers marry students pretty much as soon as they were out of 6th form and I was about 13/14.

And JJ was fantastic as Pacey, by far the best actor of the bunch.

MrsRickAstley · 19/05/2023 18:27

Pacey 😍

ASGIRC · 19/05/2023 18:27

Ha! I watched it a few years ago and yeah, it hasnt ages very well, socially.
Dawson is the WORST! But the show is worth it for Pacey alone (JJ can do no wrong!)

Crunchymum · 19/05/2023 18:27

I couldn't abide the programme first time around but of course I watched it because everyone else did 🙄

I was a teeenager myself but the angst and self pity was beyond even my dramatic tendencies. And Dawson was a fucking horror. I never got it.

JJ as Pacey was the only thing that made it bearable. Although I wish he'd found someone more deserving than Joey!!!

Ungratefulorunreasonable · 19/05/2023 18:27

*condemning not confirming the racism!

hettiethehare · 19/05/2023 18:28

TeenDivided · 19/05/2023 17:20

I've been enjoying One Tree Hill from the start. It has just been bumped an hour earlier because of DC.

Loved One Tree Hill so much (until it went really crap in Season 5 or so on).

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 19/05/2023 18:52

Bobbybobbins · 19/05/2023 17:50

It is pretty dire but I thought it was awful at the time, still watched it mind you. Thought Buffy was worse when I tried to rewatch that.

Did you get past season 1? Rewatching Buffy at the mo and think it's aged really well. Season 1 was always a bit ropey though.

Bobbybobbins · 19/05/2023 22:03

@fdgdfgdfgdfg

Maybe I need to persevere as I do remember later series being better.

Blankstarer · 19/05/2023 22:09

How strange!
I’ve literally just been explaining what DC was to DH and I told him it was like a soap for teens but with loads of psycho analysis which I loved at the time.
the reason I thought of DC after all these years was because I’ve been watching Stath Let’s Flats and there’s this hilarious scene on the last episode of series 3 where Stath says that an old lady wearing a blue shirt and white T shirt is Dawson from DC 😂😂😂 it’s very funny I’d fully recommend!