Dawson's Creek (TV Series) To Be or Not to Be... (1999) User Reviews

Make Them Suffer

[ttapola · 8/10 · 5 February 2011]

This is a great episode. However, in its greatness lies the reason why it is not truly tremendous. The episode is one of the most memorable in the *entire* run of Dawson's Creek, but as a whole, the episode is less than the sum of its parts.

First, Dawson's movie, which started *filming* in the previous episode, vanishes from the plot like Abby did in the same episode. Second, the character of Ty exists solely to get Jen some screen time. Third, while this episode is built around the big character moment for Kerr Smith's Jack McPhee, finally giving justification for the character's addition to the cast (Andie McPhee already has had plenty), ultimately this episode belongs to Pacey the character and Joshua Jackson the actor, who once again steals the show.

Anyway, best episode since #2.4, Tamara's Return, so one cannot really complain that this is "only" 8/10 - it still beats most episodes of most shows made even in the Golden Age of the Television Entertainment of the 2000s.

Jack and The Poem

[Mike1388 · 8/10 · 24 May 2010]

This is one of those episodes that stuck for me when I hear the name Dawson's Creek. In this episode we encounter Jack and his poem, his true secret, what's been eating him up. Second best is the mean teacher, who torture his students just for the sake of it, and last the amazingly written character, Pacey Witter.

When Pacey defended Jack in Mr.Peterson class, it is one of the most genuine, passionate scenes I've ever seen in a teen drama. The dialogs were impressive and sharp, Joshua Jackson and Edmund Kearney's top notch acting makes it a great experience, and memorable too. The dilemma of Jack being gay or not was handled pretty well, considering they didn't go all the way declaring Jack is gay. A perfect emotional tension!

The One With Jack's Poem...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 9 October 2015]

This is episode is simply amazing. It has so much drama, and so much heart. This is one of the best episodes of Dawson's Creek from the entire series, and is definitely one of my all- time favorite episodes, in the Top 10. It's so moving, and makes me so distraught at the same time. It is such a powerful element behind it. When someone comes out as gay on a TV show, where it is so unexpected, you are bound to be surprised. And I absolutely hate the teacher. He had no right to do what he did. I cannot believe how much I love this episode. I feel so much for Jack. Even a decade later, where gay rights are slowly getting to where they should be, this episode just moves me. And I hope is anyone who is gay watches this, it helps them. Wow, I just so got so philosophical.

In this episode, Jack writes a poem for his English class, but little did he know that his teacher was going to force to read it aloud for the entire class. His poem was about his thoughts, about other men, and when word gets around Capeside High, things just get worse for him. Pacey tries to defend Jack, and his rights, to his English teacher, and ends up getting in trouble after he assaults his teacher.

Worst part of the episode: Mr. Peterson, the English teacher.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Freaking Ridonkulous.

Not as good as I remembered...

[m-47826 · 6/10 · 19 January 2022]

The drama relied too much on the pathos of the situation. This professor was too randomly mean, and the part with the scarlet letters on Jack's locker... It was too after school special and simplistic to leave a real impact. Especially when the « shamers » switched sides nowadays. Which goes to show nothing has changed since. Also, the way writers tried to rationalize Pacey's outburst, by diminishing it into some kind of a reaction triggered by guilt? Clumsy move on their part. This episode always made me uncomfortable, but only because it wasn't handled properly, like the second part is...

This is 1999 New England? This is 1999 New England!

[jamericanbeauty · 1/10 · 13 May 2022]

Over the top! This is my first time watching Dawson's Creek, but I know of Greg Berlanti in the present-day, so once I saw he was Mr. Agenda Pusher was the writer of this episode with this type of subject matter, I knew no good could come of it. I knew he wouldn't be able to control his pen. A teen boy reads a poem aloud in class. From said poem, rumors start that girls may not be his dating or mating preference. He's humiliated. What follows is a sadistic teacher who tries to force him to reread it in class! Slurs painted on his locker! Salacious flyers distributed! A student spits in the before-mentioned teacher's face! This is too much for 1999 New England. This is not 1950s New England or 1960s Alabama! Get a grip, Mr. Berlanti!