The WORST episodes of Dawson's Creek

Every episode of Dawson's Creek ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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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All the Right Moves
star
6.71
87 votes

#1 - All the Right Moves

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/22/2003

Joey follows Eddie to his family home where they face up to their true emotions and the obstacles they must overcome to be together. Back in Boston, Pacey is invited to an exclusive party where he receives a promotion and is recruited to be part of a special project but is tipped off that the project maybe not be ethical. Audrey returns from Los Angeles and is welcomed back into the band, but blows her chances by getting drunk just before taking the stage. (The WB)

Directors: Arlene Sanford
Watch Now:Apple TV
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
star
6.74
81 votes

#2 - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/24/2002

Charlie's band lands a deal for a tour and Charlie asks Joey to go with him, but she doesn't want to leave college in the middle of the semester. Charlie then decides to quit the band and stay with her, which freaks Joey, who thinks they're jumping too many steps. She breaks up with him so he can go with his band on tour. Meanwhile, Oliver and Dawson finally get to NY to meet with an agent, but Oliver ruins the meeting. Dawson threats to end their partnership and begs for another chance. Civilization is sold and Alex Pearls takes over as the new manager. She promotes Pacey as head chef and fires Audrey. Pacey tries to get Audrey her job back, but all he gets is an inadvertent kiss from Alex.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Rock Bottom
star
6.76
86 votes

#3 - Rock Bottom

Season 6 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/29/2003

Joey convinces Eddie to cross the country to take Audrey to rehab; Dawson discovers that directing in Hollywood will be more difficult than he thought.

Writer: Tom Kapinos
Watch Now:Apple TV
Catch-22
star
6.80
86 votes

#4 - Catch-22

Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/23/2003

Pacey learns he has lost Dawson's money in the stock market. Back at school, Eddie surprises Joey with a trip to Europe for the summer, but a fiery conversation about how differently they live their lives leaves both of them questioning their future together.

Watch Now:Apple TV
After Hours
star
6.82
90 votes

#5 - After Hours

Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/1/2002

Pacey's new boss proposes more professionalism in the workplace and promises to leave behind her attraction towards him, even offering Audrey her job back. Audrey suspects something is going on between them and refuses to return to Civilization. Later, Alex drops by at Pacey's and Audrey walks on them talking about their kiss. She storms out in anger, leaving the future of their relationship unknown while Pacey struggles with the growing attraction he feels for Alex. Meanwhile, Dawson runs into Amy Lloyd, the movie critic, and they end up in bed together. After sex, they talk about movies and she lends him her movie. Joey and Jack focus on studies, and while she has problems concentrating, he has to catch up an entire semester and even goes back to the fraternity house asking for help. Luckily, Eric (the same guy that caused Jack his expulsion) shows up at Grams with the needed notes.

Directors: Mel Damski
Watch Now:Apple TV
Four Scary Stories
star
6.84
86 votes

#6 - Four Scary Stories

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/12/2001

After watching scary movies, Joey, Pacey and Jack talk about their creepiest experiences and urban legends. Joey shares her story of how she was almost attacked by the librarian on Halloween and saved by the creepy man she was running from. Jack tells the story of when he was helping clean the frat house basement and found a guy strapped, who later he found out to be a ghost. Pacey reveals that he was chased by a black car while giving Karen a ride home, but there was nobody driving the car. Grams arrives and says she has the scariest story: the time when Jen got locked out of the radio booth.

Directors: Krishna Rao
Writer: Jed Seidel
Watch Now:Apple TV
Lovelines (aka The Eddie)
star
6.84
89 votes

#7 - Lovelines (aka The Eddie)

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/16/2003

Joey and Eddie's emotional and sexual relationship is played out on stage during a counseling center benefit. At the same event, Jack and David deal with the insecurities in their relationship, a sober Audrey returns to Boston, and Jen opens up to C.J. about Grams' cancer.

Directors: Joshua Jackson
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Impostors
star
6.86
83 votes

#8 - The Impostors

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2002

Dawson's manages to 'get the girl' when a producer visits the "Wicked Dead" movie set to fire Natasha and close down production. Audrey is excited when asked to be the lead singer of Emma's band but is crushed when Pacey misses the gig. Joey demands the truth from Eddie.

Directors: Michael Lange
Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:Apple TV
Everything Put Together Falls Apart
star
6.87
78 votes

#9 - Everything Put Together Falls Apart

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/20/2002

Natasha is drawn to a handsome new actor who arrives to the set. Meanwhile, Joey spends the night at Eddie's apartment but misses Professor Heston's final exam. Pacey invites Emma to his office party and sparks between the two turn to passion.

