A Spark. To Pierce the Dark. (1)

Season 5, Episode 18, Aired
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Episode Summary

Bree learns that she is indirectly responsible for her husband's kleptomania, as he feels emmasculated by her and acts out that way. Bree considers selling her business in order to make Orson happy again, but Andrew makes her come to her senses. In the meantime, Lynette tries to please her new boss, Lucy Blackburn (guest star Lesley Boone), who has a new policy that says employees must work through the nights at the office during an important account they're working on. Susan is yet again reunited with her first husband Karl (former series regular Richard Burgi), whose son has just enrolled in her school, and Gabrielle becomes worried that her sex life is going downhill. Dave has some deadly plans for his camping trip with Mike and Katherine, and Edie stumbles upon the horrifying truth, which has even deadlier consequences.moreless
8.8
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Fan Episode Reviews (21)

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  • will she survive...

    8.0
    "Great"
    By danny7277, Jun 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    this was an ok week on wisteria lane the dave storyline picked up a bit of pace this week im glad that he didnt kill katherine because i still really like her but instead it seems that edie has fell victim Susan had a pretty funny week it was nice to see karl agian and to see her son
    Lynette had an ok week but nothing special her scenes with lucy were pretty funny
    bree had a ok week im glad that she didnt sell her business for orson seems that he seems to have crazy
    overall a ok week, next week shoudl be better thoughmoreless

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    0 0

  • Poor Eddie!

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Mena07, Apr 09, 2011 Report Abuse
    Oh my god...Orson is such a jerk, I never thought it could be possible to hat a character so much, hes such an egotistical brat, how does he dare blame Bree for his unhappiness, hes so weak and manipulative, if he really did love her he wouldnt b doing all that crazy stuff, hes really sick!. Ok my rant about Orson is over, lets move on...

    Finally Eddie discovers Daves plan and how he intends to hurt Mike, poor Eddie, disaster after disaster in her life.

    Susan is really worried about van (Karls son) and tries to help him out which infuriates Karl, who thinks Susan only wants to get revenge (Filler plot) Katherine, Mike and Dave finally go camping but Dave gets thwarted and does not fulfill his plan to kill Katherine (too bad!, shes starting to annoy me)

    Thank God Bree didnt sell her company only to fulfill Orsons very hurt ego...Go Bree! after everything shes been through she doesnt desrve this kind of thing now, no more scums in her life.

    Carlos is working harder and Gabby is not happy with his lack of loving. I though that Gabbys and Toms conversation was a little funny.

    Lynette is also fighting at work with Lucy (God that woman is feisty and obnoxious) and Gabbys daughters help her get her way. I love Lynnetes plans...she can be really funny without wanting to be.

    Waiting for next episode!moreless

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    2 0

  • things get serious on Wisteria Lane

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By sramv9, May 28, 2009 Report Abuse
    Orson sinks to a new low. Dave continues along his twisted path. Bree catches herself in time before selling her soul down the river in the interest of traditional family values. Luckily her son gave her a good give your head a shake type nudge just in the nick of time. Orson Orson Orson. Why are you being like this? And then there is Dave. Funny - Orson tried to kill Mike and now here is Dave trying to essentially kill Mike by destroying those he loves. It's all, as other reviewers have said, pretty dark. But well done and a solid episode.moreless

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    6 1

  • And so Dave, Mike and Katherine finally go on that camping trip that we've been promised for about four weeks and, frankly, it's a bit of a damp squib.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By screenagedkicks, May 03, 2009 Report Abuse
    And so Dave, Mike and Katherine finally go on that camping trip that we've been promised for about four weeks and, frankly, it's a bit of a damp squib. The story takes up around 1/6th of the episode's total airtime and what we do get is pretty laughable. There's very little build up and no increase in the dramatic tension as they set up camp, wake up in the morning and Dave misfires when Edie calls him. I don't know about you but I was expecting a solid concentration on this narrative, featuring something a little more elaborate than snipering from on high. Still, with the long-awaited marriage of this story and Edie's, we do get some sparkling dialogue between the two characters and a confrontation scene to die for... quite literally, actually, as the poor woman appears to snuff it at hour's end. Of course, one does wonder why, upon learning the truth about her husband, Edie would simply call him up and invite the psychopath back to her home rather than, you know, getting the hell out of there and calling the police. Don't try to weasel an explanation out of the loon you fool, RUN! And hit a tree. And get electrocuted. Call me cynical but isn't that a little much, guys? Would it have been so bad if she'd simply died from the mangled car? Did she really need to get an almost comedic electrocution? Sigh. And, of course, this also involves Orson who, regrettably, learns nothing from his wife's sage words and proceeds to rob a house in the middle of the night. This story is escalating out of control, leaving no room for sympathy with his character, and unless it results in Kyle MacLachlan being written out of the show, I don't really see the point. A bit of a mixed bag, although Lynette and Carlos's storyline is rather enjoyable, if only because Lucy is a self-righteous, manipulative cow and it's good to see her put in her place.moreless

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  • All worth it for that final scene.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By rentlover1, Apr 26, 2009 Report Abuse
    Not my favourite episode this season but the final was worth waiting for. I knew Edie's story with the fax would drag out but the final sequence with her and Dave was amazing and inspiring. Nicholette made me cry when she let out her emotion on the line 'Why- why did you have to do this?' I just wish she could have said more about how detrayed she was. I also think that focus should not have been pulled from her at all. The jump to Orson and change of instrumental broke the flow of the ending. But overall the whole reason I give this episode a 9 is because of Edie's confrontation with Dave. I almost wish the next episode didnt exist so Nicholette's final moment on the show could be her scene with Dave. Amazing. I will miss her.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Ken asked his employee Charlie if he faxed the papers Edie asked for, he placed them in the fax machine face up, when he should've placed them face down. Otherwise, Edie would had gotten a blank page. Edit
    • This is the second (non finale) episode (the first was "I Remember That" in season 3) to use of a title card that says "To Be Continued" at the end of the episode. Both cliffhangers were added to keep the viewers guessing wether a character will or not survive a dangerous circumstance. Edit

  • Notes

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  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Susan: This is nothing, Mr. Hobson. We're just having a... difference of opinion. Karl: Yeah! And my opinion is that your teacher doesn't know the difference between emotional problems and creativity! Susan: Shut up, Karl!! Principal Hobson: Excuse me, but did you just tell him to shut up?! Karl: You know, this is typical Susan behavior. And you wonder why no man can stay with you! Edit
    • Karl: Let's cut to what this is really about: You! You hate me and you don't want my son in your class! Susan: That is not true! Karl: It is, too! You're still punishing me for what happened between us. You're stuck in the past, blaming me for your screwed-up life! Susan: Okay, will someone call Guinness? Because you just set the world record for the biggest load of crap in one sentence! Edit
    • Lynette: (to Lucy) Don't forget your little animals... Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Edie's revelation that Dave married her only to achieve his own dark goals is very similar to Charlotte Haze's revelation of Humbert's paedophilic intentions in Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita". Edie's subsequent death by car accident verifies this comparison, with Charlotte Haze also dying immediately after the revelation, after being hit by a car. Edit
    • Episode title: The title of the episode is taken from the song "Broadway Baby", from Stephen Sondheim's musical Follies. Edit

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