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Season 1 – Dawson's Creek

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Dawson's Creek Jan 1998 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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74% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
This drama series chronicles the lives of wannabe filmmaker Dawson Leery, his best friend Joey (female), who has been in love with him since childhood, close friend and slacker Pacey, and new girl next door Jen. Additional friends come and go, feelings change, and Dawson must suffer through growing pains.
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Dawson's Creek — Season 1

Dawson's Creek — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Dawson's Creek's hyper-articulate teenagers and sexual frankness can be more cloying than pithy, but this teenage drama succeeds because of the fundamentals -- an appealing cast and juicy drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Marvin Kitman Newsday Jul 18, 2023
Dawson's Creek is the best show about teenage angst since My So-Called Life. I don't mean to scare away the potential audience even further, but it's a show that even adults can like. We were all 15 once. Go to Full Review Tom Shales Washington Post Mar 5, 2021
On and on it goes, monomaniacal to the nth degree, tiresome in its trite attempts to titillate. Go to Full Review Ross Warneke The Age (Australia) Mar 5, 2021
What a load of unmitigated tosh! If this is what Americans consider an honest portrayal of adolescence, they are kidding themselves. Dawson's Creek is pure artifice. Go to Full Review Rich Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal Jul 18, 2023
It tries for a hipness that makes it a logical fit with Buffy the Vampire Slayer... But the longer you watch, the more evident it is that Dawson's Creek is a rather predictable little soap opera. Go to Full Review Walt Belcher Tampa Tribune Jul 18, 2023
Williamson has carved a niche for himself as a horror writer, but there's nothing supernatural about this TV series. What shines is his talent for creating compelling teen characters and putting clever words in their mouths. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Feb 4, 2023
The first season has its moments of melodrama but maintains a nice focus on the characters, which gives the talented cast the opportunity to make something of their relationships beyond the tribulations of teen soap opera. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert H @Rwhobbs198 Jul 23, 2026 Dawson's Creek S1 is pure late-'90s nostalgia. Growing up during this era, watching these high school kids navigate life felt like looking into a mirror of my own youth. It was one of the shows to watch, and even after multiple rewatches, it still holds up. The young cast delivers excellent performances, and it's fascinating to see so many future stars at the beginning of their careers. Packed with everything that defined teen dramas of the time. From Tamara's controversial storyline, infidelity, new romances, old flames, hurricanes, VHS tapes, and plenty of emotional twists. The season captures the spirit of the late '90s perfectly. It laid the foundation for a television hit and remains a strong, memorable start to one of the era's defining teen series. See more Dorian-Kai R. @thewritingkai Feb 13, 2026 Examines itself with emotional and sexual tendendcies, while grasping into a cliff hanger that was quite obvious, despite it LITTERALY FOURTH WALLING IT, good show tho See more Ass M @RT59566304 Dec 23, 2023 This show is pretty good for classic 90s teen melodrama. I did enjoy it when aired, and, surprisingly, still did 20 years later. However, I can only rate the show half star because on streaming, they replaced the original intro song with something even MORE God-awful than was already there. It COMPLETELY ruined the series for me. See more Holly @Hollydalziel Jun 28, 2023 My favourite programme of all time ever!!! Pacey 4 ever See more Roy V @RT30253098 Jun 12, 2023 This was probably the most political and culturally televised event prior to the turn of the century. Diversity and inclusion were the undergirdings of the entire production. It's some 25 years later, and the results of all those probings are apparent. The torrents came crashing down and society is forever changed! See more Sarah Z @RT07784604 Apr 12, 2023 Those kids are so dramatic lol See more Read all reviews
Dawson's Creek — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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James Van Der Beek

Dawson Leery

Katie Holmes

Josephine "Joey" Potter

Michelle Williams

Jennifer "Jen" Lindley

Joshua Jackson

Pacey Witter

John Wesley Shipp

Actor

Mary-Margaret Humes

Actor

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 20, 1998 Pilot Dawson and Joey's already changing relationship is further strained by the arrival of a mysterious girl. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 27, 1998 Dance Dawson becomes jealous when Jen accepts a date with someone else; Tamara and Pacey find themselves in a compromising situation. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 3, 1998 Kiss Jen discovers a secret that may spoil Dawson's dream of a perfectly romantic first kiss; Joey falls for a Capeside visitor. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 10, 1998 Discovery Dawson (James Van Der Beek) thinks his mother (Mary-Margaret Humes) is having an affair; Pacey and Ms. Jacobs' (Joshua Jackson, guest star Leann Hunley) romance gets caught on tape. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 17, 1998 Hurricane Dawson confronts his mother about her affair; Pacey and Tamara struggle to hide their relationship from Pacey's brother. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 24, 1998 Baby Joey turns to Dawson for support when Bessie goes into labor; the school board meets to decide Miss Jacobs' fate. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 3, 1998 Detention Dawson, Joey, Jen and Pacey share their feelings for one another during a game of truth or dare in detention. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 10, 1998 Boyfriend Dawson seems to be losing the battle for Jen's heart when her ex-boyfriend appears and tries to win her back. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 17, 1998 Road Trip A lovesick Dawson (James Van Der Beek) goes on a road trip with Pacey and Billy (Joshua Jackson, guest star Eion Bailey); Jen and Joey (Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes) confront an arrogant jock. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 28, 1998 Double Date Dawson sets up a double date in an effort to get back at Jen, but plans change when his date finds out his reasons. Details Episode 11 Aired May 5, 1998 The Scare On Friday the 13th, Dawson holds a seance, while Jen receives a spine-chilling phone call after hearing the news about a Capeside killing spree. Details Episode 12 Aired May 12, 1998 Beauty Contest Joey gets noticed when she enters a beauty pageant, which Pacey also enters on the grounds that he is equally qualified to win. Details Episode 13 Aired May 19, 1998 Decisions Dawson is forced to consider his true feelings for Joey when he hears she may leave Capeside; Joey must face her own emotions. Details

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Dawson's Creek — Season 1

Dawson's Creek Dawson's Creek Dawson's Creek Dawson's Creek View more photos

Season Info

Director
Michael Fields, Steven Robman, Michael Uno, Steve Miner, David Semel, Michael Toshiyuki Uno, Arvin Brown, Rodman Flender, Lou Antonio
Executive Producer
Kevin Williamson, Charles Rosin, Paul Stupin
Screenwriter
Jon Harmon Feldman, Kevin Williamson, Mike White, Dana Baratta, Charles Rosin, Joanne T. Waters, Rob Thomas, Karen Rosin
Network
The WB
Rating
TV-14 (D)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 20, 1998
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