Directors: Kerr Smith
Watch Now:Apple TV
Instant Karma!
star
6.88
58 votes

#10 - Instant Karma!

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2002

Dawson finds himself in an awkward situation when he is put between Joey and the intoxicated leading lady of his film. Audrey allows herself to be taken in by another man's charm.

Watch Now:Apple TV
In a Lonely Place
star
6.90
84 votes

#11 - In a Lonely Place

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/20/2002

Jen and Audrey are tempted to risk their new relationships with Dawson and Pacey after interviewing a couple of cute musicians. Meanwhile, Pacey's caught by surprise when he realizes Jack has taken him to a gay bar, and Dawson's curious upon seeing Joey's reaction when she catches Professor Wilder on a date.

Directors: Keith Samples
Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Abby
star
6.92
83 votes

#12 - The Abby

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/8/2002

Pacey leads a revolt against Alex at Civilization. Dawson, Joey, and Audrey return to Capeside, leaving Audrey to wonder about their pasts. Joey decides to see her father for the first time since his latest incarceration, while Dawson finally pays a visit to his father's grave. Jack and Jen wonder how they'll spend the summer.

Directors: Michael Lange
Watch Now:Apple TV
Lost Weekend
star
6.92
90 votes

#13 - Lost Weekend

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/17/2001

Pacey gets a job at a bar and meets an attractive Hispanic waitress named Karen. Although Karen has a very non-friendly boyfriend, that doesn't stop Pacey from feeling attracted to her. Dawson arrives to visit Joey, and is misled by Audrey when she decides to set her sights on him herself. Jen's compassion gets her to help Charlie and be on the college radio station.

Directors: David Petrarca
Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:Apple TV
Spiderwebs
star
6.92
91 votes

#14 - Spiderwebs

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/2002

Dawson comes through with No Doubt concert tickets, but he and Natasha's first public date ends in a brush with the law. Joey and Eddie have to sneak into the concert, while Pacey come to blows with CJ at the concert when it is revealed that he slept with Audrey.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:Apple TV
Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell
star
6.94
79 votes

#15 - Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/2002

Audrey gets drunk before her band performs and worries her friends, especially CJ who suspects a deeper problem. Meanwhile, Eddie and Joey agree to go on a real date; Pacey hits it off with a beautiful woman while on a business trip to New Orleans, and is shocked to discover that she's a call girl; and when Professor Freeman announces that he's leaving he and Jack have a heart-to-heart talk about their future.

Directors: Jason Moore
Writer: Anna Fricke
Watch Now:Apple TV
Day Out of Days
star
6.94
80 votes

#16 - Day Out of Days

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/15/2003

Back in LA, Dawson is asked by the studio to direct re-shoots but is conflicted about being disloyal to his mentor. Meanwhile, Joey hasn't heard from Eddie since Christmas and finds his apartment empty; Pacey starts skipping work to spend time with Emma; Jen's insecurities as a peer counselor are compounded when C.J. is assigned to train her.

Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:Apple TV
Guerilla Filmmaking (1)
star
6.94
84 votes

#17 - Guerilla Filmmaking (1)

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/6/2002

Directing Oliver's movie is not an easy task. First, Dawson has to deal with Audrey's (who took the leading part) complaints about Oliver's kissing skills. Then he has to recast the other lead role after watching the footage and discovering that Oliver stinks as an actor. Now they have to find someone who can act, is hot, charismatic in less then 6 hours. They can't think of anyone but Charlie, who fits the profile like a glove (for Jen's desperation). During the shooting Audrey has a crisis and locks herself in the bathroom because she kissed Pacey and felt like she was betraying her best. They have to call Joey (who was over at Professor Wilder's house to solve their issue) for help, and after her blessing Audrey is back on the set so they can finally finish the shooting. Meanwhile, Jack is fed up with his brothers and decides to move out of the fraternity house after he and Eric have a moment and later Eric accuses him of trying to kiss him to the other guys.

