DAWSON'S CREEK REVIEW
Dawson's Creek screened on channel ten for the first time in Australia on Tuesday 19 January 1999. The writer of the series is Kevin Williamson. So far, we are introduced to Dawson, who is a fifteen year old Spielberg fanatic - possibly more so than myself. He believes that all of life's answers can be found in one of Spielberg's films if you know where to look. He also happens to get on very well with Joey, a good looker played by Katie Holmes (williamson sure knows how to pick them). You see, ever since they were kids, they always slept together. But now, they're fifteen, they've got hormones, and she's got developing breasts - so she decides it is time not to sleep over. However, Dawson convinces her that nothing should change about their relationship and they sleep together - friends that is. Both are virgins. Meanwhile, Jennifer comes in to town from New York, and Dawson goes completely gaga as one does. This threatens the platonic relationship between him and joey, which we suspect joey wants more from. Also, Dawson's best mate Pacey is falling for an older woman he finds out is a teacher at his school. Stay tuned for next week on that one. Meanwhile, Dawson tells Joey he suspects his mum is having an affair with his mum's co-anchor newsreader. This seems to be true by the end of the episode - but only Joey sees the kiss. Other topics discussed include Spielberg (which may be important - because Spielberg represents a childhood awe with the world which comes into dispute in adulthood where that seems to be lost - i.e. the Spielberg as Peter Pan may be a deep narrative device - and the link between his more adult films may be a metaphor), sex, sex, and when Dawson participates in "walking the dog" (also sex). While the similarities between me and Dawson are interesting (barring looks) - like Spielberg films, both watch the Today show with Kate, and other embarassing things. I can say for sure that at the age of 15, I was definitely not like any of these people portrayed here (I'd feel better if they were acting as 28 year olds). The obsession with sex in this show is unreal in my sphere.
And this is what depresses me about Dawson's Creek. I was supposed to have a teenage life like that. I was supposed to have the confidence to rock up to Miss (nameless) and say: "hey I know you want me", but oh no. I blame the Christian Brothers for this neglect. And I still can't get over the fact that these are 15 year olds - reflecting reality. So, my reality is quite different to theirs, yet unusually - you can relate to these characters even if your reality is different. So far, they are a little flawed in their construction - but it's only the first episode. One aspect of the film that is really interesting is that they are actually intelligent. Too often, 15 year olds are portrayed as sex obsessed dorks. This time, they are sex obsessed but intelligent with a sophisticated sense of dialogue that is almost too polished. Kevin Williamson of course does his "in references" and homages to Spielberg (as well as references to his own fame - check out posters for I know what you did last summer - among other horror techniques). Another phenomenon is the presentation of all these people in a Mrs Doubtfire way - all middle income, rich, etc. Pure horror techniques inverted to Drama - all to get that lucrative market of 18-39 year olds that count - white, middle class, with no other worries than vanity. That's the cynical approach. One further thing that aggravates me, is the use of soundtrack songs to show that the show is hip. IT MOST CERTAINLY DOESN'T WORK. PLEASE STOP SOUNDTRACKS just for the sake of selling a "dawson's creek" CD. Thank god it isn't as bad as that woman that sings on Ally McBeal (it wrecks what is a well scripted show), but it is annoying. Get a screen composer to continue that colour purplesque type score - it sortof works - though is out of context with that hip soundtrack.