Dawson’s Creek used Jen’s death as a plot device, and it’s still infuriating

By Reed Gaudens | Apr 3, 2018

385450 04: Actress Michelle Williams Stars As (Jennifer) In Warner Bros., Television Drama 'Dawson's Creek.' (Photo By Getty Images) /

Unfortunately, Dawson’s Creek waited for Jen’s life to be over to settle the Dawson, Joey, and Pacey love triangle, and it’s still messed up.

As Dawson’s Creek celebrates the 20th anniversary of its premiere with a nostalgic spread in Entertainment Weekly’s latest reunions double issue, fans of the hit ’90s teen drama series have been reliving the glory days of life in Capeside. There’s the now-infamous crying meme, the continually incestuous romances of the group, and — of course — the death that rocked the creek’s world in the series finale.

Following suit with most series finales, Dawson’s Creek’s swan song flashed five years into the future to catch up with the gang one last time. “All Good Things… / …Must Come to an End” found Dawson making a meta teen soap called The Creek, Joey living in New York City as a book editor, and Pacey owning the Ice House. But what about Jen? She’s a single mother running a SoHo art gallery who dies of a fatal heart condition. It’s a plot device that I haven’t gotten over.

When I watched the series-ending episode for the first time, I went in already knowing that Jen would die. I remember hearing about it when Dawson’s Creek ended in 2003, and it’s been thrown around so many times in the media when referring to any potential revivals. (By the way, don’t get your hopes up.) However, I hadn’t known the circumstances surrounding her death.

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Surely, there are various readings of Jen’s death, but the one that I walked away with was that the character merely existed as a tool for Dawson, Joey, and Pacey to orbit around. First, she was a romantic interest for Dawson. Then she was a foil for Joey. Then she was a weird casual flirtation for Pacey. Ultimately, Jen became a member of the group, but was she really?

As she lies on her deathbed, her friends visit her one by one, but all they can seem to talk about is themselves, whether per request or a defect of the teen drama sensibility. In her final moments, she makes it her mission to patch up the continued love triangle strife because in five years’ time, none of them have figured out who they love or “what it all means,” but in SAT-level vocabulary.

As Jen’s final moments became less about the loss of one of their own and a means to throw a fan-favorite couple together, I realized that Jen was a plot device. Not only was her death a plot device, but she was one as well. How a series sends off its characters speaks volumes, and Jen was sent off by recording a heartbreaking video for her daughter and doling out wisdom to her friends. In short: She existed as a lesson. Dawson’s Creek did poor Jen so dirty.

The series creator Kevin Williamson even admitted to Entertainment Weekly to killing two birds with one stone when he made the choice to kill off Jen:

"“I thought if we kill Jen that’s going to force our other three into action. If they haven’t made a decision, they’ll be forced to make a decision. Nothing will make you contemplate your future faster than knowing you might not have one. So, I chose Jen as a way for Joey, Dawson, and Pacey to finally pull their lives together. And to thrust them into adulthood once and for all.”"

I’m not about to rule this a premeditated murder, but learning that Jen’s death influencing Joey’s romantic future was the master plan all along confirms what I never wanted to be true. Undoubtedly, Dawson’s Creek told an emotional story with its finale that viewers could relate to, but it didn’t feel honest to Jen. It felt, and still feels, contrived. And that’s infuriating.

Watch Kevin Williamson talk about Jen’s death in the video below.

Next: We need to talk about Joey’s Downtown Crossing mugging in Dawson’s Creek

How could an entire character’s arc come to a screeching halt in order to move the needle forward for three other characters? If Jen had been a supporting character, one who appeared for a handful of episodes (*cough* Abby Morgan *cough*), we could buy into her demise being packaged as utility. Tragedy strikes, sure, (see also: Dawson’s dad) but did tragedy have to strike in Capeside with such overwhelming, unrelenting purpose?

A fair amount of time has passed since I first watched the series finale, though my strong feelings about Jen’s death will never die. Michelle Williams, an Academy Award-nominated powerhouse actress, was reduced to something of a guardian angel for one of television’s most exhausting (yet rewarding) love triangles of all time. During the reunion, Williams stated that there were “no rabid Jen fans.” Well, you’ve got one rabid fan in your corner, Michelle.

The complete series of Dawson’s Creek is available to stream on Hulu.

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