For six seasons, Dawson's Creek was one of the flagship properties on the WB, joining a bevy of shows the network plugged into pop culture to great effect. It stands the test of time alongside series such as Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and of course, the recently concluded Supernatural.
However, with some of these shows getting revivals, now is the perfect time to bring Dawson's Creek back given how things ended after Joey's big decision, the slate of likeable characters and also, the state of America at the moment.
Dawson's Creek wasn't just about romance; it was about classism, racism and so much more. There were political spins worked in as Capeside teens such as Joey and Pacey were intimidated by privileged kids who visited and looked down on the common folk. There's so much Americana packed into its rhythm: Grams trying to force her religion onto Jen, her issues with Joey's sister having a kid for a Black man out of wedlock, sex, drugs and so many other problems occuring.
What makes Dawson's Creek a great contender for a reboot at this time is the current socio political climate. The same problems that the characters dealt with two decades ago have evolved for a new generation who do things differently. Dawson, for example, was all about the purity of film and making it in Hollywood where he eventually worked with his idol, Steven Spielberg. Having him mentoring new filmmakers who are in an era of social media and short-form content with advanced tech would really test him. Seeing how Joey's family restaurant fared during something like COVID-19, Mike addressing prison reform and Bessie addressing Black Lives Matter for her child of mixed ethnicity would all be poignant touchpoints. Admittedly, the series did lack people of color, so this is as good a time as any to fix that.
It would also be worth exploring is how Jack and Pacey's brother, Doug, are faring raising Jen's daughter, Amy, after Jen died. The idea of a gay cop living with his husband in Capeside — a bigoted town — deserves to be explored more. Additionally, the reboot could explore Jack's sister Andie's mental health problems.
Even when it botched certain arcs and characters, Dawson's Creek addressed topics ahead of its time. As years have passed and society has become more progressive, this current era of storytelling means there's so much more to be dissected. Saved by the Bell, Gilmore Girls and Fuller House did just that, focusing on the teens as parents, which would be a great way to see the characters of Dawson's Creek evolve.
There's many storylines and questions left unanswered for a reboot to explore. Did Pacey and Joey have kids? What's their relationship to Dawson now? Did he find another love? How did Grams cope when Jen died? The great thing about such an epilogue is that it won't be treading new ground or bandwagoning social points — it'll be elaborating and improving an already-impressive foundation laid down regarding love, loss and everything that amazing coming-of-age stories are made from.
Dawson's Creek, created by Kevin Williamson, stars James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams. The entire series is now available for streaming on Netflix.