Can you really go back and relive the glory days after losing someone who made them so magical? Busy Philipps is asking herself that very question, and honestly, we’re getting all the feels about it.
The beloved actress recently admitted she’s been thinking about finally doing a Dawson’s Creek rewatch—you know, actually sitting down and watching the iconic ’90s drama from the beginning for the very first time. But here’s where it gets heavy: after the devastating death of her costar James Van Der Beek, Busy’s not entirely sure if the moment will ever feel right. And we totally get it, bestie.
Look, Busy and James had undeniable chemistry on screen, and let’s be real—Dawson’s Creek isn’t just a show, it’s a cultural phenomenon that shaped an entire generation’s adolescence. The idea of watching those precious moments without James in the picture? That’s rough. That’s the kind of grief that creeps up on you when you’re least expecting it, like when you’re scrolling through streaming options at 11 PM on a Tuesday.
What makes this even more real is Busy’s willingness to be vulnerable about the timing. She’s not rushing into some performative nostalgia binge to seem relatable—she’s actually grappling with whether she can handle the emotional weight of revisiting Creek without her late costar. That’s the kind of honest, messy humanity that separates the real ones from the fakes in Hollywood.
The grief journey is deeply personal, and Busy’s choosing to take hers at her own pace. Whether that means eventually pressing play or whether that rewatch never happens? That’s entirely valid, and we stan a woman who listens to her own emotional needs instead of performing for the cameras.
James Van Der Beek’s legacy will forever be intertwined with those creek-side scenes, those locker room conversations, and yes, that iconic fishing hat. But for Busy, it sounds like the best tribute right now is honoring her own grief timeline rather than forcing herself into a bittersweet trip down memory lane.
The real question isn’t whether she should watch the show—it’s whether we, as fans, can handle seeing our favorite actors navigate loss in real time. That’s the tea that really stirs.
What do you think? A) Busy should do the rewatch as a healing tribute to James B) She should wait until the timing feels more right emotionally