The pedigree of the show, at least until this season, is up to my standards. Written by Kevin Williamson, who was the creator of both the Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer series of movies. The show, which is loosely based on Williamson's own life, focuses on childhood friends Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey (Katie Holmes) as they grow up and try to cope with the changing nature of their friendship. They are joined by Dawson's neighbor, Jen (Michelle Williams); Pacey (Joshua Jackson), the Black Sheep; Andie (Meredith Monroe), who is Pacey's Ex and Jack (Kerr Smith), who has just come as being Gay. Williamson left halfway through the Season, which coincidentally, was when Jack had his same-sex kiss.

The setting, which is probably as familiar to fans as their own hometown, is Capeside, NC. We catch up with the characters as they enter their junior year of high school. It seems that Dawson and Joey have ended their relationship, and Dawson has a fling with the town bad girl, Eve. Once this storyline ends, we see Dawson make friends with a local girl, who also happens to be a filmmaker. Deciding to take a break from filmmaking, Dawson ends up quitting his class, tearing down his posters and losing his one true direction and passion in life. This self-destructive spiral continues as he parties with some strippers, steals the answers to the PSAT's, crashes his dad's boat and even gets into a fight (I won't say with who).

Joey, heartbroken seeing Dawson and Eve's blossoming romance, tries to find happiness with a college student. Pacey finds out that Andie cheated on him and decides to end their relationship. He needs Joey's help to pass one of his classes, but she wants something from him in return. Before too long, some feelings begin to develop between them. When Joey's mural in the high school is vandalized, Pacey beats-up the guy that did it and turns him over to the Principal. Pacey can't hold back his feelings for Joey and, much to her surprise, kisses her.

I've heard a lot of people say that this was the most intense Season for Dawson's Creek. Not having much experience with the show, I can still say that seeing Dawson going from the fresh-scrubbed, do-gooder to, basically, a jerk was a shock. Not so shocking was the budding romance between Pacey and Joey, which is really a major plot of this Season. Another major plotline is Jack dealing with his "coming out" by joining the football team (?!?!). He also has to deal with discrimination, dating and even his first kiss. Dawson's Creek is definitely a drama, but it never seems to take itself too seriously. The characters are very aware that their lives are like a "soap opera", and take great delight in commenting on that fact.

The episodes included on this four disc set are:

Disc One
Episode 301: "Like a Virgin": After a summer away, Dawson returns to face a decision about Joey. Jen uses cheerleading tryouts to teach someone a lesson.

Episode 302: "Homecoming": Dawson's first sexual encounter with Eve produces a big surprise. Pacey discovers that Andie had an affair.

Episode 303: "Non of the Above": Dawson faces an ethical dilemma when Eve gives him an advance copy of an important college entrance exam.

Episode 304: "Home Movies": Dawson makes a controversial documentary about Jack, Capeside's gay football star.

Episode 305: "Indian Summer": As Dawson tries to uncover the mystery surrounding Eve, Joey's boss turns his attention to Andie.

Disc Two
Episode 306: "Secrets & Lies": Jen hosts a tea for Capeside's Homecoming Queens while Andie tries to win Pacey back.

Episode 307: "Escape from Witch Island": Dawson enlists his friends to make a documentary about the local legend of Witch Island.

Episode 308: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner": Jen's Mom makes an unexpected appearance for Thanksgiving.

Episode 309: "Four to Tango": Dawson suspects Pacey and Joey of having an affair. Andie encourages Jack to arrange a blind date with another gay teen.

Episode 310: "First Encounters of the Close Kind": In Boston, where Dawson has entered a film festival, Andie and Joey make a college campus visit while Jack explores the city's gay scene.

Episode 311: "Barefoot at Capeside": Jack looks for his first gay experience, and Dawson finds that a rival is sympathetic to his parents' divorce.

Disc Three
Episode 312: "A Weekend in the Country": Everyone rallies to make a good impression after Pacey arranges for an influential travel writer to visit Joey's sister's new inn.

Episode 313: "Northern Lights": Pacey's stage fright threatens to ruin the school play's opening night. Joey agrees to date a college student.

Episode 314: "The Valentine's Day Massacre": Pacey persuades Dawson and his friends to attend a wild Valentine's Day Party.

Episode 315: "Crime and Punishment": Pacey seeks revenge following a vandal's attack on Joey's school mural. Andie's guilt over her cheating intensifies after learning the results of her college entrance exam.

Episode 316: "To Green, with Love": Joey rallies her friends and family in support of Capeside's embattled principal.

Episode 317: "Cinderella Story": Joey learns there's someone else in A.J.'s life, and Dawson tries to help his mother open the new restaurant.

Disc Four
Episode 318: "Neverland": As Pacey tries to tell Dawson about hid feelings for Joey, she tries to avoid another kiss.

Episode 319: "Stolen Kisses": A spring break trip to see Dawson's aunt brings Pacey and Joey even closer. Andie falls for Pacey's old friend, while Jen is jealous when another woman pursues Henry.

Episode 320: "The Longest Day": Joey and Pacey break their news to Dawson.

Episode 321: "Show Me Love": Dawson and Pacey use a regatta to wage war for Joey's affection.

Episode 322: "The Anti-Prom": Dawson organizes an alternative junior prom.

Episode 323: "True Love": Dawson realizes he's the one standing in the way of Joey's happiness, and Gram's insists that Jen and Jack repair their damaged love lives before it's too late.

The success of Dawson's Creek has a lot to do with the great cast of actors working on the show. Most of them are still household names, and a number of them have growing film resumes. Music also played a huge part in the series, but that is one thing that is missing from this otherwise "complete" DVD set. A lot of the Series original music has been replaced, including "I Don't Want To Wait" by Paula Cole as the Theme Song. In its place is "Run Like Mad" by Jann Arden, which apparently was the song used as the Theme in International Broadcasts of the show. I can see switching out some of the songs, but changing the Theme song just seems wrong to me.

The DVD:

Picture: Dawson's Creek: The Complete Third Season is presented in Full Screen (1.33:1). The transfer, mostly due to compression issues, is a step above broadcast. It seems that cramming twenty-three 44minute episodes onto 4 DVDs can take its toll. The picture often looks soft and sometimes has noticeable grain in darker spots, but the colors are acceptable, if not appearing very vibrant.

Audio: This DVD set features an English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround track, which sounds very clear. The set also contains English, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Extras: This DVD set is a bit light on the Extra Features. Included are audio commentaries on two episodes from Kerr Smith (Jack) and Producer, Paul Stupin. There is interactive map of Capeside on Disc 1 that allows you to select areas of Capeside, then view a more detailed screen and see a video clip of the location. There is a Weblink to access and create your own Dawson's Creek soundtrack. There are also a selection of Columbia/TriStar Trailers.

Conclusion: If you're a fan of the series, then I am sure you will want to pick up Dawson's Creek: The Complete Third Season to add to your collection. Newcomers to the series, like myself, will probably want to rent the earlier DVDs before settling into this one, as things happen pretty quickly in the beginning that tie into the previous Season. As far as swapping out songs throughout the series due to licensing issues, that's one thing, but to change the THEME song for the show… that's akin to blasphemy. Even I know what the theme song is, and I was surprised that something that was such a pop cultural touchstone could be changed so easily. Hopefully, fans can put their foot down and make Columbia/TriStar reverse this ugly trend.