(S04E09) "It was supposed to be a beautiful day." - Mary Alice
"The most elaborate episode ever produced in the history of the series" (per what ABC said in the episode's press release) finally aired. A lot of fans have been looking forward to Desperate Housewives' tornado episode for weeks (myself included), especially since two somewhat important characters were said to die. Did the episode deliver? Were expectations too high?
I have to get this off my chest now: Wow! It was indeed the most elaborate episode so far. That last shot of a destroyed Wisteria Lane must have taken hours of preparation, required tons of workers to put everything so that it looks like a real tornado hit and must have been pricey! It looks like I was not the only one feeling that way after watching the episode because, as I was writing this review, I've received a few emails of DH fans saying words like "speechless," "best episode ever," "Oh. My God." Episode 4.10 was produced but I'm pretty sure ABC will decide to withhold it for a while as "Something's Coming" could easily serve as a season finale if the strike lasts too long. This week's episode closed the books on a few storylines and face-offs while opening new paths. We saw enemies bond, characters learn the ugly truth and people fighting for their lives.
Bree and Katherine: BBFs
As I've stated in earlier reviews, I love Bree and Katherine face-offs but after tonight, I think seeing them gossip together, work hand in hand to win the next bake off, manipulate neighbors, and hide each other's secrets may be as delicious. We pretty much knew Adam's secret (affair with a patient) but we never knew the full extent of it (he did sleep with Sylvia but told everyone it wasn't true and settle in order not to lose his license which, in turn, had his family lose everything and relocate). Because I want Nathan Fillion to stick around, I hope Katherine goes in her "let's keep up appearances" mode and gives the guy a (second) chance. The look on Katherine's face when she learned of the tattoo was as priceless as the look on Bree's face when she discovered the mistake she made in serving tea to Sylvia so she could get the dirt on her nemesis.
Edie and Gabrielle: Friends again
Edie and Gaby were never the best of friends but there was a point where they were somewhat civil to one another. This week, after seeing them fight for the account info, they bonded while trying to hide from the tornado. Both stepped on their ego a bit in order to let the other one know who they truly felt: "I'm sorry Carlos and I lied to you," said Gaby. Later, Edie said that she didn't hate Gaby but hated herself for falling in love with Carlos when she knew he would go back to his true love, Gabrielle. I must say I'm happy with this turn of events because I was getting tired of the Victor/Gaby/Carlos/Edie storyline. Plus, Gaby and Edie are more interesting in scenes together than hating one another apart.
Susan acts like an adult!
I can't believe I just wrote that subtitle. But yes, Susan did act like an adult tonight when she refused to give Mike one of her painkillers and told him she would walk out on him if he didn't go to rehab. You go girl! Sadly, I'm pretty sure she'll go back to her teenage-acting as soon as Julie is back from her school trip.
Victor seeks revenge
Let's hope Victor doesn't have nine lives! We knew Victor was coming for Gaby and Carlos this week and that he would probably try to kill one if not both. That fight scene between him and Carlos rocked! Kudos to the actors for fighting in the on-set-created win; that must not have been an easy scene to shoot. I can imagine tomorrow's headline of Fairview's leading newspaper: "Mayor killed by a white picket fence." Even if Victor bit the dust, Carlos and Gaby's problems are far from over. The detectives will surely still work on what happened on the boat and will add Victor's death to the list. More drama!
Tobey, the cat
Poor cat; he surely didn't survive the tornado. However, the cat served an important purpose this week as it made McCluskey teach Lynette what friendship is really about. It's important to not only ask for help, time and energy but also give it in return. Lynette had been neglecting McCluskey who was always there to help the Scavos. The cat incident plus hiding in the bathtub together will have brought both women closer than ever. And Lynette will definitely need to have all the friends she can have with the way the episode ended...
Other tidbits of interest:
- Death toll: Victor, Sylvia, Tobey (I assume) and a friend...
- "Some of us gave you very expensive gifts." - Bree to Gaby
- "I only love four of you." - McCluskey to Lynette
- "I've had better days." - Mike
- "We are two halves of the same person." - Carlos about Gaby and him
- "There is not enough Novocaine in this office to numb the pain I will inflict on you." - Susan to Orson
- "Katherine, for what it's worth, I would have spit in her face too." - Bree
Doctor Who panel - Comic-Con Report
NBC's Kings panel - Comic-Con Report
The Dharma Initiative wants you - VIDEO - Comic-Con Report
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
12-02-2007 @ 11:56PM
D said...
I'm still getting over it 2 hours later. I've never had an hour of television leave my heart pounding like and utterly breathless at the end.
WOW.
I love that we saw exactly where the money went because that last shot? Beautiful. Horrifying. Breathtaking.
Damn these strikes! I don't think I can wait to see what happens!
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 1:15AM
kaylaa said...
what do u guys mean by the strike?
12-11-2007 @ 10:21PM
C'anne said...
I'm so p*ssed. When will they show the next episode? How can they leave us hanging like that???
12-15-2007 @ 5:02PM
jenn said...
when is the next new episode??????????
12-16-2007 @ 8:13PM
heather said...
strike? oh my i assumed you hsad enough shows to air at leats till mid feb..... well i tell you what contact me i will help you with what should come next... i think this show has made a huge hit with in reality everyone lives some sort of a desperate houswives life.... in somoe way each and everyone of us people are like someone in the show... really i do believe that with the writers on strike we should be able to come up with something to keep the show from airing reruns..... at leats till the strike is off.... and speaking of the strike just give them what they deserve and lets watch some more of that episode left america gripping to there seats.... we as the viewsers deserve for something besides reruns...
