they are talking about when dawson said you cant have both of us. they leave out pacey told her i leaveing if she get back with dawson so it the same thing. but people like to bash dawson.
@@az21bob666 Those 2 things are nowhere near the same. "You can't have both of us" was a clear ultimatum that told her that would be the end of their friendship if she chose Pacey, something he knew she wouldn't do. Pacey never, throughout the show, prevents her from choosing Dawson if that's what she wants. His plan to leave for the summer on his boat wasn't about emotional manipulation, it was something he wanted to do anyway and had the benefit of giving him space so he doesn't have to sit with the pain of knowing she didn't choose him and watching her with Dawson. He still left regardless, she just chose to go with him, which shows that he wanted to leave either way. All he did was ask Joey to ask him to stay after she accused him of giving up on her and running away from the problem (also a personal and not manipulative reason.) You really can't compare that to the harshness of Dawson's reaction. Being angry, furious even, is understandable. But to give Joey an ultimatum, put her in an impossible position, then literally almost get pacey killed while dragging her family's business into the conflict in a way where everyone gets hurt - his reaction was so completely astoundingly self absorbed it was inexcusable. Being angry and hurt doesn't justify a complete lack of regard for other people's lives and emotions. By contrast, Pacey treats both Joey and Dawson with respect and kindness regardless of the state of their relationships. His love isn't conditional. Dawson eventually matures more thankfully, but the sting of his level of cruelty during his worst moments definitely stands out...
Dawson's character aged so poorly. Pacey on the other hand, had a very ahead of it's time character arc. I wish they would have called dawson out over treating Pacey so horribly every chance he got.
How. His parent were always fighting in front of him. put him in the middle he was in the right How was Dawson a bad boyfriend. Doing anything for Joey. And then how a bad friend. Pacey went the women Dawson loved without even talking to him. That a bad friend Something Dawson proved he never do. He told Pacey about his sister.
But that not how thing works. There really is you time. Thing just happened. A min before or after and he still be alive. Dawson blame himself. He even told the shrink that. He just was looking back and said if I did not come here. That blameing himself not Joey
You didn't include how he didn't care about the anti prom for Jack and was only using it to show Joey that he was the "better guy" and that she should choose him.
@@az21bob666 Joey didn’t want to go to the normal prom in support of Jack, so how would he have taken her there? Also this is a direct quote from Dawson. “The whole reason I suggested this whole stupid alternative prom wasn't about jack, it was about you, all right? And maybe I tried too hard, but I didn't want to miss my chance to dance with you.”
@@az21bob666 Okay and? We aren’t even talking about that. We’re talking about the fact that everyone was protesting against the school for not including Jack in their prom because he’s gay and Dawson straight up saying he didn’t care about Jack and was only using the anti prom to get closer to Joey.
Watching this as a teenager I was Team Pacey, now at 36 im still Team Pacey. I always thought Dawson was the worst character on the show and that hasn't changed.
When I first saw Dawson creek when it first aired I like Dawson then I saw the actor in a interview on tv and went off him then when I started to watch season 2 of Dawson creek I started to like pacey and I wanted pacey and Andy to stay together
I'm SO glad that the entitled "NICE GUY" is dying out in modern shows. Ted, Ross and Dawson were the leading men of their own shows, but they were pretty problematic! 😤
"Nice guys" characters like Ross,Ted and Dawson are no longer tolerated today , characters like Ross , Ted and Dawson are really " problematic" , but that doesn't mean that these characters shouldn't exist , as they are from another era
Yeah that's true the actual nice guys where the chandlers and the Marshalls and the paceys the ones basically the shows knew were the nice guys but they didn't feel the need to say it all the time cause everyone knew already
@TheRapper10000 so true people are so hard on the nice guys but then are like oh but the shitty guys are so great then are mad they get treated like crap well maybe to complain that the nice guy isn't right now sure I hate dawson but thats mainly just cause how he treats people are so like mean and i don't know why he never gets called out for it but the other guys on TV shows I don't get why they get so much hate like the other characters don't do just as much shit
I'm barely on the scene where he gets drunk on his birthday and insults everyone and just spoiled myself with your comment and I'm so happy to see Joey ends up with Pacey, I love him 🤭
I agree with a lot of these points but feel like there were double standards too and that Dawson was sometimes a victim, after all his best friend and ex-girlfriend who he still had feelings for secretly started a relationship behind his back and Joey also cheated on him with Jack.
The show was written with Joey and Dawson ending up together, but the creator changed it in the last minute. Because the chemistry was so good, he felt it merit a complete shift in the ending.
When I got to like season 4, my hatred for Dawson was so bad that I really couldn't stand the sight of his face. Like he is the worst part of this show! The show should've been called "Joey's Creek". She has more character development and a much larger fan base than Dawson could ever have. It's truly upsetting the show was about him. This has got me angry at the world once more. lol thank you for reminding me how much I dislike Dawson's character
Completely agree. When they went to college they could have written him out of the show and nothing would have changed. I found myself looking at my phone when his scenes came on
In the end the show really was more about Joey's journey than Dawson's. That's proven in the second-to-last episode when Joey narrates the story and ends up going to France and then in the finale when the story is centered around who Joey will end up with in the end.
Interesting note: The reason the show was initially more about Dawson and was told from his perspective is bc the original creator/showrunner made this show about his own childhood. Dawson was himself as a kid and he was telling his own story in the same way that in the end Dawson makes a show about himself called The Creek, bringing the show full circle in a cool meta way. But that showrunner left after season 2, which is why from season 3 onward there is a notable shift in tone to the story being more about Joey and told from her perspective. This is also why who Joey was supposed to end up with changed. Dawson was clearly supposed to be her endgame initially, but after the relationship with Pacey was so well done and as they all grew as characters, by the end, even the original showrunner (who came back in the end to help with the finale I believe) admitted that though it was hard for him to have Joey not end up with Dawson as planned (since it is based on his personal story with his childhood friends/ loves) it no longer made sense for their characters and for the trajectory of the story for her to pick Dawson. Thankfully he made the right choice... Anyway, I just find that context interesting.
Also... 1. Freaked out when he found out about pacey and Joey 2. Insulted pacey at his birthday party when he was drunk saying that pacey should stop being the do-gooder type and the good boyfriend guy because his life is supposed to be worse to make Dawson feel better. 3. Couldn’t ever admit when he was wrong 4. Guilted Joey for her summer plans 5. Dawson couldn’t go a summer without Joey so instead of him pushing her to go to Europe he made her stay 6. Guilted Joey about he falling in love with pacey. 7. Insulted his film teacher and begged him to let him take a class 8. Wigged out when pacey and Joey got together but then started dating Gretchen. 9. Didn’t actually realize how amazing Joey was until he was in that pageant talent show AND MUCH MORE but I’m too lazy to write cause it’s like 1 AM
Your number 2 is one of the reasons I hate Dawson. He said that and there was no consequences. How can you tell that to a friend?? Or when he forgot Pacey's birthday. Also when he believes Pacey stole the test, he was awful. All of these were before the whole Joey/Pacey thing, so for me Dawson was never a good friend to Pacey.
@@PauAngie EXACTLYY- I literally gave someone 18 reasons why dawson was not the “good guy” and 25 reasons why Pacey was and they were like “nOoo he wAs ThE gOoD GuY” LIKE WASNT HE THE SAME GUY WHO TRIED TO CRASH INTO PACEY??
dont @ at me but i don’t agree with your number 1 i mean everyone would have done what he did if they got to know that their BEST FRIEND was dating the girl/boy they had feelings for!!that’s just so inappropriate
@@martakulinova8418 but pacey was in love with Joey and Joey was in love with pacey, he should’ve realized that and should’ve just wanted his best friends to be happy, but you can have whatever opinion you want to😌😌
@@martakulinova8418 he threw away 11 years of friend with pacey because he fell in love with a woman who happened to be someone Dawson used/still loved. But it was not paceys fault. Yes Dawson was perfectly fine to be upset but to pretty much cut off pacey was immature.
The part that pissed me off the most is when Dawson throws the basketball as hard as he can into Pacey’s face breaking his nose and then everyone makes it seem like “oh gosh darn Dawson’s at it again ha ha.” Just because he didn’t like the idea of Jen starting to like Pacey
go back and watch that ep again, that not what happen pacey was telling jen embassing story about dawson ( asshole move) then embasseing in basketball to impress the cheerleaders, then called him a hurtfull name over and over. i would have dont the same thing.
@@az21bob666 breaking someone’s nose just because they embarrassed them a bit is definitely not okey. Dawson was old enough to use words to express his feelings. Hitting people is what 3 year olds do, not 16 year olds
Dawson had to deal with 2 death. Loseing his two best friends and Gretchen who after making plans to leave with him just dispeard. And almost never complain But Pacey bitch about his own mistake blamed everyone but himself. And complain that his parent rag on him when he was a D student that almost flunk out every year. And they should of he did tried they would be proud of him
The worst character of all time has sacrified her love with Joey to protect her from a dangerous father, pardoned his best friend to have betrayed him, accepted to stay friends with his lost love, risked his life to save Pacey in the tempest, etc. etc. Good job for a jerk.
@@clauderain312 lol u know this is a RUclips comment section right? If I want to hate him for being a slut shaming whining manipulative cheating mess then I will
I agree. James has grown into a really nice family man. I think even he was annoyed by some of Dawson's behavior when he played the character (probably why he wanted to leave the show toward the end).
Yes, for example : when Pacey betrayed his best friend, destroyed Joey at the prom, rejected Andie for some stupid reasons, when he was unfaithful with Audrey, became a stupid trader, or when he lost all the money of his best friend :)
Can we agree james van der beek is a good guy? Seems like a chill dude and my heart breaks when he suffers some harsh moments in his personal life like his wife having some miscarriages. That's a pain no one should experience
@@scarlettcrowns lol abby was at least entertaining. the whole purpose of her character was to create conflict, whereas dawson was supposed to be a nice guy. spoiler: he was really an ass
@@vicky-ee1ie I would’ve liked to have seen Abby’s character evolve and grow up. It’s a shame she was unhappy acting and we never got to see that blossom into something more than just the mean girl with a rough life.
What the hell were writers thinking making the lead one of the most annoying, self-centered, narcissistic character's on television ever. Did they accidentally on purpose make him the villian of his own show, lmao. From Season 2 onwards he was truly insufferable.
I just finished re-watching this show on Netflix and I couldn't believe watching it through new eyes as an adult how absolutely selfish Dawson was as a character. Everything he did was for himself and to make himself feel better. Everything Pacey did was for someone else and to make sure they were getting what they needed. Dawson really is a horrible character!
I don't even know why they call it the Dawson's Creek they should have just changed the nameperson who the shoe is named after is terrible just watching these videos the fact that he slept with Joey and then called his girlfriend and then almost killing pacey and that race wow and I haven't even started watching it on Netflix
first she was not his girlfreind she was a fling, even SHE said it was a fling. pacey cheated on adrey he sleep with a married women, with a women that was going to get married, but becosue it pacey you over look everything he does wrong.
@@az21bob666 and you do the same with Dawson, you defend him in every comment, even when he had an absolutle trash behavior . I get it sometimes people don't recongnise that he had some good moments and that's annoying. But you always act like he was a saint and pacey wasn't, when the truth is that both had bad and good moments.
Just finished season 1 and i do get dawson kinda sucks, he's a human being and at least can be a good person from time to time. He is a teenager and sometimes we do crappy things but we learn and can do better.
Dawson was the worst until he started dating Gretchen in season 4, she change him so much. From then on, Dawson was cool. They should have ended together.
she kiss jack why she was dating dawson then date dawson break up with him, date his best friend pacey then goes back to him, to break up with him again. Fuck she mess with his mind,
lol joey said i could sue you for invading my privacy 4 episodes later---------- joey,andie,abbie and jen completely going through dawsons room giving zero fucks about his privacy and after all that andie finds a porno in his room then they proceed to watch it meanwhile calling dawson a pervert even his mom didnt say anything to them that episode was just sick
Also I literally HATED how Dawson told his dad to just forgive his mom when SHE cheated. Dawson made his dad out to be the bad guy when really he has every right to feel as he was feeling
The crying face for the sake of it is not a bad moment, the things he says on that speech are actually redeeming, he gave up and understood had to let her go. Letting someone you love go to be with someone else is one of the most heartbreaking things but also selfless. I’d say after that, in seasons 4 to 6 he was less selfish and started to live in reality, this definitely had to do with 1. Joey choosing Pacey 2. His relationship with Gretchen 3. Him being by himself in Hollywood and learning he knows less than he thought and 4. His father dying. All of these experiences taught him valuable lessons about real life and not his dream-like movie he thought he was living in
This is exactly what I was saying in response to this video and just having finished the show recently. I really think that Dawson is unfairly assassinated in this video because the point of the show is to focus on Dawson and how he matures over time. It’s obvious that Dawson is the least mature person in this show and that’s because he has such loving parents. Everyone else is forced to mature quicker than Dawson due to having broken and dysfunctional families. So Dawson acts the way a coddled kid from a good home would and that is immature and selfish. And it’s only when he’s in the real world does he understand that immaturity and selfishness are not desirable traits and those traits improve for him later in the show and in the last season, he’s arguably as mature as everyone else is and it’s really heartwarming to see his growth to the point.
in a lot of way dawson was more mature then the rest of them, joey never stop running and never found herself. pacey blame everyone else for his mistake. jen was broken but started to heal over time.
@@KINGSOP2000 It's not unfair. He was immature for the first three seasons and did a lot of awful, selfish things. He eventually grew up. You can recognize both of these as being true.
He's always mature, but too naive at first, and so, a little centred on himself (and Joey). After, in season 4, after having losed his "soulmate", he becomes strong and wise, and a really cool character until the end.
@@clauderain312 The most mature of them is Jen. Dawson was always trying to find himself, and sometimes his arguments with Joey were meaningless. It's a fact that Dawson will pursue everything he met as a teenager.
@@jhsnva Agree with you about Jen, she was a very mature and "wise" character. Dawson, it's particular. There is "Dawson with Joey", and "Dawson without Joey". When D and J are together, they are trapped in some parallel place where they are always 15, with always the same conflicts and childish feelings. It's the beauty of their relationship, and a total mess in the same time lol. It's different when he's with other persons. In the finale, with the tragic death of his dear friend Jen, and when he's totally in peace with Joey's feelings for him, for Pacey, and his own feelings, he contacts his reality, maybe for the first time. Like he said in this episode "Fiction is fiction". After that, I imagine him very happy. Serene. And ready to tell other stories, without Joey and him. And maybe he meets Gretchen again :)
The fact that Joey continued being Dawson's friend and then slept with him after he guilted her into turning in her father and after she told him that she would never forgive him is a ludicrous story line. Joey should not have ever felt guilty about "hurting" him for dating Pacey especially since her and Dawson were not together for a year. All of these ridiculous guilt trips the characters have are dumb.
I have a theory: Dawson is an autobiographic character, so the author made every other character to love him and say constantly how great he is, but the portrait is a little too good, and the author was actually not a loveable person at all.
I saw a video of the creator, he actually said that dawson was based on him and his childhood wanting to create movies. The guy seemed as annoying and self-centered as Dawson 😂 so I think you got it on ponit here
Van Der Beek stated on the EW reunion that he thought his character was annoying. Agreed. Dawson was whiny, selfish, ignorant, judgemental, and boring.
Not every point in this video is non biased. You forgot the fact that Joey had same feelings for Dawson and when they got together for the first time, Joey wanted to explore herself (not being the central character then), so she dumped Dawson because she wanted to be independent and wanted the life of her own (understandable) but then she starts dating Jack. So, she indirectly says that if I am with Dawson, I am not the protagonist in the universe. When Dawson found out about Joey's father again dealing with drugs, their restaurent was set on fire by their competitors, now imagine if the competitors would stop coming after the entire Potter family just after burning down their restaurent! Dawson and his parents made the right decision. And also Joey acknowledges that what Dawson did in season 2 finale was the right thing and Joey was wrong.
Team Pacey all the way! I mean the way he cared for Andie when she was at her worst encouraged her to get help rather than putting her down even if it meant losing her or the way he supported the one way joey felt close with and connected with her mother after her passing, unlike Dawson who just completely disregarded it. Although most of Pacey’s childhood was packed with several times of being put down he never put down others to make himself feel better, he actually sacrificed his relationships to allow them to succeed.
Are we.forgetting that Pacey said that every year dawso. Did his best to make Pacey birthday the best he could Or.That Pacey forget Dawson birthday season 3 and 4
Exactly I would have been done. Dawson wasn't shit the entire series. Idc who don't agree. He always looked down on Pacey. And that lil Bday speech proved as much. Pacey teasing him is not the same. Anybody who thinks it is has something wrong with them.
Technically, Joey was the "Ducky" of this show, the entire first season. The main reason people don't see that, is -sexism- ...because Joey was played by an attractive actress.
Blaming Joey for his fathers death was horrible. But guilt tripping Joey into breaking up with Pacey was the worst. I still dont understand why he was so upset with Joey and Pacey falling for one another, he did in fact push them together
I always related more to Pacey because my family was more like his and I was always wondering why Dawson was allowed to be such a douche when he doesn't even like Joey as a person.
@@clauderain312 Uhm what? Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment but no. In fact when I first watched season one of Dawson's Creek I liked Dawson. I didn't think he was a douchebag. It was on rewatching and seeing him use Mary Beth, be dismissive of Joey's exploring Art, forcing her to turn on her father in spite of he himself being an eye witness who could have testified. His actions throughout the show are douche behavior that he always expects other people to accept as okay. One that always bugged me a lot was that when Pacey realized he liked Joey he knew that Dawson might be harboring feelings for Joey and so checked if it would cause hurt feelings if he went after Joey. Dawson emphatically denied he had any feelings which he legit didn't at the time at least not consciously. When Dawson did realize he had feelings for her he didn't say anything to Pacey at all except to crow victory at getting the girl. This would be forgivable if later when Joey gave Pacey a chance he hadn't held up this as a huge betrayal to him while ignoring the fact that Pacey liked her first. He did everything to destroy the budding relationship while ignoring the fact that by his logic he not Pacey had been the betrayer. Pacey did some crappy things too but usually apologized and sought redemption for them. Dawson acted like he'd never done anything wrong in the first place. That was the problem with his character it was never him apologizing for getting mad at an imagined slight it was forgiving you for the imagined slight. He'd seen how Joey reacted to his mom cheating on his dad and yet the first time they slept together he made her the other woman. He showed a callous disregard to Joey and her feelings throughout the entire time they knew each other.
Maybeth went to spy of cliff He was not dismissive of her art. It was one piece she did not draw it . That no different then her not liking a movie Turning dad in. Was a deal with the DA to get less jail time The girl was not a girlfriend. She even said that later. So Dawson did it cheat
Plus dawson judged her for her interest in art and when she joined the beauty pageant. He didnt even want to date her until he saw her dressed up. Hes an asshole
you wrong on both account, first dawson had feeling for joey well before the pageant, and no he did not judge her for art, he did not like a art pic that someone ELSE did, she got bad, he told her it no different then when you put me in my place over a moive, he told how great her art was, how proud he was and gave her 1200 for her to take art classes.
Just finished binge watching this and I completely agree with this list. I hated him and when they went to college I felt his character didn't need to be on the show anymore. They could have written him out and the show would have been the same 🤷🏻♀️
Actually, the trope I see too much of, is the glamorizing of the "Pacey" type character.. _His credentials say he's kinda dumb and potentially schemey, but he's so totally not_ trope. I know women like the idea of that whole _diamond-in-the-rough,_ _fixer-upper_ type, but good luck with that in the real-world.
make a list of the sellish stuff pacey did, if far more then what dawson did. the idea that dawson is selfish is just not true, dawson paid for joey college, pacey wanted her to stay in capside. dawson was the one that was alwasy there for her alwasy, people over look everything bad pacey does.
@@az21bob666 pacey literally broke it off with her because he knew she might choose to stay with him instead of going to college and he wasn't going to risk her throwing away her future. Pacey was flawed and human, yes. But overall he was a truly good man
NO pacey broke it off with her becouse he FELT like he was nothing, and he did it the worse way possible. BUT bash dawson, pacey said i think i am happy joey cant go to college, DAWSON paid for her to go, after she said no DAWSON went to pacey to talk him into changeing her mind, THEN after she said i slept with pacey he still told her to go to college, still paid for it, told her how great she going to do there. BUT why i like dawson is what he DID after, gratchen break up with him, joey was not there for him, BUT when pacey broke up with joey dawson was there for him, SHE ask him to stay, he could have stay and spend the summer with her most likely start dating again, BUT he was there for her as a freind, Kiss her and LEFT, give her the whole summer to be on her own, THEN she the one that started what does the kiss mean, So that show dawson was not trying to be with her, then and was truly trying to be her friend, BUT he get bash for everything.
Blaming Dawson for the whole Daddy Potter debacle is a total BULLSHIT. Does anyone here really believes Potter family life with a drug dealing father would've been all puppy dogs and rainbows if it wasn't for Dawson? And of course there's no way in hell Mr. Potter's "profitable business" could've led to some tragic consequences for his whole family, i.e. rival drug dealers going after Joey and Bessie. And yes, Joey is SO angry at Dawson she gets even more frustrated after the failing attempt of jumping his bones in the very next episode!
Agreed, honestly, he would have been a bad friend, if he decided to mind his own business didn't say anything about Joey's drug-dealing father. It could have let Joey and her entire, family get arrest for her dad's decision, or even killed.
I am sure that 99% people who say "Team Pacey ! Dawson is a selfish villain !" would be unable in real life to overcome a best friend betrayal like Dawson did. After all, Dawson has respected Joey's choice and has forgiven his best friend to lie to him. In love life, overcoming the fact your best friend dates your love is one of the most difficult things to do. And Dawson finally did it. It's an estimable and rare attitude.
The 2 worst things he did to me where when he criticized Jen for not being a virgin and when he read Joey’s diary. It’s almost like they wanted us to hate him. I only watched the show for Pacey, Joey, and Jen.
She wasn't going to go to France for the summer. It was for second semester of sophomore year. Joey was Lauren Conrad before Lauren Conrad was Lauren Conrad.
I never liked Dawson as a character...and then when he asked Joey about losing her virginity to Pacey, which was obviously none of his business and a beautiful moment for her, guilting her into lying about it, I knew I'd never see him as redeemable.
NO it was not it just dawson bashing, i mean how many time did joey ask dawson about sleeping with JEN, with eve, when dawson went to a nightclub with jen ex, joey break into dawson room to ask him about it the second he walk into his room, she ask about him sleeping with gratchen at least 2 different times. and everyone ask joey about her sleeping with pacey. BUT someone dawson the bad guy.
Another thing I forgot. Not only Dawson has never prevented Joey to go to Paris, but he is also the guy who gave money to Joey to pay university in season 4. He gives Brook's money without hesitation, despite his suffering the year before, and hopes she'll be happy in her new life after high school. During this time, Pacey sulks, and confides to Gretchen he's happy Joey not have money for university. So, who is the selfish boyfriend ?
I will never forgive him for what he said to Pacey during his Birthday Party. The fact that Pacey was still cordial and kind to him afterward speaks VOLUMES about Pacey's character. Obviously Pacey wasn't perfect (prom scene :/) But at least Pacey was able to grow up and admit his mistakes later unlike Dawson who still expected everyone around him to be desperate for his approval for the entirety of the show
I think dawson is very misunderstood and pacey is overhyped. I do think that it was best for joey to end up with pacey, however, I don't think dawson should be hated so much. A lot of his good actions are overshadowed by fans focusing on his bad moments. If you try to watch the show from an innocent dawson's point of view, it is easy to understand most of his actions, the good and the bad, and this rationality allows me to enjoy his character. I don't think this list is a great representation of his bad actions, as a lot of them can be explained. He went to his parents for advice about joey's dad and honestly believed he was doing the best thing for her. A 15 who has no sexual experience should be allowed to be nervous when the girl he is going out with says that she has slept with a lot of people. This action is not admirable at all, however, it is definitely understandable. Asking joey to stay may have been selfish, but, asking someone you believe to be the love of your life that you will really miss them if they leave isn't really an issue. The boat race was wrong, however, from his point of view, it was just an attempt to win joey back. Dawson's actions when he was drunk shouldn't really be held against him, as half the characters in the show get more drunk and do stuff that is 10 times worse, while dawson just said some mean things he didn't necessarily mean. Also, dawson and natasha weren't technically dating when he broke up with her, however, this was still kinda a shitty move from dawson. Dawson is often accused of gaslighting joey, but sometimes this is invalid, as all he does is bring up a different point of view and then the fight escalates because joey is quite stubborn and often lacks self-control in arguments, especially ones with dawson. His good actions though are always overlooked which is frustrating, considering pacey's good actions are hyped up. I'll admit pacey is probably a better person than dawson, but this is just because he has a better social understanding than dawson and has a lot more opportunities to show how good he is. Here are some of dawsons best actions. Giving joey the money to go to college so she can follow her dream without expecting anything in return. Supporting joey when her mother dies (talked about but never seen). Asking pacey to look after joey even when joey doesn't like him. Letting joey go in the end without her having to say anything, he just tells her to be with pacey (well basically). He saves 3 lives, jen and pacey from the boat and the joey's dad from the fire. Overall, I don't think dawson was the best character by any stretch of the imagination, I just think that his personality has negative connotations and it is easy to label him as a villain. I think much of the things he gets the blame for are as much the other person's fault as his own, it is just easy to blame dawson as at points he is unlikable. I think that james van der beek played this role incredibly well considering his aim was to be a slightly self-centred, youthfully minded teenager. I like almost all of the characters and love all of the actors, so my only biases are just the opinions I have come to. Thanks for reading if you got this far, and I would love to speak to people about this, whether they agree or disagree.
I think you are completely right. The authors were so mean with Dawson’s character. Most of the times, he stayed eclipsed by Joey in a very negative way, and he didn’t deserve that. He could be selfish in several situations, but selfishness is part of every human being. At that age, it is permitted to do such mistakes. Of course, there is a story to tell, but I am convinced that Joey wasn’t a very good friend for Dawson, even more, it was better for both of them not being a couple.
My God. THANK YOU for this comment. Something nuanced, argumented, intelligent, no manichean or binary, AT LAST. I started to believe i would never read such a thing. Really, thank you. Feels good reading something not just repeating the "doxa" and speech we are supposed to have about characters to seem "cool" and "mature", when all is more "shades of grey", and complex. Was a good read. Nothing to add ! Except a thumb up !
I sort of agree with you, but much of this comment comes off the same way as obsessive Pacey fans. You don't need to excuse his actions. The character did these things, and it's okay to find them unacceptable while still rooting for the character. I really like Pacey, but I'm not going to pretend he didn't push Joey away then play the victim and tear into her during prom out of his own insecurities. I love Andie, but I don't think it's unreasonable for Pacey to break up with her after she cheated and for her to have to feel that guilt. Jen is probably my favorite character and one of the least problematic, but even she said mean things to people and wallowed in self-pity far too often.
Dawson did the right thing convincing Joey to turn her father in. What he did was wrong. The "France thing", all he did was tell her that he was going to miss her.
