Once again, here's my commentary back from when the episode aired. Yeah, it's dated, but I have no desire to re-watch any Dawson's Creek episode or write a “looking back” commentary.
I really enjoyed this episode, simply for the fact that it focused on character interaction, and it was good to see many of the characters relate to one another as true friends. In some ways, except for the arrival of Jen’s mother, and the revelation that she was, in fact, the mother of Eve, this episode was rather uneventful, but considering the rather sensationalistic turn the show often takes, an uneventful episode is rather refreshing.
I really enjoyed the banter between Jen and Pacey in the beginning of the show, and I especially liked the way that Jen kept laughing at Pacey’s attempts to be amorous!
I really enjoyed the way Jen and Pacey provided each other some real support at certain key moments in this episode, and I especially thought that Pacey’s advice to Jen about what had happened with her mother was touching and true.
I thought that the arrival of Jen’s mother was very “convenient” to close out the Eve story line, and it relieved Dawson of the burden of having to tell Jen about Eve’s allegations, which turned out to be true. I was very disappointed by the remoteness that Jen’s mother exhibited during this entire episode, as she seemed completely incapable of expressing any real emotion at all, even when revealing, and being forced to acknowledge, the potentially devastating news that she had a child out of wedlock. I thought that Jen had a prefect take on her mother that she was “numb inside” and that she couldn’t face the truth about herself. I also thought it was a rather sad commentary on what was important to Jen’s mother when she said that she couldn’t divorce Jen’s father because she would be “cut out of the social registry.” I find it difficult to believe that anyone could possibly be that shallow. In many ways, Mrs. Lindley reminded me of Mr. McPhee, emotionally stunted, and incapable of providing any real love or empathy towards her daughter. I thought that Michelle Williams once again proved what a wonderful actress she is by conveying the hurt that she felt over her mother’s treatment of her. I was really touched by the close relationship that Grams and Jen have begun to develop, and it was good that they are finally connecting with one another. I had the impression that Grams and Helen have an estranged relationship, and Grams seemed much closer to Jen than she did to her own daughter.
I thought that Joey showed real growth as a character on this episode, as she told Jen just how fragile and fleeting your relationship with your parents can be, and how you might never get the chance to heal your differences with them. I thought that Joey and Bessie reminiscing about their mother was very poignant and wistful, and I think it’s especially true that you think about your departed loves ones the most during holidays. I know I do, at least, anyway. I also liked how she reached out to Andie with advice about her situation with Pacey, and I like the new maturity that Joey seems to possess. I was saddened that Dawson had to learn that his parent’s divorce was final, but I was glad to see him confide in Joey about it, and talk to her as a close friend once again.
I thought that Pacey and Andie’s discomfort with seeing one another was very realistic, and Jack was right to intervene and call for a truce between the “warring factions.” I wish we had seen more of Jack this episode, but I suppose the purpose of this episode was mainly to focus on the relationship between Jen and her mother, and it was more of an ensemble effort given the Thanksgiving setting, so each major character had rather limited screen time.
Overall, I feel this episode was enjoyable, and served somewhat as a “filler” episode and a precursor to other things to come.