Dawson's Creek: Roadtrip (1.9)

Roadtrip splits apart the guys and girls in the cast, sending both sets into different adventures as they navigate romance and rumors. Billy, who I'm eager to see depart the show by now, spurs Dawson on a quest to become less of a goody-goody, driving him to a Providence bar that looks a lot like the old Melrose Place hang-out Shooters. Pacey tags along, and the three of them set out to bone as many older women as possible. Naturally, this instantly fails. But in the process Dawson learns about the type of man that he wants to be, and it's all pretty sweet.

There's been a recurring theme that's been running through this season, and it's very much about identity. Billy is the complete opposite of Dawson as a person, an embodiment of everything Jen once found attractive, but the type of guy who is manipulative, dismissive and cruel. Dawson, on the other hand, believes that he himself is almost 'too perfect', and its that 'nice' quality that prevents him from forming real relationships with people. The intriguingly meta angle arrives when it's made perfectly clear that Dawson is actually pretty similar to Billy, having many of the same flaws besides the whole 'man-whore' part. Then again, I don't know if this was at all intentional... or an awkward accident.

Back in Capeside, Jen and Joey were once again thrown together, the show pulling from the 'high school rumor' well with a fun story in which a jock creates a lie that he slept with Joey. It's welcome to see the levels in Jen and Joey's friendship explored, especially when Joey attacks Jen for using her jock problem as some kind of man-hating revenge scheme. In the end, their friendship grows deeper, and I really hope the writers don't retcon it like so much of the other DC characterization so far.

Roadtrip isn't perfect, but the slow pace finally picks up once Dawson and Pacey hit Providence and Jen and Joey plan their revenge. I'm finding Dawson's Creek entertaining as a teen soap, but also pretty interesting as a dissection on teen genre television, especially in regards to Dawson's personality and how the show intends for us to feel about him. It's sort of a mystery. C+

Credits
Guest stars Monica Keena (Abby Morgan); Eric Balfour (Warren Gary); Eion Bailey (Billy Konrad)
Writer Rob Thomas Director Steve Robman