Yes, thank you. People are giving hate speeches about Dawson being the worst, while I think it is Joey. She is totally contradictory and messy. And suddenly her screw-ups are ok, but not Dawson's. She became the protagonist and he the "bad guy". Excuse me, internet, that is twisted.
#5 is not a valid entry, because, hello, Mr. Potter is breaking the law by dealing drugs!!! So Dawson was actually doing the right thing by convincing Joey to turn her father in to the police!!
Dawson and Joey, in some way, are everything : best friends, enemies, lovers, brother and sister, family, confidants, objects of fantasy... That's why their love relationship, even unfinished, is so powerful.
he never manipulated her, the closest he ever did was i not going to be your freind if you pick pacey, then again pacey told her he leaveing the state if she pick dawson. but dawson told her to go, but you want to blame dawson.
I disagree with those who think he manipulated Joey. She had a choice. The crying scene was not jerky at all. He paid for Joeys college for crying out loud. I blame Joey for them breaking up in season 6. He broke up with the girl the next day. The jerk thing to do would have been to keep dating both women
I am team Dawson. He's inventive, imaginative, dreamer, intelligent, passionate, openmind, and original. His problem : Joey and her special personality reveal his darkside. With Joey, he's never in peace. When he dates Jen, she's jealous. When he tries to live his own life after the first breakup, Joey becomes upset. When she rejects him the second time (unfair, because he protected her from a dangerous father), he accepts. Later, he develops complicity with other girls, Nikki or Eve, Joey becomes crazy. Then, he dates Gretchen, in a mature and complice relationship, and Joey does everything to contrariate this relation. When he dates Jen for the second time, Joey's upset again. Joey is the worst character on the show, constantly insecure, jealous, negative, and selfish. Dawson and Jen were the best characters, more original, open, and mature. Pacey was great with Tamara, and exceptional with Andie. With Joey, his character became banal : just a sexy guy in love with the girl next door. Dawson and Jen, yeah !
I agreed with you until you started talking about Pacey with Tamara. That was his teacher. That relationship was extremely problematic, and she really, really should have known better.
@@lbeard7661 I understand, but I think it's a mistake that these two characters need to do. This mistake helps Pacey to grow up, and helps Tamara to understand she needs to take a new way in her life.
yea when jen the second time there a part were jen like my boss need me to be angry, and i am still that angry girl, and dawson calls and she just smiles and start calling him cute nicknames. joey was the same way with dawson, but let put her with the guy that like to hit his boss, and sleep with married women, he did that few times.
@@clauderain312 Sleeping with ur underage student is not a "mistake," it's rape. Shows and movies REALLY need to stop presenting this as an acceptable trope when it's actually extremely problematic predatory behavior. The show implies that this storyline was thrown in to get the show green lit by pleasing gross old white men studio execs who thought that would be hot. Which would explain why the storyline is dropped very quickly; it never felt in spirit with the rest of the show and I'm glad they got rid of that very quickly. These storylines are never ok unless they specifically call it out as rape and show the consequences and ramifications of it. Period. And I've only ever seen 2 shows do this.
Restore the truth time ! 1/ Nice guy : yes, Dawson is a nice guy. Watch all the show, not some partisan moments. 2/ The boat file. Context : Dawson has just losed love of his life, and his best friend has betrayed him. By impulse, he made a mistake. In a stupid boat competition. Not a big deal. 3/ Mary Beth file. It's too easy to make Dawson the villain because... Mary Beth has exactly the same intention : date Dawson to get proximity with the football player. 4/ Make love with Joey. I consider he was correct. Natasha was nothing. The first love night with his soulmate happens by surprise. He broke up immediatly with Natasha after to be 100% involved with Joey. Nothing is perfect in life. He did the right thing considering the situation. 5/ The cry face lol. James doesn't play like that usually. More interior. Realisator asked him to exteriorize everything but ok, it's not a success. He has better played the suffering whe he lost his father. 6/Joey's father file. Ok, so, to be a good and cool guy, what should he do ? Joey was in danger. Everybody could die in fire. Dawson did the right think to protect Joey and her family. He knews that he would lose Joey by doing this. It's a disinterested act to save her girlfriend. I can't believe this difficult decision is used to prove that he's a jerk. 7/ Filming Jen. Yes, it was stupid ! Stupid and funny ! A this stage, Dawson is again a dreamer who wants to control like in a movie. That's why the spontaneous kiss after that is so beautiful. After controled dream, magical and unperfect reality. It was the sense of this scene. 8/ France file. Are you crazy ? Dawson never prohibited Joey to go to France ! It's her who doesn't want to leave ! And it's her who never stopped to send signals to Dawson to ask her to stay. He never did. Stay in capeside was Joey's choice, totally. 9/ Drunk party. What is the problem with that ? All the characters have been drunk at a moment or another... I don't understand. 10/ Jen's not a virgin. Context : Jen lied about her sexual life. A this stage, Dawson is like a child. Naive and selfish. After that, he understands that real Jen is more interesting that a fantasized Jen and he grows up. In season 3, Jen and Dawson, as super friends, talk about this, and he tells her again, he was wrong, young and stupid, and how much he respects her for everything she is. Now, the world knows the truth about Dawson, lol
Him being drunk at the party. I feel like his parents were the bad ones in that situation. His parents who were once madly in love were now separated due to Gale being unfaithful. Now his parents were fighting like cats and dogs. They didnt even bother to get along for Dawson's sake, not even on his birthday
Thank you! I love Dawsons character because its one that showed the most emotional growth. Can't understand why he is bashed so much. He was only a teenager and he always learned from his mistakes.
I think there should be 10 best moments of Dawson. I mean... If someone is making reviews and videos about the show, one cannot ignore the good stuff character did and only point out the bad stuff. In my humble opinion, reviewer should be more objective. Ok. You like Pacey more, but last time I checked, Pacey did a lot of shit as well. And he was being a jerk a lot of time. So why only pointing good stuff of Pacey and bad stuff of Dawson?
@@Edeliz. lol Brad Pitt cheated on his wife he also was a drug addict when he was younger and treated her badly and was controlling apparently....so its a bad example of a man to love. But he was good looking...
People are very unfair with Dawson (but unfair too with characters like Andie or Gretchen). To legitimate the love story between sexy boy and insecure girl, they need hating someone (Dawson, sometimes Andie). These characters have a lot of amazing moments on the show, but people make focus on a few mistakes.
That's because bashing fictional insecure guys is what's trending right now, apparently, and even though Dawson proved many times he didn't quite fit the "nice guy" stereotype people still continue to bash him.
Tell Joey about his dad was a correct decision and in that moment we can see that he is a good guy, because he knows that probably broke his relationship with Joey but he did it because it was the correct thing
Oh this whole video gives me such life. Thank you! There are SO many more moments that could go here - grabbing Joey and kissing her against her will at least twice (the drunken birthday party and the anti-prom, after she dances with Pacey, so she can "find out what she's missing"); telling Joey that if she dates Pacey, she can't be his friend any more; attempting to guilt his mother into not having an abortion; inexplicably refusing to sleep with Gretchen and gaslighting her about it....ahh the list goes on (and on, and on). Thank the gods we had Pacey as a palate cleanser and to show us 90s girls what a boyfriend SHOULD behave like. (Most of the time.)
Do you realize all your sentences are lies ? your hatred for this character is pathological. Have you been traumatized by a guy named Dawson in real life?
the birthpay party maybe, the anit prom she said herself that she felt a spark. pacey told joey if she pick dawson he leaving the state. and never guilt his mother into have a abortion, and he did not refuse to sleep with gretchen, and how is not wanting to sleep with your girlfriends wrong, no one would ever say if a girl does not want to sleep with her boyfreind she in the wrong.
My theory : without Dawson, Joey and Pacey are an unconsistant couple. That's why people love hating Dawson : Pacey and Joey have substance only because it's a "forbidden relationship" (because of the soulmate thing in which Dawson and Joey are trapped). Without the triangle, this relationship between Joey and Pacey is uninteresting.
Hmmm interesting theory and possibly true. Without the drama of Dawson and without someone to compare Pacey to, the relationship might've been less interesting. I think it still would've been enjoyable but perhaps less memorable...
I think what the video said about Dawson making Joey turn in her dad is just nonsensical. It’s not disrespectful to be concerned about someone’s safety and it’s not controlling to do so either. You’re not controlling their life by stopping other people from hurting them (emphasis on OTHER people, not the person themselves). You’re argument can be used to justify allowing a friend to be abused by a Boyfriend or a family member because it’s somehow “disrespectful” like that’s just utterly ridiculous and I think you might subscribe to this archaic that “what happens in the house, stays in the house” and that’s always been used by abusers (my family practiced this) to keep their abuse hidden so they can continue to abuse. Respect is about not treating someone badly and honoring their wishes for what they would like to do for themselves, not allowing abuse to happen to them.
If Dawson was trapped in the rock, nobody to save Joey from her father, to pay admission to university, to save Pacey's life in the tempest... I think you watched the show with blinkers.
Dawson to me is such an inspiring character showing so much growth through so much teenage hearbreak. The number of times that he was selfless here! I have nothing against Pacey, and i though it was Joey who was the annoying one. But I don't understand all the dislike and hatred towards a young teenage character who showed so much growth. I don't know of any teenager who is perfect. Or for that matter anyone who is perfect. But what I found inspiring about Dawson is that he always made the effort to work on himself.
That's an interesting take - I feel the opposite way. Dawson was rarely selfless. It took him longer than any of the other characters to grow and change. I don't think the argument is that Dawson is imperfect - as you say, we're all imperfect. Heck, Pacey slept with his teacher in season 1 (a storyline I hate, in large part because the show completely ignored the fact that it was statutory rape and never seemed to understand that Pacey was a victim, not a stud). But Dawson rarely worked on himself, he just expected other people to accommodate him, which was very frustrating to watch. For me, personally. I agree that Joey could be annoying, that's for sure and certain, but I found her story much more compelling than Dawson's.
@@joeypotter6051 Dawson has constantly worked on himself. In season 1, he understod with Jen that beings live in reality, not in a fantasy, and he should accept that. After that, he has so much respect for Jen, and even admiration, her past included. He grows up by discovering his parents aren't perfect and by accepting this. In season 2, he learns to give space to the girl he loves. At the end of this season, he sacrified his relationship to save her from her father. In season 3, he leaves movies passion to know who he really is. And despite the suffering, he accepts the fact that her soulmate is in love with his best friend. In season 4, always despite the suffering, he's ok to restore the link with Pacey. He opens his mind to others because of photos. In season 5, he has to built himself again, despite his feeling of culpability for Mitch's death. In season 6, despite his suffering to have lost Joey forever, he's totally involved in his professional life. Dawson and Jen are the characters who have the most spectacular evolution on the show. Jen, from broken angel to young serene and confident lady. Dawson, from a naive dreamer to strong and wise young man. Joey and Pacey have cool trajectory too, but less spectacular than Dawson and Jen. It would be so cool to talk about this show without eternal cliches like "Pacey is the best" and "Dawson is a monster".
@@clauderain312 I totally agree with you here! I am 40 years old and I just learned a lot from these two characters. Joey and Pacey were great characters too but they were very 3d focused and generic in many ways. Whereas Dawsons character had a lot of depth. Where others saw him as being judgemental, I saw him as "questioning". He questioned the depth of everything and he always came around to an expansive understanding of the situation. And I love that! Same with Jen! Also, I must say that Dawsons character was not given any importance or focus in later seasons. Same with Jen and Jack who I also loved. But a lot of focus was on Pacey & Joey. There was so much inconsistency that I questioned the writting. Then I google it and find out that it wasn't even the same writers. It shows that new writers didn't have the same depth of understanding as the original writers. And they were probably influenced by the fact that in real life Joshua and Katey dated.
Everyone makes really good points on both sides. I think since all the characters are flawed it's not hard to pick out their worst and best moments and use those as evidence of them being either great or terrible. That's pretty subjective. It's true Dawson has a great character arc and grows a lot by the end of the show. I do like a lot of the aspects of his story. I think his character, however, would've been more palatable if he was more self effacing, self aware, humble and actively cognizant of both his flaws and his privilege. The backlash against Dawson stems from an overall backlash in the culture against characters that fit the "the nice guy" trope. This includes characters like Ross Geller, Zach Morris, and Ted Mosby - generally well liked characters of their time that are now being more brutally criticized. This can often seem like overblown and unnecessarily harsh reviews of these characters, and in a way they are. However, the overall point is more so to call out the problematic behavior of men that gets excused bc they're self proclaimed "nice guys." Dawson fits this trope. He has an overinflated sense of self and comes off very self righteous and condescending in his criticisms of people. He sometimes seems to think he's better than everyone around him and doesn't recognize when he's being a complete ass. He is quick to point out other's flaws but seems blissfully unaware of his own. When he is feeling insecure or hurt, he tends to punch down and lash out at those who love him by hitting below the belt. Therefore your sympathy for him starts to erode over time. The unfortunate reality is that Dawson's flaws are a product of his own privilege and entitlement, whereas his friends' flaws are a product of things like abuse, negligence, loss, and trauma. So when Dawson gets whiny, melodramatic, or mean, it's harder to sympathize with him by comparison. He gets upset whenever things don't go his way because in reality he's had a pretty perfect life. But he doesn't seem to see how lucky he is. The worst thing that happens to him is his parents temporarily splitting up (until dealing with death later of course.) While divorce is certainly difficult, it's a problem that pales in comparison to every single one of his other friends' problems. He's literally the only one with 2 present, loving, doting supportive parents. His friends have to deal with physical and emotional abuse, drug dealing, alcoholic and absent parents, homophobia, racism, mental health issues, financial issues and more... Yet they all treat each other with more kindness, compassion and understanding than Dawson sometimes treats them. Some of the things he said and did to the people who loved and supported him most... they just really rubbed the wrong way. He knew how to hit em where it hurts and it would just be selfish. I can't think of his friends acting similarly. Pacey came across much better bc he was always kind to Joey regardless of their relationship, and was there for his friends whether or not his kindness was reciprocated. His prom breakup with Joey is his biggest jerk moment, but that's the only time I can think of where his insecurities/hurt took over and made him be an ass to an undeserving loved one. Dawson did this over and over throughout the show... That being said, I agree that Dawson is NOT overall bad. He IS a good guy who loves his family and friends and tries his best to do the right thing. At times he behaves immaturely and definitely has a habit of being far too melodramatic (which is part of his character arc.) But that would all be fine if he just showed more self awareness and self criticism of the moments when he really is just his worst self. It's interesting to note that the show is largely told from his perspective, so it's almost like he portrays himself more positively than others might perceive him. This reinforces the notion that he sees himself as being a much nicer person than he actually was sometimes. And that's irritating, along with his immense privilege that goes unacknowledged. Anyway, idk if I explained that well, but that's my generalized assessment anyway (without going in too much detail lol) of why Dawson's character was really hard to like sometimes.
