Episode Report Card Sars: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT First Encounters Of The Close Kind
By Sars | Season 3 | Episode 10 | Aired on 12.14.1999
I don't know about the new Mentos ads; I liked the old ones better. And have you ever seen Morgan Fairchild and Hillary Rodham Clinton together? No? Coincidence? I think not.
Dawson and Andie run into each other on the stairs the next day. Dawson asks how Andie's weekend went, and she says she didn't have the experience she expected, but maybe the one she needed, after having "a chance encounter" that "yielded a little clarity." "Yielded"? "Clarity"? Andie asks Dawson if he got what he came for, and Dawson says he did, "also in a most unexpected way." Andie philosophizes about the way expectations can close people off to new experiences, and she uses the word "serendipity," prompting Dawson to snicker, "Who was this 'chance encounter' with, Deepak Chopra?" Oh, fine -- heh! Andie smiles, "Yeah, something like that."
Cut to Buffy, moping around her dorm room and -- oh, no, my bad, it's The Artist Formerly Known As Parker from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, asking Jack if he's saving the seats across from him. Jack says he is, and The Artist says, "No problem, say no more," and looks around for another seat, but Jack quickly relents and moves his bags, saying he doesn't know if his friends will even show up. The Artist gratefully stows his gear and slumps into his seat, asking Jack to wake him when they get to Capeside. Jack asks, "You're going to Capeside?" "Yep," The Artist sighs. "Me too," Jack says. Then he smiles. Ware the way, Pinhead -- ware the way!
Dawson strolls down the car, holding three coffees, when Nikki calls out to him. He asks what she's doing on the train, and she relates that she's "doing the divorced-kid shuffle"; they chat about divorced parents and agree that having them sucks. Shortly thereafter, Nikki reveals what we've all known for weeks, namely that she is Principal Greene's daughter. Giggles all around at this "wild" "coincidence," and then Dawson starts to fill her in on the prestigious film lab of Mr. Jordan (whaaaaatever), but Nikki has already gotten herself into said film lab by e-mailing Mr. Jordan: "He's giving me a sort of -- private tutorial." The way she says that makes me think Mr. Jordan is giving her a tutorial in more than film, but anyway, Dawson says oh-so-casually that he didn't know Mr. Jordan "did that sort of thing." Nikki gives him guff: "You can handle a little friendly competition, can't you?" Dawson stares at her and then sort of laughs. Well, I'll give Dawson and Nikki this much -- they have more chemistry than Dawson and Joey.