Image Credit: RON TOM/ABC
Little of much interest happened on last night’s new episode of Desperate Housewives, as per usual.
Lynette went to therapy with Tom and then went on the hunt for a man and almost did the nasty with a rather nice dude, just before realizing that she wants to try to resolve things with Tom. (Renee coached her through her return to the dating scene: “Lay off the ice cream. There’s no Photoshop in real life.”) Gaby battled the Mean Girls of the PTA, as she tried to put on an event at Juanita’s school. Susan battled, too — but she was at odds with her art teacher, as he continued to pick at her through the hour. (And she continued to act like a junior high kid, endlessly giggling at the art class model’s penis. I couldn’t agree more with what the art teacher told her later in the episode, when he was trying to convince her to come back to his class: “You’re a bizarre car crash that somehow fascinates me.”) And Bree, well, she — in true Bree fashion — managed to turn a homeless soup kitchen into a hipster bisque hangout.
All pretty much filler, if you ask me, as we soldier on through the series’ final season. Just 17 more episodes until we can put this old timer to sleep! But, okay, yes — I’m staring to write like Mary Alice talks! — there were a few little tidbits that were juicy in the episode.
First, Mike told Carlos that he couldn’t lean on his wife Susan anymore, as — he explained — she was working on her issues on her own. That Carlos to hit the bottle — hard — and show up at Gaby’s school event sloshed. I’m actually surprised that something more tragic (say, a drunken car wreck?) didn’t play out in this storyline. And then, most interestingly, there was the final few moments of the episode, where Ben showed Bree where he’d be breaking ground for his new housing project — right over the spot where she and the girls (and Carlos) buried Alejandro after Carlos killed him in last season’s finale. “We’re finally going to break ground on Tuesday,” Ben told Bree, after he helped her get approval on the project, “and it’s all thanks to you.”
Uh oh. Are things just about to get interesting in this slow-slow-slow season? Will Ben’s big rigs dig up Alejandro’s body? Will someone finally realize that Alejandro is even missing? (Maybe Chuck should read those missing-persons files that were plunked down on his desk last week — it’s about time to connect the dots and crack this case open!)
Based purely on the previews for next week’s episode, it seems that we could be dealing with a situation where — gasp! — Alejandro’s body no longer is in the grave that the girls (and Carlos) left him in. I posture this only because there was a clip in the preview that showed the ladies all gasping together. Let’s say they want to stem Ben’s bulldozers finding the body, so they go in early to dig up Alejandro — and then he’s not there. Seems kind of juicy to me. Right? I’m loving this prospect right now.
What prospects are you loving from this season of Desperate Housewives? What things are you noticing this season? What’s piquing your interest? Are things about to get interesting? Let me know in the comments section below.
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
Read more:
‘Desperate Housewives’: Is the final season living up to your expectations?
‘Desperate Housewives’: Post-murder angst continues, Susan and Carlos (?!) almost kiss
‘Desperate Housewives’: Is Chuck Vance the ‘Connection’ to Mary Alice?
Alejandro’s body is in Betty Applewhite’s basement.
Not getting interesting still. Everyone knew that the Ausie was going to build on the site they buried the body. Pretty convenient he was a land developer? I gave up 2 episodes ago. I loved Once upon a time.
Some bits here and there I liked like how, even after all this time, Gabby still doesn’t grasp that people don’t think the same way as she does and tries to bribe the PTA with makeovers and such. That led to actual drama with Carlos coming over drunk and the PTA deciding Gabby was just like them after all. So look forward to how things go, they have to know they need to go out with a bang here.
BORING!!!!!
The writing on this show sux! They jump from story to story, seldom seeing anything through! So are we to believe Bree’s daughter and grandchild vanished? Gabbys pta story….really? Like who cares? Lynette n Tom make me sick. Susans story is probably more lame than Gabbys! Ugh…..I will be picking RHOA over this when that season resumes!
The problem is they keep re-setting the characters back to “normal”, sit-com style, not evolving them soap opera style. I mean there should be so much plot intensity built up by this time, but in reality it’s just like “let’s see what mildly amusing hijinx the housewives are up to this week?”
I totally agree. You’d think they’d realize this formula isn’t working!
Can we please get through one episode without someone crying?
Don’t call my name, don’t call my name……
As someone who’s watched faithfully since the first season, I’m glad this once-great show is coming to and end. The writers have clearly exhausted their bag of tricks, and everyone is just going through the motions to get to the finish line. The quirky mystery is gone, the wit and humor have long ago dried up. What was once fodder for water-cooler discussion has now become a chore to get through. It’s time for Mary Alice to give her final read, so we can dim the lights on Wisteria Lane once and for all.