Dawson was annoying af. And his whole thing was " I'm the good guy so I deserve the girl." Don't even get me started on ms potter , her only personality trait was she liked studying... Pacey was the best character of the 3.
yeah harrasing andies mom making fun of dawson to the point is basically bullying, yelling at joey for being with him, literally, watching joey naked without her permission and kissing her, without her permission as well, yeah best character
People really love the rebel, misunderstood, sarcastic, etc. trope, don't they? So when this characters make mistakes or take poor decisions is fine, poor guy look, he (or she) is so misunderstood I love him(her) when he (she) make mistakes because that makes them more realistic nd when they do something good, that's the big deal. Aaaa but when the "nice guy" make mistakes, people just need to piss on them, I mean, how dare they to make mistakes, they become completely villains, it doesn't matter if they grow up, it doesn't matter if they try to be better, it doesn't matter because how dare they to take bad decisions, they are supose to be the "nice guy", and people completely over look or diminish their good actions. I mean, the rebel one of course he can, it doesn't matter if he (she) make the same damn mistakes all the time, it doesn't matter because they are so misunderstood, their life has been so unjust, boo hoo -.-' jajaja and the most ironic thing is that in real life, this type of caracthers are really not loved by society, on the contrary, so ironic and hypocrital. But hey! we live in a society. :v lol
For me, the difference is their attitudes to their mistakes and how they see their place in the world. Typically, the “misunderstood” character, as you call them, understands when they’ve done something wrong, or when they’ve hurt someone. The “nice guy” typically ends up blaming others half the time, and resents the “misunderstood” character whenever something goes well for them. They think that because they are “nice” they should get everything they want, while the “misunderstood” character wants what they want without thinking they’re entitled to it. Personally, I hate when people think they’re entitled to things, especially when the thing is actually another person, and that’s why I tend to prefer the “misunderstood” character to the “nice guy”.
Look at everything Dawson did for Joey. He told her to go to Pacey. He paid for her college when she was too good to take out a loan. She made the choice to not go to Paris. He’s not allowed to be shocked or hurt about Joey & Pacey?
About Joey's dad it was Dawson's parents that convinced him to do it cause it's the right thing to do as Joey was in danger of her own father who started to dealing with drugs again why is it being selfish bout that...instead of turning joey's dad in he goes discuss with Joey first...yes what he did hurt Joey but it's best thing for him to do cause Joey's father is dealing with drugs again
He should've stayed out of it. I understand him telling Joey but then he needs to leave her with that information and support her in whatever SHE decides to do. It's not like her father is a serial killer.
@@joeypotter6051 Lol. Everybody could die in the fire. Joey was in mortal danger. How Dawson could have stayed out of it ? Nobody smart and humain would has stayed out of it. Dawson did the right thing, a thing that a lot of people would do in the real life. A perfect example which shows that Pacey's fans are partial and WANT hating Dawson, whatever he does. Why ? I don't know. It's something I don't understand.
@@joeypotter6051 Dawson did nothing wrong. He was saving a friend, his love and his soulmate from dying. Had Pacey done the same thing, you would have congratulated him for being mature and doing the right thing.
Dawson saved Pacey's life during a storm in the ocean, risking his own life for his friend who betrayed him in the worse way possible. Damn Dawson was a saint almost.
pacey going after joey why at the same time telling dawson to give joey space, if you freind tell you NOT to take a manger job and they take that same job, is that not a betral, that what pacey did give dawson advice on joey at the same time going after joey.
Ok so to be fair i think that dawson is just a teen, yes he has his "jerk" moments ( plenty of them) but lets put it this way. Right in the firdt season he lives in a bubble he thinks that life is like movies so when he finds out about jen ( Jerk moment) acts rude, joey he cares about her, and the thing with her father ( again it was not his call) but lets not forget it was mitch who asked him to bring joey to the police, due ti this it was an adult conscented desicion and it was after all right... And i can keep on going with many of this... But in other words, Dawson is just an average teen boy who makes mistakes, ( but he apologizes ) and he is aware of this mistakes, every character has uts own mistakes, they are teens, but most importantly they are human beings, just imagin what would it be without this mistakes... There would be no show
Not that this justifies Dawson’s behavior in the slightest, but Jen verbally said in the first episode that she was a virgin, so Dawson didn’t assume she was, he was under the impression she was a virgin because she told him she was.
This list is ridiculous. I must be watching an entirely different show. Because for me Dawson was one of the only characters in that series that had some sense. Well ok there was that time when he betrayed his best friend behind his back, no wait that wasn’t him. No no ok, that time when Joey told him she loved him. And in return he proceeded to get with every single girl he possibly could including her best friend. Wait no that wasn’t him either. Wait, ok there was that time when Dawson was out of character for an entire season by being insecure about EVERYTHING including his girlfriends ex and her going to college and making a life for herself. So much so that boiled over to him making a ridiculous scene at prom. And embarrassing her. Nope wasn’t him either. Am I missing something here? If that’s the case. We definitely need a list on why Pacey was an idiot and why Joey was a narcissistic woman child. The hate for Dawson is insane.
And also I love how majority of this list is from season one. Because Dawson was clearly an immature fantasy driven kid. He definitely was better afterwards.
Seriously mojerks joeys dad dealing drugs again put her whole family in mortal danger, Dawson was trying to make sure she was safe so at the end she blames him and not her asshole dad who caused the fire to happen in the 1st place. Joey even knew she fucked up in the beginning of season 3 but Dawson was like nope not going down that road again and rejected her. Totally deserved on that one.
dawson didn’t even care that joey was starting something with the college dude a.j. though once he found out that joey and pacey started having feelings for each other, he made both of them feel like crap for liking each other, which was so selfish of dawson!!!
I can't lie if my bestfriend and my ex got together id be pissed what dawson did that was fucked up was that he legit guilt joey to stay with him and was like your free to go like some item
How does a face make him the worst character? Seriously some of these reasons are kind of lame. And what would you have him do lie to her about her dad? He didn’t guilt her into anything from what I remember.
Omg I just commented the same thing. I was soooo pissed off. Then Mr. Leery dies and she has to take care of the baby by her self when she didn't want to keep it in the first place. He's selfish
I mean yeah Dawson has done really bad things during the show, but honestly, he is the most human character on the show. He is the most realistically written dude because of his flaws, that’s what makes him more human than the rest of the characters on the show.
They were all 15. Nobody else was as bad as him except maybe Joey and she at least had some extenuating life circumstances for why she was so bitter and caustic.
@@az21bob666 They all had flaws but I’d say Pacey was more redeemable. He grew a bit more and learned from his mistakes. Dawson always seemed to be just as arrogant and unlikeable throughout. That’s how I felt anyway.
#1 for me was emotionally manipulating Joey into breaking up with Pacey.
@Skolney ikr he basically emotionally abused her manipulating her to not be with the person that made her the happiest
Which time lol?
they are talking about when dawson said you cant have both of us.
they leave out pacey told her i leaveing if she get back with dawson so it the same thing. but people like to bash dawson.
@@az21bob666 oh gotcha
@@az21bob666 Those 2 things are nowhere near the same. "You can't have both of us" was a clear ultimatum that told her that would be the end of their friendship if she chose Pacey, something he knew she wouldn't do. Pacey never, throughout the show, prevents her from choosing Dawson if that's what she wants. His plan to leave for the summer on his boat wasn't about emotional manipulation, it was something he wanted to do anyway and had the benefit of giving him space so he doesn't have to sit with the pain of knowing she didn't choose him and watching her with Dawson. He still left regardless, she just chose to go with him, which shows that he wanted to leave either way. All he did was ask Joey to ask him to stay after she accused him of giving up on her and running away from the problem (also a personal and not manipulative reason.) You really can't compare that to the harshness of Dawson's reaction. Being angry, furious even, is understandable. But to give Joey an ultimatum, put her in an impossible position, then literally almost get pacey killed while dragging her family's business into the conflict in a way where everyone gets hurt - his reaction was so completely astoundingly self absorbed it was inexcusable. Being angry and hurt doesn't justify a complete lack of regard for other people's lives and emotions. By contrast, Pacey treats both Joey and Dawson with respect and kindness regardless of the state of their relationships. His love isn't conditional. Dawson eventually matures more thankfully, but the sting of his level of cruelty during his worst moments definitely stands out...
Dawson's character aged so poorly. Pacey on the other hand, had a very ahead of it's time character arc. I wish they would have called dawson out over treating Pacey so horribly every chance he got.
Because Pacey was a jerk. But Dawson still save his life
@@az21bob666 WTF HAHAHAHA
It true. Dawson save Pacey life.
@@az21bob666 hello again! Pacey wasn't a jerk! Dawson was an awful friend, awful boyfriend and awful son!
How. His parent were always fighting in front of him. put him in the middle he was in the right
How was Dawson a bad boyfriend. Doing anything for Joey.
And then how a bad friend. Pacey went the women Dawson loved without even talking to him. That a bad friend
Something Dawson proved he never do. He told Pacey about his sister.
Dawson also blamed Joey for his father’s death when he was drunk ... gosh the man was awful when drinking
He did it blame her he said maybe he still be alive.
And the butterfly effect he may have been right
@@az21bob666 No that’s silly...If it’s your time nothing will prevent it.
But that not how thing works. There really is you time. Thing just happened. A min before or after and he still be alive.
Dawson blame himself. He even told the shrink that. He just was looking back and said if I did not come here. That blameing himself not Joey
He was awful sober too
What?! How was that her fault?
honestly team pacey 100% he was such an amazing character
In season 1 and 2, yes, an amazing character (especially with Andie). After, he betrayed his best friend and became Joey's dog.
It should really been called Pacey’s Creek
@@clauderain312 what he liked Joey since season 2 while she was dating dawson so no he didn't
@@bri4693 He's crazy about Andie in season 2.
Truly the greatest character
You didn't include how he didn't care about the anti prom for Jack and was only using it to show Joey that he was the "better guy" and that she should choose him.
yes he did care about the anit prom that why he SET it up, if it was only about joey he would have taken her to the normal prom.
@@az21bob666 Joey didn’t want to go to the normal prom in support of Jack, so how would he have taken her there? Also this is a direct quote from Dawson.
“The whole reason I suggested this whole stupid alternative prom wasn't about jack, it was about you, all right? And maybe I tried too hard, but I didn't want to miss my chance to dance with you.”
that just show he loved her, she even said she felt a spark when they kissed.
@@az21bob666 Okay and? We aren’t even talking about that. We’re talking about the fact that everyone was protesting against the school for not including Jack in their prom because he’s gay and Dawson straight up saying he didn’t care about Jack and was only using the anti prom to get closer to Joey.
well at this point in the show it still help jack but dawson and jack were not freinds,
Watching this as a teenager I was Team Pacey, now at 36 im still Team Pacey. I always thought Dawson was the worst character on the show and that hasn't changed.
When I first saw Dawson creek when it first aired I like Dawson then I saw the actor in a interview on tv and went off him then when I started to watch season 2 of Dawson creek I started to like pacey and I wanted pacey and Andy to stay together
@@angelaluckd1932 Pacey and Andie were a great couple.
Since he was a better man then pacey. So not sure how Dawson was the worst.
If anything it's become more solidified in my mind, and I didn't think that was possible! Pacey for the win.
@@az21bob666 you obviously have a thing for misogynistic men who think theyre better than everyone else.
This is why I prefer Pacey`s friendship with Jack more than Pacey and Dawson`s "Friendship" character wise I love Pacey and Jen
Ngl I hated Jack in season 2
@@exertionstudios7527 why?????
@@exertionstudios7527 why?
I'm SO glad that the entitled "NICE GUY" is dying out in modern shows. Ted, Ross and Dawson were the leading men of their own shows, but they were pretty problematic! 😤
"Nice guys" characters like Ross,Ted and Dawson are no longer tolerated today , characters like Ross , Ted and Dawson are really " problematic" , but that doesn't mean that these characters shouldn't exist , as they are from another era
and dan from gossip girl
since most of them are great people that made a few mistake, and far better then the person they end up with.
Yeah that's true the actual nice guys where the chandlers and the Marshalls and the paceys the ones basically the shows knew were the nice guys but they didn't feel the need to say it all the time cause everyone knew already
@TheRapper10000 so true people are so hard on the nice guys but then are like oh but the shitty guys are so great then are mad they get treated like crap well maybe to complain that the nice guy isn't right now sure I hate dawson but thats mainly just cause how he treats people are so like mean and i don't know why he never gets called out for it but the other guys on TV shows I don't get why they get so much hate like the other characters don't do just as much shit
...And thats why Joey ended up with Pacey!
Amen!
