Dawson's Creek: Baby (1.6)

What we've been seeing over the course of the season is the characters expressing the vulnerability hidden beneath their tough exteriors. It's been most evident in Joey and her interaction with Dawson and Jen -- not only does she feel more relaxed about being open with her feelings for him, but she's also been publicly dismissive of Jen numerous times in the last five episodes, throwing away any kind of filter. Here we begin to see more family-centered vulnerability, especially when she has to check out from Bessie's labor because of flashbacks to her own mother's fatal disease. Then there's her first, non-sniping discussion with Pacey, where she bonds with him over their mutual knowledge of being at the center of school gossip. It's welcome seeing Joey become more human, and it's a theme that resonates through most of the show's ensemble, too.

Pacey is the character who is most benefiting from emotional growth. He appears far more here than in any previous episode, showcasing a noble streak as he protects Tamara from city-wide embarrassment and potential dismissal from teaching. I've always disliked the porny sexualization of teenage-boy/female-teacher affairs and the gender double-standard that is frequently perpetuated, so naturally I had problems with a lot of this storyline, but Pacey remains pretty level-headed about the whole thing, and the depiction of high school scandal was lifted straight from reality, or at least my own experience with similar circumstances.

Jen, too, experiences a kind of break in her veneer. She still remains an atheist by the end of the episode, but her praying scene with Grams and Bessie conveys a sense of growing maturity with her -- in which she acknowledges the emotional relief that religion can bring to other people, while still believing that it isn't entirely right for her. Grams' interaction with Dawson feels awkwardly cold, considering their brief bonding session last episode, but she remains an intriguing presence on the show, even if the writers aren't respecting character continuity just yet.

Dawson takes a back-seat for most of the hour, allowing other characters to breathe a little. Baby runs with a familiar idea (an unexpected birth), but uses it as a mere back-drop to more character-driven drama. It's a positive decision. B+

Credits
Guest stars Obi Ndefo (Bodie Wells); Dylan Neal (Doug Witter); Leann Hunley (Tamara Jacobs)
Teleplay Jon Harmon Feldman Story Joanne Waters Director Steve Miner