Back in Business

Season 5, Episode 4, Aired
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Episode Summary

Bree's new cookbook and entrepreneurial success has the women of Wisteria Lane feeling envious. Lynette's longing for a taste of her breadwinning days as an ad-exec leads her to lend an unsolicited hand to Bree's marketing plan. MJ's drawing of a family portrait has left Mike feeling like he's not a presence in his son's life. Gabrielle hatches a plan to have more sex with Carlos. Susan teaches a reluctant MJ how to fall. Meanwhile, Dave's motives for moving to the neighborhood continue to take shape.moreless
8.7
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Fan Episode Reviews (15)

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  • Not bad

    8.0
    "Great"
    By danny7277, Jun 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    There was a few enjoyable moments this week, with a few funny gags.
    Susans storlyine was probably the worst this week i mean how stupid is she wanting her son to fall of his bike on purpose.. but i did think the part where she screamed and said it was a big spider was a laugh out loud moment..
    Lynette and bree shared a storyline this which i thought was pretty good, i like the fact that bree dosnt really see herself as a sucess due to the fact that her psersonal life is a mess
    Gabys storyline was pretty weak, it was just boring The dave storyline is so obvious its so painfully obvious that he is after mike because it was his family in the car crash, this is the worst season mysterty so farmoreless

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  • 'Back in Business' while not quite up to the standards that Desperate Housewives can achieve, is still a rewarding episode.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By screenagedkicks, May 17, 2009 Report Abuse
    'Back in Business' while not quite up to the standards that Desperate Housewives can achieve, is still a rewarding episode, nicely structured around the theme of the 'green eyed monster' and offers up some wonderfully unexpected sequences: particularly the strands involving Orson and Bree, whose marriage is certainly suffering as a result of Mrs Van Der Kamp's success. While Lynette's descent into petty jealousy and, indeed, desperation is difficult to watch (I covered my eyes during a great deal of it), it is all the more successful because of it, Gabrielle and Carlos' decision to teach their child the facts of life results in a number of rather humorous moments and, of course, Susan's ludicrous attempt to hide her son's relationship with Jackson from Mike produce the usual round of unfortunate Myer related klutziness. Pretty good.moreless

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  • Dull, lifeless and forced. Is what Desperate Housewives has become.

    2.5
    "Terrible"
    By DanFuchs, Apr 08, 2009 Report Abuse
    The only thing good about this episode is its reference to previous seasons. Which is not a good thing. Relating back to the hay days of Lynette's big advertising career in season 2 just manages to save the storyline of this episode from that grim mark called 'garbage'. While Bree's career is blossoming, and everything about her is (apparently) reeking of success, her friends find themselves uncomfortable with this development. Meanwhile Juanita witnesses her parents having sex, Susan teaches her son how to crash on a bike, Edie's suspicions about her husband grow, and Katherine... well, she's just there.

    The mystery of Edie's husband doesn't really intrigue me. The Youngs, the Applewhites, Orson and Katherine Mayfair all succeeded in this, each embodying the mystery of the season, but this one... it has yet to convince me. Susan is never used for anything except forced comedy and love triangles these days, and her stunt this week just didn't work. Nor did Gabrielle's storyline of parental embarrasment. In general, there is precious little left of that refreshing vitality which Desperate Housewives served skilfully week after week. The show seems exhausted.

    Bree saves the day, so to speak. To me, she was always the strongest character, even now, and the price she has to pay for her success does manage to move me. Not least due to Marcia Cross, who has by now proven herself the most apt actress of them all, managing to intrigue even with the weakest of storylines. Her confrontation with Lynette is with question the finest scene of the hour.

    Desperate Housewives is sinking fast, and I hope the writers have another Tornado on the way. For it is really needed.moreless

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  • Orson has lost his job and Bree doesnt know

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By vicky24c, Jan 09, 2009 Report Abuse
    In this episode of Desperate Housewives the following happens. Bree invites Gabby, Susan, Lynette and Katherine over to give them advanced copies of her cook book. We learn that Orson has lost his job and has now been lying to Bree for 3 weeks. We see Eddies husband losing his temper and taking some tablets to calm himself down. Carlos and Gabby teach their oldest daughter about the facts of life after she catches them in bed together. She then passes them on to her friend and her sister. Bree wins the business woman of the year award. Bree then offers Orson a job at her company.moreless

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  • Blind Sex, Sweetie MJ and a drunk Lynette - its another fine episode of Jealous Housewives Who Are Desperate.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By mobbs456, Nov 13, 2008 Report Abuse
    Another fine example of Desperate Housewives of The Future. There was so much funny in this episode. Gabby and Carlos having blind sex was great! The fact Carlos has increased his sexual levels now he's blind is interesting and the fact Gabby was willing to try just show how much she has grown. Her kids finding out and spreading it around the neighbourhood was extremely funny and well written.

    Susan, Mike, Jackson and MJ continue to be a happy family. Mike moving back into the neighbourhood will be good for MJ but what about Susan? Hmm - but my reservations about Jackson have been quashed - he is generally a good guy (not too many of them about!)

    Orson and Bree resolve their problems but in turn make Dana Delany/Katherine jealous. Its a shame - she is my new favourite character!

    But the funniest moment is a drunk Lynette. Her drunkness at the dinner table was hilarious and her setting of the fire alarm - priceless!

    Edie's Psycho Husband continues to grow weirder. The moment he snapped at Edie had me TERRIFIED!

    Overall good stuff - please continue this!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Gabrielle says that Juanita is five-years-old. In this case, Gabrielle should have been been several months pregnant in the season 4 finale. Edit
    • We learn a woman named Mrs. Hudson was living in Mary Alice's old house. Dave and Edie buy the house and rent it to Mike, without him knowing they're his new landlords. This is the third house Mike's lived in on Wisteria Lane. Edit
    • Bree tells Orson she doesn't snore. But in the episode "I Wish I Could Forget You", Bree tells George she sometimes snores. Edit

  • Notes

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  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Gabrielle: So apparently, after we had our little chat with Juanita, she went straight to Bethany and passed on the facts of life, in every painful detail. Carlos: Did you explain to Peggy why we had the little chat? Gabrielle: She didn't want to hear it! That was Bethany running around the house screaming "Intercourse!" at the top of her lungs. Carlos: So we're out of the playdate. Gabrielle: Oh, yeah. Way out. Carlos: Well, I guess it's back to the old schedule of ten minutes of grope and snore at midnight. Gabrielle: I'm not going back, Carlos. I can't. If Juanita doesn't get her playdate, you're not getting yours! Carlos: Fine. I will fix it. I just don't know why Peggy's making such a big deal out of this. Celia: Sperm! Gabrielle: Juanita, stop talking to your sister! Edit
    • Bree: Orson, we're partners. We share everything. Any success I have is just as much yours as it is mine. Orson: Thank you darling. So, why did the Chamber of Commerce call? Bree: Apparently, we've been named 'Businesswoman of the Year'. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Mary Alice's opening and closing about jealousy mentions the "green-eyed monster" which comes from the quote "Be aware of jealousy, my Master. She's a green-eyed monster." from Othello, by William Shakespeare. Edit
    • Episode Title: The title of this episode comes from a song in the Stephen Sondheim musical Dick Tracy. Edit

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