I'm barely on the scene where he gets drunk on his birthday and insults everyone and just spoiled myself with your comment and I'm so happy to see Joey ends up with Pacey, I love him 🤭
and Thanks God She did it 🙏
I agree with a lot of these points but feel like there were double standards too and that Dawson was sometimes a victim, after all his best friend and ex-girlfriend who he still had feelings for secretly started a relationship behind his back and Joey also cheated on him with Jack.
The show was written with Joey and Dawson ending up together, but the creator changed it in the last minute. Because the chemistry was so good, he felt it merit a complete shift in the ending.
Honestly, Dawson not realizing how much he's like his father should be on this list too.
And why is Dawson being like his dad a bad thing.
@@az21bob666 it's not cuz Mitch was the man
so was dawson, i mean he was a person that made a few mistakes, as a high schooler,
Ur right Senior Simp
how am i a simp,
When I got to like season 4, my hatred for Dawson was so bad that I really couldn't stand the sight of his face. Like he is the worst part of this show! The show should've been called "Joey's Creek". She has more character development and a much larger fan base than Dawson could ever have. It's truly upsetting the show was about him. This has got me angry at the world once more. lol thank you for reminding me how much I dislike Dawson's character
Not really Dawson had a large fan base. Joey did not want to grow up
And what did Dawson do that you hated him be there for his friends.
Completely agree. When they went to college they could have written him out of the show and nothing would have changed. I found myself looking at my phone when his scenes came on
In the end the show really was more about Joey's journey than Dawson's. That's proven in the second-to-last episode when Joey narrates the story and ends up going to France and then in the finale when the story is centered around who Joey will end up with in the end.
the later director seem to had a crush on joey becouse he told the girl that play adredy i just go to joey if you mess up everyone just loves her.
Interesting note: The reason the show was initially more about Dawson and was told from his perspective is bc the original creator/showrunner made this show about his own childhood. Dawson was himself as a kid and he was telling his own story in the same way that in the end Dawson makes a show about himself called The Creek, bringing the show full circle in a cool meta way. But that showrunner left after season 2, which is why from season 3 onward there is a notable shift in tone to the story being more about Joey and told from her perspective. This is also why who Joey was supposed to end up with changed. Dawson was clearly supposed to be her endgame initially, but after the relationship with Pacey was so well done and as they all grew as characters, by the end, even the original showrunner (who came back in the end to help with the finale I believe) admitted that though it was hard for him to have Joey not end up with Dawson as planned (since it is based on his personal story with his childhood friends/ loves) it no longer made sense for their characters and for the trajectory of the story for her to pick Dawson. Thankfully he made the right choice... Anyway, I just find that context interesting.
Also...
1. Freaked out when he found out about pacey and Joey
2. Insulted pacey at his birthday party when he was drunk saying that pacey should stop being the do-gooder type and the good boyfriend guy because his life is supposed to be worse to make Dawson feel better.
3. Couldn’t ever admit when he was wrong
4. Guilted Joey for her summer plans
5. Dawson couldn’t go a summer without Joey so instead of him pushing her to go to Europe he made her stay
6. Guilted Joey about he falling in love with pacey.
7. Insulted his film teacher and begged him to let him take a class
8. Wigged out when pacey and Joey got together but then started dating Gretchen.
9. Didn’t actually realize how amazing Joey was until he was in that pageant talent show
AND MUCH MORE but I’m too lazy to write cause it’s like 1 AM
Your number 2 is one of the reasons I hate Dawson. He said that and there was no consequences. How can you tell that to a friend??
Or when he forgot Pacey's birthday.
Also when he believes Pacey stole the test, he was awful.
All of these were before the whole Joey/Pacey thing, so for me Dawson was never a good friend to Pacey.
@@PauAngie EXACTLYY- I literally gave someone 18 reasons why dawson was not the “good guy” and 25 reasons why Pacey was and they were like “nOoo he wAs ThE gOoD GuY” LIKE WASNT HE THE SAME GUY WHO TRIED TO CRASH INTO PACEY??
dont @ at me but i don’t agree with your number 1 i mean everyone would have done what he did if they got to know that their BEST FRIEND was dating the girl/boy they had feelings for!!that’s just so inappropriate
@@martakulinova8418 but pacey was in love with Joey and Joey was in love with pacey, he should’ve realized that and should’ve just wanted his best friends to be happy, but you can have whatever opinion you want to😌😌
@@martakulinova8418 he threw away 11 years of friend with pacey because he fell in love with a woman who happened to be someone Dawson used/still loved. But it was not paceys fault. Yes Dawson was perfectly fine to be upset but to pretty much cut off pacey was immature.
Oh and forget Dawson hit Pacey with a ball
in "Detention" ? Pacey deserved it. He acted like a jerk with Dawson. He tried to ridicule his best friend just to look "cool".
And with a ship. He collided a ship against Pacey's on purpose. Actually Dawson should have been in jail for attempted murder😤
First he did not hit Pacey boat. They were going for the same spot. And later risk his life to save Pacey but let blame Dawson for everything.
Yes Pacey was telling jen hurtful story about him. Then tried to embarrass him in front of the cheerleaders. Then call him a name he know he hated
I'm talking about the episode Detention
The part that pissed me off the most is when Dawson throws the basketball as hard as he can into Pacey’s face breaking his nose and then everyone makes it seem like “oh gosh darn Dawson’s at it again ha ha.” Just because he didn’t like the idea of Jen starting to like Pacey
go back and watch that ep again, that not what happen pacey was telling jen embassing story about dawson ( asshole move) then embasseing in basketball to impress the cheerleaders, then called him a hurtfull name over and over.
i would have dont the same thing.
@@az21bob666 Yeah like violence solves anything. 🙄
If my best friend tried to embarrass me over and then repeatedly called me a hurtful name. What would you do
@@az21bob666 breaking someone’s nose just because they embarrassed them a bit is definitely not okey.
Dawson was old enough to use words to express his feelings.
Hitting people is what 3 year olds do, not 16 year olds
@@blah9350 so y’all don’t get angry or rage y’all pacey fans mad weird I can get away with a lot with y’all it just no way we watch the same show
I'm happy that even as a kid, I knew Dawson was trash. My favorites were Pacey and Jen. And I hated that Jen never got her HEA
Same! Pacey and Jen are so much better than Dawson and Joey!
@GMEN Rising Jen and Pacey wouldn't work as a couple buy they defo deserve the best partners
Pacey belongs with Andie. Period. She brought out the best in him
yea jen trying to sleep with dawson when he was dating joey, pacey sleeping with married women, starting fights, yelling at joey. great people.
OMG SAME pacey and jen are my favssss
Team Pacey all the way!!!! I’ve never liked whiny, selfish Dawson
Dawson had to deal with 2 death. Loseing his two best friends and Gretchen who after making plans to leave with him just dispeard. And almost never complain
But Pacey bitch about his own mistake blamed everyone but himself. And complain that his parent rag on him when he was a D student that almost flunk out every year. And they should of he did tried they would be proud of him
@@az21bob666 dawson was trash before any of that stuff happened you hoser
Dawson was never trash. You just over look everything bad pacey
@@ditsydaisys are you stupid? Dawson was betrayed by all his characters....
Just make this list every single episode he really is the worst character of all time
Yes he is! He’s such a garbage character ! I have no issues with the actor it’s just the character he played as sucks!
The worst character of all time has sacrified her love with Joey to protect her from a dangerous father, pardoned his best friend to have betrayed him, accepted to stay friends with his lost love, risked his life to save Pacey in the tempest, etc. etc. Good job for a jerk.
@@clauderain312 nah he’s a creep joey should have ditched a long time ago
@@spaceychase6256 What a powerful argument. Thanks for your participation !
@@clauderain312 lol u know this is a RUclips comment section right? If I want to hate him for being a slut shaming whining manipulative cheating mess then I will
Definitely not Team Dawson but James Van Der Beek is an amazing dad, husband and human. Love his Insta.
I agree. James has grown into a really nice family man. I think even he was annoyed by some of Dawson's behavior when he played the character (probably why he wanted to leave the show toward the end).
You cant know his life through instangram
Dont judge a book by its cover
And a good actor, it takes a good actor to play such a natural jerk
Please compile a list on why Pacey was the best! 😻♥️
Yes I need this. I love Pacey!
Literally was about to comment this!!!
Yes!!
no please do a list why pacey was the worst character please
Yes, for example : when Pacey betrayed his best friend, destroyed Joey at the prom, rejected Andie for some stupid reasons, when he was unfaithful with Audrey, became a stupid trader, or when he lost all the money of his best friend :)
Can we agree james van der beek is a good guy? Seems like a chill dude and my heart breaks when he suffers some harsh moments in his personal life like his wife having some miscarriages. That's a pain no one should experience
i read somewhere that he actually didn't like his character much, so people should cut him some slack.
I like James Van Der Beek - Dawson - not so much
@@oriana_fortunato oh yes, in the reunion interview, he shared that he was completely annoyed at dawson. :D
i sure, he was 21 playing a 15 year old that was doing stupid shit. people forget the stupid shit they do at 15
I definitely loved Pacey, Dawson was the most annoying person every season
He was literally the worst the whole entire show
You must not have seen Abby.
@@scarlettcrowns lol cuz Abby’s dead
@@scarlettcrowns lol abby was at least entertaining. the whole purpose of her character was to create conflict, whereas dawson was supposed to be a nice guy. spoiler: he was really an ass
@@vicky-ee1ie I would’ve liked to have seen Abby’s character evolve and grow up. It’s a shame she was unhappy acting and we never got to see that blossom into something more than just the mean girl with a rough life.
He's basically a boring Zack Morris 😂😂😂
this is the best comment i have ever seen lmao
Zack has more redeeming qualities than Dawson 😂
You most be crazy.
You over.look all of Pacey mistakes
LOOOL TRUE
@@tylerwilson3507 OMG! LOL
Now I’m waiting for top 10 moments Pacey was THE BEST😍😍
It came out two days ago
Pacey sucks
It should have just be called The Creek, because the other characters were much better...
The TV show that Dawson made on the show was called The Creek. 🙂
@@MyAccountForCommenting which was much more aptly named.
What the hell were writers thinking making the lead one of the most annoying, self-centered, narcissistic character's on television ever. Did they accidentally on purpose make him the villian of his own show, lmao. From Season 2 onwards he was truly insufferable.
he was ok in season 2, 3 he was heart broken, and was a lot better in season 4 5 6.
pacey was still a jackass for the whole show.
I just finished re-watching this show on Netflix and I couldn't believe watching it through new eyes as an adult how absolutely selfish Dawson was as a character. Everything he did was for himself and to make himself feel better. Everything Pacey did was for someone else and to make sure they were getting what they needed. Dawson really is a horrible character!
Since the 100 percent.wrong. Dawson did everything for everyone else.
I don't even know why they call it the Dawson's Creek they should have just changed the nameperson who the shoe is named after is terrible just watching these videos the fact that he slept with Joey and then called his girlfriend and then almost killing pacey and that race wow and I haven't even started watching it on Netflix
first she was not his girlfreind she was a fling, even SHE said it was a fling.
pacey cheated on adrey he sleep with a married women, with a women that was going to get married, but becosue it pacey you over look everything he does wrong.
@@az21bob666 and you do the same with Dawson, you defend him in every comment, even when he had an absolutle trash behavior . I get it sometimes people don't recongnise that he had some good moments and that's annoying. But you always act like he was a saint and pacey wasn't, when the truth is that both had bad and good moments.
@@az21bob666 He had temporarily broken up with Audrey.
I'm happy to know that almost everybody thinks that Dawson's character was one of the biggest jerks on TV
Just finished season 1 and i do get dawson kinda sucks, he's a human being and at least can be a good person from time to time. He is a teenager and sometimes we do crappy things but we learn and can do better.
Dawson was the worst until he started dating Gretchen in season 4, she change him so much.
From then on, Dawson was cool. They should have ended together.
Dawson messed up soo bad. But I honestly have to admit that Joey did messed up after she broke up with him and directly went to Jack
she kiss jack why she was dating dawson then date dawson break up with him, date his best friend pacey then goes back to him, to break up with him again.
Fuck she mess with his mind,
lol joey said i could sue you for invading my privacy
4 episodes later---------- joey,andie,abbie and jen completely going through dawsons room giving zero fucks about his privacy and after all that andie finds a porno in his room then they proceed to watch it meanwhile calling dawson a pervert even his mom didnt say anything to them that episode was just sick
pacey spying on joey changeing and no one cared.
joey break into dawson room all the time even when he not there but no one cares.
Do a list of all the times pacey witter was the best character
Also I literally HATED how Dawson told his dad to just forgive his mom when SHE cheated. Dawson made his dad out to be the bad guy when really he has every right to feel as he was feeling
The crying face for the sake of it is not a bad moment, the things he says on that speech are actually redeeming, he gave up and understood had to let her go. Letting someone you love go to be with someone else is one of the most heartbreaking things but also selfless.
I’d say after that, in seasons 4 to 6 he was less selfish and started to live in reality, this definitely had to do with 1. Joey choosing Pacey 2. His relationship with Gretchen 3. Him being by himself in Hollywood and learning he knows less than he thought and 4. His father dying. All of these experiences taught him valuable lessons about real life and not his dream-like movie he thought he was living in
This is exactly what I was saying in response to this video and just having finished the show recently. I really think that Dawson is unfairly assassinated in this video because the point of the show is to focus on Dawson and how he matures over time. It’s obvious that Dawson is the least mature person in this show and that’s because he has such loving parents. Everyone else is forced to mature quicker than Dawson due to having broken and dysfunctional families. So Dawson acts the way a coddled kid from a good home would and that is immature and selfish. And it’s only when he’s in the real world does he understand that immaturity and selfishness are not desirable traits and those traits improve for him later in the show and in the last season, he’s arguably as mature as everyone else is and it’s really heartwarming to see his growth to the point.
in a lot of way dawson was more mature then the rest of them, joey never stop running and never found herself. pacey blame everyone else for his mistake.
jen was broken but started to heal over time.
