Customer Reviews

Dawson's Creek - The Complete Fifth Season

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Ignore the haters, Season Five is one of the series' best. While nothing will touch the freshman year of Seasons One and Two, Season Five benefits from a welcome change of scenery. Capeside was getting tired by the end of Season Three, and Four seemed like the same old conflicts reiterated again. The series needed to breathe, and it found new wind in sending Dawson off to California and the rest of the clan off to Boston.

Throwing the characters into the new realm of post-secondary adds freshness to the series, as the gang is able to experience new and more age-oriented conflicts, like fraternity angst, career-path uncertainty and the perils of being away from home. The series would even stretch itself creatively with the new location change, with an interesting two-parter with Joey and a life-changing situation.

Not only is the change of scenery rife with interesting new experiences, but the actual subject matter of Season Five has much more dramatic weight than the comparatively lackluster Season Four. Dawson does some real soul searching, Pacey copes with the hardships of being a failure, and there is a death with an emotional impact that makes Abby Morgan's farewell in Season Two seems like small stuff.

We also get a new regular, Audrey, "Freaks and Geeks" breakout Busy Phillips, and she adds a feistiness to the series that had been lost after Abby's departure in Season Two. While Audrey's character would become a writing snafu in Season Six (constantly reiterating the same old tired drug/alcohol abuse story), her, Joey and Pacey have some really strong moments in this season. Jack's homosexuality is treated much more comfortably here than it was in any other season, and Jen is surprisingly loveable in Season Five, which is nice considering how grating she was becoming with all her angst throughout Seasons Two to Four.

All the characters really do grow in this season, and some of the entire series' best moments can be found within. Joey's sing-song at the bar is a celebration of her newfound individuality apart from Dawson or Pacey, the funeral service for the death victim and a tender moment between Dawson and Jen after nearly breaking up all rank up there in emotional impact with the Season One finale.

Those who badmouth Season Five are mostly, from what I can gather, Joshua Jackson lovers who just can't get past the fact that the series is called "Dawson's Creek" and not "Pacey and Joey's Creek". Pacey and Joey share some wonderful moments in Seasons Three, Four and Six, but it is nice that they get a breather in Five. Those looking for the Pacey-Joey drama of previous seasons will be stubbornly disappointed, but those looking for a fresh return to the essence of the show will no doubt appreciate Season Five. It is easily the most underappreciated season in the series, and hopefully this DVD release will allow fans to revisit and reappraise this great season. Enjoy it while you can, because Season Six is a rough ride...

Fans should know a couple things about this 5th Season DVD release. Firstly, the music is again changed, including the Paula Cole theme song. While this has been common practice for the last couple seasons, this one takes it a step further. In the funeral episode, which in the series' original run was the only episode to have entirely different music and credits, has instead been replaced with the Jann Arden opening. The original opening for this episode had a beautifully somber instrumental version of Paula Cole's theme song (performed by Adam Fields) that was set to images of a cloudy Capeside. It was beautiful, but on this release it is no longer. A real shame.

Secondly, the other big change on this release compared to the previous ones is the total lack of extras. The Paul Stupin commentaries that we have all anticipated and loved each year have now been discontinued. No trivia games, Capeside map, behind-the-scenes interviews, nothing. Considering Season 5 was such a big change for the series, you'd think they would have had Paul come in and dish out on his creation. He even spoke of his excitement to do so on the commentary for Season 4. Alas, we get a couple previews for other shows on disc one, and the rest of the three discs are completely empty. Season 5 is a great enough season to warrent purchase on its own, but the lack of extras is a real slap in the face to fans who have stuck by this series so long on both TV and now DVD. Given that it is Sony I can't say that I am all that surprised, but I hope they rectify their mistakes for the final season. Please, Sony, bring the commentaries back!

One of the biggest reasons I enjoy television so much is because it allows me to escape the incredible boredom that passes for my life, and for a little while anyway, take in somebody else's problems and live in their lives.

