Sony Pictures Television Surely half of the water in the fictional town ofCapeside, Mass., is made up of tears — both from the characters onDawson's Creekand the fans crying alongside them. When the teen drama made its splashy debut on The WB in 1998 (before the network became The CW), viewers were instantly hooked by the emotional storylines and unforgettable cast that carried the series through six seasons. And with all that coming-of-age angst came plenty of tearjerker moments, from family struggles and sudden tragedies to the bitter lows of young love. One of the most iconic episodes, season 3's "True Love" — which aired on May 24, 2000 — brought the Joey-Dawson-Pacey love triangle to its ultimate peak, gifted us one ofthe internet's most beloved crying memesand marked a watershed moment with the first passionate on-screen kiss between two gay male characters on primetime network TV. Now, 25 years later, it's the perfect time to revisit the moments that made the show such an emotional roller coaster. Here are theDawson's Creekepisodes guaranteed to have you reaching for the tissues. Moviestore/Shutterstock If there was an episode that could predictMichelle Williamsas the breakout big-award winner for acting later in life, "Pilot" is the furthest one had to look. Initially entering the series as something almost out of a dream (so much so that it's used again in a trance-like flashback during the series finale), Jen Lindleyexits a taxi and introduces herselfto the gang. Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), of course, is instantly intimidated, and thus begins the infamous Jen vs. Joey debate of 1998. Even more breathtaking than Williams' entrance, though, was her brief scene beside the bed of Jen's dying grandfather, which would ultimately kick off the first of countless tearjerker moments peppered throughout the series. And let's not forget Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), who all but hooked up with English teacher Tamara Jacobs (Leann Hunley) in the very first episode. Not gut-wrenching in the same way, but all the same. Standout quote:"Grams, I'm an atheist." —Jen Lindley Moviestore/Shutterstock While many fans remember the episode where Joey enters the Miss Windjammer pageant in the hopes of winning $5,000 toward her college tuition forher rendition of "Own My Own"fromLes Misérablesor Pacey'soutlandish monologue in the style ofBraveheart's William Wallaceas the only male contestant, there was a lot more going on. "Beauty Contest" is the first time Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) sees —trulysees — his lifelong best friend as something more. Jen instantly picks up on this backstage as they watch Joey perform, and Dawson grasps it even harder afterward when he and Joey haveyet anotherconversation about how their feelings are changing. It's no surprise their first (real — thestaged one in "Detention"doesn't count) kiss was only one episode away. Standout quote:"It's just makeup — and hairspray — and tomorrow I'll be back to being Joey. Just Joey. The too-tall girl that lives on the wrong side of the creek." —Joey Potter Sony Pictures Television While the season 1 finale delivers thefirst DJo kiss(here come the happy tears), it's the lead-up that really crams the gut punches. First, Joey finally gets the chance to speak with her incarcerated dad (Gareth Williams) on his birthday, where she asks him if he loves her. Meanwhile, atheist Jen and her conservative Grams (Mary Beth Peil) set aside their clashing beliefs to focus on what truly matters: Gramps (Ed Grady), who's in intensive care after suffering a stroke and later dies by episode's end. That heartbreaking scene when Jen begs her comatose grandfather to stay alive is the very scene Williams used for her audition — and it landed her the part. The youngest cast member at the time, Williams set the tone for the raw emotion the show was not afraid to show over the years. Standout quote:"What can I do to get you out of this bed and get back into my life? Because I feel so helpless sitting here right now, because I want to help you so badly, and I can't. Because I want you to help me. I want you to smile at me, and I want you to listen to me. I want you to magically uncomplicate my life the way you used to." —Jen Lindley Sony Pictures Television Season 2 showcases a deeper look at Pacey's dysfunctional home life, and this episode introduces viewers to his father, John (John Finn) — the town sheriff living with an alcohol problem. During a father-son fishing trip alongside Dawson and his dad (John Wesley Shipp), Pacey's strained relationship with his parent bubbles up. John spends the day tearing his son down, ignoring his life and drinking until he has to be carried home. As his father lies passed out on the beach, Pacey gives himself the words he's always needed to hear. The resulting breakdown isone of the series' most painful moments, with Pacey begging for answers to a lifetime of neglect. Standout quote:"Why can't you see me? When did you give up on me? When I was 5? 10? 12? I'm 16 years old now, Dad! And I'm here and I'm not perfect, but I try so hard for you. It's your job to love me, no matter who I am or what I become because you're my father!" —Pacey Witter Sony Pictures Television The first half of this two-parter revolved around Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) — who is new to Capeside, alongside his sister, Andie (Meredith Monroe) — coming to terms with the fact that he is gay and being forced by the actual worst teacher in the history of teaching toread a poem out loudthat he is not ready to read. The close-to-tears tone in Jack's voice and Mr. Peterson (Edmund Kearney) forcing him to continue reading are enough to get the waterworks going. Standout quote:"Today was a day. The world got smaller, darker. I grew more afraid. Not of what I am, but of what I could be. —Jack McPhee Sony Pictures Television The second part sees an extremely emotional Jackpleading with his estranged father(David Dukes) to face the situation head-on, and Kerr Smith's acting during this heated exchange still has many fans wondering why he doesn't have anEmmyon his home mantel. Luckily, Jack has a huge amount of support from his sister, friends (Paceyspits on Mr. Peterson's facein Jack's defense) and Jen's Grams. And he and his dad do work it out, but not for a season and a half. Standout quote:"If Jack is gay, he doesn't need your judgment, young man. The Lord above will be the one to judge him, as he will judge all of us." —Evelyn "Grams" Ryan Sony Pictures Television The end of sophomore year is rough for Andie McPhee, who was just introduced at the beginning of the season and has slowly been descending into scary territory, hearing her dead brother Tim's voice and seeing visions of him. In "Reunited," she breaks completely, spiraling inside a locked bathroom. She finally allows boyfriend Pacey and brother Jack to comfort her, but what happens over the summer when she's away getting help made it difficult for all Pacey fans to ever rejoin Team Andie. Standout quote:"You have to, Andie. You have to choose. And I'm begging you, from the bottom of my heart, to please choose me. Open this door, come out here, and choose me."—Pacey Witter Columbia Tristar/Courtesy Everett Collection Joey's complicated relationship with her father comes to a head in season 2's penultimate episode, which sees her going against her gut instincts by wearing a wire to send him back to jail for dealing drugs yet again — something that led to the family restaurant, the Ice House, burning down as a result of a deal gone bad. (Don't worry — Pacey eventually reopens it.) Even sadder than the tears shed by the Potter family as its patriarch surrenders himself to the police? The broken relationship between Joey and Dawson. The boy whom she has loved her entire life and has seemed to grow up with a perfect family (savethe whole cheating thingand, a few seasons later, Mitch Leery's literaldeath by ice cream) suddenly becomes someone Joey doesn't recognize anymore. Standout quote:"Some situations are too tragic to have a hero." —Dawson Leery Sony Pictures Television Season 3 remains one of the strongest seasons ofDawson's Creek,as it represented the true climax of the series. Boiled down to one episode, that peak is "The Longest Day," when Joey and Pacey finally work up the (admittedly hesitant) courage to tell Dawson they have romantic feelings for each other. It's told from three different points of view, which also makes it a pretty unique episode, emotional impact aside. As one would expect, Dawson reacts very poorly, even though he was the one who asked Pacey to keep an eye out for Joey after Dawson himself rejected her. But that's textbook Dawson — and it doesn't change the fact that anyone who has been on the receiving end of betrayal from their best friend/assumed romantic soulmate knew what the poor guy was feeling, lash-outs and all. And it sucked. Standout quote:"Ever had one of those days you wish you could live all over again?" —Joey Potter (voice-over) Sony Pictures Television Season 3's finale packed a lot of punch in different ways: Mitch and Gail Leery (Mary-Margaret Humes) remarry; Joey sails off into the sunset with Pacey; Jack and his dad finally reach an understanding. But most importantly, it was the birth of the Dawson Leery cry face meme. It happens when Joey runs off after his parents' wedding. So not only did the poor guy have to watch his mom and dad tie the knot for a second time, but he became the outcast third wheel yet again in the romantic life of his two