The past few months I have done a marathon viewing run of the entire series of Dawson's Creek (seasons 1 through 6). The show ran originally on the WB from January 1998 through May 2003, and I did watch it rather faithfully for the first couple seasons. Then some other show must of came up that lured me away, so I not seen all of the episodes including the series finale until recently.
Many would dismiss this show as teenaged, soap-opera fluff but I tend to disagree. Okay, not so much about the genre - it was a teenaged soap-opera that took the friends from Capeside through their high school years and into their early college years in Boston. I would disagree about calling this fluff. I found the show to be smartly written with well-developed characters put into interesting situations. The show addressed major issues like student-teacher affairs, gay romance, alcohol abuse (a number of times) as well as showing that growing up sometimes means making major mistakes.
The show also helped create a foundation for a number of actors' careers. It was James Van Der Beek's (Dawson Leery) and Kerr Smith's (Jack McPhee) first big roles since their starting days on the daytime soap As The World Turns. It allowed Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter) to break out of the role he played in a number of the Might Ducks movies. It was also one of the earliest roles for Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley), Meredith Monroe (Andie McPhee), Busy Philipps (Audrey Liddell) and Katie Holmes (Joey Potter).
Some of the highlights of the show for me, season by season are:
Season 1: "the Pilot" (the establishment of the four main characters who are critical to the show until the very end - something rare for a show to keep the cast whole for the entire run), "Detention" (a homage to John Hughes' Breakfast Club and the big introduction to the character Abby Morgan, played by Monica Keena, whose short time on the show was a joy), and "Beauty Contest" (where Joey steps beyond that tom-boy image).
Season 2: "Crossroads" (the arrival of Andie and Jack McPhee to town), "the All-Nighter" (when a study session reveals many feelings among the friends), "Sex, She Wrote" (Abby's attempt to find out which couple has gone all the way), "...That Is the Question" (when Jack comes out of the closet), and "Rest In Peace" (Abby's funeral).
Season 3: "Escape From Witch Island" (a homage to the Blair Witch Project of sorts), "Weekend In the Country" (the opening of the Potter B&B), and "True Love" (when Joey and Pacey stop dancing around their mutual attraction and finally become a couple - yes, I am a "Team Pacey" supporter as I find he and Joey the better couple than the "soulmates couple" of Dawson and Joey).
Season 4: "A Winter's Tale" (the class ski trip where Joey and Pacey consumate their relationship) and "the Graduate" (graduation day, a keynote in all high school drama shows).
Season 5: "the Long Goodbye" (the aftermath of Mitch Leery's departure), and "Appetite For Destruction" (a dinner party among friends).
Season 6: "Merry Mayhem" (a holiday gone to Hell), "Castaways" (a perfect focus on Pacey and Joey together), "Joey Potter and Capeside Redemption" (what could easily have served as the series finale on its own) and then "All Good Things...Must Come To An End" (the double sized true series finale which jumps the cast ahead five years - a real tearjerker).
There are two other unsung "cast members" of the show. The first is the music. In the original run, this show did a lot to feature some amazing music - both new stuff by up-and-coming artists as well as some classic. The DVD sets don't keep all of that in place, sadly. The other is the locations. Most of the Capeside exteriors were filmed in and around Wilmington, NC. The Worthington University exteriors from seasons 5 and 6 were filmed at Duke University in Durham, NC, as well as some at nearby University of NC at Chapel Hill. A couple season 6 episodes were even filmed at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. As a person who has lived in North Carolina since my post college days, watching this show has "home feeling" to it.
With all this praise from me, the show wasn't 100% perfect. A few things didn't work for me. Pacey serving as a big-brother to Buzz (Jonathan Lipncki) got annoying. I never understood why Jack Osbourne appeared as himself in a few episodes. Seth Rogen as "Bob" in one season episode was just weird. I never liked the relationship between Joey and Eddie (Oliver Hudson).
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The 2010 Gap
To all my blog followers, I apologize for the period of silence from June to December of 2010. Lots of things factored into my lack of motivation to writing.
In June, a very good friend of mine suddenly learned he had a very advanced case of cancer. By the time it was detected, there was very little that could be done to prevent things from spreading. He went through the whole chemotherapy thing, moved back home with his parents, yet sadly had only a couple months left to live (and those months had a lot of pain and discomfort for him). He passed away during the summer. KC was a wonderful amateur writer who shared his work with the web. He was a master storyteller, and he is greatly missed by all of his friends. Since then, I haven't felt very into working on my own fiction.
In the summer, my son started his sophomore year of high school and with that marching band. So, my wife and I became band-booster-parents, going to all the home games to help with parking and tickets sales and going to competitions on weekends. It was a good way to spend our time while supporting all the kids at Fred T. Foard high school. We enjoyed it a lot and look forward to next fall.
