Pacey Witter was never supposed to be the hero. If you go back and watch the 1998 pilot, he’s clearly the "funny best friend." He’s the screw-up with the frosted tips who gets slapped by a teacher and plays second fiddle to Dawson Leery’s cinematic soul-searching. But a funny thing happened on the way to the series finale. Pacey didn't just grow up; he completely hijacked the show.
Honestly, by the time season 3 rolled around, nobody was really watching for Dawson’s film career anymore. We were watching to see if the guy who bought a wall for the girl he loved would finally get the win he deserved. Pacey Witter became the blueprint for the "modern" TV boyfriend—flawed, fiercely loyal, and surprisingly deep.
The Pacey Witter Effect: Why We Stopped Rooting for Dawson
It’s kinda wild to think about how much the audience shifted. In the beginning, we were told Dawson and Joey were the "destined" pair. They had the history. They had the ladders and the bedroom window chats. But Dawson was, well, a lot. He was hyper-intellectual, incredibly possessive, and he treated his life like a movie script where he was the only one allowed to direct.
Then there’s Pacey.
While Dawson was busy over-analyzing every conversation, Pacey was actually living. He was rebuilding a boat—the True Love—with his own hands. He was standing up to his alcoholic father, John Witter, in scenes that still feel like a gut-punch. Joshua Jackson brought this raw, vulnerable energy to the role that James Van Der Beek’s Dawson just couldn't match.
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The shift wasn't just about romance, either. It was about growth. Pacey started as the "slacker" because his family told him he was a failure. Seeing him prove them wrong—not by getting into Harvard, but by becoming a man of character—is what made him the real protagonist.
The Relationship That Changed Everything
You can't talk about Pacey Witter without talking about Joey Potter. It’s the slow-burn to end all slow-burns. Remember season 1? They hated each other. They were forced to work on a science project about snails, for crying out loud.
But their chemistry was undeniable. Maybe it was because Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes were actually dating in real life during the early seasons, but every "repartee" (as Pacey called it) felt electric.
Why Pacey and Joey Worked (When Dawson and Joey Didn't)
- He saw her as she was: Dawson loved the "idea" of Joey. Pacey loved the girl who was cranky, worked at a B&B, and was terrified of her own potential.
- The Grand Gestures: Buying her a wall so she could paint? Naming his boat after her? These weren't just "cool" things; they were acts of service from a guy who didn't think he was smart enough to use big words like Dawson.
- Equality: They challenged each other. Pacey didn't put Joey on a pedestal, which is exactly what she needed to actually grow.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Promicide"
We have to talk about the Prom. Season 4, episode 20. It’s the moment many fans cite as the "ruination" of Pacey. He has a public meltdown, yells at Joey, and they break up.
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It was ugly. Really ugly.
But if you look at it through the lens of Pacey’s trauma, it actually makes sense. He was a kid who grew up being told he was worthless. Suddenly, he’s dating the "perfect" girl who is headed to an Ivy League school, while he’s barely graduating. His self-sabotage wasn't because he didn't love her; it was because he didn't love himself.
He felt like a weight around her neck. In his head, breaking her heart was the only way to set her free. It’s a tragic, very human mistake that made his eventual redemption in the series finale feel so much more earned.
The Stockbroker Era and Other Missteps
Even a character as great as Pacey had some weird turns. Joshua Jackson himself recently admitted at the 2025 GLAAD Media Awards that he hated the "Pacey as a stockbroker" storyline in season 6.
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"I don't think Pacey ever needed to be a stockbroker," Jackson said. And he's right. Seeing the boy who loved the sea and worked in kitchens suddenly wearing a suit and rocking a goatee was... a choice. It felt like the writers were trying to find a way to make him "successful" in a traditional sense, forgetting that his success was always in his heart, not his bank account.
Why the Finale Was the Only Way it Could End
When Kevin Williamson returned to write the two-part series finale, he originally intended for Dawson and Joey to end up together. That was the "plan" since 1998.
But as he started writing, he realized something. The show had evolved. Pacey and Joey weren't just a "fling"; they were the heart of the series. Seeing them together in that New York apartment in the final moments wasn't just fan service—it was factual justice for the character development we'd watched for six years.
Pacey Witter proved that the "loser" could win, the "sidekick" could be the lead, and that being the "better man" is about showing up, even when you're scared you aren't enough.
How to Revisit the Pacey Legacy
If you're looking to dive back into Capeside, don't just rewatch the whole thing. Focus on the Pacey-centric arc to see the masterclass in character growth:
- Season 2, Episode 15 ("That Is the Question"): Watch Pacey stand up for Jack McPhee. This is where he becomes the moral center of the show.
- Season 3, Episode 19 ("Stolen Kisses"): The aunt's house. The "I remember everything" speech. Perfection.
- Season 3, Episode 23 ("True Love"): The boat, the run to the dock, and the start of the summer at sea.
- The Series Finale: Skip the stockbroker drama and go straight to the end to see how he finally finds peace with who he is.
Pacey Witter wasn't just a character; he was a shift in how we view masculinity on screen. He was allowed to cry, to fail, and to love loudly. That’s why, even decades later, we’re still talking about the boy from the wrong side of the creek.