I Plead the 5th

We all abhor that dreadful scroll on Netflix where it seems centuries before a good show is spotted. My wife had the remote this time around. As sure as the clock goes round, was my certainty that she was going to select some soapy, romance-drama. Bah humbug! I'm always revisited by the ghosts of my wife's Netflix past. She scrolled and scrolled...and scrolled and scrolled. Finally, her scroll came to a stop. I saw familiar faces on the displayed cover art of the featured Netflix series. My eyes locked in. To my surprise and secret chagrin, it was -

"Dawson's Creek," my wife said in astonishment, "Oh my goodness, it's Dawson's Creek."

Me in my head: You mean to tell me it's on Netflix? The series my sister and I watched as youngsters on our grainy, antenna-assisted television in Jamaica?

Me in response to myself in my head: Wow, the E N T I R E series! Has it been on Netflix this whole time?

I watched my wife's thumb as it sat on the right arrow button of the remote, hoping she wouldn't press it for next.

Me out loud (unawares): "I can't wait to watch it."

My wife: "Huh? What did you say hun?"

Me: "Oh nothing, just thinking out loud."

Me to You: I do have the right to remain silent, every episode I watch could and would be used against me in the Court of Wife for life! Believe me, I can swallow my wife's herbal teas, I can do couples' yoga, but I cannot stomach her gruesome gimmicks. If she ever caught my leg, she showed no remorse in pulling it and dragging it out of the socket. Her sly reply to my annoyance being, "C'mon, you take things too seriously, I was only pulling your leg."

So I pretended to care less about Dawson's Creek. Excitement enveloped my emotions entirely as it searched endlessly for an exit, but I had to hold it in. I caught my mouth open in awe and shut it before my wife could see and become suspicious of me. If so, she would start probing for evidence. I couldn't let the private investigator (I mean wife) know I was thrilled beyond a kid on the merry-go-round. She would be quick to throw on the cuffs and put me in "I-thought-you-didn't-like-soapy-tv-dramas" jail.

I could imagine it now.

Baliff: "All arise! Judge Wife presiding in the court of Guilty Pleasures. Please be seated."

Judge Wife: "We present to you the case of my husband (defendant), action movie fanatic versus myself, Sex in the City lover (plaintiff)."

Yes, she would be the investigator, the cop, the plaintiff, the judge and the jury all in one! Could a man win in such a setup? Silence is my secret weapon and my secret is my guilty pleasure. I am innocent until proven guilty. So, consider this my confession letter.

My wife's new-found binge watch then became my guilty pleasure. Am I a lucky man or what?

The theme song jingled in my head like a Christmas carol."I don't wanna wait, for our lives to be over...do-do do-do-doo, do-do do-do-doo..." I awaited the theme song to chime in on the television to navigate my childhood nostalgia. So many memories handed in their tickets and boarded the train of past time. This would be my new past time I thought. Then came music, then came the song, then came a sink in my gut. My light smile turned into a heavy frown. The excitement gathered in my stomach and twisted it like a washcloth full of water. I cringed. I felt the drips of disappointment as excitement exited my body for the held-in flatulence it was. It stunk. So too would my attitude if I didn't have to hide my face of familiarity from my wife. I turned to uncle google to express my frustration.

I typed: Original theme song for Dawson's Creek...

Google's finishing suggestion was: ...not on Netflix.

I clicked it to find that there was a barrage of online protests by fans who were also met by Jann Arden's "Run Like Mad," (I wanted to run like mad) instead Paula Cole's "I Don't Want to Wait". The headlines confirmed my fears. Apparently, there was an issue as far as licensing was concerned and so the original theme song couldn't be played on Netflix. I subtly shook my head in a mix of disbelief and disappointment. Yet, the show must go on, I thought. The original theme song, that would have anyone hum and dance even on their worst day, was ripped from the re-run but not from my memory and... Youtube.

My wife didn't seem to notice. She wasn't a true fan obviously. Yes, I was bitter. Bah humbug! Instead, she picked up on this new theme song and started humming away. I think Nostalgia's cable guy did a terrible job! Nostalgia needs to call Memory Lane LLC and get a refund or at least a return her deposit of hope. I have the receipt of her investment:

RECEIPT

Memory Lane LLC.

✔ Edge-of-Seat Excitement...........$$

✔ Hidden Guilt...............................$$$

✔ Expelled Expectation...............$

✔ Wife Patrol Control...................$$$$$

TOTAL $$$$$$$$$$

As you can see, this cost me a lot! So that's the story of how I got reconnected to Dawson's Creek. Did someone shout plot twist? The wonderful thing about plot twists is that they keep the interest high. Therefore, I value the re-run even more now despite and because of it not having the original, beloved theme song. Every scene still seems new, every episode still trails back to my early teenage years and every season adds sugar and spice to my sedentary moments. It's like the contents of a time capsule dug up after a prolonged period of time. Can you believe that over 10 years have passed since I last saw an episode? I thought I, well my wife, had found treasure. Time has appreciated the value of and my appreciation for Dawson's Creek. Absence does make the binge-watcher grow fonder.

This drama series narrates and centers around the love, lies and lives of aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery, his best friend and love interest turned sweetheart Joey (female), his pal with the gals Pacey, and the new city girl in town Jen. It's a triad turned triangle, turned plot twist. Can you hear the creak of pleasure? Or should I say "creek" of pleasure? There's love, there's jealousy, there's break up and there's makeup. Now to think of it and to be quite honest, those are all the things I shun in soapy dramas yet, anticipate in Dawson's Creek. The main thing that makes Dawson's Creek so different and outstanding is its authentic, honest and true-human portrayal as well as its reflection of everyday people making the most out of an imperfect life. Now that's relatable on any human terms.

You have Dawson's parents who are fighting to keep their marriage afloat after Dawson's mother cheats on his father.

Then there's Joey whom masks the void she so heavily feels from having an absent father in prison.

Pacey is going fast-paced, trying to get a taste of adulthood by dating older women, including his high school teacher.

Jen goes through the judgment of having sex too early and being too adventurous. This ridicule stems not only from her parents, who sent her to Capeside to live with her grandparents but her holier-than-thou grandmother, peers, plus her one-time boyfriend Dawson.

The series is human in its nature and presentation. I love that about it. Dawson's Creek nurtures its audience. It may not be real life but it's real-life scenarios that anyone can either sympathize or empathize with. So while there is love, jealously, break-up and make-up, there's also hate, loyalty, single and ready to mingle, forgiveness and moving on. That's the dynamic composition of Dawson's Creek - a classic it is and will forever be.

What's not to like about love triangle themed tale? From its small-town setting that makes me feel a part of the Capeside community, to its young cast which catapults me back to what seems centuries ago, to the rocky-romance which kisses every single episode, the series is sensational. Dawson's optimistic outlook on life is inspiring. Joey's straightforwardness and raw take on reality are riveting. Pacey's unapologetic rebel behavior brings out the go-getter in anyone and Jen's just-because persona jumps off the screen.

Perhaps the most memorable thing about "Dawson's Creek" (aside from the original theme song - Bah humbug!), is the build of anticipation. The series starts with two seemingly perfect-for-each other love birds, Dawson and Joey. It then takes a turn when the two break up and Joey, who vowed to lose her virginity to the right guy, loses it to Dawson's pal Pacey with the gals. In an unexpected plot twist, the series becomes a love triangle which begs the question, "Who will she (Joey) choose?" You've got to watch to find out.

Now lock me up and throw away the keys will ya?

Signed: A Dawson's Creek Binge-Watcher