Whats Worth Watching: Buffy and Dawson Live Again on ABC Family

Dawson’s Creek (Pilot, Monday, June 29, noon/11c, ABC Family)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (“Welcome to the Hellmouth,” Monday, June 29, 5/4c, ABC Family)

Today’s a red letter day for fans of all ages of top-tier teen TV. ABC Family starts a daily run, in chronological order, of every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson’s Creek, shows that ran on The WB starting in the late ’90s. (Buffy’s last two seasons migrated to UPN.) Together, that makes for 300 delicious hours of creator Joss Whedon’s irresistible Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the rest of the Scooby Gang as they repeatedly save the world from evil, and the hyper-articulate Kevin Williams’ dialogue that made Dawson (James Van Der Beek), Pacey (Joshua Jackson)  Joey (Katie Holmes) and Jen (Michelle Williams) cat nip to a generation of aspirational creative types.

So newbies, look past the dated clothes and ’dos, and plunge into Sunnydale and Capeside. You’ll thrill to the tragic romance of vamp hunter Buffy and Angel (David Boreanz), the bloodsucker who veers between soulless killer and ensouled wannabe champion. And savor waiting, through many tormented conversation-filled seasons, for Joey to decide between Dawson and Pacey. For those already fans, the only decision is whether to dip into our favorite episodes or relive the entire experience again. Like a virgin for the very first time.