In the series’ fifth season, the gang makes the transition from adolescence to adulthood as they embark on their first year of college. Joey, Jen and Jack all move to Boston for college and try to adjust to life in the big city while Dawson pursues his dream of attending film school in Los Angeles and Pacey stays behind in Capeside to work. During its six year run, Dawson’s Creek was honored with the GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Dramatic TV Series," nominated for a TV Guide Award for "Favorite Teen Show" and garnered three wins at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards.

CRITIQUE

I was a massive Creek fan during my adolescence. I collected the spin-off books as a collector’s thing; I just couldn’t get enough of Creek.

By the fifth season, I was in 11th grade of high school. And I must say I didn’t care for the season at all. I mentioned in the fourth season DVD review months ago that the fifth season was weak. It still is!

I guess there were many reasons why I just didn’t care for it. Andie was a central character I actually liked. Not seeing her on the show got boring. And instead of her we have this guy-obsessed Audrey. She annoyed the hell out of me. Maybe it is because I saw the same character Busy Philipps played in Freaks and Geeks.

I also thought the storylines were weak. The “after high school – into college” formula is what WB likes to do. They don’t want to end their successful shows. They want to milk it as much as they can (which is probably why 7th Heaven has graced us for little less than a decade). But I still stand by this: Creek should have ended after its fourth year. The way the season ends creates great closure and gives the idea to viewers to make up their own (dream) ending. Sadly that isn’t how things happened.

It’s not that the storylines were mediocre; they were too repetitious and also didn’t have that Creek vibe from the past. The show is so used to the small town of Capeside that seeing a different setting for a long period with the same characters is almost like creating a spin-off series. And that’s what it felt like. “Creek” in the title represents the world that surrounds Dawson, whether it be the setting or friends (and their lives). The word is meant as a metaphor, but it lost its meaning after the show moved away from Capeside.

I remember I got bored with the season but continued to watch it religiously. Watching the season again for this review I found myself fast-forwarding through the episodes, which I didn’t do with the first four seasons.

The story lines that I did like involved Dawson and Pacey. And note – I said story lines – not soap opera relationships.

Dawson comes to a great awakening this season. He finds out Hollywood isn’t what it seems, his dad dies, and he finds resolution by making a movie. I was interested in Dawson more than the other characters this time. I always saw Dawson’s Creek as a great movie reference so I was fascinated with the whole “making a movie” story.

And while I am very much like Dawson when it comes to the ideas and passion of movies, I am more like Pacey, a smart-ass. And I found this season to be his best when it came to that, being a great smart-ass.

There were some decent story lines – as well as some decent episodes. “The Long Goodbye” comes as the best episode of the season and one of the best of the series. In most cliché soap operas, the death of a popular character occurs. That is no exception to a teen drama or something from The WB. And while the episode was a big teary cliché, it was so well done and realistic you only but had to shed a tear or two.

As a little side note, I noticed something while observing this season again after a few years, two One Tree Hill cast members are seen interacting in a scene together in the episode “100 Light Years From Home.” I am not going to spoil who is in the scene together but it did make me smile when I caught it.

THE VIDEO

Columbia Tristar presents Dawson’s Creek in fullscreen format. No change of quality, it’s decent at best. Once again it would be better if the episodes were expanded on six discs.

THE AUDIO

Columbia Tristar presents Dawson’s Creek in Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround. The sound quality is as expected, fine but not great.

THE EXTRAS

Saying no extras would be a lie. There is crappy advertising for other Columbia titles on the first disc listed as “trailers.” Other than that there is nothing else, not even a dull/insightful commentary by Paul Stupin.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A weak season with few strong storylines, one strong episode, a dozen decent episodes are provided on a very weak (and seemingly rushed) DVD set. If you are a Creek-er, pick it up for the “definitive” series value. Other wise, TBS network does a good job airing the show in the mornings on weekdays. Catch this season that way instead. Still, there’s one more season to go on DVD. It’s wishful thinking, but hopefully the sixth season DVD will be presented in a better fashion than this one.