DAWSON'S CREEK: CODA {FOURTH SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The fourth season finale in this series about the romantic exploits of Dawson Leery and his friends in coastal Massachusetts. In this episode, Dawson and Joey watch “Sea Creature From the Deep,” one of Dawson’s early low-quality films, and they talk about how he will be leaving shortly for a college program in California before enrolling full-time at USC. He admits he is in “denial” about leaving Capeside and all his friends. Joey, still smarting over the breakup with Pacey, asks if they she and Dawson are both bad at relationships, but he says he has enjoyed his time with her lately. Later, they lie by the lake with Jen and Jack, discussing their summer plans and playing a round of “Would You Rather.” Dawson then heads out shopping with his father and they disagree over computer models. At Jen’s home, she and Jack note Grams’ exceptional cleaning job, and Jen offers to stay at home with Grams on their last night in the house, but she encourages her to spend time with her friends and say goodbye to Dawson first. When Dawson attempts to head to the movies with his friends, however, Mitch objects, saying that he should spend time with the family instead, but Dawson stands his ground and leaves. Once out, he expresses his mixed feelings about leaving to Jack, who tells him that Joey in particular will miss him and points out the “hugeness” of their separation. Dawson admits that despite his relationship with Gretchen, he cannot stop thinking about leaving Joey behind. Jen and Joey talk separately, and Jen says that Dawson would stay if Joey asked him to, but she says she cannot. After the movie, they all head for home.
At the Leery home, Gail points out that Mitch picked a fight with Dawson because he did not want to feel “left behind,” and points out the similarities in their denial about change. Joey and Dawson say a private goodbye on her porch and she asks what he will do if he sees his idol Steven Spielberg in L.A., and he says he would thank him. They promise to see each other on holidays whenever possible, and Dawson leaves, although they both clearly want to say more. At Jen’s home, Dawson is touched when Jack and Jen give him a cell phone to stay in touch, and they reminisce about how they used to be afraid of Jen’s stately house as kids. Dawson bids them goodbye and returns home, where he finds that Mitch has given in and gotten him the laptop he wanted, and Mitch tells him he is one of his “favorite people” and gives him some fatherly advice as they say goodbye. Grams and Jen talk about their time in the house, and Jack soon returns to keep them company as Grams shares memories of her first home and early days with her late husband. Pacey, out on his boat job, calls Dawson from “paradise” and asks about Joey, saying he is not ready to call her himself. He says that he regrets not saying goodbye to Dawson, but Dawson just says he is proud of him.
Dawson attempts to belatedly pack his things, but Joey arrives again and they end up watching another movie together. They talk about their theoretical futures and she predicts that he will have a wonderful girlfriend in California. They discuss their all-time favorite things and biggest regrets, with Dawson admitting that he is still a virgin and is surprised about it. She names their first kiss as her biggest “life-altering moment,” and blurts out that she wants him to stay, but he says his leaving will be good for both of them and that “chapter” of their lives has ended. She tearfully says that she may have been let down by her family and by Pacey, but Dawson has always been “magic” for her, and they attempt to say goodbye again. He acknowledges that this may be his life-altering moment, and as they stand at his window, they kiss. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: WB
- DATE: May 23, 2001 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:43:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:69845
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Teenagers
- SERIES RUN: WB - TV series, 1998-2003
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Paul Stupin … Executive Producer
- Greg Berlanti … Executive Producer
- Greg Prange … Executive Producer, Director
- Jeffrey Stepakoff … Supervising Producer
- Tom Kapinos … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Janice Cooke-Leonard … Producer
- David Blake Hartley … Producer
- Rina Mimoun … Co-Producer
- Gina Fattore … Co-Producer, Writer
- Cynthia Stegner … Associate Producer
- Dale Williams … Associate Producer
- Alan Cross … Consulting Producer
- Kevin Williamson … Created by
- Adam Fields … Music by
- Paula Cole … Theme Music by
- James Van Der Beek … Cast, Dawson Leery
- Katie Holmes … Cast, Joey Potter
- Michelle Williams … Cast, Jen Lindley
- Joshua Jackson … Cast, Pacey Witter
- Kerr Smith … Cast, Jack McPhee
- Meredith Monroe … Cast, Andie McPhee
- Mary-Margaret Humes … Cast, Gail Leery
- John Wesley Shipp … Cast, Mitch Leery
- Mary Beth Peil … Cast, Evelyn 'Grams' Ryan
- Nina Repeta … Cast, Bessie Potter
- Martin Eckhardt … Cast, Salesperson
- Wesley W. Morris … Cast, Rasta Dude