17 Reasons Team Pacey Was The Only Ever Option On "Dawson's Creek"
It should have been called Pacey's Creek.
Dawson might have been the titular hero of Dawson's Creek, but we can all agree that he was the absolute worst — and Pacey was the true heart and soul of the story.
The biggest storyline of the show actually pit the two friends against each other in a bid for Joey's love, in what became one of the most defining love triangles in modern pop culture.
Astonishingly, the outcome of the love triangle was up in the air right up until the end. Show creator Kevin Williamson almost had Joey end up with Dawson — and maintains that he is Team Dawson to this day.
With all due respect to Kevin Williamson, he is absolutely wrong. Team Pacey was the only option that would have ever made sense or been satisfying. The above gif just about sums it up — and the footage was shot before the love triangle was even dreamed of!
Dawson, at every turn, chose himself, prioritized his own feelings, and was the epitome of a whiny, selfish, toxic white boy. He wasn't good for Joey, she wasn't good for him, and I would argue they didn't actually really love each other romantically — they just had a twisted sense of ownership over each other that neither quite wanted to relinquish, but Dawson in particular.
Pacey meanwhile — well, I could go on all day about the many reasons he was the right choice for Joey, and the hero of the series in general. But none of us have all day, so let me just list some...
1. I'll start off with the obvious and fun: Pacey was the king of flirty banter and teasing.
He was good at it with just about everyone, but never better than with Joey.
2. The back-and-forth between Pacey and Joey started in Season 1 and built and built until Season 3 became an explosion of unresolved sexual tension that was finally, blissfully resolved.
Let's just pause for a moment and appreciate one of the best instances of THERE WAS ONLY ONE BED in history.
3. The chemistry between Pacey and Joey was off the charts, and he brought out her playful and fun side in a way Dawson never could.
They just enjoyed each other's company a lot, and it was lovely.
4. But it wasn't all jokes and teasing — Pacey was also there for Joey, a literal shoulder to cry on.
In Season 3 in particular, he showed up for her consistently in meaningful ways, even when he was going through his own heartache.
5. Pacey helped out her family, sat quietly by while she dated other guys, drove her around, taught her how to drive herself, listened to her, kept her secrets, and was there for her in pretty much every conceivable way.
(Unrelated but important: when he wasn't calling her "Potter", he called her "Jo", which was somehow even more endearing.)
6. Pacey was also completely supportive of Joey's dreams; encouraging her and believing in her.
From Season 1, when Pacey and Joey barely considered each other friends, Pacey was still hyping Joey up and telling her she would achieve exactly what she wanted to. This dynamic only strengthened between them as the seasons went on.
Meanwhile, Dawson literally got in the way of Joey and her ambition. Remember Paris?! Ugh.
7. In fact, Pacey went further than just supporting Joey — he actively challenged her, helping her to step out of her comfort zone and grow as an artist and a person.
I mean, he BOUGHT HER A WALL.
8. Pacey also wasn't afraid to express his feelings and make himself vulnerable — while simultaneously being romantic as hell.
The message he wrote on Joey's wall is a great example of peak Pacey dreaminess — with the crucial factor being he left the ball in Joey's caught, making what he felt clear while allowing her space to make her own decision.
Dawson, on the other hand, gave her nothing but ultimatums and tantrums and gaslighting.
9. Pacey, in general, was romantic as hell, and proud of it.
(Let's also take a moment here to talk about his boat, and what it meant to him: something of his own, that he worked for and loved, that he could be proud of. Not insignificant given his character background and family history. He did that for himself.)
10. Pacey never passed up an opportunity to talk about how beautiful Joey was.
Even before they were together — before he knew he had feelings for her — Pacey was always waxing lyrical about how Joey was the most stunning woman in the world.
11. And it wasn't just words — Pacey looked at Joey like she was his favorite person in the world, and the loveliest sight he'd ever seen.
Pacey was very, very good at Looking™️.
12. In fact, Pacey was content just to sit and watch Joey sleep — which, thanks to Grams, we all know is a sure sign of true love.
If this isn't just the softest thing ever.
14. Pacey's romantic and respectful heart shone through in many of the kisses between him and Joey — like the time he counted down to 10 to give her time and space to say no.
Never has a countdown been so hot (until the one where they finally had sex, at least).
15. Pacey was a great communicator with exceptional emotional intelligence — he was clear and direct (and also very sweet) whenever he talked about his feelings.
Honestly, one of the worst parts of Pacey is the unrealistic expectations he gave us all of men.
16. Once again, Pacey never unloaded his feelings as a burden for Joey to carry — he offered them as a gift, free of strings, and explicitly let her know he didn't expect or need anything in return.
The 🥺 simple 🥺 act 🥺 of 🥺 loving 🥺 her 🥺 was 🥺 enough 🥺 for 🥺 him 🥺.
17. And finally, of course, he remembered everything.
This moment is shiver-inducing not just for the simple but potent phrase "I remember everything" — whisper-delivered beautifully by Joshua Jackson — but also because of what it shows about Pacey and his relationship with Joey. He listened to her, saw her and, despite what Dawson believed, knew her better than anyone. And loved her for all of it.
In short: Team Pacey forever and end.
If you're Team Dawson, you're just wrong (sorry Kevin Williamson).