The hit show, several years running, "DAWSON'S CREEK," has finally made its way to dvd.  The entire first season is now available in a boxed set.  James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob to some, Frankenstein monster to others, stars as "Dawson," a teenager living in a small town near the water.  Dawson's biggest all-consuming aspiration is to be the next "Spielberg," and his bedroom attests to this fact with posters of the filmmaker's best and worst films all over the walls.  Dawson's main friends are Joey and Pacey. Katie Holmes is wonderful as Joey, and it's easy to see, immediately, that this girl was going places!  She's not only beautiful but charismatic.  Joshua Jackson's acting abilities as Pacey, aren't as obvious, but then he's got some ridiculous writing to contend with in some of this season's earlier episodes. He was great, however, in COLUMBIA TRISTAR's "CRUEL INTENTIONS," so we know he can act.

Creator Kevin Williamson, previously best known for writing "SCREAM," has obviously put his heart and personality into the show.  He wants to be "Dawson," and that's both a good and bad thing. Dawson is a decent guy, but the show's so contrived and heavy-handed in its desire to appear original, that it's ultimately predictable, and Dawson, the character doesn't really come across as being too bright or talented. 

This is borderline "good"/bad tv. Although one can't help but to cringe at some of the ridiculous plot setups here, the show's still addictive! While there's an inconsistency in how characters behave, often speaking with the great wit and intellect of highly educated adults but acting immature, we can't help but like them! 

The three disc set includes all 13 episodes of the first season.  Episodes include, "Pilot,""Dance,""Kiss,""Discovery,""Hurricane,""Baby,""Detention,"Boyfriend,""Roadtrip,""The Scare,""Double Date,""Beauty Contest," and "Decisions."

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has preserved the show's 1.33:1 full-frame aspect ratio.  Colors are solid, and often vibrant. While there's some excessive grain in spots, the overall image quality is excellent.  Contrast is great, offering deep blacks and grays, for better clarity in darker scenes. Fleshtones appear natural. 

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has presented a Dolby Surround mix for this release.  There's not an abundance of surround effects, but all speakers give the pop songs featured in each episode a good boost. There is some separation in the front stage, and dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion. 

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has offered some extras here. The "Pilot" episode as well as the final episode, "Decisions," feature audio commentary with creator Kevin Williamson and producer Paul Stupin. We were actually surprised at how good these commentaries were. Stupin and Williamson provide some great production information, and carry on in an engaging, fun manner, making it a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Two featurettes are also offered.  "DAWSON'S CREEK: DAY ONE" is a brief segment, offering more insight from Stupin and Williamson. Pretty much just fluff. "SEASON ONE TIME CAPSULE" is even shorter, offering mini-scenes from the first season as well as interviews with the show's stars.