#501 - "The Bostonians"
Joey, Jen and Jack discover the new world that is college. Though Joey is thrilled to be at Worthington University, she finds her roommate, Audrey's wild behavior makes for an uncomfortable living situation. And while Jen and Jack adjust to life at Boston Bay College, Dawson faces the tough realities of the film industry in Los Angeles. Joey's unsettled feelings for Dawson manifest themselves in a creative writing project for her handsome English teacher, David Wilder who pushes her to face the reality of her relationship. Meanwhile, Jen is the only one that knows Pacey has returned from his Caribbean adventure and has docked in Boston.

#502 - "The Lost Weekend"
Worried that she's overextended herself, Joey decides to drop her English class in spite of her teacher, David Wilder, who believes he sees her potential. Joey is annoyed when the very long Drop/Add line gets in the way of her spending the day with Dawson, but Audrey steps up to help and keeps Dawson occupied by taking him on a somewhat unconventional campus tour. Meanwhile, sparks fly when Jen "accidentally" runs into Charlie at the radio station, while Doug pushes Pacey to apply for a job at a local restaurant where he shares a few sparks of his own with an attractive waitress, Karen. Dawson's just about ready to go back to L.A. when he checks his machine and hears Joey's message.

#503 - "Capeside Revisted"
Dawson reluctantly admits to his parents that he's decided not to return to USC. Though Gale doesn't mind having Dawson closer to home, Mitch is disappointed to see Dawson give up pursuing his dream so that he can explore his ambiguous relationship with Joey. When Jack is asked to pledge the Sigma Ep fraternity, he's surprised to learn that it wasn't for the reasons he'd thought it was. Jen and Charlie's relationship progresses, but Jen worries that she doesn't know enough about him. When Joey unexpectedly runs into Pacey, Jen's forced to admit she knew he was in Boston. A curious Joey pays a visit to her ex. As Mitch leaves the grocery store, a single moment changes the Leery family forever.

#504 - "The Long Goodbye"
Mitch's untimely death affects all the former Capesiders in different ways. Dawson attempts to cope by channeling his energy into funeral arrangements and caring for Gale and Lily. But Dawson's grief is tainted by his conviction that Mitch died disappointed in his son's decision not to return to USC, and it's only a matter of time before his tough exterior begins to crack. Meanwhile, Pacey, Jen and Joey search for ways to help their friend through the toughest time of his life, and Joey's saddened when it seems she's the last person Dawson wants to talk to.

#505 - "Four Scary Stories"
In a special stand-alone episode, Joey, Jack, and Pacey return home from watching a disappointing scary movie, and wind up spending the evening swapping their own scary stories. Joey spooks the group with a spooky library tale, Jack's story involves a mystery at the fraternity house, while Pacey's invokes some urban legends as he recounts a drive home with Karen. Grams shares an especially spooky story about Jen.

#506 - "Use Your Disillusion"
Still grieving from the loss of his father, Dawson finally accepts Joey’s invitation to visit her in Boston. Unsure how to deal with Dawson, Joey finds herself repeatedly doing the wrong thing. Meanwhile, Tobey pays Jack a surprise visit, but the timing couldn't be worse, as Jack is in the middle of Hell Week with his fraternity. Tobey begins to doubt he's a priority with Jack. Meanwhile, when Charlie's unavailable, Jen drags Pacey to a Shakespeare play... but en route to the play, she's suprised to see Charlie entertaining another woman.

#507 - "High Anxiety"
On Doctor's orders to visit a therapist to deal with his anxiety, Dawson heads up to Boston, but quickly decides against the therapy thing, and opts instead for a mind-numbing evening at the frat house with Jack. The fun gets a bit out of hand when Dawson and the other drunken frat brothers stop by Pacey's dock party, where a curious Joey wonders what's gotten into Dawson... until he makes a startling admission. Meanwhile, upon learning of Charlie's infidelity, Pacey encourages Jen not to get mad, but to get even, and Jen sets out to do just that.

#508 - "Text, Lies, and Videotape"
Audrey's impressed when Joey is selected to work with Professor Wilder on a special assignment. Dawson, meanwhile, takes his first stab at therapy, and tries to figure out for himself whether he should return to USC to honor his father's last wish, or follow his heart to Boston. Meanwhile, Pacey and Karen grow closer, despite Pacey's growing concerns about her relationship with their mutual boss.

#509 - "Hotel New Hampshire"
Dawson and Jen find themselves looking at each other in a new light when they spend a weekend away together at a film festival in New Hampshire. As their friendship turns into romance, the romantic sparks fly in Boston as well for Pacey and Karen, whose overwhelming attraction begins to outweigh their respective baggage. Meanwhile, when Jack invites Joey and Audrey to his fraternity's formal, Joey's shocked to discover their real reason for attending.

#510 - "Appetite For Destruction"
The tight-knit group is thrown for a loop when Jen and Dawson return to Boston... as a couple. While Joey attempts to deal with her feelings, Jen and Dawson face the scrutiny of their friends during an awkward dinner that Pacey cooks for Jen, Jack, Dawson, Joey and Audrey.

