Dawson's Creek Wiki
Advertisement

Ever have one of those days, you wish you could live all over again?
—Joey to Pacey

The Longest Day is the 20th episode of Season 3 of Dawson's Creek.

Synopsis[]

IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT I SEE – In a story that replays the same day's activities from three different perspectives, Joey (Katie Holmes) and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) vacillate on the ways to tell Dawson (James Van Der Beek) about their feelings for each other. But when the truth does come out, Dawson's reaction is the one they hoped they wouldn't get. Meanwhile, Andie (Meredith Monroe), who thought she was over Pacey enough to date, accepts a date with Capeside visitor Will (guest star Rodney Scott, "Young Americans" airing this summer on The WB), but their first date is ruined when she also learns about Joey and Pacey.[1]

Starring[]

James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery
Katie Holmes as Joey Potter
Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley
Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter
Kerr Smith as Jack McPhee
Meredith Monroe as Andie McPhee
John Wesley Shipp as Mitch Leery
Mary Beth Peil as Evelyn Ryan
Special Guest Stars
Dylan Neal as Doug Witter
Michael Pitt as Henry Parker
Rodney Scott as Will Krudski
Jonathan Lipnicki as Buzz Thompson

Quotes[]

I really wish I was more like you
—Joey to Jen
The thing is... he's not Pacey
—Andie to Joey
He went to grab for her; all he got was air
—Will telling Andie the story of Orpheus and Eurydice from Greek mythology
You know you're gonna get hurt! She is NEVER going to love you like she loves him
—Andie to Pacey
You think that whatever was wrong when you were with me is gonna magically get better when you're with him?
—Dawson to Joey

Locations[]

Trivia[]

  • Jack only appears in the scene at the christening of the True Love
  • Pacey cries after Dawson leaves and Joey follows and is left behind to tell Andie the truth
  • The episode is divided into 4 acts; each act dedicated to a different character's/characters' viewpoints. Jen and Andie briefly, respectively share the focus of their stories, before shifting to feature all of the characters (except Will and Jack). Jen, however, features greatly in the other characters' viewpoints of the first 3 acts.
    • Act 1 shows Pacey's perspective. At the end of Act 1, Pacey tells Dawson 'there's an us here, now' and the screen fades to black.
    • Act 2 features Joey's perspective. At the end of Act 2, the above occurs and Dawson says 'you didn't tell me' to which Joey responds 'you know, don't you'.
    • Act 3 features Dawson's perspective. At the end of Act 3, we see Dawson's reaction and him telling the non-plussed Andie and Will, who stop by after their date to return the boat Will borrowed from Dawson.
    • Act 4 concludes the episode and fills the audience in on Will & Andie's date, as well as Henry & Jen's fight; the narrative then features everyone.

BROADCAST

  • The episode was watched by 3.86 million people upon its original airing on the WB.[2]

PRODUCTION NOTES

  • Season 3 showrunner Greg Berlanti describes the vision for Season 3 and the Joey/Pacey relationship in an October 2015 interview:
“I would get Pacey with Joey and have a King Arthur–esque story — Dawson being King Arthur — exploring what happens when Lancelot and Guinevere fall in love,”[3]

Films[]

WATCHED
The Last Picture Show (1971)
REFERENCED
The Longest Day (1962)
All the President's Men (1976)

Music[]

matter of time | JENNIFER PARSIGNAULT
dawson + mitch arrive at the boat christening
thank you | DIDO[4]
joey talks to jen
miss fortune | EAGLE-EYE CHERRY[5]
pacey runs into andie at the library
mend | JANN ARDEN[6]
jen accidentally tells dawson
in your keeping | JANN ARDEN[7]
joey ends things with pacey

Photos[]

screenshots[]

act I


act II


act III


act IV

Videos[]

Notes and references[]

  1. "The Longest Day" official synopsis archived from The WB on dawsons-creek.com
  2. Ratings Ryan — Dawson's Creek (WB): Ratings Recap
  3. Showrunner Greg Berlanti Explains How Joey and Pacey Found Love on Dawson’s Creek (October 2015)
  4. Replaced on DVD and streaming with "In Between" by Molly Bancroft
  5. Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Intoxicating" by David Crowder Band
  6. Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Too Much For Me" by Clare Burson
  7. Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Buttons" by Annie Palmer
Advertisement