1-11-2008 @ 5:11PM
Stephanie said...
Have to ask - am desperate to find out where Bree's blue and white tea set came from... Having been searching online ever since the episode aired and having zero luck... anyone able to help?!!
12-03-2007 @ 12:03AM
david said...
As a fan, I really think the writers went on strike before this episode was made. I don't think you get an hour long hurricane (let alone a 24 hour warning) before a tornado hits. And people go outside in hurricane winds to have a fight? And you believe that Edy and Gabby can let bygones be bygones so quickly? Not believable to me.
Reply
12-08-2007 @ 2:02AM
Charlene said...
I was thinking the same exact thing! That tornado preparation was a joke. It really bothers me that it was so unrealistic because I have always liked the story lines of this show. That sylvia lady couldn't act either. Overall it was interesting but some things just didn't seem right.
12-03-2007 @ 12:22AM
Tristan said...
This episode has really brought me back into wanting to watch DH again, it was so impressive, suspensful, shocking, and at times hilarious.
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 12:26AM
Ryan said...
Eh. It was good enough. Getting rid of Victor was the safe choice, but I'm still glad that whole plot is over with sorta.
And I guess I should feel for Lynette during the last scene but since she acted like a raging bitch for most of the hour, not to mention her family is pretty much annoying personified, that sadly the only reaction I had to her screaming in agony was laughter. I feel sorry more for Mrs. McKluskey. Her house is destroyed!
Still props FOR that last scene of the destruction. It was spectacular.
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 1:12AM
rebecca said...
I really hope that somehow leanettes kids arent all dead. That would make the show too depressing.
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 1:20AM
J said...
Great episode! Glad Victor will be gone, that storyline was getting old - but Carlos looked pretty hurt himself - might he be killed off too? It was good to see Edie and Gaby together, Edie looks like such a big bully next to Gaby, but their scenes together were great. Katherine and Bree could become an alliance that would be difficult to break - imagine going up against Martha Stewart times 2!! Loved it...can't wait for the writers strike to end so they can give us the rest of a great season!
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 1:23AM
John Gross said...
I was not blown away (pun intended) by this episode at all. I thought it's best element was the fact that it moved a lot of plot points along (edie/gaby, katherine/bree, mike/susan), but I guess I was hoping for more scenes of the tornado inflicting damage. For the most part, we just saw and heard it was coming, we saw people being blown in the wind, and then we saw the destruction.
I think Susan's change of behavior really was what I had been waiting to see three years coming. I'm glad her backbone is actually starting to work.
And for Nathan Fillions's mistress... I thought she'd be around for awhile. I guess not.
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 1:27AM
Gazzoo said...
I don't care how bad the storm was getting, there's no way Lynette would not try and get back to be with her family.
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 1:41AM
Joanna said...
I don't understand why Gaby & Carlos didn't ever confront Victor over the reason why he married her in the first place (to get the latino vote). That is why she was upset with him in the first place after overhearing him after the wedding. He acts like a man in love and scorned instead of a ruthless politician that doesn't want to lose his standing in the community.
Reply
12-04-2007 @ 6:11AM
jennvms said...
They did address the latino vote issue. In the limo...when gaby was going to leave a couple of episodes ago. He said that was just his father-not him.
12-09-2007 @ 9:27PM
Dottie said...
i completely agree! season 3 ended on that note [the fact that victor only married gaby for the vote] and you're right, he was never confronted on that issue. when season 4 started i was looking forward to the episode when gaby would finally tell him off about it; it always seemed like she would get close to mentioning it, but never did.
12-03-2007 @ 2:08AM
Janetta said...
A quick note - Although I agree that it is sad Victor was never confronted about the Latino vote motives, I also think that it was already made clear that he did love Gaby for real, when he cancelled his entire schedule to be with her.
Here are some thoughts I have though - there is NO way that Tom would have not gone after Lynette when she did not return after letting the cat out (especially realizing the house was being destroyed). Makes me wonder what happened to him!
Carlos might be in danger of being the "friend" everyone lost too. He wasn't technically anyone's husband, but he sure was everyone's "friend".
I do think they will go with the safer "Ida" choice though for the other character that died. Lets face it, most of us will not want to see a show without the main 4 women (of course), Eddie, Carlos, or Tom. And aren't we getting kind of fond of Orson too? (amd seriously how many men in her life can Bree lose anyway)
I did like that the plot were put to a close finally Eddie/Gabby/Victor cause it seems there was nowhere else left for it to go, and I guess the only way to close that one up at this point WAS to kill off Victor. Although I hate character kill-offs. I wish there was another way to take care of things so that characters could always "come back" in the future plots. (Like Paul's son, Zach - that was priceless with him being the rich guy who started pursuing Gabby!) :)
But not to deviate too much from this particular episode. It sure did end in a cliff hanger (and made me a little more scared of tornados). I do hope Lynette's family is fine (I'm sure they are though). Killing off kids would turn me off the show.
Reply
12-03-2007 @ 5:30AM
Ceciel said...
Well it was a great show and I can't wait to see what happens next week, Tho Lynettes scarf must be on awfully tight especially on what is supposed to be a bald head, not to have come off during the storm, especially when they were out looking for the cat.. when my sister had to wear one it kept falling off all day during normal weather.
Anyway, I can't see Gabby and Edie patching things up after all they were thru in the past.and knowing now that Carlos might lose all that money in the Caymans because of her. just my thought.
Reply
12-11-2007 @ 5:25PM
Michy said...
I find that rather interesting too...it must have been real tight. I think that was an oversight by the writers.