Episode Report Card Jessica: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Song Remains The Same (2)
By Jessica | Season 6 | Episode 2 | Aired on 10.01.2002
Once they're gone, Joey goes back to screaming. Dawson points out that they didn't talk at all over the summer, which was her choice as much as his. "So I asked you to lie to me?" Joey screams. Technically, he didn't, Joey. I mean, if you want to split hairs. It was sort of just a lie of omission. Dawson calmly points out that if they'd stopped and thought at all last night, they never would have had sex. And the world would be a happier place. "And I for one am not sorry that [they had sex]. If you are, that's a different argument. And, actually, a much bigger deal," Dawson says. Joey interrupts him to scream some more about how he has a girlfriend and how that is a very big deal! "Had a girlfriend," he corrects her. Dawson says that he's well aware that their timing is far from perfect, but that perfect timing is never going to happen for them. Or for anyone in the real world, actually. Joey shifts from "freaking" into "totally fucking losing her shit" and screams that now he can move on, because he finally nailed her. "Slept with Joey! Cross that off your list of things to do!" she shrieks. Dawson remains remarkably calm in the face of all this screaming and tells her that it meant more than that, and she knows it. She wonders how, exactly, she is supposed to know that, because they haven't talked! He's changed! Dawson finally gets a little sad, wondering how she could possibly think that he could wait all these years to hook up with her and not want it to mean something. Joey gets all sarcastic here. "Oh, I'm sorry you got sick of waiting, Dawson," she snips. "And I'm sorry I wanted our first time to mean something more than --" Dawson jumps in at this point, yelling that it DID mean something! And I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see an actual conversation on this show. It's about time these two had it out. "I mean, it means everything to me!" he tells her. "I don't know what it means to you." Joey's eyes are one millimeter away from actually falling out of her head. "Are you saying I wanted this to happen?" she squeals.
Dawson finally gets nasty and retorts that that would involve Joey actually knowing what she wants. "Which we both know is unlikely to happen anytime this decade," he says. I hate to say this, it pains me deeply, but: word, Dawson. "Oh, great. Use something I said when I was a child," Joey spits. "You're still a child, Joey," Dawson says. "You're still the same little girl who…" Joey crosses her arms. "Who what? Who what, Dawson? Who broke your heart? Is the statute of limitations ever going to end on that one? Ever?" Dawson looks gobsmacked. Joey keeps going. "Dawson, I am sorry I don't have the same dreams I did when I was 15 years old and I'm sorry that I moved on faster than you did, but you know what? Maybe not everything that happens to you is my fault and maybe, just because I want more from my life than --" Dawson has not even flared his nostrils yet and I cannot believe it. "More than what?" he asks. "More than us? You don't know, do you? You've never known. The entire time I've known you, all you've ever wanted to do was escape. From me. From Capeside. And you say that I'm the dreamer, that I'm the one who doesn't want to live in the real world. Well, I'm doing it, Joey," he tells her. "Right now. I'm living in the real world. It's you who wants the fantasy." At this, Joey pouts and crosses her arms like a child. "I want the fantasy?" she asks. "Yes," Dawson says. I'm a little shocked, but both Katie Holmes and the Beek are doing a pretty good job with this scene. Joey points out that he's the one who lit the all the stupid candles and bought the all the cheesy champagne. "Who dumped who four years ago?" Dawson asks. Oh, you had to go there, didn't you? Dude, you've got to get over that. Also, remember that time she offered herself to you sexually and you rejected her? Remember that? Okay then. Oh, hey, did I tell you the kettle called? Don't forget to get back to it. Dawson finally asks Joey if, before they destroy whatever chance they have at a relationship, she could please take five minutes to stop and think if she wants it all to end like this.