A groundbreaking turn-of-the-millennium series that redefined the way teenagers were portrayed on TV, Dawson's Creek moved into its third season (1999-2000) with a renewed emphasis on the changing preferences and priorities of its principal characters. Set in a small Massachusetts coastal town (but filmed in North Carolina), year three finds introspective dreamer Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) still fixated on becoming a filmmaker but losing his focus when it comes to best friend Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), the erstwhile tomboy now blossoming into a beautiful young woman. The 23 episodes compiled here will see their pal Pacey (Joshua Jackson) making a serious bid for Joey's affections, while another friend, Jack (Kerr Smith), grapples with issues related to his homosexuality, and the intelligent but frequently misdirected Jen (Michelle Williams) gets into some mischief, as the series enters a phase dominated by increasingly complex conflicts. Created by Kevin Williamson, Dawson's Creek initially impressed critics and viewers with its unusually mature, literate dialogue, which this year seems more believable, as the characters more fully inhabit their personas. While some of the episodes resort to soap opera situations, on the whole the show features realistic dilemmas that are easily recognizable to teen viewers (and the passage of time hasn't dimmed their effectiveness one bit). Featuring audio commentaries on select episodes, this four-disc boxed set capturing a transitional season will surely be welcomed by fans of the show. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Dawson's Creek: The Complete Third Season
Columbia TriStar, 4 discs, 997 min., not rated, DVD: $49.95 Volume 19, Issue 5
Dawson's Creek: The Complete Third Season
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