Dawson and Joey are hopeful that some unexpected turns of events may resuscitate their ailing relationships with Gretchen and Pacey, while Jen makes an important decision.
"#420 - Promicide"
The prom brings some pleasant surprises, as well as some unexpected heartbreak to the group.
"#419 - Late"
The group faces harsh realities when Joey experiences a scare, and Dawson faces the prospect of Gretchen leaving town.
"#418 - Eastern Standard time"
Senior Ditch Day takes the group outside of Capeside, and into some unknown... and unexpected territory.
"#417 - Admission"
Past, present, and future collide when the group is forced to make some serious decisions about where they'll attend college.
"#416 - Mind games"
After a strange turn of events, the Capeside gang learns that realities do not always meet expectations, and Joey begins to regret her lie to Dawson.
"#415 - Four stories"
When Dawson poses the unthinkable question, Joey is forced to consider whether honesty is the best policy.
"#414 - A winter's tale"
When Joey and Pacey head for the school ski trip along with Jack and Jen and the rest of the senior class, there's more going on off the slopes than on.
"#413 - Hopeless"
Drue gets a lesson in love from Joey, while Dawson wonders if he's ready for his romance with Pacey's older sister.
"#412 - The Te of Pacey"
When Joey helps plan a surprise party for Pacey's birthday, she ends up getting more surprises than she bargained for. Meanwhile, Pacey's family creates a nightmare situation for all involved. Dawson's disappointed that Gretchen keeps putting off their first official date, and is dismayed when she insists they keep their relationship under wraps. Forced to miss the party finishing up her community service, Jen's mood brightens when she winds up working with Tobey.
"#411 - The tao of Dawson"
Pacey's a bit unnerved when Dawson admits that he has feelings for Gretchen. So, when Pacey takes a road trip with his sister, he hastily encourages her to hook up with her fun-loving ex, whom they're en route to see. But he's conflicted when he discovers his sister's college boyfriend isn't the person Pacey always believed him to be. Meanwhile, Joey has an even worse weekend when she's stuck in a storage room with her worst enemy... Drue Valentine. Left alone in Capeside, Dawson watches love bloom between Grams and Brooks... but worries that Grams is destined to lose another loved one sooner than she thinks.
"Self-Reliance - #410"
When Bessie and Bodie take a weekend away, Joey's hoping to get some studying done...but fate seems to be against her. Between her responsibilities at the B&B and Pacey's affections, Joey's hard pressed to find a moment alone... and as if that wasn't enough, she's trying to cope with her feelings about having seen Dawson kiss Gretchen. Pacey's got his own issues with that "kiss"... and he's convinced Dawson and Joey need closure, once and for all. Meanwhile, Dawson's collaboration with Brooks begins, rejuvenating Dawson's filmmaking spirit, and Jen takes Jack to a "Gay-Straight Coalition" meeting in the hopes that he'll meet some gay friends... but Jen seems to fit in with the crowd more than Jack does.
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - #409"
Jen reveals an important decision she's made with regards to college. Jack and Grams, in turn, make a decision on their own. When Dawson comes up empty with answers to an important question, he turns to Brooks for inspiration. When Pacey accompanies Joey to a formal party for prospective Worthington College students, the Dean is impressed... with Pacey!
"The Unusual Suspects- #408"
It's the Senior prank of the century when Principal Peskin's (guest star comic actor Harry Shearer) boat and golden retriever end up in the school swimming pool with "Class of 2001" inscribed on the sail. Jack immediately becomes a suspect when all of Capeside High witnesses the dog make a beeline for him. Two other rather unusual suspects are also under investigation --Dawson and Pacey. As Mitch's son, Dawson has access to his father's master keys to the school. Pacey might also be responsible, having lost his "True Love," and having access to the storage facility at the yacht club. Fortunately, all three suspects have airtight alibis and another culprit surfaces.
"You had me at goodbye - #407"
While Andy puts off going back to school after her close call at the Rave, she does find time to reestablish a new kind of friendship with Pacey. Joey doesn't mind because she's too preoccupied with the problem of having to decide who is to write her "the person who knows me best" essay for her college applications. Torn between the two men in her life, there seems to be no right answer. Jen, meanwhile, is feeling that no one knows her anymore. She's become a pariah even to her closest friends, especially Jack, since the episode with Andie has branded her as the responsible party.
When Andie gets the opportunity of a lifetime that includes not returning to Capeside High, however, the dynamics of these friendships are challenged and tested in a whole new way.
"Great X-pectations - #406"
Despite having achieved her life's dream by gaining early acceptance to prestigious Harvard University, Andie doesn't feel elated. While many of her friends have not even begun the application process, Andie just can't seem to truly enjoy this hard-earned prize. Upon learning that an underground rave has been planned just in time for her to celebrate this monumental achievement, she hopes that a new experience might help her reignite feelings numbed by anti-depressants. She experiments with a dangerous drug, with serious consequences.
Meanwhile, Dawson learns the happy news that his parents are keeping their unborn child, and he decides to join in the celebration at Gretchen's insistence. Things get a bit awkward when Gretchen invites Joey and Pacey along.
"A Family Way - #405"
Gale sees no relief in sight from her bout with the flu until a pregnancy test reveals her true condition. Dawson is less than thrilled that the Leery family may be adding another member, until he learns that his parents are planning to terminate the pregnancy. Feeling hurt and confused, Dawson confides in Gretchen who seems particularly uncomfortable with this topic. Finally Gretchen reveals her reason for returning to Capeside--she too got pregnant while at school and had a miscarriage.
Not wanting to face similar issues and fearing that she may no longer be able to fend off Pacey, Joey decides to visit a free clinic to become more sexually responsible. Unfortunately, Bessie jumps to the wrong conclusion when she stumbles upon Joey's birth control stash.
Meanwhile, Andie convinces Jack to become a pee-wee soccer coach in order to augment his extra-curricular activities. However, the plan backfires when the advances of a player's older sister force Jack to reveal his sexual identity and bigotry resurfaces.
