TV-Reviewed

When Desperate Housewives started this season, the timeline had advanced five years with things changed. This episode serves as a way of filling us in what went on during the five years to bring our couples to this point.

In present day, Gabby thinks she’s pregnant. During the five years we see how Gabby found out she was pregnant the first two times unexpectedly. I had forgotten that Gabby was deemed unable to carry children after she took the tumble down the stairs some seasons ago, so it is quite surprising that she was able to have one, not to mention another child. After the second child was born, Gabby asks Carlos to get a vasectomy, something that Carlos tells Gabby that he did, but didn’t actually.
The vasectomy storyline has been done in almost every family sitcom and it’s tired even in this episode. It almost feels like he’s trying to trap Gabby and we all know that Gabby never planned to have any kids. That brings us to another point: we really haven’t seen how Gabby is as a parent; sure we’ve seen her drive them where they need to go and she obviously takes care of them based oon how tired she looks and her crappy hair, but we have seen a real connection with her children. Actually, to a degree it almost seems as if Gabby wishes she wouldn’t have even had her kids, unlike Lynette who was always tired and stressed out, but you could tell she loved her kids. At least the writers kept Juanita to a minimum, even though why not have the other kid talk to Gabby instead.

Tom is talking about getting an RV and taking the kids out of school to drive around and see the world. During the five years, Tom had a heart attack which drove him to somewhat have a crisis of wanting to see more and do more, which drove him to buying the car. The problem is that it seems a bit selfish for Tom to think that he can do this when his own wife survived cancer and wasn’t like that. Tom has always been the most sensitive husband on the street, but it just feels a bit odd to hear Tom talking about changing his family’s life just so he can see the world.

Neal McDonough as Dave Williams, Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer

Bree is starting to rethink hiring Orson to become her partner, because she doesn’t want it to affect her relationship with Katherine. After Orson left for jail, Bree started drinking again and Katherine moved in with her and helped her focus on business instead becoming an alcoholic again. Bree perhaps had the most realistic five years out of the housewives, because Bree is a character that has to have order in her life and with Benjamin going back with his mom and Orson going off to jail, it seems very likely for Bree to go back to her old ways.

Susan’s flashback didn’t tell us anything we didn’t know. It just showed us how the divorce proceedings went. Susan’s life in present day was a lot more interesting with Jackson wanting to take their relationship to the next level by moving in, but it’s obvious that Susan doesn’t, because she possibly still has feelings for Mike. This relationship was somewhat doomed since the beginning, because it’s been apparent that Susan has had feelings for Mike since the beginning of the season. Jackson was actually a likeable guy, so it’s sad to see him leaving. Hopefully he’s not gone for good though and the writers will incorporate him into the show even though he’s not with Susan.

I guess the main event was supposed to be the ending with everyone planning Mrs. McClusky’s birthday party. We saw as Dave set the whole thing up and moved things around in her house and when Mrs. McClusky came to the party, she went ballistic and everyone went crazy. Dave got her out of the way and it was funny how sincere Dave seemed at hoping McClusky takes care of herself.

I have to say that this episode was disappointing. It was almost a different take on the recapping the season episode, instead it recapped the last five seasons.

All the couples seemed to have problems at the beginning of the episode, but somehow they’re all solved by reminiscing about the last five years. It felt very weird to have all these issues resolved so fast without much time for them in present day. Desperate Housewives seems to have a problem that other shows have and it’s the lack of stretched out storylines. A plot can drag on for too long, but plots that take up more then two episodes are needed. Aside from Dave’s agenda, it feels like every episode is just starting new.

Now we know Dave is after a guy on Wisteria Lane, but it’s impossible to really peg who it is. The most obvious choice I feel is Mike, but that seems too obvious, especially considering Mike was targeted by Orson, run-down with a car and had amnesia. It just feels like it would be an overkill for the target to be Mike. I’m hoping that the reveal of who it is happens sooner then later though and they don’t try to drag it out for too much longer.

Rating: 6.5