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Throughout the last six seasons, ABC’s Desperate Housewives has endured all kinds of highs and lows, from Emmys and Golden Globes to alleged feuds and questionable plot choices. But fans keep returning each fall for another new season of drama, comedy, and catfights, eager to see what the future holds for the women of Wisteria Lane.
The sixth season is one of mystery, intrigue, and mental breakdowns. In other words, it’s just what fans have come to expect from the show. Following the not-so-big season five cliffhanger, Mike (James Denton) begins the season by remarrying Susan (Teri Hatcher)—but the festivities are cut short after Susan’s daughter, Julie (Andrea Bowen), is found badly beaten and left for dead.
As the neighborhood dives into its own search for Julie’s attacker, everyone becomes suspicious of the new neighbors, Nick and Angie Bolen (Jeffrey Norling and Drea de Matteo) and their teenage son, Danny (Beau Mirchoff), who seem to be hiding something from their neighbors.
Meanwhile, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) struggles with an unexpected pregnancy that might cost her an important promotion, Bree (Marcia Cross) finds herself falling in love with divorce lawyer (and Susan’s ex) Karl (Richard Burgi), and jilted lover Katherine (Dana Delany) sets out to get between Mike and Susan.
With its all-too-familiar plotlines and bizarre plot twists, season six isn’t one of the housewives’ best. Drea de Matteo definitely livens up the neighborhood with Angie’s Italian flair, but the Bolens’ storyline has been done time and time again. In fact, almost every season has featured a new neighbor (or new neighbors) with a deep, dark secret—and the Bolens’ story is nothing particularly new or exciting.
On the other hand, Katherine’s mental breakdown is definitely new—and even a little bit exciting—but not necessarily in a good way. The show has often exaggerated real-life situations in its storylines for added effect—bigger laughs or more powerful drama—but Katherine’s reaction to Mike and Susan’s reunion often crosses that fine line between entertaining and ridiculous. Sure, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but this woman goes to some serious extremes after she’s scorned, quickly jumping from spreading rumors and stalking to blackmail and even criminal behavior. In just a few episodes, the character shifts from beloved housewife to villainous nutcase—and, for poor Katherine, it’s only downhill from there.
As for the other women, they continue to carry on as usual, each with her good episodes and bad—along with others that just don’t seem to go anywhere. For most of the season, they simply seem to be on autopilot. Their storylines take a serious turn, however, after a mid-season plane crash hits the Lane, claiming a couple of lives and forever changing a couple of others. The crash makes for some memorable moments—but, for the most part, the show’s sixth season is much like the Bolens’ storyline: nothing particularly new or exciting. Really, though, that won’t matter for most fans. After six seasons, the women of Wisteria Lane have become much like fans’ own friends and neighbors—and it will take more than a ho-hum season to make fans turn away from their favorite neighbors. Still, following a couple of slow seasons in a row, I can only hope that the show’s new characters (and a returning old character) will spice things up a bit more in season seven.
DVD Review:
If the sixth season of Desperate Housewives leaves you looking for something more, check out the special features, which are included on the DVD set’s fifth (and final) disc. Most are the usual DH standbys—like the blooper reel, the deleted scenes, and the always enjoyable Cherry-Picked, in which series creator Marc Cherry looks back at his favorite scenes of the season. The set also includes the Desperate Housewives Master Class, with cast members—especially Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, and Doug Savant (Tom Scavo)—discussing what goes into making each episode.
The best little extra, though, is Miss Piggy Gets Desperate, in which The Muppet Show’s favorite diva joins her assistant, Pepe the Prawn, on a visit to Wisteria Lane. Piggy interviews the cast, bats her eyelashes at Ricardo Chavira (Carlos Solis), and battles Eva Longoria Parker for the best dresses—all the while trying to get herself a spot on the show. If you take the time for just one of the set’s features, make it this one—then, for a little more Muppets fun, take another minute to scroll a little farther down the menu, to find the secret feature that’s hidden behind the lip print.
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