Pace & Jo

Joey receives some good college news. But while Joey glows, Dawson is forced to face a crushing rejection. Joey's elated mood, however, is tempered by a sobering realization...until Dawson proposes a surprising solution.

Meanwhile, Jen and Jack have nothing but options when it comes to college. While Jack's convinced that New York is the place to go, Jen isn't so sure she's ready to return to the Big Apple. A therapy session forces Jen to confront her past.

JoshandChristinaCursed

This is the episode where I HATED Joey's ungratefulness. I mean, she gets into college while some people ( even Pacey) don't and yet she is crying and moaning about not being able to pay for college. She is also stupid for not trying out student loans. How selfish can you get?

Cris

Well, I loved this episode. It's one of my favorites from s4.
Actually, I felt for Joey, because she was thinking that finally she got into college and then a bomb explodes when she discovered how much she had to pay. Well, but I agree Angelica, she could take the load instead of cursing the world.
I was glad when she told Dawson the truth and I liked his attitude, giving her the money. I saw some of the optimistic Dawson Leery from s1, who was a little bit lost, and I appreciated that.
That hug in the end was really touching...

Sugz

This episode was kind of boring. It was exciting when they were finding out about college but then Joey went into pouty mode and I got bored and just wanted to throw things at her.

Dawson giving her the money was very generous but also kind of eye roll inducing and kind of made me resent the Dawson/Mr. Brooks storyline because it was obvious it was only there so that Dawson could have hismoney and give it to Joey. Or "buy" Joey as we used to say, haha.

JoshandChristinaCursed

I can't blame Joey either for realizing that she can't pay but crying about it will not solve the problem. Like that saying goes, "There is no use in crying over spilt milk".

How was Dawson buying Joey? He didn't have to give Joey the money. Also, I would also like to say that Pacey didn't do anything for Joey in her time of need. He just went on with his "I didn't want Joey to go to Worthington" bit instead of helping Joey find ways to pay for it which is WORSE than Dawson giving Joey the money that PAID her way to college. Yeah, Dawson bought Joey all right.

Cris

Yeah, you're right. She didn't have to cry and be all defensive about telling everybody about the problems with college.
I forgot to mention that I enjoyed Jen/Jack's debate about NY and that Pacey annoyed me with his whole speech about being happy because he wasn't the one to stop Joey's dream and blah blah...

Lor-baby

This episode is one of my favourite of the season.
I truly felt bad for Joey. She had worked really really hard to go to that college and suddenly her dream was vanishing because of money and she couldn't do anything about it.
I loved what Dawson did for her and I loved their final speech which kind of confirmed what they had already told to each other in FOUR STORIES.
I also felt bad for Pacey. Season 4 really put him under this distructive path. He was so amazing in season 2 and 3 and I just couldn't stand him the most of the times in season 4.
That's one of the many reasons why I didn't like PJ together.
I hated seeing him like that and it all began when he got together with her.

COOLCAT200

I enjoyed this episode. Dawsons thought to give Joey the money she needed was very nice. Even after finding out she slept with Pacey. Loved the end scene it was touching. I have to admit I also kind of felt bad for Pacey at the end.

smoothaise

The only scene I liked from this entire episode was Jack/Jen starting at the fish bowl.

Cris

Totally forgot that this scene was from Admissions...
Loved that scene! So funny... "Shut up. Watch the fish"...

Sugz

Eh it was just a joke. It's not like it's odd for Dawson to come swooping to the rescue but like I said, it was very generous of him and I do have a new appreciation for it given the fact that Ive recently had some tuition woes. But I don tthink pacey can be blamed for not having thousands of dollars fall into his lap to hand over to Joey, it did kind of make the entire Mr. Brooks storyline seem kind of contrived. After all he was the one about to be exiled to Capeside while his friends were all deciding where they'd start their future so I can sympathize with him but he certrainly didnt make Joey feel bad, in fact he seemed VERY proud of her when she got accepted. Ia ctually really like the scene with Joey, Bessie and I think Bodie where Pacey has his arms around Joey smiling at her success.

smoothaise

It was very noble of Dawson to give her the money.

~Unfaithful~

I loved how Joey finally came clean, and how Dawson gave her the money. I realize that the whole Mr. Brooks thing was put in there specifically for this purpose, but it was a nice touch, and it showed truly how deeply Dawson's feelings ran for Joey, that no matter who or what she was with or doing, he would always make sure to do whatever he could to make her happy and make her dreams come true.

pianogrl1

This is actually one of my least favorite episodes of season four, because it seemed completely illogical to me. What is so earthshattering about taking out a student loan? The overwhelming majority of students do so at some point, without life-altering consequences. Plus it was becoming increasingly obvious that the death knell was looming for Pacey and Joey in these episodes, as their very different futures were gradually becoming the present. It was depressing to see them gradually begin to drift apart as the reality of college in the fall became increasingly tangible.

However, this episode had some finer points. It was nice to see corroboration of Dawson and Joey's lifelong friendship in Dawson's unblinking generosity. It was a nice reminder of the fact that despite everything that had happened in the past few years, Dawson and Joey were still, deep down inside, the same best friends who had been through so many life experiences together and could be there for one another. It was also good that Joey finally confessed the truth to Dawson.

For me, though, the good thing about this episode was seeing Jen begin to sort through her issues with returning to New York for college, which culminated nicely in the virtuoso performance Michelle Williams gave in "Eastern Standard Time" (although that's a different discussion, sorry). I too enjoyed the fish bowl scene, another pleasant reminder of how great Jack and Jen could be together and how I do wish they could have had more screen time and storylines together over the seasons.

So while I didn't enjoy this episode overall, there were a few nice touches that made it somewhat bearable.

JoshandChristinaCursed

Cause EVERYTHING on Dawson's creek is earthshattering. Just to generate drama that doesn't really need to be there. Joey didn't want to take a student loan cause like the goddess that she is , she doesn't want nor NEED to pay anyone back.