The BEST episodes of Dawson's Creek

Every episode of Dawson's Creek ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dawson's Creek!

Four friends in a small coastal town help each other cope with adolescence.

Last Updated: 8/30/2024Network: The WBStatus: Ended
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...Must Come to an End (2)
star
8.84
75 votes

#1 - ...Must Come to an End (2)

Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/14/2003

As the severity of Jen's condition becomes apparent, Dawson and his friends seek to resolve their differences.

Directors: Greg Prange
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cinderella Story
star
8.41
174 votes

#2 - Cinderella Story

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/1/2000

Joey learns that there is someone else in A.J.'s life, Dawson tries to help his mother open the new restaurant.

Directors: Janice Cooke
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
True Love
star
8.32
174 votes

#3 - True Love

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/24/2000

Dawson realizes that he is the one who stands in the way of Joey's happiness; Grandma insists that Jen and Jack repair their love lives before it's too late.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
To Green, With Love
star
8.20
143 votes

#4 - To Green, With Love

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/16/2000

Joey organizes his friends and family to support the battered principal at Capeside High School.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Castaways
star
8.20
105 votes

#5 - Castaways

Season 6 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/12/2003

After agreeing to pose as Pacey's sister at a business party, Joey demands to be taken home. When Pacey makes a quick stop at a local K-Mart they are accidentally locked inside the store. They're forced to spend the night there and talk about their friendship and relationship, both past and future. After the night is over they are both left to ponder what the future has in store for them.

Directors: Greg Prange
Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Detention
star
8.19
200 votes

#6 - Detention

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/3/1998

In what is said to be one of the best episodes, the gang, after committing various violations at school, gets stuck together for an 8 hour Saturday detention, where Dawson and Pacey turn against each another; and Joey offers a tearful partial explanation for her anger toward Jen.

Directors: Allan Arkush
Writer: Mike White
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Longest Day
star
8.18
176 votes

#7 - The Longest Day

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/3/2000

Joey and Pacey break the news to Dawson.

Directors: Perry Lang
Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
All Good Things... (1)
star
8.18
110 votes

#8 - All Good Things... (1)

Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/14/2003

After five years, Dawson and his friends reunite at his mother's wedding in Capeside.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Stolen Kisses
star
8.12
181 votes

#9 - Stolen Kisses

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/26/2000

A spring break trip to see Dawson's aunt brings Pacey and Joey even closer; Andie falls in love with Pacey's old friend, while Jen becomes jealous when another woman chases Henry.

Directors: Greg Prange
Writer: Tom Kapinos
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Weekend in the Country
star
8.12
139 votes

#10 - A Weekend in the Country

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/19/2000

They all organize to make a good impression after Pacey arranged for an influential travel writer to visit the Potter sisters' inn.

Directors: Michael Katleman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
... That Is the Question (2)
star
8.02
153 votes

#11 - ... That Is the Question (2)

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/17/1999

Rumors about Jack's sexuality don't stop, and Pacey decides to stop the constant harassment of a teacher.

Directors: Greg Prange
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Escape from Witch Island
star
7.97
144 votes

#12 - Escape from Witch Island

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/1999

Dawson summons his friends to make a documentary about a local witch legend.

Writer: Tom Kapinos
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Double Date
star
7.96
193 votes

#13 - Double Date

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/28/1998

A double date finds Jen and Cliff joined by Dawson and a savvy sidekick who calls him on a plot to make Jen jealous. But it's Dawson turn to turn green when Pacey grows close to Joey working on a project.

Directors: David Semel
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Decisions
star
7.92
182 votes

#14 - Decisions

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/19/1998

In the season finale, Dawson and Joey confront their true feelings. Joey, visits her father in prison, and debates leaving to go to France.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Beauty Contest
star
7.92
178 votes

#15 - Beauty Contest

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/12/1998

Joey and Pacey enter a beauty competition; Jen regrets her breakup with Dawson.

Writer: Dana Baratta
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Winter's Tale
star
7.91
161 votes

#16 - A Winter's Tale

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/7/2001

While his friends wrestle with sex during a ski trip last year, Dawson discovers that he was given power over Mr. Brooks's life.

Directors: Greg Prange
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Neverland
star
7.90
200 votes

#17 - Neverland

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/5/2000

As Pacey prepares to tell Dawson about her feelings for Joey, she tries to avoid another kiss.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Anti-Prom
star
7.88
149 votes

#18 - The Anti-Prom

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/17/2000

Dawson organizes an alternative prom.

Directors: Greg Prange
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kiss
star
7.81
232 votes

#19 - Kiss

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/3/1998

While working on the film class's movies, team player Dawson has a hard time being stuck in the background. Meanwhile as he plots to give Jen the "perfect kiss", Joey is swept away by a handsome stranger and Pacey tries to graduate to manhood.

Writer: Rob Thomas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Coming Home
star
7.80
147 votes

#20 - Coming Home

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/2000

There is uncertainty in the air when Pacey and Joey return to Capeside after their journey that lasted all summer.

Directors: Greg Prange
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Two Gentlemen of Capeside
star
7.78
167 votes

#21 - Two Gentlemen of Capeside

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/2000

A hurricane that threatens Pacey and Jen forces Dawson and Joey to try to save their lives.

Directors: Sandy Smolan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.77
394 votes

#22 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/20/1998

Film-buff Dawson finds his best friend, Joey, growing jealous of his attraction to a neighbor's granddaughter. Meanwhile, pal Pacey falls in love with a mystery woman, who is really a teacher at Capeside.

Directors: Steve Miner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Long Goodbye
star
7.74
101 votes

#23 - The Long Goodbye

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/31/2001

Lifelong friends Dawson, Joey and Pacey put past grudges behind them in the wake of the tragic death of one of their fathers. Along with Jack, Jen and Grams, each tries to find the words and actions to comfort their friend.

Writer: Tom Kapinos
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hurricane
star
7.73
222 votes

#24 - Hurricane

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/17/1998

When a major hurricane moves inland, all take refuge in the Leery home, where Dawson rages at Jen about her past, and Mitch storms out after learning of Gale's affair. That leaves a tormented Dawson to deal with their fallout. Meanwhile, Pacey ruins his brother's chances to get with Tamara at her beach house.

Directors: Lou Antonio
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Great Xpectations
star
7.72
152 votes

#25 - Great Xpectations

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2000

Andie gets accepted into Harvard in advance, but accomplishing what should be the biggest thing in her life doesn't exactly makes her happy. She decides to explore different paths in her life by going to a rave. In the party, Drue gives Jen drugs, and she gives it to Andie. She tries ecstasy, which has a reaction with her anti-depressives and makes a disastrous combination, which almost leads her to death. Mitch and Gail decide to keep their baby, and things get awkward during the celebration when Gretchen brings Pacey and Joey with her.

Directors: Bruce Seth Green
Writer: Nan Hagan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV