Like I needed another TV show in my life

Van der Beek in Criminal Minds
Van der Beek in Criminal Minds

I was avoiding FOX last Wednesday (I love American Idol, but even I have my limits), and I caught sight of a new little CBS gem -- Criminal Minds.

I'd seen commercials for it before, but Wednesday was the first episode I saw, and had I known James Van der Beek would be guest starring, I probably wouldn't have given it a chance.

Dawson's Creek was all the rage when I was in middle school. It pioneered the whole teenagers-as walking-thesauri thing, and I lapped it up with the rest of the tweens. I grew to love the kids of Capeside High, but I was one of the only girls at school who didn't have a photo of James Van der Beek hanging up in my locker -- partly because he just wasn't cute to me (still isn't), and largely because his character Dawson was the most irritating, simpering little loser I'd ever seen.


As Dawson Leery
As Dawson Leery
Even when I saw Van der Beek in Varsity Blues, he was basically the same self-centered brat he portrayed on Dawson's Creek.


But, the man I saw on Wednesday was a totally different beast. I didn't even realize it was Van der Beek until over halfway into the episode. He was creepy, but not in a whiny teenage loser way. He was serial-killer creepy.

And he was good. Fiercely good. At one point, I honestly shrieked aloud.

I've been a life-long Dawson-hater, but I have to give Van der Beek some serious credit.

Nicely done, Dawson.

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wil st. soul
[this is good]
First, let me say that I love the banner. Great stuff.

Second, imagine my pain while that show was on the air. Everywhere I went, once people found out my last name, I got all the Dawson's Creek jokes thrown my way. I think rock bottom hit one day while in the cleaners. The chinese dude behind the counter asked for my last name. I told him. Then he looked up, smiled and said ... "You mean like the creek?" And laughed for a good minute.

I was done after that. Sigh.
Roxy
thanks -- and LOL @ the chinese dude. Poor you.
missdarcie.
Wow, crazy to see James Van Der Beek playing a character that way. I've been watching the seasons of Dawson's Creek on DVD lately.
NYCinephile
If you haven't already, check out Van Der Beek in The Rules of Attraction. He definitely parted with his squeaky clean image in that one. I'm interested in your reaction to the film.
mystique
omg, i had an unhealthy obsession with dawson's creek but it was only because i had the hots for pacey! i honestly thought that dawson was gay and was going to end up with jack...i wish i would have known about his guest appearance! i would have totally watched it.
missdarcie.

Yeah I've actually already seen The Rules of Attraction, and I'd have to say that it's a great movie... It definitely caught me by surprise when I first saw it, seeing Dawson play a completely different role.. same goes for Pacey on Cruel Intentions. Have you seen him on Varsity Blues too?

missdarcie.
You and me both girl! Pacey was my all time favorite.
Roxy
oh, cool, thanks -- I'll have to add it to the queue.
Serial Girlfriend
[this is good]
I have been hooked on criminal minds since it's first episode. reed is my favorite sleep-deprived beanstalk. this was a truly amazing episode for dawson's creek dude. he did great with the voice and everything! too bad there's no award for a two-episode appearance.

i don't know if you ever watched party-of-five but one of the london brother's (jeremy or justin, i can't tell em apart, but i think it may have been the one NOT from party of five) was on an episode as a rapist that one of the girls shot. (she disappeared after, leading me to believe she just abruptly left the show...) it's got a lot of nostalgic moments from actors i haven't seen in a while.
Alisha
I thought the same of him up until I saw Rules of Attraction. Good movie.

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