@@KINGSOP2000 It's not unfair. He was immature for the first three seasons and did a lot of awful, selfish things. He eventually grew up. You can recognize both of these as being true.
i mean the one realy bad think is the birthday party and it only joey and pacey.
and those few week he found out about pacey and joey that really it.
@@az21bob666i am still team pacey i mean even if dawson matured he still did terrible things
Dawson was never really mature. He grew up a little after his father's death
He's always mature, but too naive at first, and so, a little centred on himself (and Joey). After, in season 4, after having losed his "soulmate", he becomes strong and wise, and a really cool character until the end.
@@clauderain312 The most mature of them is Jen. Dawson was always trying to find himself, and sometimes his arguments with Joey were meaningless. It's a fact that Dawson will pursue everything he met as a teenager.
@@jhsnva Agree with you about Jen, she was a very mature and "wise" character. Dawson, it's particular. There is "Dawson with Joey", and "Dawson without Joey". When D and J are together, they are trapped in some parallel place where they are always 15, with always the same conflicts and childish feelings. It's the beauty of their relationship, and a total mess in the same time lol. It's different when he's with other persons. In the finale, with the tragic death of his dear friend Jen, and when he's totally in peace with Joey's feelings for him, for Pacey, and his own feelings, he contacts his reality, maybe for the first time. Like he said in this episode "Fiction is fiction". After that, I imagine him very happy. Serene. And ready to tell other stories, without Joey and him. And maybe he meets Gretchen again :)
@@clauderain312 Thanks for sharing your opinion with me ))
not real jen was broken and joey acted like a child, but somehow people act like dawson was the worse.
The fact that Joey continued being Dawson's friend and then slept with him after he guilted her into turning in her father and after she told him that she would never forgive him is a ludicrous story line. Joey should not have ever felt guilty about "hurting" him for dating Pacey especially since her and Dawson were not together for a year. All of these ridiculous guilt trips the characters have are dumb.
I have a theory: Dawson is an autobiographic character, so the author made every other character to love him and say constantly how great he is, but the portrait is a little too good, and the author was actually not a loveable person at all.
I saw a video of the creator, he actually said that dawson was based on him and his childhood wanting to create movies. The guy seemed as annoying and self-centered as Dawson 😂 so I think you got it on ponit here
Great argument.
Van Der Beek stated on the EW reunion that he thought his character was annoying. Agreed. Dawson was whiny, selfish, ignorant, judgemental, and boring.
Okay, how did you know I was going to start this on Netflix today?? Mojo knows all 🤯❤️
Yep, they're basically mind readers, at this point! 😉🔮
LOL, just started watching this on Netflix too.
Not every point in this video is non biased.
You forgot the fact that Joey had same feelings for Dawson and when they got together for the first time, Joey wanted to explore herself (not being the central character then), so she dumped Dawson because she wanted to be independent and wanted the life of her own (understandable) but then she starts dating Jack. So, she indirectly says that if I am with Dawson, I am not the protagonist in the universe.
When Dawson found out about Joey's father again dealing with drugs, their restaurent was set on fire by their competitors, now imagine if the competitors would stop coming after the entire Potter family just after burning down their restaurent! Dawson and his parents made the right decision. And also Joey acknowledges that what Dawson did in season 2 finale was the right thing and Joey was wrong.
And out of the millions of girls pacey goes after his "best friends " soul mate
I literally hate Dawson- with a passion, team Pacey forever, friends and relationship wise
Team Pacey all the way! I mean the way he cared for Andie when she was at her worst encouraged her to get help rather than putting her down even if it meant losing her or the way he supported the one way joey felt close with and connected with her mother after her passing, unlike Dawson who just completely disregarded it. Although most of Pacey’s childhood was packed with several times of being put down he never put down others to make himself feel better, he actually sacrificed his relationships to allow them to succeed.
pacey alway put other down to make him self feel better how many time did pacey make fun of his brother or joey of dawson
Are we ignoring the fact that he FORGORT HIS BEST FRIEND BIRTHDAY!?!? also he is not a good friend he is awful with pacey
Are we.forgetting that Pacey said that every year dawso. Did his best to make Pacey birthday the best he could
Or.That Pacey forget Dawson birthday season 3 and 4
I think you mean the entire series
I don't understant how pacey kept being friends with dawson after what he said at his bday
how did dawson be freind with pacey after pacey made fun of him. shit happen.
Exactly I would have been done. Dawson wasn't shit the entire series. Idc who don't agree. He always looked down on Pacey. And that lil Bday speech proved as much. Pacey teasing him is not the same. Anybody who thinks it is has something wrong with them.
pacey teasiing him is 100 percent the same, only pacey did it all the time,
Technically, Joey was the "Ducky" of this show, the entire first season. The main reason people don't see that, is -sexism- ...because Joey was played by an attractive actress.
The way he felt like he OWNED joey’s virginity and general attention.. so self-centered
how do you thing dawson felt like he own her virginity, he just ask her one time
she ask him 6 times, but that ok,
Blaming Joey for his fathers death was horrible.
But guilt tripping Joey into breaking up with Pacey was the worst. I still dont understand why he was so upset with Joey and Pacey falling for one another, he did in fact push them together
I was team Pacey at 17, at 37 I'm still team Pacey. I never really like Dawson.
I always related more to Pacey because my family was more like his and I was always wondering why Dawson was allowed to be such a douche when he doesn't even like Joey as a person.
So you just like characters who look like you ?
@@clauderain312 Uhm what? Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment but no.
In fact when I first watched season one of Dawson's Creek I liked Dawson. I didn't think he was a douchebag.
It was on rewatching and seeing him use Mary Beth, be dismissive of Joey's exploring Art, forcing her to turn on her father in spite of he himself being an eye witness who could have testified.
His actions throughout the show are douche behavior that he always expects other people to accept as okay.
One that always bugged me a lot was that when Pacey realized he liked Joey he knew that Dawson might be harboring feelings for Joey and so checked if it would cause hurt feelings if he went after Joey.
Dawson emphatically denied he had any feelings which he legit didn't at the time at least not consciously.
When Dawson did realize he had feelings for her he didn't say anything to Pacey at all except to crow victory at getting the girl.
This would be forgivable if later when Joey gave Pacey a chance he hadn't held up this as a huge betrayal to him while ignoring the fact that Pacey liked her first.
He did everything to destroy the budding relationship while ignoring the fact that by his logic he not Pacey had been the betrayer.
Pacey did some crappy things too but usually apologized and sought redemption for them. Dawson acted like he'd never done anything wrong in the first place.
That was the problem with his character it was never him apologizing for getting mad at an imagined slight it was forgiving you for the imagined slight.
He'd seen how Joey reacted to his mom cheating on his dad and yet the first time they slept together he made her the other woman. He showed a callous disregard to Joey and her feelings throughout the entire time they knew each other.
Maybeth went to spy of cliff
He was not dismissive of her art. It was one piece she did not draw it . That no different then her not liking a movie
Turning dad in. Was a deal with the DA to get less jail time
The girl was not a girlfriend. She even said that later. So Dawson did it cheat
Plus dawson judged her for her interest in art and when she joined the beauty pageant. He didnt even want to date her until he saw her dressed up. Hes an asshole
you wrong on both account, first dawson had feeling for joey well before the pageant,
and no he did not judge her for art, he did not like a art pic that someone ELSE did, she got bad, he told her it no different then when you put me in my place over a moive,
he told how great her art was, how proud he was and gave her 1200 for her to take art classes.
Just finished binge watching this and I completely agree with this list. I hated him and when they went to college I felt his character didn't need to be on the show anymore. They could have written him out and the show would have been the same 🤷🏻♀️
yeah it would have been better too
Actually, the trope I see too much of, is the glamorizing of the "Pacey" type character.. _His credentials say he's kinda dumb and potentially schemey, but he's so totally not_ trope. I know women like the idea of that whole _diamond-in-the-rough,_ _fixer-upper_ type, but good luck with that in the real-world.
100% Team Pacey
Yeah exactly😌 I got my best friend into Dawson’s creek and she’s also team Pacey
It’s really hilarious that even James was annoyed by Dawson 😂😂
Can't blame him 😂
We also need a top 10 of why Pacey was the BEST!!!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🥰🥰🥰
Pacey was no were near The best
He was, really. Not that spoiled selfish Dawson.
make a list of the sellish stuff pacey did, if far more then what dawson did.
the idea that dawson is selfish is just not true, dawson paid for joey college, pacey wanted her to stay in capside.
dawson was the one that was alwasy there for her alwasy, people over look everything bad pacey does.
@@az21bob666 pacey literally broke it off with her because he knew she might choose to stay with him instead of going to college and he wasn't going to risk her throwing away her future.
Pacey was flawed and human, yes. But overall he was a truly good man
NO pacey broke it off with her becouse he FELT like he was nothing, and he did it the worse way possible.
BUT bash dawson, pacey said i think i am happy joey cant go to college, DAWSON paid for her to go, after she said no DAWSON went to pacey to talk him into changeing her mind, THEN after she said i slept with pacey he still told her to go to college, still paid for it, told her how great she going to do there.
BUT why i like dawson is what he DID after, gratchen break up with him, joey was not there for him, BUT when pacey broke up with joey dawson was there for him, SHE ask him to stay, he could have stay and spend the summer with her most likely start dating again, BUT he was there for her as a freind, Kiss her and LEFT, give her the whole summer to be on her own, THEN she the one that started what does the kiss mean,
So that show dawson was not trying to be with her, then and was truly trying to be her friend,
BUT he get bash for everything.
Blaming Dawson for the whole Daddy Potter debacle is a total BULLSHIT. Does anyone here really believes Potter family life with a drug dealing father would've been all puppy dogs and rainbows if it wasn't for Dawson? And of course there's no way in hell Mr. Potter's "profitable business" could've led to some tragic consequences for his whole family, i.e. rival drug dealers going after Joey and Bessie. And yes, Joey is SO angry at Dawson she gets even more frustrated after the failing attempt of jumping his bones in the very next episode!
Agreed, honestly, he would have been a bad friend, if he decided to mind his own business didn't say anything about Joey's drug-dealing father. It could have let Joey and her entire, family get arrest for her dad's decision, or even killed.
I am sure that 99% people who say "Team Pacey ! Dawson is a selfish villain !" would be unable in real life to overcome a best friend betrayal like Dawson did. After all, Dawson has respected Joey's choice and has forgiven his best friend to lie to him. In love life, overcoming the fact your best friend dates your love is one of the most difficult things to do. And Dawson finally did it. It's an estimable and rare attitude.
FINALLY SOMEONE IS SAYING THIS
But pacey liked Joey first.
They need a “Dawson is trash” series lol
I’m not saying Dawson didn’t screw up but so did Pacey. He could have a list equally long. Team Dawson forever!
The 2 worst things he did to me where when he criticized Jen for not being a virgin and when he read Joey’s diary.
It’s almost like they wanted us to hate him. I only watched the show for Pacey, Joey, and Jen.
She wasn't going to go to France for the summer. It was for second semester of sophomore year. Joey was Lauren Conrad before Lauren Conrad was Lauren Conrad.
I never liked Dawson as a character...and then when he asked Joey about losing her virginity to Pacey, which was obviously none of his business and a beautiful moment for her, guilting her into lying about it, I knew I'd never see him as redeemable.
Man is it really that terrible??? i've got to check this show out on Netflix ASAP
NO it was not it just dawson bashing,
i mean how many time did joey ask dawson about sleeping with JEN, with eve, when dawson went to a nightclub with jen ex, joey break into dawson room to ask him about it the second he walk into his room, she ask about him sleeping with gratchen at least 2 different times.
and everyone ask joey about her sleeping with pacey.
BUT someone dawson the bad guy.
Yes he's the most terrible protagonist ever!!!
then joey bad for asking dawson about who he sleep with, right.
how about how much of a jerk pacey was,
Dawson didn’t guilt her into anything. She chose to lie. Joey is getting a serious pass for so many things that were her own choice
If ur a dawson fan, ur obviously a menace to society
If toxic was a person it would be Dawson‼️
He far less.toxic then Pacey
Another thing I forgot. Not only Dawson has never prevented Joey to go to Paris, but he is also the guy who gave money to Joey to pay university in season 4. He gives Brook's money without hesitation, despite his suffering the year before, and hopes she'll be happy in her new life after high school. During this time, Pacey sulks, and confides to Gretchen he's happy Joey not have money for university. So, who is the selfish boyfriend ?
booyaa preach that shit.
You forgot the moment he blames Joey for his father’s death.
I will never forgive him for what he said to Pacey during his Birthday Party. The fact that Pacey was still cordial and kind to him afterward speaks VOLUMES about Pacey's character. Obviously Pacey wasn't perfect (prom scene :/) But at least Pacey was able to grow up and admit his mistakes later unlike Dawson who still expected everyone around him to be desperate for his approval for the entirety of the show
did you remember all the nice thing dawson said to pacey, or the shit thing pacey said to dawson.
I think dawson is very misunderstood and pacey is overhyped. I do think that it was best for joey to end up with pacey, however, I don't think dawson should be hated so much. A lot of his good actions are overshadowed by fans focusing on his bad moments. If you try to watch the show from an innocent dawson's point of view, it is easy to understand most of his actions, the good and the bad, and this rationality allows me to enjoy his character.