This is certainly the case with Dawson's Creek. I never watched the show when it was on the air until the last few episodes, but I have enjoyed the first four DVD sets and was interested to see how the show changed once the kids left Capeside for college.

As season five begins, we find Dawson at film school in California, Joey at Worthington College in Boston and Jack and Jen close by at Boston Bay College. Pacey, fresh off his summer working on a yacht, is living in a boat in Boston Harbor and as the season begins, only Jen knows he is there.

Things change quickly for everyone as the season gets under way. Dawson realizes that he misses being with Joey and decides he wants to move to Boston to be near her. But the sudden death of his father changes everything, pushing him away from Joey and eventually into a relationship with Jen. Jack quickly joins a fraternity and his brothers soon begin to take priority over school and his high school friends. Pacey realizes that he has a talent for cooking when he gets a job in a restaurant and Joey finds herself attracted to her professor.

James Van Der Beek is again solid as Dawson, though you have a hard time, as in years past, believing that he is the age that he is. The dialogue throughout the series has always been over the top, which is really what makes the show what it is. His emotion at the death of his father, and his need to be there for his mother is heart wrenching at times. He finally confronts his feelings by going to a therapist to sort out his feelings. It is these emotions that lead him to his relationship with Jen, one that ends before the season concludes, but brings back memories for viewers from the original season of the show.

Michelle Williams as Jen really sees a variety of different roles throughout the season. You see her as the girlfriend to Dawson, but as the relationship slowly begins to fade, you see her trying not to hurt his feelings, yet still keep herself somewhat sane. Her friendship with Jack goes from hot to cold to back to hot again and at the end of the season, she is off to spend the summer with her parents.

As Jack, Kerr Smith is again a strong member of the cast. He confronts a lot of emotions when he joins a fraternity and finds out that he is simply being used to fill a quota. Eventually the fact that he is gay leads him to leave the fraternity. While he is there however, he takes to drinking way too much, and falls behind in his schoolwork and also becomes estranged from Jen for a period of time, a relationship that heals by the season's end.

Joshua Jackson's Pacey is the one character of the group that is not in college, but he is living nearby in a friend's boat as the season begins. Eventually he takes a job at a restaurant and finds out that he has a real talent for it and is put in charge of the kitchen when his boss leaves. He also begins a relationship with Audrey (Busy Phillips), Joey's college roomate, a relationship that reminds one of the relationship he had with Joey, something that really makes him happy.

Of course Katie Holmes as Joey Potter was one of the most beautiful women on television at the time and in this season, you get to see her as a college freshman. Her almost affair with a professor and her attraction to a guy who cheated on Jen show a different side to Joey Potter than most people are used to after four years of getting to know her. Perhaps her best episode of the series was the one where she was mugged and helped the mugger after he was hit by a car. This episode featured just this story line and was very powerful.

Busy Phillips, as Audrey, guest starred in almost every episode and was added as a series regular in t he final season. Mary Beth Piel's Grams is still a cast regular, as she moves to Boston and houses Jen, Jack and eventually Dawson. She really is a fantastic character, one that provides that motherly advice that young people always need. Mary Margaret Humes, a cast regular for the first four years, appears sporadically as Dawson's mom Gail. John Wesley Shipp also appears in a few episodes as Mitch Leery, before he dies in a car crash. The third former cast regular Nina Repeta, appears in a few episodes as Joey's sister Bessie.

Of course there is the guest star appearances of a couple of people from other shows. Chad Michael Murray is now the star of One Tree Hill. Sherrilyn Fenn was on a number of shows, including Twin Peaks. Phillips was on Freaks and Geeks.

This set could have easily been rated five stars from this reviewer, but there were no extras at all. Each of the other four sets has at least a commentary track or two for the fans, but this set featured nothing, which was disappointing. Also, the theme song is again replaced, which is what viewers have come to expect over the last few seasons. It would be nice if they brought back Paula Cole for season six, but I kind of doubt it will happen.

