Dawn used to be my character character with her insatiable love of California, her environmental ideals and her general niceness to people (except when she was getting her sexy on during 'Dawn's Big Date'. That dawn was cool, I wish she stuck around longer).
The problem I have with Dawn is three fold.
1. She wants to come home - wherever that is.
When Dawn's in Stoneybook, she wants to be in Palo City. She feels that she is 'individual', healthier than the other BSC members and much more of a beach lover. Living on the coast sure has its advantages, but Dawn takes it to a whole new level.
When she's living with her dad, Dawn just wants to back in the Brook with her friends, her scatterbrained mom and kinda-cool step dad. So much so she stole a credit card and almost flew home. She was caught. That'll learn ya Dawn. Let's be honest, the real reason she wants to come home is because she mostly hates Carol, her dad's partner.
2. Dawn actually hates a lot of people.
A short list.
Sharon, her mom.
We hear a lot about Sharon being a ditz. She had difficulty packing moving boxes, she forgets to put in her other earring before a date, she puts strange things in the fridge. When Dawn decides to leave the Brook for good, who does she worry about talking to? Not Shaz. No, that would be too kind. Instead she stressed about her stepsister, the almost-perfect Mary Anne.
Richard, her step dad.
Dawn never says she dislikes Richard because he isn't like her dad. It's just that he's a bit of a fuddy-duddy, cooks bacon and eats red meat. And also he's bald.
Stacey Magill.
When Stace rejoins the BSC in book 27#, Dawn is so relieved she doesn't have to do Stacey's task of collecting dues anymore. Never mind the fact that Stacey has just watched her parents begin their divorce proceedings. Much later on when Stacey joins the cool kids at school, Dawn spies on her behind a jukebox. And yes, that's pretty unforgivable.
Carol, her step mom.
Carol rarely does things right. Never mind the fact that a twenty-something asks her to be a bridesmaid in her wedding to Jack Schafer, Dawn never really gets over her hatred of Carol. Maybe she's a try hard, maybe she's a little kooky - but Dawn, have you met your own mother? Enough said.
Kristy, her best frienemy.
Dawn has plenty of reasons to hate Kristy. After all the big K is also BFFs with Many Anne. Things are never going to go well. Everyone knows girls don't share friends well. Kristy is also immature and has no interest - and shows no support - in Dawn's pursuit of healthy living and vegetarianism.
3. What is Californian Casual anyway?
I've watched Beverley Hills 90210 enough times to know Dawn's oversized men's shirts and jeans don't cut it. Dawn also has two holes pierced in each ear. Considering how conservative she is, this should be a joke. It really isn't.