In the fall, my wife's aunt learned that she too had a form of cancer. Despite treatment, she spent her last weeks in the hospital. My wife was able to go up to be with her family during this very sad time. Still and especially during this holiday season, the absence of Aunt Jane in all our lives has left us somewhat sadder. She was a very unique person, always friendly and welcoming and encouraging. She too is greatly missed.
My hope for 2011 and beyond is to blog a bit more when I can. I'll try to keep the weekly comic reviews and well as comments about TV, music and more. This is a good outlet and a nice way to do some writing on a daily basis. I hope you all check in periodically. Thanks.
In June, a very good friend of mine suddenly learned he had a very advanced case of cancer. By the time it was detected, there was very little that could be done to prevent things from spreading. He went through the whole chemotherapy thing, moved back home with his parents, yet sadly had only a couple months left to live (and those months had a lot of pain and discomfort for him). He passed away during the summer. KC was a wonderful amateur writer who shared his work with the web. He was a master storyteller, and he is greatly missed by all of his friends. Since then, I haven't felt very into working on my own fiction.
In the summer, my son started his sophomore year of high school and with that marching band. So, my wife and I became band-booster-parents, going to all the home games to help with parking and tickets sales and going to competitions on weekends. It was a good way to spend our time while supporting all the kids at Fred T. Foard high school. We enjoyed it a lot and look forward to next fall.
In the fall, my wife's aunt learned that she too had a form of cancer. Despite treatment, she spent her last weeks in the hospital. My wife was able to go up to be with her family during this very sad time. Still and especially during this holiday season, the absence of Aunt Jane in all our lives has left us somewhat sadder. She was a very unique person, always friendly and welcoming and encouraging. She too is greatly missed.
My hope for 2011 and beyond is to blog a bit more when I can. I'll try to keep the weekly comic reviews and well as comments about TV, music and more. This is a good outlet and a nice way to do some writing on a daily basis. I hope you all check in periodically. Thanks.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Comics of the Week (12/22/10)
DCU Legacies #8 (of 10) - this "recap" of the DC history through the eyes of a retired Metropolis police officer continues with the days following the death of and the return of Superman, plus the fall of Hal Jordan. I loved the artwork by Dan Jurgens who did much art originally relating to these events from years back. The backup story with the New Gods was sort of odd - funny time in the series to touch on them since this stuff originally appeared in Jack Kirby's run back in the 70's. Overall, this mini has been pretty good artwise even if the story has taken some liberties with the continuity of events.
Green Lantern Special: Larfreeze's Christmas - this one-shot features that greedy orange energy wielder Larfreeze and his quest for the utilimate holiday provider - Santa Claus. This was a fun issue, something that we used to have when I was a kid growing up - something that comes out just in time for the holidays to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling. It was like a Rankin-Bass Christmas special. Enjoyed it a lot.
Justice League: Generation Lost #16 (of 24) - this biweekly mini continues to move along, a little bit at a plodding pace. Unlike its brother mini Brightest Day, this one seems to be stuck in neutral. I guess though since I've invested as much time and money in it so far that I should see it through to the end.
Justice League of America #52 - this storyline also seems to be dragging. A battle with the Crime Syndicate and Omega Man should be a big thing, but I find it taking a long time to get to a satisfying conclusion. Maybe next issue? I do love Bagley's art though. Very clean and solid.
Legion of Super-Heroes #8 - LOVE THIS BOOK! Levitz continues to capture that classic feel of his run on the book in the 80's, and the artwork is perfect. This issue features the election results and it should prove interesting after the developments of the previous issue. If you loved old-school LSH, this is a must-buy book.
Green Lantern Special: Larfreeze's Christmas - this one-shot features that greedy orange energy wielder Larfreeze and his quest for the utilimate holiday provider - Santa Claus. This was a fun issue, something that we used to have when I was a kid growing up - something that comes out just in time for the holidays to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling. It was like a Rankin-Bass Christmas special. Enjoyed it a lot.
Justice League: Generation Lost #16 (of 24) - this biweekly mini continues to move along, a little bit at a plodding pace. Unlike its brother mini Brightest Day, this one seems to be stuck in neutral. I guess though since I've invested as much time and money in it so far that I should see it through to the end.
Justice League of America #52 - this storyline also seems to be dragging. A battle with the Crime Syndicate and Omega Man should be a big thing, but I find it taking a long time to get to a satisfying conclusion. Maybe next issue? I do love Bagley's art though. Very clean and solid.
Legion of Super-Heroes #8 - LOVE THIS BOOK! Levitz continues to capture that classic feel of his run on the book in the 80's, and the artwork is perfect. This issue features the election results and it should prove interesting after the developments of the previous issue. If you loved old-school LSH, this is a must-buy book.
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