Directors: Julia Rask
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sleeping Arrangements
star
6.95
91 votes

#18 - Sleeping Arrangements

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/23/2002

Dawson and Jen realize that living together is not as much fun as they hoped to be. Between ruined toothbrushes and bathroom overcrowding, they're getting on each other's nerves. Jen faces a new challenge at work after she turns her regular show into an advice show. She mainly gives advice to other girls with problems, and makes statements on men that hurt Dawson's feelings. She comes home expecting a fight, but Dawson surprises her saying he won't fight or lie or cheat on her. Meanwhile, Melanie (Pacey's summer flame) shows up offering Pacey a job working with her uncle's new boat around the Greek Islands. After a lot of thinking, Pacey decides not to go, since he has developed a successful life in Boston working at the Civilization. Jack moves into the fraternity house and gets his own room, but has some problems staying there after he discovers he was supposed to be rooming with another guy who felt uncomfortable living with a gay guy. And Joey decides to give Elliott Sawyer another

Directors: Mel Damski
Writer: Jed Seidel
Watch Now:Apple TV
Downtown Crossing (2)
star
6.97
88 votes

#19 - Downtown Crossing (2)

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/13/2002

Joey is held up and forced to clean up her account by a street mugger, who is accidentally run over by a car just after mugging Joey. The merciful girl from Capeside stands by her aggressor, checking up on him and trying to get an ambulance and get him to the hospital after seeing the similarities between him and her own father. When the cops and paramedics arrive, Joey faints and is taken to the hospital. After recovering, she accidentally meets the mugger's estranged wife and daughter. Joey stands by her dying mugger as she tries to learn more about her own father. After his death, she makes a choice of sparing the guy's little daughter's feelings by telling her he jumped in front of the car to save her life.

Directors: David Petrarca
Writer: Tom Kapinos
Watch Now:Apple TV
Living Dead Girl
star
6.99
81 votes

#20 - Living Dead Girl

Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/2002

When Dawson assists Todd in throwing a blow-out Halloween party, Todd and Natasha have Dawson believing he is seeing the ghost of a legendary film actress. Jen becomes suspicious about C.J., and Joey gets stuck taking Professor Heston's daughter to a haunted house with Eddie.

Directors: Les Sheldon
Writer: Tom Kapinos
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Song Remains the Same (2)
star
6.99
87 votes

#21 - The Song Remains the Same (2)

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2002

Dawson & Joey's reunion leads to an evening of truth and intimacy, which is ruined when Dawson receives a phone call from another woman. Pacey gets a job interview that could change his life. Sparks fly between Jen and CJ, a handsome new peer counselor she meets at school.

Writer: Gina Fattore
Watch Now:Apple TV
Use Your Disillusion
star
6.99
87 votes

#22 - Use Your Disillusion

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/7/2001

Dawson takes Joey up on her invitation for a weekend in Boston, but the two have reservations once there. Meanwhile, Jack is surprised when his boyfriend Tobey shows up unexpectedly forcing Jack to choose between fraternity hell week and spending time with Tobey.

Directors: Perry Lang
Writer: Rina Mimoun
Watch Now:Apple TV
Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road
star
7.00
86 votes

#23 - Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road

Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/30/2003

As Pacey struggles to tell Dawson about her costly investment debacle, Jen conspires to convince her mother to help Grandma face her battle with cancer.

Writer: Anna Fricke
Watch Now:Apple TV
Highway to Hell
star
7.00
83 votes

#24 - Highway to Hell

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/3/2002

Charlie asks Joey to sing with his band at a distant club, which requires Pacey to give them a ride. Pacey and Charlie hate each other, and it takes a patient Audrey to keep them from going at each other's throats. Joey is nervous and isn't well received by the audience, until Charlie helps her with a duet. Still, he doesn't give up putting his moves on her. Audrey and Pacey, on the other hand, seem to be more and more in synchrony. Meanwhile, Dawson, Jen, Jack and Grams drive up to Capeside for Lily's 1st birthday, and Dawson finds out his mother has a significant other. Meanwhile, Jen confesses to Jack that she wants to break up with Dawson, while he is conflicted with the possibility of loving Joey again.

Writer: Anna Fricke
Watch Now:Apple TV
100 Light Years from Home
star
7.00
82 votes

#25 - 100 Light Years from Home

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/17/2002

It's Spring Break and the gang goes down to Miami to party! But not everything is a reason to celebrate. Audrey and Pacey go through their first relationship test when Audrey's high school boyfriend (and her first true love) shows up with tickets for the M2M concert at an MTV event. She is torn with the memories of the past, and eventually kisses Chris, who confessed to Pacey still being in love with her. Nevertheless, Pacey stays cool about it and asks Audrey to be his official girlfriend after she confesses she loves him not Chris. Meanwhile, Dawson and Oliver hit to road to NY to meet a film agent who's interested on their movie, but never make it there. Dawson starts to tell Oliver his story with Joey and decides to surprise her in Miami, looking to reactivate their romance. But when he gets there, all he finds is a suicidal Jack (who's failing out of school and is suffering with the fact that Tobey's got a new boyfriend) and Pacey, who tells him his story with Joey is over. Charli

Directors: David Petrarca
Writer: Rina Mimoun
Watch Now:Apple TV