Dawson's Creek Best Episodes: James Van Der Beek's Iconic Moments

Dawson's Creek is one of the most influential teen dramas of all time, and it delivered some truly iconic episodes starring James Van Der Beek. Created by Kevin Williamson, Dawson’s Creek premiered on The WB in 1998, and it had a successful run of six seasons, ending in 2003. Dawson’s Creek is now regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time.

Dawson’s Creek took viewers to the small New England town of Capeside, Massachusetts, to meet 15-year-old Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) and his best friends Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson). Dawson’s Creek follows their many ups and downs as they navigate school, relationships, family, friendships, and being teenagers.

Dawson’s Creek was a huge success, and it’s one of the best TV shows of the 1990s and 2000s, launching the careers of its young cast. Sadly, James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, but his legacy lives on in the best Dawson’s Creek episodes.

“Escape From Witch Island”

Season 3, Episode 7

Dawson’s Creek seized the success of The Blair Witch Project and paid homage to it in “Escape From Witch Island.” In it, Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jen (Michelle Williams) venture into Witch Island to shoot a documentary. While they’re haunted by legends of witches and more, Jen and Pacey consider having a different type of friendship, while Dawson and Joey try to figure their relationship out.

“Detention”

Season 1, Episode 7

Another Dawson’s Creek episode that pays homage to an iconic movie is “Detention.” Inspired by The Breakfast Club, “Detention” sees Dawson and company in, well, detention. The group ends up playing “Truth or Dare,” which sees lots of kissing but also forces the friends to face their feelings for each other, with Joey and Dawson kissing and Jen being jealous, and Dawson being jealous of Jen and Pacey kissing.

“True Love”

Season 3, Episode 23

Crying Dawson meme aside, “True Love” is a key episode in Dawson’s history with Joey. This is the episode where Joey finally decides that she wants to be with Pacey, but before she sails away with him, she lets Dawson know what she ultimately decided on.

Although this obviously isn’t easy for Dawson at first, he eventually realizes that he’s holding onto Joey and not letting her be truly happy, so he finally lets her go. It’s one of Dawson’s most mature moments in Dawson’s Creek, and yes, it’s the episode that made way for that meme.

“The Anti-Prom”

Season 3, Episode 22

“The Anti-Prom” sees the group throw the title prom as a way to protest after Jack (Kerr Smith) is denied a ticket because his date is a boy. Dawson takes this as a chance to ask Joey to be his date and, hopefully, win her back, while Andie (Meredith Monroe) wants to get back with Pacey.

However, Pacey and Joey want to be with each other, and it’s made clearer than ever when Pacey notices Joey’s mom’s bracelet, which even Dawson, who claimed to perfectly know Joey, didn’t notice. Pacey delivers the iconic line “I remember everything”, and this has consequences not only in their relationship but also with Dawson.

“Parental Discretion Advised”

Season 2, Episode 22

Dawson’s Creek season 2 finale is a heartbreaking one. Joey and Dawson are back together again, but the show wasn’t going to let them be happy and at peace for long. Dawson learns that Joey’s dad is dealing drugs again, and he must decide what to do, as telling Joey could forever change their relationship.

It all takes a turn when rivals of Joey’s father burn her family’s restaurant down, and Dawson decides that it’s time to tell the truth. It’s one of those honestly rare moments where Dawson had to show maturity and make a decision to keep his loved ones safe.

“Beauty Contest”

Season 1, Episode 12

Thinking about her future, Joey enters a local beauty contest to earn money for her future education. Meanwhile, Jen confesses her regret after breaking up with Dawson, but it all complicates when Joey performs “On My Own”, which sparks something in Dawson. It’s there when Dawson realizes that Joey is a lot more than just a friend to him.

“Sex, She Wrote”

Season 2, Episode 11

In “Sex, She Wrote”, after Abby finds a mysterious letter about two people having sex, she sends the show’s main group into a mystery-solving spiral. It’s possible that Jen and Dawson slept together, or Joey and Jack, or maybe Pacey and Andie. In the end, Joey and Dawson are relieved to learn the others haven’t had sex yet either, and no longer feel the pressure of that.

“Two Gentlemen of Capeside”

Season 4, Episode 3

In “Two Gentlemen of Capeside”, Pacey takes Jen to sail on the boat, but their plan takes a dangerous turn when a storm hits. Pacey decides they should take shelter at a small island that only Dawson knows about, convinced that his friend will come to their rescue. That’s exactly what Dawson does, accompanied by Joey.

Although he refuses to abandon his boat at first, Dawson forces Pacey into his boat, saving his life. This leads to a very heartwarming (and well-needed) moment between the two friends, with Pacey apologizing to Dawson for ruining their friendship.

“A Winter’s Tale”

Season 4, Episode 14

“A Winter’s Tale” is a Joey and Pacey episode, in which they take their relationship to a more physically intimate level, but it’s also a key moment in Dawson’s life. Mr. Brooks, Dawson’s mentor and friend, is hospitalized due to his terminal cancer and is in a coma. However, Mr. Brooks had requested that Dawson be the one to take him off life support.

Dawson has to make the unbelievably hard decision of whether to take Mr. Brooks off life support or not, in one of Dawson’s most mature but also difficult and heartbreaking moments in all of Dawson’s Creek.

“A Weekend in the Country”

Season 3, Episode 12

After Pacey invites a prestigious travel critic to the not-ready-yet Potter’s Bed & Breakfast, the group works together to make sure the place has a successful opening. While Pacey realizes his deep feelings for Joey, Dawson has to admit that he doesn’t have the maturity to understand why his parents get along so well after their divorce.