About 25 minutes into the episode I said to my wife and daughter “I haven’t laughed once” which is a sad statement about this once funny show. I can usually be counted on to laugh at Gaby’s quips, but not last night with that horrible, unoriginal storyline (and why was she encouraging Carlos to leave when he was totally drunk; did she really want him to drive again?). The bar scene with Renee and Lynette was somewhat interesting, until the montage of bizarre guys started hitting on Lynette (again, very cliche and unoriginal). Susan laughing at the male model: not remotely funny and kind of sad that the writers thought using this old set-up would be funny. As for Bree, my wife predicted the housing project would be over the burial place about 15 minutes into the episode (as soon as the Aussie guy mentioned he needed help getting approval). We’ll stick with it until the end and hopefully Marc Cherry and the writers can figure out a way to go out with a bang instead of a wimper.
I like this, Dan. Your retort wasn’t cruel. It was honest and critical with a touch of optimism at the end. I don’t think the episode was horrible, but I do think some of the things we were subjected to were a bit cliche. The season has certainly been entertaining, but it is a fact that Desperate Housewives is definitely NOT what it once was. It is a bit predictable, yes. However, I feel the mystery element has been interesting in that it connects all four of the main housewives, and quite frankly, I think the season is utilizing Vanessa Williams better. I like that you said that you will stick with it until the end. I plan on doing the same. Let’s just enjoy it for what it is. I have a feeling that the writers are getting the filler stories out of the way now, and that things will intensify as the season progresses.
what they really need is the unity that the women all shared in the first season. They never play poker anymore, they rarely intermingle, that’s what drove the show at the beginning, the mystery wasn’t just a mystery, but it was something that connected them pretty substantially, and now it seems that this alejandro incident is just something they all have in common, but lately hasn’t brought them together. They need to have a bbq, poker, block party, more stuff together, otherwise the finale will be as lackluster as the last 2 seasons
With all do respect, I feel this excuse of missing unity has become cliche. What’s missing is GOOD WRITING, period. It’s like they hire cheap labor or something. Daytime soaps, as over the top as they can be, have better stories!
I don’t enjoy this show anymore. I too watched since season 1 but I’ve given up this year. There has literally been no plot. It’s like watching a “Real Housewives of ….” series with actors. NOTHING happens, just everyday BS. I’m not watching anymore and will not resume. Also, from the recap, looks like I didn’t miss anything for the 5th week in a row…glad I saved my time…
OMG! All I Hear Is Cry Babies!
I still watch, out of habit, and there are still some enjoyable parts each week. But last night was pretty uneventful, and kind of unbelievable.
Gaby is really that out of touch, after her years with a blind husband, in near poverty?
Where did Bree get the money for her gourmet soup and improvements to the dining room, the soup kitchen budget?
And most ridiculous, Lynette is uncomfortable in her skinny jeans? Please, that woman is a size 2 if I’ve ever seen one. Quit pretending she’s just a normal chunky Mom.
This show is not a whole lot better than Young and Restless is right now. Terrible writing on both shows.
I still watch the show – but it seems that since its the last season, the writers don’t even seem to be trying, but maybe next week it will start getting interesting again. And I believe we may see poor Carlos either try to attempt or actually commit suicide over his guilt.
Carlos is a diehard Catholic, so I don’t think he will actually attempt to commit suicide. But I think he’s going to indulge in some self-destructive behavior and that’s going to get him nearly killed.
LMAO at Molly. You do realize this is fiction, right? Where kids age 10 years overnight?
Here’s an idea! Carlos kills them all then himself in a grand murder suicide!
Forgot about him being the die-hard Catholic – but agree, could see him maybe being in a fatal drunk driving accident, etc
It’s so obvious that Alejandro is still alive and is trying to pull a mind screw on everybody. Also, Lynette has to realize that she should have never taken her husband for granted and given him endless criticism.
Really? It’s that obvious Alejandro’s alive? So when we get to the end of the season and he’s still pretty much dead, you’ll feel stupid, right? Because you might be right, yes… but I’m sorry, that is anything but obvious, there hasn’t been a single hint thus far that Alejandro’s alive. As for Tom, he’s always been a crybaby.
First of all I’d like to know where is the disconnect as to the hunky “men” who come and go as lovers to the Housewives. I mean, they are more gay than the established gay couple next door. Most recently, I refer to Scott and Ben. Does Marc Cherry really think the viewers don’t notice this? The stretch of credibility required by the viewer is disconcerting.