Dawson's Creek - Discussion of the Month: Funniest Moments - Page 17

**Ali Marie** · 05-07-2009, 11:58 PM

I think Pacey changed the most. Though he didn't need much changing to begin with.

**Pure.Magic** · 05-08-2009, 06:47 AM

I cant choose between Jen and Dawson.

Jen cuz we saw her stuggle though the seasons, trying to find her place in a new town which wasnt very welcoming, trying to find a wy to belong, trying to bond with Grams whose beliefs were at odds with hers, we saw her being very unlucky with love, men never truly appreciating what she had to give and the person she was, we saw her finally laying most of the demons from her ugly past to rest. Then she had to deal with Grams' illness, and be strong through that. She never had great examples for parents, but she was a great mother to Amy, and im sure if she wouldve lived for longer, (

) Amy woudve been the luckiest daughter.

Dawson cuz we saw him grow from the naive forever-hopeful teenage boy to a man, who wasnt afraid to dream still, but had learnt to be rooted in reality and to move on, when things didnt go his way. He had a habit of rejecting reality and finding solace in denial as a kid, but after going through a lot of family drama, (Mitch and Gail getting divorced, and marrying again) losing the girl he had ever loved to his best friend, and coming to be ok with that, we saw him finally dealing with his emotions in a mature way and accepting the things he couldnt change. We saw him lose a parent early, and stay back to support his mother, deal with the immense pain the loss that had caused. Yet he never gave up on his dream, he never lost focus of his ambition, and in the end, after a lot of trials, he made it. And through all the dissapointments, he never lost his optimism, and his belief that things would always turn out good eventually.

starzscarme · 05-08-2009, 04:27 PM

I had planned to give this a really well thought out response but I'm tired and a little cranky right now so I'll do what I can...

I would have to say Dawson, mostly because I don't think his character was ever setup to change in the ways he did. He had experienced so little of a harsh reality up until we met him, which was different than all of his friends. Jen had a sordid past, Joey had essentially lost both her parents and had to grow up before her time, Pacey was written off by his family and treated with scorn and derision. Even Jack, who came out at 15, and Andie, who was suffering from a mental health situation, had life-altering trauma before they came to Capeside. Dawson lived in a bubble where movies were his world and anything was possible. He was an optimist in a world full of cynics. It wasn't until S4 where I feel like he began to change his world view, when he broke away from Joey and Pacey a bit and started to realize more of himself. Then Mitch died in S5 and that put his life in complete disarray. I think he had to grow up fast then, just like all of his friends had at much earlier ages.

It was unfortunate, but I think Dawson really became a man as a result of losing Mitch. I think he let go of a lot of his childlike idealism while still holding onto the core of what made him who he was. Through it all, he never became a cynic but he evolved.

**milestogo** · 05-09-2009, 02:00 AM

Beth made a positive post about Dawson?

**Pure.Magic** · 05-09-2009, 05:21 AM

Ahhh, Beth

I agree what you said about Dawson (but you knew that

) He was the one who evolved and grew the most.

taubman · 05-09-2009, 06:04 AM

dawson hands down for me..he was the mature one in the end...he out grew everyone!

dawson had gone through soo many changes..especially through season 4, 5 and 6

..

starzscarme · 05-09-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Beth made a positive post about Dawson?

What can I say? I've mellowed with time. I can be objective.

I think different between Dawson and Jen, as far as character change and evolution goes, is that I always got the impression that Jen's character was meant to change. In fact, the whole point of her coming to Capeside was to change. I expected a great change in her by the end of things. Dawson, however, was never drawn to be a "changed man." Of course, change would come with age but Dawson's journey had little do with natural progression attached to age for me.

Quote:

I think Pacey changed the most. Though he didn't need much changing to begin with.

He did change quite a bit, no denying that. I think, though, he was always regressing and that was part of who Pacey was. Everything was meant to be a "learning experience" with him. I don't necessarily like the way he was portrayed in the finale. I loved Josh's performance but I don't necessarily like the way Pacey was written.

**Ali Marie** · 05-09-2009, 01:30 PM

Nobody thinks Joey changed the most?

I think Pacey was changed by love. First with Andie and then of course with Joey. I just think of the sex obsessed skirt chaser he was in S1, and how he was in the later seasons. Sure he reverted back to his mother complex but it was only when he couldn't be with the person he loved.

I don't think Jen changed the most. She was wise beyond her years even in S1.

starzscarme · 05-09-2009, 04:21 PM

Honestly, I think Joey was consistent through the series. The only thing that changed about her was, in the end, she made a decision about her love life. Joey was always so indecisive about Pacey and Dawson and what she wanted from both of them. And the only reason I feel like she finally chose was because...well, it wouldn't have been much of a finale if she hadn't.

taubman · 05-09-2009, 04:42 PM

in my opinion pacey didn't change at all!

in the finale he was back to his old ways...chasing older women and being childish...

i agree jen changed heaps...joey changed over the seasons...dawson explained it all how she had changed in 622..

**Pure.Magic** · 05-09-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starzscarme (View Post)

:I think different between Dawson and Jen, as far as character change and evolution goes, is that I always got the impression that Jen's character was meant to change. In fact, the whole point of her coming to Capeside was to change. I expected a great change in her by the end of things. Dawson, however, was never drawn to be a "changed man." Of course, change would come with age but Dawson's journey had little do with natural progression attached to age for me.

I agree with this. Jen esentially didnt change, yes she evolved, and grew up, but she never really changed. She wisened over the years, but she was still the same person she was in S1, just more mature cuz of the years passed and the things she experienced along the way.

Dawson at the core never actually changed either, he still remained the optimistic romantic boy he used to be, but he grew out of his tendency to live in denial, and his sometimes unreal outlook at life. He essentially remained the same too, but he changed a lot.

About Joey, i think it was sad the way she was written, she was running in circles through all the seasons, and I agree with Beth, she didnt make her decision/choice cuz that was what wouldve happened naturally, or cuz she'd finally seen the light, it happened only cuz it was the finale. Her decision in the finale was contrived and forced, which made it seem that she never really grew up.

starzscarme · 05-09-2009, 05:12 PM

I don't feel he was "childish" in the finale. Yes, he was with a married woman and that showed shades of earlier Pacey. I didn't like that portrayal but it was what it was. The way he was with Jen, though, was anything but juvenile. He put his own feelings on a back burner to take care of his friend. It doesn't sound like much, but it's not easy.

Also, I think there were changes in Pacey that weren't necessarily outwardly portrayed in those eps. He moved back to Capeside and it seemed that his relationship with Doug seemed less torrid, both of which tell me that he was mending fences with his family. Too, he was the owner of his own restraunt, which tells me that he had built the self-confidence to combine his ability to sell with his passion for food and turn that into a career.

Like I said, Pacey regressed a lot, reverting back to his old ways. But, in all fairness, not all personal progression is linear.

**milestogo** · 05-11-2009, 03:29 AM

I agree

I think Dawson changed the most, especially during season 4 and 5

**Pure.Magic** · 05-11-2009, 05:28 AM

Joey leaving with Pacey that summer, and more importantly, Mitch's death, were pivotal in Dawson's journey to grow out of the naive, idealistic kid he used to be.

**milestogo** · 05-12-2009, 04:49 AM

I think he stayed a dreamer but a more realistic one