The Desperation of Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives Ep. 501 - You're Gonna Love Tomorrow

So, five years after the Season 4 Finale we learn not only the fate of many of the residents of Wisteria Lane, but why these women are as desperate as ever.

Edie is desperate to show the women who froze her out five years ago that she is a happy, well adjusted woman, with a great new husband. Having Edie comment on her appearance makes Gabrielle desperate to change her appearance and that of her daughters. Bree is stealing Kathryn's restaurants for her first cookbook and we learn she is desperate because of Danielle's actions. Susan's guilt over a fatal accident that wasn't her fault has led to a separation from Mike. Lynette's wild twins have grown to be juvenile delinquents who have not yet been caught. And there's one desperate man - Dave, Edie's new husband, whose rage issues have him released from police custody only if he's in a doctor's care and on medication...

The season opener for Desperate Housewives seemed stronger than the past three seasons, not quite as intriguing as Season One, but interesting enough. It is, after all, a soap opera, which means one must toss away disbelief at times. This time, the season opener didn't seem to have anything particularly unrealistic, such as somebody locked in a basement room.

One of the best moments was Edie meeting Mrs. McCluskey at her welcome home/we forgive you party, greeting the senior lady with, "Mrs. McCluskey! You're still alive!" I was almost as happy to see one of my favorite characters on Desperate Housewives. Remember in Season One when she was kind of mean and lonely. Her character development has been one of the best on the series' five years.

Another great moment was Gaby's retort to Edie's comment about her frumpy appearance by telling her, "I have two children - for breakfast." Gabrielle has not lost her sassiness, nor her daring mean streak, which she demonstrated by making her overweight daughter run beside the car to burn off all the cake she ate at a birthday party. Gabrielle is different, though. Still determined, still demanding, still selfish, she has a new softness and a new vulnerability. A perfect mother? No. A loving mother? Yes. And, it seems, a stronger relationship with Carlos, who is still blind. He is still the man of the house.

Bree eating humble pie when Kathryn uses her tactics to show a local television crew that Bree is a fraud were humorous. She fakes a strained wrist. Bree's clumsiness making Kathryn's spun sugar topping causes it to splash and burn the reporter. When Kathryn was satisfied everyone knew, she steps up to complete the recipe. Victorious.

Also funny was Gabrielle's daughter, Juanita, demonstrating some of her mother's feistiness by rebeling from the "game" of running alongside the car, by getting on a bus when her mother wouldn't let her in the car.

One definite flaw was the dialogue and actions of Juanita, who at age 4 1/2 years old, seemed more mature than her age and a little too familiar with the bus system for a preschooler.

Some sad moments included Bree working in her kitchen remembers the day Danielle, recently married to a lawyer, arrives at the house and takes back her son. As Bree begs her to let her continue raising her grandson because he's all she has left, Danielle angrily tells her she'll have to find something else to do. Orson interrupts her memory and asks her to come to bed. She has work to do. He tells her he can't tell her how to run her own business. "It's your baby." Softly, Bree whispers, "Yes, it is." This was more heartbreaking than Susan's anger at Mike over not having a mechanic check the brakes, instead of himself. Apparently, Susan believes that had the brakes been working properly, she could have stopped the car in time and prevented the fatal accident. It seems it wasn't her fault, but the other driver's as she crashed into the Delfinos' car. This is lost on Susan, though, and it ultimately leads to one too many fights for Mike, who walks out on her.

The most romantic moment was when Carlos comforting Gabrielle, sincerely told her how in five years or fifty, she'll always be beautiful.

Kathryn appeared to be just jealous of Bree's approaching fame, until we learn that not only did Bree steal some of her partner's recipes, she hadn't even bothered to learn how to do some of Kathryn's cooking techniques. Do we see a plagerism law suit on the horizon? Or, will Bree do what the honest woman she believes herself to be do and share in the success?

The Scavos' are their same seles, although it's clear their restaurant is successful. Unfortunately, Porter and Preston have been hosting Monday night poker nights without their knowledge. This becomes Lynette's wakeup call - She is running out of time to transform her youngest sons into productive adults. In typical Tom fashion, he agrees to back her discipline descions, but actually finds Porter's and Preston's actions fun and cool. In the end, because he loves her, loves his sons, and knows his wife is right, he comes through with a firm hand. Marc Cherry said earlier this year that he knows many fans like this family and want things to work out for them. He has said he'll honor the fans wishes. Does that include the twins?

The season premiere set up the storylines through May. Bree's new national career and how it effects her family and Kathryn will be one. Susan and Mike's relationship will be another. Will they reconcile, or will she find her happiness with Jackson, the house painter? Will Lynette and Tom tame their wild brood - and stay married? Will Mrs. McCluskey figure out what Dave is up to?

Which brings us to Edie's new husband. Will Mrs. McCluskey figure out what he's up to? Will he break Edie's heart? What are his rage issues and what did he do that required he be place on medication and in the care of a doctor, with whom he must check in every week? It has something to do with the residents of Wisteria Lane, one in particular. As the mystery begins, I'll venture a guess that somebody on that street did something to his family to hurt him badly. Perhaps when he was younger, so older residents don't recognize him? Perhaps it was to a family member who lived there while he resided somewhere else? Does it have something to do with Bob and Lee. It's rumored they'll be back and there will be a reveal about them later this season.

The theme was the passage of time and how at some point in our lives, we ask ourselves what happened to our lives, whether we're pleased with how things are turning out or whether we're unhappy with our lives.

Time will tell how these stories will be resolved and if the fifth season can continue as strongly as it started.

• Ep. 501 - You're Going to Love Tomorrow Recap

• Ep. 502 - We're So Happy You're So Happy

• Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode Guide & Rumors