I know there are many disappointed fans out there when it comes to the decline of momentum in the fifth season, but I really loved this season. We have already seen all of Capeside and its inhabitants at this point. We already know the in depth history of each and every one of the main characters. We have already seen the same people thrown into the same situations again and again (Not saying that I didn't love every minute of it). It is just nice to see how they react to a new environment and new people. Also, the fifth season has some of the most heartbreaking storylines of the entire series, including the episode where Mitch dies and the one where Joey gets mugged. For anyone questioning whether or not to buy the disc set, let me just tell you that the previous four were well worth it for me. I do have to say that I was a bit disappointed by the change in music. I understand why certain songs had to be changed, but it just isn't quite the same when you see the opening credits come on and you don't hear "I don't want to wait" by Paula Cole along with it. I would certainly pay a little more for the set if it had at least that one song included.

I've heard it all before. It costs a lot of money to get credits for songs. But when I think I'm buying Season 5 of "Dawson's Creek" and what I really get is some whacked-out EDITED version of the show, I'm gonna be unhappy! This is the situation. I dealt with the theme song change. I dealt with some horrendous replacement songs. But I shouldn't have to deal with the decision to edit out some scenes for licensing issues. I hope I speak for many when I say that I am willing to pay top dollar for the unedited, as they aired versions of each and every episode of "Dawson's Creek". The DVDs as they are do not do the show justice. Only Season 1 is in its original state. It's the only set I suggest buying.

I know alot of people look back at the fifth and sixth season of Dawson's Creek and frown. But I am not one of them.

To me everything needs to evolve. In season five, Joey is at Worthington with Jen and Jack who are at Boston Bay. All three of them are in Boston along with Gram's and unknowingly Pacey.

Dawson is in California where he is interning as on the set of a movie called Damage INC. directed by a real jerk, Todd. Who fires Dawson on the first day. This sets Season 5 into motion.

With his movie making dreams suffering a severe blow, Dawson goes back to the east coast to find Joey. What he doesn't know is that Joey has come to the conclusion that it was baest for them to move on, and she tells Dawson this on his answering machine. When Joey sees Dawson she thinks that he has come from LA after hearing the message, when in fact he did not.

This creates a huge problem for Joey as she wants Dawson to stay, and in the end he does. But when he tells his parents that he is not going back to USC tragedy strickes. One of the most beloved characters on the show dies in a car crash, Dawson's father Mitch. The entire gangcomes to console Dawson, but have little impact.

Deep down Dawson blames Joey for the Death of his father, and this comes to a boil in further episodes.

Other quirks of the fifth season are Jen and Charlie(Chad Micheal Murray from Gilmore Girls, and One Tree Hill). Jack and the Sigma Eps. Pacey finding his true calling in the culinary arts. And Joey's near death experience that makes her want to mend up the damaed fence between her and her father.

All in all one of the better seasons of Dawson's Creek. IIn my Opinion.

I know some people may disagree, but this show was so beautifully written! Granted, the vocab was a bit much for their age but so what! This series dealt with so much that I can relate to, even as a guy (who gets made fun of constantly for liking this show) I can still say that this was the best show on TV!

My biggest disappointment was the Theme music. Not having Paula Cole's song in the beginning is like not having the "I'll be there for you" song on when the Friends credits is rolling!

All in all, season 5 is just as good as the rest, its a must!

In all, Season 5 was decent. Compared to the previous seasons, it seemed liked most of the storylines were rushed. The whole episode where Joey gets mugged just didn't fit in. The Dawson/Jen story, to me anyway, went too quickly and didn't develop. And Pacey wasn't around as much, so there went the comic relief. I, like most others, can't wait for Season 6.

~* Ok Fans Listen Up ~*

I did some researching on the music manipulation in Season Five. My findings might be really interesting for the True Fans :)

Personally, I don't like change ~ i would have preferred all the original songs intact ... alas ... due to Liscensing $$$ issues this is not possible and i suspect Season Six will fall victim to the same Musical Problems.