#511 - "Something Wild"
While everyone else enjoys the tail end of winter break, Joey's too worried about finding out her grades to have fun. When Pacey chides Joey that she keeps her wild side hidden, Joey sets out to prove him wrong, and the return of Charlie leads to an unexpected turn of events. Meanwhile, Dawson and Jen head back to Capeside to find Gale's not entirely sure how she feels about their budding romance.

#512 - "Living Arrangements"
When Pacey's offered an offshore opportunity, he's forced to make some tough choices. Meanwhile, Jack's crushed when his first day at the fraternity house isn't what he expected. Jen and Dawson's relationship is strained when she discusses their sex life on the radio, and Joey gets reacquainted with a familiar face.

#513 - "Something Wilder"
Joey jumps back into the dating scene as she juggles her growing attraction to Professor Wilder and her newfound friendship with a classmate. Meanwhile, Dawson jumps back into academia and filmmaking at his new schoool, and things get ugly between Jack and his fraternity brothers, leaving Pacey to pick up the pieces.

#514 - "Guerilla Filmmaking"
Dawson's back in the director's chair, but when he finds he needs a last minute replacement for his lead actor, he winds up with none other than the womanizing Charlie Todd. As Jen struggles to handle the close proximity to her ex, Audrey is conflicted about a kiss she and Pacey shared, and she wonders how in the world she's going to tell Joey.

#515 - "Downtown Crossing"
JOEY IS MUGGED AT GUNPOINT — Walking by herself at night, Joey (Katie Holmes) is robbed at gunpoint, and then watches stunned as the fleeing mugger (guest star Samuel Ball) is struck by a hit-and-run driver. Awe-struck by the similarities between the drug-dealing mugger and her own wayward father, Joey stays with him at the hospital in hopes of finding answers about her father.

#516 - "In A Lonely Place"
Jen and Audrey are tempted to risk their new relationships with Dawson and Pacey after interviewing a couple of cute musicians. Meanwhile, Pacey's caught by surprise when he realizes Jack has taken him to a gay bar, and Dawson's curious upon seeing Joey's reaction when she catches Professor Wilder on a date.

#517 - "Highway to Hell"
Joey tries, but finds she can't resist Charlie's invitation to join his band on a singing gig upstate. But when the day trip turns into an overnight, Joey finds herself in an interesting situation with Charlie. Meanwhile, while Jen ponders breaking up with Dawson, she and Jack join Dawson in Capeside for Lily's first birthday party... but when Dawson learns there's a new man in Gale's life, Jen's not sure if now is the best time to tell Dawson how she feels.

#518 - "Cigarette Burns"
While Joey finds herself growing closer to Charlie, Dawson is intrigued by a a sexy critic who attends a screening of his new film. Meanwhile, Audrey and Pacey's new relationship is tested, and Jen is surprised to learn that Grams seems to be developing a new relationship of her own.

#519 - "100 Light Years from Home"
While Jen, Pacey, Audrey and Jack head to Audrey's parents' Florida beach house for Spring Break, Dawson and Oliver road trip to New York for a meeting with an agent. The group is impressed when MTV's Chris MacKenzie arrives to greet Audrey, but as Pacey begins to wonder about their history, Joey faces another unexpected arrival - Charlie. While the Norwegian pop band M2M performs in Florida, Dawson makes a major decision that forces him to turn the car around... and head south

#520 - "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)"
Pacey's surprised to learn that Brecher sold Civilization, leaving it in the hands of Alex Pearl, a businesswoman who fires Audrey and makes it clear that she's got designs on Pacey. Meanwhile, Joey and Charlie take the next step in their increasing attraction, but when Charlie turns down a unique opportunity to stay close to Joey, Joey wonders if she's gotten in over her head. Meanwhile, Dawson and Oliver have an opportunity of their own when they meet with a big time agent in New York.

#521 - "After Hours"
Pacey finds it harder and harder to resist the advances of his boss, leaving a pissed off Audrey to question their relationship. Meanwhile, Dawson runs into Amy, the film critic, at the movies, and the two share an unexpected romantic encounter. Meanwhile, Joey and Jack cram for finals and Jack worries that he's fallen too far behind.

#522 - "The Abbey"
Pacey finds himself in a dangerous situation when Pacey leads a revolt against Alex at Civilization... and she retaliates. Meanwhile, Dawson, Joey, and Audrey return to Capeside, leaving Audrey to wonder about their pasts. Joey decides to see her father for the first time since his latest incarceration, while Dawson finally pays a visit to his father's grave. Back in Boston, Jack and Jen wonder how they'll spend the summer, and Jen's thrown a curve ball when her parents extend an invitation.

#523 - "Swan Song"
SUMMER LOVIN’ – With school out, everyone makes big summer plans: Dawson heads to L.A. to work on his movie along with Audrey who’s heading home, while Jack and Jen plan the epic Costa Rican adventure, leaving Joey and Pacey feeling perpetually stuck back in Capeside. However, all plans change when Joey and Pacey race to the airport to reclaim their loves and a special someone crosses paths with Jack.