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Separation Anxiety

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❝
It wasn't supposed to end like that. We're not supposed to end like that. Right?
—Pacey

Separation Anxiety is the 21st episode of Season 4 of Dawson's Creek.

Synopsis[]

DAWSON MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO LEAVE CAPESIDE WITH GRETCHEN OR STAY WITH JOEY — After the Prom debacle, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) discovers that Gretchen (guest star Sasha Alexander) is leaving town and decides to follow his heart and go with her, while Joey (Katie Holmes) and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) consider the end of their love affair.[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
Mary-Margaret Humes as Gale Leery
John Wesley Shipp as Mitch Leery
Mary Beth Peil as Evelyn Ryan
Special Guest Stars
Sasha Alexander as Gretchen Witter[2]
Mark Matkevich as Drue Valentine
Guest starring
Peter Jurasik as Walter Kubelik
Co-Starring
Liz Ernest as Snooty Woman
Eric Paisley as Dean Newman
Lesley Riley as Realtor
Martha Terry as Guard Sylvia
Lucas Waterworth as Brad
Rob Zapple as Snooty Man

Gretchen's note[]

Dear Dawson...
I've been thinking about what to say to you since I left your house yesterday. I thought about waiting for you to come to my door, saying this face to face, but I knew it would be too hard. I realize that, as much as I need to move on, you need to stay here. Your whole life is about to change in a way that will never be the same. You're opening a new chapter, and you have to give a proper good-bye to the old one. You don't want to miss these moments, even the sad ones, because you'll never get them back. So enjoy this time. Let it wash over you so that your memories of it are strong. Besides, I don't need to spend a month in a car to fall in love with you. I already am in love with you, even more than you know. So good-bye, Dawson Leery. Thank you for changing my life and opening my heart again. You'll never know how much it meant to me. Have a bitchin' summer.
Love, Gretchen

Quotes[]

❝
You've been... gliding from conversation to conversation with complete confidence and ease this time. I don't know if you remember the last Worthington party that you and I attended together, but... you were kind of a jumble of nerves. I guess I was kind of hoping that... you would need for me to be your savior again tonight. But... that's no longer the case. You don't need that now. Everything's different. I think that they're better this way. The only thing that remains the same is you're still the most beautiful girl in the room. This is... this is your life, and you should enjoy it
—Pacey to Joey
❝
People who understand that every once in a while, an opportunity presents itself. And whatever they decide to do in that moment will change the rest of their lives forever
—Mitch to Dawson
❝
It makes me sick to my stomach every time I think about it. Blaming you for my insecurities and...then making you feel guilty for all the things that you've accomplished, when you should feel nothing but proud. And I'm so proud of you.
—Pacey to Joey
❝
Joey – So, what are you doing this summer, Dawson?
Dawson – This

Locations[]

Trivia[]

  • After Dawson says that he wants to go on the road trip with Gretchen, Gretchen leaves without him.
  • Jen asks Grams to move to Boston with her.
  • Mr. Kubelik offers Pacey a summer job on his yacht; Pacey and Joey were both hoping that the offer was about Worthington.

BROADCAST

  • The episode was watched by 4.78 million people upon its original airing on the WB.[3]

Music[]

dead yet | MUD'L HEAD
jack and jen in the cafeteria
show me heaven | JESSICA ANDREWS[4]
dawson in his room
write me a song | EDWIN MCCAIN[5]
joey invites pacey to the event
windows | AMY COOK
pacey picks joey up
one small year | SHAWN COLVIN[6]
dawson tells gretchen he wants to go away with her
around and around | MARK KOZELEK[7]
gretchen at dawson's house
waiting for my real life to begin | COLIN HAY[8]
montage; dawson and joey

Photos[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ "Separation Anxiety" official synopsis from The WB archived from dawson's creek daily
  2. ↑ Last appearance of Gretchen Witter
  3. ↑ Ratings Ryan — Dawson's Creek (WB): Ratings Recap
  4. ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "True North" by Stephanie Corby
  5. ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Walk On" by Stewart Foehl
  6. ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Capacity" by Karen Grenier
  7. ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Run" by Montana
  8. ↑ Replaced on DVD and streaming with "Grow Up" by Stewart Foehl
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