best friends. Savage. Jack and his dadhave an extremely heartwarming scenein this episode, when Mr. McPhee finally accepts that his son is gay with literal open arms, and the two sweetly hug it out. On the kitchen floor. "True Love" was also thefirst time on network television two gay men were shown kissing— which seems late now, but at the time was pretty wonderful and, yes, long overdue. Standout quotes:"I didn't ask to be gay." —Jack McPhee/ "No more than I asked for a gay son … but boy, am I glad I got one." —Joseph McPhee Fred Norris/Warner Bros Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock Pacey spends two entire seasons making everyone fall in love with him as Joey does (remember when he watched her sleep, and as a teenager that wasn't at all creepy but now sort of is?), then promptly smashes that visage with a temper tantrum at the gang's prom that ends with himdumping Joey in front of the entire senior class. And it's not because Joey is upset that he messed up the flowers and the limo or other items on the laundry list of things he thinks he has to do to make Joey happy. Deep down, Pacey doesn't think he's good enough for her, and she's going off to college to become something great while he's stuck in Capeside with his insecurities. For those who had been rooting for this couple from the beginning, it was a rough 44 minutes. Luckily, the writers putJoey and Pacey together in the end, and for that, they deserve the world. Standout quote:"You break my heart into a thousand pieces, and you say it's because I deserve better?" —Joey Potter Fred Norris/The WB While seasons 5 and 6, a.k.a. the college years, didn't quite embody the charm of the first four seasons, a few episodes stand out in memory. One is "Downtown Crossing," which tells the story of a time Joey gets mugged but grows close to her assailant, Sully, after he is hit by a car following the scuffle. At the hospital, she slowly learns that not only is he a dad, but that his daughter is named Sammy, which further encourages Joey to draw parallels between his situation and her difficult one with her own father. Standout quote:"It's funny how things are always shifting like that. One day, you have the upper hand, you're in control, and the next, you're totally at somebody's mercy." —Sully Fred Norris/The WB The first hour of the series finale, "All Good Things ...," jumps five years into the future, when the gang — now 25, which, forCreekfans in 2003, seemedsoold— reunite at Capeside for Gail's wedding and catch up on each other's lives. Joey's a successful book editor in New York City; Dawson is a Hollywood producer; Pacey is a restaurant manager; Jen is an art gallerist and single mom living with Grams in N.Y.C.; and Jack is a Capeside teacher dating Pacey's not-out brother, Doug (Dylan Neal). The idea of the show ending is sentimental enough, but watching Dawson and Joey fall asleep in his bed, curled up in the same position they did in the pilot, is a full-circle moment that pulls at every fan's heartstrings. Things take a darker turn, though, when Jen suddenly faints near the end of the episode, and Grams reveals her granddaughter is suffering from a terminal heart condition. Standout quote:"You guys are the best friends I have ever had." —Jen Lindley Sony Pictures Television The final boss ofDawson's Creekgun-wrenching moments?Jen's video message to her baby daughter, Amy, whom she puts BFF Jack and Doug in charge of raising. The video rivals Jen's first appearance on the series. The audience sees the same strong person she was 10 years previous, radiating through her words and her eyes as she speaks to her daughter's future ... and camera operator Dawson, somehow, manages not to shed even a single tear. And who can forget the moment she finally succumbs to her illness, with Grams by her side — a woman who has cared for Jen as if she were her own kid over the past decade — and uttering her final words ("I'll see you soon, child") to her granddaughter. Tissues, anyone? Standout quote:"The thing that I've come to realize, sweetheart, is that it just doesn't matter if God exists or not. The important thing is for you to believe in something, because I promise you that belief will keep you warm at night, and I want you to feel safe always."—Jen Lindley Sony Pictures Television Fans know the moment — the line that sealed the deal between Pacey and Joey shortly before they boarded theTrue Loveduring the summer of 2000 and set off Dawson's iconic cry face. Pacey notices Joey is wearing her late mom's bracelet, and recounts word for word and detail for detail the exchange between them when she told him the day she found it, six months earlier. Standout quotes:"You remember that?" —Joey Potter/ "I remember everything." —Pacey Witter Read the original article onPeople