The list is actually quite long .. i didn't even realize how much was really altered!

(...)

"Dawson's Creek: The Complete Fifth Season

As has been the case with releases of earlier seasons, the Season 5 DVD set contains replacement songs from what was heard during the actual broadcast airings.


Two of the scenes with Katie Holmes singing with the band in episode #517 ("Jessie's Girl" and "I Ran") have been deleted from the episode. This was due to licensing issues.


In episode #511, Busy Phillips' rendition of "Son Of A Preacher Man" is replaced with an audio track of her song "Bad Times" which was seen/heard in the Season 6 episode #612.


The original theme song "I Don't Want To Wait" (Paula Cole) will be replaced with "Run Like Mad" by Jann Arden. "Run Like Mad" was the song heard during the opening credits of the original Season 1 international airings.


The special opening credits music created by DC composer Adam Fields heard in episode #504 (Mitch's death) was replaced with the DVD release theme song.


The special theme song created by DC music composer Adam Fields for episode #515 will remain as originally aired.

Dawson's Creek executive producer Paul Stupin, with collaboration from co-producer Drew Matich, and music supervisor John McCullough, selected the replacement songs"

This is an exact list of all the musical changes that you will find on this DVD set !!! So you can decide for yourself if it's a big deal or not !! I will try to review all the other seasons if you are interested in other set changes !

People tend to say that "Dawson's Creek" was over at season 4 and that the following two seasons were terrible. I don't agree, though I recognize that seasons 5 and 6 were not as good at the precedents. Anyway, it's always interesting to find out what happened to the characters after they leave Capeside and have to face new challenges.

When season 4 was over, I was worried about the show and how the creators would manage to keep the characters together, after they all left to college. The solution was good. Jen, Jack and Joey go to a college in Boston. Pacey gets a job at the same city and Dawson, who decided to go to USC, changes his choice, after a tragic accident.

Season 5 surely has its highlights. We are presented to Audrey, the messy roomate of Joey at college, who joins the gang for the last two seasons. Jack decides to join a broterhood, learning not to trust his new "friends". Joey becomes more independent and free, learning with Audrey that life can also be fun, and it's not only demanding! On season 5, Dawson finally looses his virginity with his first girlfriend, Jen. I love the season 5 finale, which reminds a romantic comedy, with people arriving and departuring from an airport.

Dawson's Creek is a TV classic, which deserves to be watched several times in your life. Who doesn't like the eternal love triangle Dawson-Joey-Pacey, with great dialogues and drama? I hope SONY/Columbia releases season 6 soon, with lots of extras, please!

Okay, so we wait and wait for the new season's to finally make it available to the public, and what happens? We get shafted. I realize my obsession with this show is crazy, and yeah we've all got other things to do in life, but I loved sitting down with the past season's dvd's and watching all the commentary. I, like others I'm sure, sat down with their new dvd's when they got them, and after popping it in the dvd player and getting in a really cozy spot, got ready for great new commentaries (which were promised in the last season's commentaries) and familiar shows. But instead we didn't get anything, not even the theme song. I mean, I have to push mute everytime that horrible song comes on. I think for the money we are spending, we should get what we are promised, especially since we're getting jipped out of the great music. I continue to watch the show on TBS just so I can experience that great original feeling you get from watching Dawsons Creek, since I can't get it from my dvd. The shows are great for "the collection", and yeah, if you don't have the music memorized, you won't notice the changes, but I really looked forward to those commentaries, they were great and fun and insightful for DC lover's. I just hope someone takes pity on us, the crazed Dawsons Creek fans, and brings back the good stuff for season 6. And on that note, has anyone heard of a release date? I mean how long does it take? Season 5 appeared to be put together in less than a day. Its not like they are having to do reshoot's on them, just slap it on a dvd, and have Paul Stupin say a few word's on a couple of show's. The fan's would be ecstatic with a last dvd like that, and it would finally end the Dawsons Creek DVD Club releases, and no one would bother them anymore.