I don't think this list is a great representation of his bad actions, as a lot of them can be explained. He went to his parents for advice about joey's dad and honestly believed he was doing the best thing for her. A 15 who has no sexual experience should be allowed to be nervous when the girl he is going out with says that she has slept with a lot of people. This action is not admirable at all, however, it is definitely understandable. Asking joey to stay may have been selfish, but, asking someone you believe to be the love of your life that you will really miss them if they leave isn't really an issue. The boat race was wrong, however, from his point of view, it was just an attempt to win joey back. Dawson's actions when he was drunk shouldn't really be held against him, as half the characters in the show get more drunk and do stuff that is 10 times worse, while dawson just said some mean things he didn't necessarily mean. Also, dawson and natasha weren't technically dating when he broke up with her, however, this was still kinda a shitty move from dawson. Dawson is often accused of gaslighting joey, but sometimes this is invalid, as all he does is bring up a different point of view and then the fight escalates because joey is quite stubborn and often lacks self-control in arguments, especially ones with dawson.
His good actions though are always overlooked which is frustrating, considering pacey's good actions are hyped up. I'll admit pacey is probably a better person than dawson, but this is just because he has a better social understanding than dawson and has a lot more opportunities to show how good he is. Here are some of dawsons best actions. Giving joey the money to go to college so she can follow her dream without expecting anything in return. Supporting joey when her mother dies (talked about but never seen). Asking pacey to look after joey even when joey doesn't like him. Letting joey go in the end without her having to say anything, he just tells her to be with pacey (well basically). He saves 3 lives, jen and pacey from the boat and the joey's dad from the fire.
Overall, I don't think dawson was the best character by any stretch of the imagination, I just think that his personality has negative connotations and it is easy to label him as a villain. I think much of the things he gets the blame for are as much the other person's fault as his own, it is just easy to blame dawson as at points he is unlikable. I think that james van der beek played this role incredibly well considering his aim was to be a slightly self-centred, youthfully minded teenager. I like almost all of the characters and love all of the actors, so my only biases are just the opinions I have come to.
Thanks for reading if you got this far, and I would love to speak to people about this, whether they agree or disagree.
I think you are completely right. The authors were so mean with Dawson’s character. Most of the times, he stayed eclipsed by Joey in a very negative way, and he didn’t deserve that. He could be selfish in several situations, but selfishness is part of every human being. At that age, it is permitted to do such mistakes. Of course, there is a story to tell, but I am convinced that Joey wasn’t a very good friend for Dawson, even more, it was better for both of them not being a couple.
My God. THANK YOU for this comment. Something nuanced, argumented, intelligent, no manichean or binary, AT LAST.
I started to believe i would never read such a thing.
Really, thank you. Feels good reading something not just repeating the "doxa" and speech we are supposed to have about characters to seem "cool" and "mature", when all is more "shades of grey", and complex.
Was a good read. Nothing to add ! Except a thumb up !
I sort of agree with you, but much of this comment comes off the same way as obsessive Pacey fans. You don't need to excuse his actions. The character did these things, and it's okay to find them unacceptable while still rooting for the character. I really like Pacey, but I'm not going to pretend he didn't push Joey away then play the victim and tear into her during prom out of his own insecurities. I love Andie, but I don't think it's unreasonable for Pacey to break up with her after she cheated and for her to have to feel that guilt. Jen is probably my favorite character and one of the least problematic, but even she said mean things to people and wallowed in self-pity far too often.
i dont think for a second pacey was a better person, becosue he did far more bad stuff and was not that good. but people feel sorry for him.
Dawson did the right thing convincing Joey to turn her father in. What he did was wrong. The "France thing", all he did was tell her that he was going to miss her.
Yes, thank you. People are giving hate speeches about Dawson being the worst, while I think it is Joey. She is totally contradictory and messy. And suddenly her screw-ups are ok, but not Dawson's. She became the protagonist and he the "bad guy". Excuse me, internet, that is twisted.
@@deborauzumaki1010 I completely agree. Joey had a choice about France. She made the choice not to go
#5 is not a valid entry, because, hello, Mr. Potter is breaking the law by dealing drugs!!! So Dawson was actually doing the right thing by convincing Joey to turn her father in to the police!!
Dawson and Joey, in some way, are everything : best friends, enemies, lovers, brother and sister, family, confidants, objects of fantasy... That's why their love relationship, even unfinished, is so powerful.
He manipulated her. Hell no
he never manipulated her, the closest he ever did was i not going to be your freind if you pick pacey, then again pacey told her he leaveing the state if she pick dawson.
but dawson told her to go, but you want to blame dawson.
lol it was not powerful at all, it was the more forced relationship in the entire show
I disagree with those who think he manipulated Joey. She had a choice. The crying scene was not jerky at all. He paid for Joeys college for crying out loud. I blame Joey for them breaking up in season 6. He broke up with the girl the next day. The jerk thing to do would have been to keep dating both women
I can’t believe people in the XXI century is still defending selfish Dawson
I am team Dawson. He's inventive, imaginative, dreamer, intelligent, passionate, openmind, and original. His problem : Joey and her special personality reveal his darkside. With Joey, he's never in peace. When he dates Jen, she's jealous. When he tries to live his own life after the first breakup, Joey becomes upset. When she rejects him the second time (unfair, because he protected her from a dangerous father), he accepts. Later, he develops complicity with other girls, Nikki or Eve, Joey becomes crazy. Then, he dates Gretchen, in a mature and complice relationship, and Joey does everything to contrariate this relation. When he dates Jen for the second time, Joey's upset again.
Joey is the worst character on the show, constantly insecure, jealous, negative, and selfish. Dawson and Jen were the best characters, more original, open, and mature. Pacey was great with Tamara, and exceptional with Andie. With Joey, his character became banal : just a sexy guy in love with the girl next door.
Dawson and Jen, yeah !
I agreed with you until you started talking about Pacey with Tamara. That was his teacher. That relationship was extremely problematic, and she really, really should have known better.
@@lbeard7661 i just finished season 1 and that whole storyline made me so uncomfy
@@lbeard7661 I understand, but I think it's a mistake that these two characters need to do. This mistake helps Pacey to grow up, and helps Tamara to understand she needs to take a new way in her life.
yea when jen the second time there a part were jen like my boss need me to be angry, and i am still that angry girl, and dawson calls and she just smiles and start calling him cute nicknames.
joey was the same way with dawson, but let put her with the guy that like to hit his boss, and sleep with married women, he did that few times.
@@clauderain312 Sleeping with ur underage student is not a "mistake," it's rape. Shows and movies REALLY need to stop presenting this as an acceptable trope when it's actually extremely problematic predatory behavior. The show implies that this storyline was thrown in to get the show green lit by pleasing gross old white men studio execs who thought that would be hot. Which would explain why the storyline is dropped very quickly; it never felt in spirit with the rest of the show and I'm glad they got rid of that very quickly. These storylines are never ok unless they specifically call it out as rape and show the consequences and ramifications of it. Period. And I've only ever seen 2 shows do this.
Restore the truth time !
1/ Nice guy : yes, Dawson is a nice guy. Watch all the show, not some partisan moments.
2/ The boat file. Context : Dawson has just losed love of his life, and his best friend has betrayed him. By impulse, he made a mistake. In a stupid boat competition. Not a big deal.
3/ Mary Beth file. It's too easy to make Dawson the villain because... Mary Beth has exactly the same intention : date Dawson to get proximity with the football player.
4/ Make love with Joey. I consider he was correct. Natasha was nothing. The first love night with his soulmate happens by surprise. He broke up immediatly with Natasha after to be 100% involved with Joey. Nothing is perfect in life. He did the right thing considering the situation.
5/ The cry face lol. James doesn't play like that usually. More interior. Realisator asked him to exteriorize everything but ok, it's not a success. He has better played the suffering whe he lost his father.
6/Joey's father file. Ok, so, to be a good and cool guy, what should he do ? Joey was in danger. Everybody could die in fire. Dawson did the right think to protect Joey and her family. He knews that he would lose Joey by doing this. It's a disinterested act to save her girlfriend. I can't believe this difficult decision is used to prove that he's a jerk.
7/ Filming Jen. Yes, it was stupid ! Stupid and funny ! A this stage, Dawson is again a dreamer who wants to control like in a movie. That's why the spontaneous kiss after that is so beautiful. After controled dream, magical and unperfect reality. It was the sense of this scene.
8/ France file. Are you crazy ? Dawson never prohibited Joey to go to France ! It's her who doesn't want to leave ! And it's her who never stopped to send signals to Dawson to ask her to stay. He never did. Stay in capeside was Joey's choice, totally.
9/ Drunk party. What is the problem with that ? All the characters have been drunk at a moment or another... I don't understand.
10/ Jen's not a virgin. Context : Jen lied about her sexual life. A this stage, Dawson is like a child. Naive and selfish. After that, he understands that real Jen is more interesting that a fantasized Jen and he grows up. In season 3, Jen and Dawson, as super friends, talk about this, and he tells her again, he was wrong, young and stupid, and how much he respects her for everything she is.
Now, the world knows the truth about Dawson, lol
Him being drunk at the party. I feel like his parents were the bad ones in that situation. His parents who were once madly in love were now separated due to Gale being unfaithful. Now his parents were fighting like cats and dogs. They didnt even bother to get along for Dawson's sake, not even on his birthday
Thank you! I love Dawsons character because its one that showed the most emotional growth. Can't understand why he is bashed so much. He was only a teenager and he always learned from his mistakes.
I think there should be 10 best moments of Dawson. I mean... If someone is making reviews and videos about the show, one cannot ignore the good stuff character did and only point out the bad stuff. In my humble opinion, reviewer should be more objective. Ok. You like Pacey more, but last time I checked, Pacey did a lot of shit as well. And he was being a jerk a lot of time. So why only pointing good stuff of Pacey and bad stuff of Dawson?
Shows like Dawson's Creek and saved by the bell are the reason I dont trust blonde men.
Lol they are the reason I love blonde mean oh and Brad Pitt 😍
You will trust them once u watch The Vampire Diaries...
@@Edeliz. lol Brad Pitt cheated on his wife he also was a drug addict when he was younger and treated her badly and was controlling apparently....so its a bad example of a man to love. But he was good looking...
People are very unfair with Dawson (but unfair too with characters like Andie or Gretchen). To legitimate the love story between sexy boy and insecure girl, they need hating someone (Dawson, sometimes Andie). These characters have a lot of amazing moments on the show, but people make focus on a few mistakes.
That's because bashing fictional insecure guys is what's trending right now, apparently, and even though Dawson proved many times he didn't quite fit the "nice guy" stereotype people still continue to bash him.
@@juantorres-fk7bkwell he did do some terrible things
Tell Joey about his dad was a correct decision and in that moment we can see that he is a good guy, because he knows that probably broke his relationship with Joey but he did it because it was the correct thing
Well his mean moments are more remembered because they were so bad
Oh this whole video gives me such life. Thank you! There are SO many more moments that could go here - grabbing Joey and kissing her against her will at least twice (the drunken birthday party and the anti-prom, after she dances with Pacey, so she can "find out what she's missing"); telling Joey that if she dates Pacey, she can't be his friend any more; attempting to guilt his mother into not having an abortion; inexplicably refusing to sleep with Gretchen and gaslighting her about it....ahh the list goes on (and on, and on).
Thank the gods we had Pacey as a palate cleanser and to show us 90s girls what a boyfriend SHOULD behave like. (Most of the time.)
Do you realize all your sentences are lies ? your hatred for this character is pathological. Have you been traumatized by a guy named Dawson in real life?
the birthpay party maybe, the anit prom she said herself that she felt a spark. pacey told joey if she pick dawson he leaving the state. and never guilt his mother into have a abortion, and he did not refuse to sleep with gretchen,
and how is not wanting to sleep with your girlfriends wrong, no one would ever say if a girl does not want to sleep with her boyfreind she in the wrong.
Honestly, love the show, but when re-watching I skip to the Pacey scenes. Team Pacey!
My theory : without Dawson, Joey and Pacey are an unconsistant couple. That's why people love hating Dawson : Pacey and Joey have substance only because it's a "forbidden relationship" (because of the soulmate thing in which Dawson and Joey are trapped). Without the triangle, this relationship between Joey and Pacey is uninteresting.
Hmmm interesting theory and possibly true. Without the drama of Dawson and without someone to compare Pacey to, the relationship might've been less interesting. I think it still would've been enjoyable but perhaps less memorable...
I think Dawson is the best character I mean he risks his life to save pacey's life even after taking joey.
I think what the video said about Dawson making Joey turn in her dad is just nonsensical. It’s not disrespectful to be concerned about someone’s safety and it’s not controlling to do so either. You’re not controlling their life by stopping other people from hurting them (emphasis on OTHER people, not the person themselves). You’re argument can be used to justify allowing a friend to be abused by a Boyfriend or a family member because it’s somehow “disrespectful” like that’s just utterly ridiculous and I think you might subscribe to this archaic that “what happens in the house, stays in the house” and that’s always been used by abusers (my family practiced this) to keep their abuse hidden so they can continue to abuse. Respect is about not treating someone badly and honoring their wishes for what they would like to do for themselves, not allowing abuse to happen to them.
Always and forever Team Pacey. Dawson was the worst in so many ways. Pacey should have dropped him like a rock after the birthday party.
The. Pacey would be dead.
Pacey as a adult that still thought it was ok to sleep with married women. Was lucky he was not beated to death
If Dawson was trapped in the rock, nobody to save Joey from her father, to pay admission to university, to save Pacey's life in the tempest... I think you watched the show with blinkers.
I not sure what you mean Dawson did all those good thinks.
I completely agree! I never forgave him for that. He does a lot of awful things but that - wow.
@@joeypotter6051 How can you "never forgive" a fictional character ?
Dawson to me is such an inspiring character showing so much growth through so much teenage hearbreak. The number of times that he was selfless here! I have nothing against Pacey, and i though it was Joey who was the annoying one. But I don't understand all the dislike and hatred towards a young teenage character who showed so much growth. I don't know of any teenager who is perfect. Or for that matter anyone who is perfect. But what I found inspiring about Dawson is that he always made the effort to work on himself.
