Every high school TV show is contractually obliged to have a School President Election Episode. So, having made a laughing stock of the *original* 90210 (not that the spin-off/sequel was any improvement) in the late 1990s, how did Dawson's Creek fare with the subject? Not bad. Not bad at all. Vastly superior to the unintentionally funny and preachy 90210, Dawson's Creek excels by giving the candidates convincing motivations to decide to run for president and then follows the candidates' believably differing campaigns *very* entertainingly. However, the conclusion is a dead cert from the beginning to anyone whose watched enough of these Election Episodes - even the makers of Dawson's Creek cannot avoid that cliché.
BUT! While Monica Keena *again* gets the short stick with her Abby being written as a stereotypical high school bitch (albeit an exceptionally cute one), Meredith Monroe wins the jackpot with what the script has in store for Andie. A triumph for the then relatively inexperienced actress. Sadly, the actual main cast gets left in Abby and Andie's characters' shadow (remember: Keena and Monroe are billed *only* as "special guest stars", often a pointless credit). Joshua Jackson, naturally, is given yet another show-stealing scene, the writers obviously very comfortable with Pacey's character. In the end, the result is sadly less than the sum of its parts, "only" a 7/10, which, while still GOOD, does not achieve true excellency.
*) HOW THE RATING IS GIVEN: Since the average between the lowest rating (1) and highest rating (10) is 5.5, everything gets a starting rating of 6. After that, points are either added or subtracted depending on the actual content: Plot, script, acting, directing, music, production values and so on. Also, the content is weighted against previously rated works, which act as a guideline. Also, to get the lowest or highest possible rating, the work must approach the worst or best thing ever seen, respectively. And as the laws of probability state, both are *extremely* rare.
BUT! While Monica Keena *again* gets the short stick with her Abby being written as a stereotypical high school bitch (albeit an exceptionally cute one), Meredith Monroe wins the jackpot with what the script has in store for Andie. A triumph for the then relatively inexperienced actress. Sadly, the actual main cast gets left in Abby and Andie's characters' shadow (remember: Keena and Monroe are billed *only* as "special guest stars", often a pointless credit). Joshua Jackson, naturally, is given yet another show-stealing scene, the writers obviously very comfortable with Pacey's character. In the end, the result is sadly less than the sum of its parts, "only" a 7/10, which, while still GOOD, does not achieve true excellency.
*) HOW THE RATING IS GIVEN: Since the average between the lowest rating (1) and highest rating (10) is 5.5, everything gets a starting rating of 6. After that, points are either added or subtracted depending on the actual content: Plot, script, acting, directing, music, production values and so on. Also, the content is weighted against previously rated works, which act as a guideline. Also, to get the lowest or highest possible rating, the work must approach the worst or best thing ever seen, respectively. And as the laws of probability state, both are *extremely* rare.
