Episode 709

I was trying to give Felicity the benefit of the it's-not-just-a-Dawson's-Creek-rip-off doubt. I bit my tongue for months. And then Season 4, Episode 4  happened.

In just one episode, the following three Dawson's Creek plot points went down:

• Felicity enters a beauty pageant to win scholarship money. (See Joey entering a beauty pageant to win.)  
• Noel offers Felicity his windfall money to pay for school, but she's too proud to accept. (See Dawson offering Joey his windfall money, but she's too proud to accept.)
• Felicity is late, i.e., might be pregnant. Turns out she's not. (See Joey being late, i.e., might be pregnant. Turns out she's not.) 

Not convinced? Let's do another mini-checklist (this time, series-wide).

• Emotionally damaged bad boy becomes a Big Brother volunteer? Check. 
• Fire destroys the one thing the leading lady loves? Check.
• Smart overachieving girl cheats on a major assessment but gets off easy? Check.

If anyone else wants to join in on the fun, please do.

P.S. I'm really glad J.J. Abrams worked out the time-travel kinks in Felicity before he tried it on LOST. Because, oh boy, the kinks were aplenty.