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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:
purpleme12 · 19/05/2023 23:33

Where are people watching this?!
I used to love this!
Interested to see if I'll feel the same as people in this thread now!

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 19/05/2023 23:45

I bought the box set ages ago all giddy to reminisce was shocked by how cringy and shit it was. YANBU

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 19/05/2023 23:46

purpleme12 · 19/05/2023 23:33

Where are people watching this?!
I used to love this!
Interested to see if I'll feel the same as people in this thread now!

Someone has it, maybe Prime?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TV
SilentParrot · 20/05/2023 00:09

did anyone else watch Felicity? I loved that so much and would love to watch that one again to see if it stands up.

Dawson's Creek - OMG wtf?! Was it really that bad?
AnImaginaryCat · 20/05/2023 05:35

Never heard of Felicity. Did and still do love a cheesy teen drama though - might check it out.

Saying that I have never seen a single episode of Dawson's Creek. I decided at the time it was terrible and wouldn't watch it. I now feel vindicated in being so judgemental 😄. (May have really been based on the fact I didn't think Dawson was attractive.)

One I did watch was Gilmore Girls. Absolutely loved it. Like many others, I rewatched it when that new netflix series was coming out. It's amazing isn't it how you didn't spot jusr how utterly awful the characters were at the time. I mean, I knew it was cheesy and not Oscar worthy at the time, but didn't spot how bad some of the character's traits were. I may have even thought some of them appealing traits as a teenager!!

Also watched My So Called Life. Loved it - found it perfection, loved Clare Danes and adored Jared Leto. Never rewatch it - will I regret it if I do?

Mutabiliss · 20/05/2023 05:52

Oh, I loved My So Called Life so much! Jordan Catelano, with his sleeves over his hands... sigh.

And I loved Dawson's Creek too, though I never understood why they made Dawson the main character when he was such a drip. Obviously the world has changed hugely since then, but at the time I think it was considered quite ground-breaking with Jack's storyline.

Party of Five was great too, it always made me cry.

halleysvomit · 20/05/2023 05:57

I tried to relive my youthful joy for Dawson's Creek and Degrassi Junior High.

Some things are just best left in the past.

AnImaginaryCat · 20/05/2023 06:01

Just looked up when Gilmore Girls started and shocked it realise it was later than Dawson's Creek. I would have put money on it being the 90s!

Makes it more worrying I didn't spot the bad traits!

TeenDivided · 20/05/2023 06:34

purpleme12 · 19/05/2023 23:33

Where are people watching this?!
I used to love this!
Interested to see if I'll feel the same as people in this thread now!

Free. ITV2 4pm weekdays.

BSB30 · 20/05/2023 06:37

I absolutely loved DC at the time and still do. I sometimes watch them from start to finish on occasion.

One character that really irritated the life out of me though was Eve. I think it was season 3 or 4.

LittleBumblebee3 · 20/05/2023 06:43

Hobbes8 · 19/05/2023 22:24

Joshua Jackson is a slice of heaven @LittleBumblebee3 but he looks too young in Dawson’s Creek….early series of The Affair on the other hand…woof

@Hobbes8 I’ll need to give it a watch 😍🤣

What is this “My So Called Life” and how have I never heard of it?! 😳 am I going to watch it and obsess over this Jordan character? 😅

MightyEagle · 20/05/2023 06:44

Fwiw, James van der Beek has aged MUCH better than Dawson's Creek....

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 20/05/2023 06:51

Ha, @MightyEagle you’re right! He’s aged like a fine wine.

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 20/05/2023 06:59

@LittleBumblebee3 Jordan Catalano will have you obsessing over his sleeves, his leaning, everything.

Jared Leto was 25 when he played him, which makes me feel better about my still existing crush on Jordan.

Dawson's Creek - OMG wtf?! Was it really that bad?
IHeartGeneHunt · 20/05/2023 07:03

I never liked it! My friends loved it though.

LittleBumblebee3 · 20/05/2023 07:05

TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 20/05/2023 06:59

@LittleBumblebee3 Jordan Catalano will have you obsessing over his sleeves, his leaning, everything.

Jared Leto was 25 when he played him, which makes me feel better about my still existing crush on Jordan.

@TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER He looks like he’s going to be just the right amount of troubled for me 🤣😅 There’s always one in every teeny drama 😅

AnnWithoutAnnie · 20/05/2023 07:11

I liked it as a young teen.

I haven't seen it since then, but I now know what's next on my retro viewing.

im not surprised it hasn't aged well, things that are 'of their time' really don't. Though they do make me long for for less complicated times! I'm glad I grew up when I did (born 1969)

AnnWithoutAnnie · 20/05/2023 07:17

Shit that's scary!! I just looked up when it first aired! I must have been in my late 20's. I'd travelled extensively, around the world, on my own by then!

i felt like I'd watched it when they were a little older than me, but clearly not! So weird.

Now I'm not sure if I want to rewatch it & ruin my good memories of it...

AndAllOurYesterdays · 20/05/2023 07:17

I rewatched a bit of MSCL recently and found that I now am on the side of Angela's mother. But then it's probably been 25 years and I now have two girls of my own. But Jordan Catellano, with his terrible band and his obsession over his car will always be in my heart.

Apparently they cancelled it because Claire Danes didn't want to do a second series. I don't think any teen series has captured what it's like being a teen so accurately. Being desperate for something to happen, and then terrified when it does.

bussteward · 20/05/2023 07:19

But Pacey buys Joey a wall! It was really shockingly bad last time I watched it, I expect it’s got worse. I’ll always have a soft spot, though – that was my YOUTH.

Had a real thing for The OC too; also truly terrible. Don’t dare rewatch Veronica Mars, which I thought was great, in case it isn’t…

burnoutbabe · 20/05/2023 07:25

It's also on itv x -all 6 seasons.

(I used JustWatch app to check and add to my to watch soon list)

MyTruthIsOut · 20/05/2023 07:54

Pacey, Joey, Abbey, Grams and Jack were the only characters I liked. Every other character just really grated on me!! I really, really couldn’t stand Jen!!

I was still a religious watcher though in my youth and I’ve even re-watched a few series in my adulthood.

Soccermumamir · 20/05/2023 07:59

I loved this show at school too. Probably because I had a crush on Pacey lol I tried to watch the earlier ones, but couldn't get into it. The College days were better than the first time round though.

Soccermumamir · 20/05/2023 08:04

AnImaginaryCat · 20/05/2023 06:01

Just looked up when Gilmore Girls started and shocked it realise it was later than Dawson's Creek. I would have put money on it being the 90s!

Makes it more worrying I didn't spot the bad traits!

Loved Gilmore Girls! I totally thought it was the 90s too 😆

taybert · 20/05/2023 08:14

I always found DC a bit ridiculous. So many feelings. No one was every catching the bus in to town to meet at the bandstand and piss off the Macdonalds staff by sitting for 3 hours with 1 milkshake. The OC on the other hand I absolutely loved and I’m not really sure why, it was a bit later so maybe I was being ironic by then (but actually I really did love it) I have considered re watching it but I just know it’s awful drivel so I’m going to leave it in the past where it belongs!