School's Out

Image credit: Dawson's Creek Photograph by Erin Patrice O'Brien

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The Squall

STUPIN I'd say for me the lowest low was the beginning of the third season, struggling to keep going without Kevin.

WILLIAMSON I was overwhelmed [with movies ''Scream 2,'' ''The Faculty,'' and ''Halloween: H20'']. It was best for the show that I leave. It was a sad time of my life. I sort of stopped watching it. It hurt too much to watch.

HOLMES It was hard. When he left, we had no idea what was to come. We, of course, were used to Kevin's dialogue.

GREG BERLANTI (former executive producer) We had to try to find a new voice for the show. That's really when the love triangle came about, when the audience realized that Pacey was in love with Joey, too. That's what sustained the show.... My proudest moment in season 3 was featuring the first romantic gay kiss on TV. I was able to be a part of the script that brought Jack out of the closet and led to the big gay kiss.

WILLIAMS I took the love triangle personally, because I didn't know what my worth was here on the show, other than being something kind of bad and sexual and not in a pretty way. So I struggled with that for a while, but I was given more of an identity outside of that triangle, eventually.

Sailing Into the Sunset

STUPIN If I had my way, I'd keep doing the show to the dawn of the next ice age. But that said, I think that this last year has been one of our strongest, and I'm personally very proud of it.

VAN DER BEEK I'll actually be available to make choices! It's been a long time since I've been available.

JACKSON [Six years] is a long time, but getting your master's takes a long time too, so I don't feel like I've wasted my time being here.... [The] encouraging environment has allowed me to be a very confident, sometimes cocky 24-year-old.

BERLANTI (now the exec producer of ''Everwood'') Kevin did an amazing job. If you're a fan of the first year, you'll be a fan of the finale. More than anything, it highlights what's been missing from the show -- the edgy blend of humor and heart.

HOLMES It's given me so many opportunities that I wouldn't have had. It's been a wild thing to be 24 and to look back and think that for six years I've pretty much been on camera every single day. We've been in this bubble, and to have it end…it doesn't feel real.