Celebrating Dawson's Creek: An Iconic 90s Teen Drama
Full confession. Dawson's Creek was my guilty pleasure in the late 90s.
Truthfully, I was probably a little too old to watch it in my early 20s, but my friends and I would often find ourselves under the duvet on the sofa on a Sunday morning after a big night out, nursing our hangovers with a cuppa and a side of American teen drama.
We might have giggled at the unrealistically articulate monologues, but secretly wished we'd also had that pitch-perfect snappy riposte to dole out to a disappointing boyfriend (or two).
The hit show was created by Kevin Williamson, who was also behind the Scream franchise and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and has previously described working on the Dawson's Creek as a charmed experience.
It followed a group of teenage friends living in the fictional small town of Capeside, Massachusetts, navigating the ups and downs of adolescence.
Dawson Leery - played by James Van Der Beek, who has died aged 48 - was always at the centre of the series, which ran from 1998 to 2003.
The aspiring floppy-haired filmmaker could be sensitive but manipulative, loveable yet irritating. And Van Der Beek made the role his own.
The creator Kevin Williamson has said many times... that Dawson was based on him [Williamson] and he had to find the right person to do that, and James immediately stepped into that role.
He took this character that was not a jock or the cool kid in high school and... made him loveable, someone that people fall in love with, that was not afraid to be emotional, something that a lot of men on TV, especially young men... it's frowned upon.
James Van Der Beek was able to do that with such eloquence, his emotional connection and authenticity really came through the screen.
The show made stars of its key cast, including Dawson's childhood friend and love interest Joey (Katie Holmes), his friend Pacey (Joshua Jackson), new girl in town Jen (Michelle Williams) and Audrey (Busy Philipps).
A world away from the glamour of other teen shows such as Beverly Hills 90210, it tackled real-life issues like loss, grief, sexuality, mental health, and heartbreak but in an accessible and gentle way that connected with young viewers.
TV critic Scott Bryan stated, 'The show was a breakthrough because it was one of the first that talked to teens like adults.' It openly addressed teenage feelings and real-life issues in a way that had a profound impact, contributing to its lasting legacy.
Dawson's Creek was also groundbreaking, featuring one of the first gay kisses on primetime US TV - a significant moment for LGBTQ representation during the 90s.
Speaking about his character's portrayal of issues, Williamson shared, 'I had just, in my 20s, gone through the coming-out process and had told my parents I was gay.' He wanted to create a character to represent that journey and the experiences of others like him.
Through heartfelt storytelling and relatable characters, Dawson's Creek not only entertained but also provided validation and representation for many young viewers across the globe.