That's an interesting take - I feel the opposite way. Dawson was rarely selfless. It took him longer than any of the other characters to grow and change. I don't think the argument is that Dawson is imperfect - as you say, we're all imperfect. Heck, Pacey slept with his teacher in season 1 (a storyline I hate, in large part because the show completely ignored the fact that it was statutory rape and never seemed to understand that Pacey was a victim, not a stud). But Dawson rarely worked on himself, he just expected other people to accommodate him, which was very frustrating to watch. For me, personally. I agree that Joey could be annoying, that's for sure and certain, but I found her story much more compelling than Dawson's.
@@joeypotter6051 Dawson has constantly worked on himself. In season 1, he understod with Jen that beings live in reality, not in a fantasy, and he should accept that. After that, he has so much respect for Jen, and even admiration, her past included. He grows up by discovering his parents aren't perfect and by accepting this. In season 2, he learns to give space to the girl he loves. At the end of this season, he sacrified his relationship to save her from her father. In season 3, he leaves movies passion to know who he really is. And despite the suffering, he accepts the fact that her soulmate is in love with his best friend. In season 4, always despite the suffering, he's ok to restore the link with Pacey. He opens his mind to others because of photos. In season 5, he has to built himself again, despite his feeling of culpability for Mitch's death. In season 6, despite his suffering to have lost Joey forever, he's totally involved in his professional life. Dawson and Jen are the characters who have the most spectacular evolution on the show. Jen, from broken angel to young serene and confident lady. Dawson, from a naive dreamer to strong and wise young man. Joey and Pacey have cool trajectory too, but less spectacular than Dawson and Jen. It would be so cool to talk about this show without eternal cliches like "Pacey is the best" and "Dawson is a monster".
@@clauderain312 I totally agree with you here! I am 40 years old and I just learned a lot from these two characters. Joey and Pacey were great characters too but they were very 3d focused and generic in many ways. Whereas Dawsons character had a lot of depth. Where others saw him as being judgemental, I saw him as "questioning". He questioned the depth of everything and he always came around to an expansive understanding of the situation. And I love that! Same with Jen! Also, I must say that Dawsons character was not given any importance or focus in later seasons. Same with Jen and Jack who I also loved. But a lot of focus was on Pacey & Joey. There was so much inconsistency that I questioned the writting. Then I google it and find out that it wasn't even the same writers. It shows that new writers didn't have the same depth of understanding as the original writers. And they were probably influenced by the fact that in real life Joshua and Katey dated.
@@shanon1111 Thanks Shanon. You talk very well about the show.
Everyone makes really good points on both sides. I think since all the characters are flawed it's not hard to pick out their worst and best moments and use those as evidence of them being either great or terrible. That's pretty subjective. It's true Dawson has a great character arc and grows a lot by the end of the show. I do like a lot of the aspects of his story. I think his character, however, would've been more palatable if he was more self effacing, self aware, humble and actively cognizant of both his flaws and his privilege.
The backlash against Dawson stems from an overall backlash in the culture against characters that fit the "the nice guy" trope. This includes characters like Ross Geller, Zach Morris, and Ted Mosby - generally well liked characters of their time that are now being more brutally criticized. This can often seem like overblown and unnecessarily harsh reviews of these characters, and in a way they are. However, the overall point is more so to call out the problematic behavior of men that gets excused bc they're self proclaimed "nice guys." Dawson fits this trope. He has an overinflated sense of self and comes off very self righteous and condescending in his criticisms of people. He sometimes seems to think he's better than everyone around him and doesn't recognize when he's being a complete ass. He is quick to point out other's flaws but seems blissfully unaware of his own. When he is feeling insecure or hurt, he tends to punch down and lash out at those who love him by hitting below the belt. Therefore your sympathy for him starts to erode over time.
The unfortunate reality is that Dawson's flaws are a product of his own privilege and entitlement, whereas his friends' flaws are a product of things like abuse, negligence, loss, and trauma. So when Dawson gets whiny, melodramatic, or mean, it's harder to sympathize with him by comparison. He gets upset whenever things don't go his way because in reality he's had a pretty perfect life. But he doesn't seem to see how lucky he is. The worst thing that happens to him is his parents temporarily splitting up (until dealing with death later of course.) While divorce is certainly difficult, it's a problem that pales in comparison to every single one of his other friends' problems. He's literally the only one with 2 present, loving, doting supportive parents. His friends have to deal with physical and emotional abuse, drug dealing, alcoholic and absent parents, homophobia, racism, mental health issues, financial issues and more... Yet they all treat each other with more kindness, compassion and understanding than Dawson sometimes treats them.
Some of the things he said and did to the people who loved and supported him most... they just really rubbed the wrong way. He knew how to hit em where it hurts and it would just be selfish. I can't think of his friends acting similarly. Pacey came across much better bc he was always kind to Joey regardless of their relationship, and was there for his friends whether or not his kindness was reciprocated. His prom breakup with Joey is his biggest jerk moment, but that's the only time I can think of where his insecurities/hurt took over and made him be an ass to an undeserving loved one. Dawson did this over and over throughout the show...
That being said, I agree that Dawson is NOT overall bad. He IS a good guy who loves his family and friends and tries his best to do the right thing. At times he behaves immaturely and definitely has a habit of being far too melodramatic (which is part of his character arc.) But that would all be fine if he just showed more self awareness and self criticism of the moments when he really is just his worst self. It's interesting to note that the show is largely told from his perspective, so it's almost like he portrays himself more positively than others might perceive him. This reinforces the notion that he sees himself as being a much nicer person than he actually was sometimes. And that's irritating, along with his immense privilege that goes unacknowledged.
Anyway, idk if I explained that well, but that's my generalized assessment anyway (without going in too much detail lol) of why Dawson's character was really hard to like sometimes.
Dawson was annoying af. And his whole thing was " I'm the good guy so I deserve the girl."
Don't even get me started on ms potter , her only personality trait was she liked studying...
Pacey was the best character of the 3.
yeah harrasing andies mom making fun of dawson to the point is basically bullying, yelling at joey for being with him, literally, watching joey naked without her permission and kissing her, without her permission as well, yeah best character
Was team Pacey. Am team Pacey. Will always be team Pacey. Ps. This show was always close to my heart because I went by Dawson (last name)
People really love the rebel, misunderstood, sarcastic, etc. trope, don't they? So when this characters make mistakes or take poor decisions is fine, poor guy look, he (or she) is so misunderstood I love him(her) when he (she) make mistakes because that makes them more realistic nd when they do something good, that's the big deal. Aaaa but when the "nice guy" make mistakes, people just need to piss on them, I mean, how dare they to make mistakes, they become completely villains, it doesn't matter if they grow up, it doesn't matter if they try to be better, it doesn't matter because how dare they to take bad decisions, they are supose to be the "nice guy", and people completely over look or diminish their good actions. I mean, the rebel one of course he can, it doesn't matter if he (she) make the same damn mistakes all the time, it doesn't matter because they are so misunderstood, their life has been so unjust, boo hoo -.-' jajaja and the most ironic thing is that in real life, this type of caracthers are really not loved by society, on the contrary, so ironic and hypocrital. But hey! we live in a society. :v lol
For me, the difference is their attitudes to their mistakes and how they see their place in the world. Typically, the “misunderstood” character, as you call them, understands when they’ve done something wrong, or when they’ve hurt someone. The “nice guy” typically ends up blaming others half the time, and resents the “misunderstood” character whenever something goes well for them. They think that because they are “nice” they should get everything they want, while the “misunderstood” character wants what they want without thinking they’re entitled to it. Personally, I hate when people think they’re entitled to things, especially when the thing is actually another person, and that’s why I tend to prefer the “misunderstood” character to the “nice guy”.
Look at everything Dawson did for Joey. He told her to go to Pacey. He paid for her college when she was too good to take out a loan. She made the choice to not go to Paris. He’s not allowed to be shocked or hurt about Joey & Pacey?
I was so Team Pacey...I really didn’t care for Dawson lol
About Joey's dad it was Dawson's parents that convinced him to do it cause it's the right thing to do as Joey was in danger of her own father who started to dealing with drugs again why is it being selfish bout that...instead of turning joey's dad in he goes discuss with Joey first...yes what he did hurt Joey but it's best thing for him to do cause Joey's father is dealing with drugs again
He should've stayed out of it. I understand him telling Joey but then he needs to leave her with that information and support her in whatever SHE decides to do. It's not like her father is a serial killer.
@@joeypotter6051 Lol. Everybody could die in the fire. Joey was in mortal danger. How Dawson could have stayed out of it ? Nobody smart and humain would has stayed out of it. Dawson did the right thing, a thing that a lot of people would do in the real life. A perfect example which shows that Pacey's fans are partial and WANT hating Dawson, whatever he does. Why ? I don't know. It's something I don't understand.
@@joeypotter6051 Dawson did nothing wrong. He was saving a friend, his love and his soulmate from dying. Had Pacey done the same thing, you would have congratulated him for being mature and doing the right thing.
dawson ran deeper into the fire to save joey dad, pacey stood outside.
but dawson the bad guy,
Dawson saved Pacey's life during a storm in the ocean, risking his own life for his friend who betrayed him in the worse way possible.
Damn Dawson was a saint almost.
Betrayed him how?
pacey going after joey why at the same time telling dawson to give joey space,
if you freind tell you NOT to take a manger job and they take that same job, is that not a betral, that what pacey did give dawson advice on joey at the same time going after joey.
Ok so to be fair i think that dawson is just a teen, yes he has his "jerk" moments ( plenty of them) but lets put it this way. Right in the firdt season he lives in a bubble he thinks that life is like movies so when he finds out about jen ( Jerk moment) acts rude, joey he cares about her, and the thing with her father ( again it was not his call) but lets not forget it was mitch who asked him to bring joey to the police, due ti this it was an adult conscented desicion and it was after all right... And i can keep on going with many of this... But in other words, Dawson is just an average teen boy who makes mistakes, ( but he apologizes ) and he is aware of this mistakes, every character has uts own mistakes, they are teens, but most importantly they are human beings, just imagin what would it be without this mistakes... There would be no show
Not that this justifies Dawson’s behavior in the slightest, but Jen verbally said in the first episode that she was a virgin, so Dawson didn’t assume she was, he was under the impression she was a virgin because she told him she was.
This list is ridiculous. I must be watching an entirely different show. Because for me Dawson was one of the only characters in that series that had some sense. Well ok there was that time when he betrayed his best friend behind his back, no wait that wasn’t him. No no ok, that time when Joey told him she loved him. And in return he proceeded to get with every single girl he possibly could including her best friend. Wait no that wasn’t him either. Wait, ok there was that time when Dawson was out of character for an entire season by being insecure about EVERYTHING including his girlfriends ex and her going to college and making a life for herself. So much so that boiled over to him making a ridiculous scene at prom. And embarrassing her. Nope wasn’t him either. Am I missing something here? If that’s the case. We definitely need a list on why Pacey was an idiot and why Joey was a narcissistic woman child. The hate for Dawson is insane.
And also I love how majority of this list is from season one. Because Dawson was clearly an immature fantasy driven kid. He definitely was better afterwards.
I’ll admit I’ve only recently got into Dawson’s Creek, but I became Team Pacey in episode 8 of season 1.
That's interesting, wasn't a fan of Pacey in season 1 but seasons onwards absolutely love him !
Sams currently on episode 13 in season 1 and he’s awful lol
Seriously mojerks joeys dad dealing drugs again put her whole family in mortal danger, Dawson was trying to make sure she was safe so at the end she blames him and not her asshole dad who caused the fire to happen in the 1st place. Joey even knew she fucked up in the beginning of season 3 but Dawson was like nope not going down that road again and rejected her. Totally deserved on that one.
dawson didn’t even care that joey was starting something with the college dude a.j. though once he found out that joey and pacey started having feelings for each other, he made both of them feel like crap for liking each other, which was so selfish of dawson!!!
I agree 10000% why does nobody talk about this
becouse he DID care, the second he said AJ, she yell at him.
@@az21bob666 name one fucking example
When he went to Joey and they watch the lights
He said AJ and she yell at him.
I can't lie if my bestfriend and my ex got together id be pissed what dawson did that was fucked up was that he legit guilt joey to stay with him and was like your free to go like some item
How does a face make him the worst character? Seriously some of these reasons are kind of lame. And what would you have him do lie to her about her dad? He didn’t guilt her into anything from what I remember.
I hated when he got upset because he found out his mom wanted to get an abortion and guilted her into keeping it
Omg he was so awful for that
Omg I just commented the same thing. I was soooo pissed off. Then Mr. Leery dies and she has to take care of the baby by her self when she didn't want to keep it in the first place. He's selfish
that not what happen he did not gulit her into anything, SHE ASK HIM AS HE SON What he thought about it.
Why did you hate that?
I mean yeah Dawson has done really bad things during the show, but honestly, he is the most human character on the show. He is the most realistically written dude because of his flaws, that’s what makes him more human than the rest of the characters on the show.
He was 15 when the series started so of course he has a lot of flaws
They were all 15. Nobody else was as bad as him except maybe Joey and she at least had some extenuating life circumstances for why she was so bitter and caustic.
@@joeypotter6051 Why is it so difficult for you to accept people like this character ? And why are you unable to see his qualities ?
@@clauderain312 He had way more negative qualities than positive ones. Not a likeable character at all.
Name al! Of Dawson good vs bad and he far better then Pacey.
@@az21bob666 They all had flaws but I’d say Pacey was more redeemable. He grew a bit more and learned from his mistakes. Dawson always seemed to be just as arrogant and unlikeable throughout. That’s how I felt anyway.