- I realised that, all the things you wanna be, you already are
- —Gretchen to Dawson
Gretchen Witter is a recurring character on Season 4 of Dawson's Creek. She is portrayed by Sasha Alexander.
Character[]
Gretchen is a 20-year-old (when we first meet her) sophomore college student who decided to drop out and returned home to Capeside indefinitely following her freshman year. Gretchen is a smart, funny and witty girl, who loves music and is considered cool by most people she meets. She is the older sister of Pacey and younger sister of Doug.
Story[]
Gretchen returns home to Capeside in late Summer 2000 and moves in with Doug. When Pacey returns from the sea, she asks him to move in with her in a rented summer house on the beach, which Pacey gladly accepts. Although her family are curious as to why she's home, Gretchen doesn't really feel like sharing her reasons. She starts working at Leery's Fresh Fish as a bartender and runs into Dawson, with whom she strikes up a friendship. They spend time together, Gretchen introducing Dawson to music that she loves and Dawson having Gretchen over for movie nights. In spite of himself, Dawson's preteen crush on Gretchen resurfaces and develops into something more. While aware, Gretchen affirms that she doesn't see Dawson that way, however, she has trouble convincing herself this is really the truth and begins to open up to the idea of something romantic with him, becoming hesitant due to Dawson's heartbreak over Joey Potter. When she and Pacey go to pick up her stuff at college, Gretchen runs in to her ex and ends up finally telling Pacey why she left — she got pregnant and had a miscarriage. Pacey supports his sister and begins to understand her wanting to leave behind that part of her past.
Gretchen's Editorial[]
- Gretchen's Rant
- by Gretchen Witter
- Okay so I'm not a Capeside high school student anymore. But when I learned this was an independent online publication, I begged and pleaded for a chance at a token alumni "Opinion" and what do you know. I got one. Actually, I admit I had a bit of an "in" - my boyfriend is on staff and he had a sort of… emergency that prevented him from writing his column this week. So… I gallantly stepped up.
- Wow, all this space… what to fill it with? I understand my brother has his own rant forum here. And what can I say? Like brother like sister. I've got something to rant about too.
- Okay, maybe it's on my mind because my evening last night didn't exactly go as planned. Okay, I'll admit it. It wasn't really planned. When I hang out with my college friends we don't always have a very specific plan in mind… but I didn't plan on making Dawson feel like the odd man out. And he shouldn't have to. I think it's ridiculous the way that society decides that you suddenly become mature at 21. What's that about? I can honestly tell you I'm not an ounce more mature than I was last year at this time. And in some ways… Dawson's a lot more grown up than I am.
- So anyway, my friends were a little surprised, to say the least, that I was dating someone Dawson's age. Someone who has to ask his mom before he can spend a night out with me… and it's funny - - I don't even think of Dawson as younger than me until it's pointed out. And I mean, it is weird - but I don't think of him as the same person as the little kid who played Star Wars with Pacey in the backyard…and although I'm reminded every once in a while that he's still a kid…he's an adult in all the really important ways. The ways that matter. Which is something I saw tonight as he stood by the bedside of a dying friend, comforting others while still trying to hold it together himself.
- I admire Dawson…and I hope I'll one day be as mature as he is. Until then… I guess we'll have to stick to social activities that don't require identification.[1]
Quotes[]
- You know, you might be dating one, Joey, but you still can’t outwitter a Witter. Especially an older one
- —Gretchen to Joey[src]
Photos[]
Episodes[]