Love is in the Air

Season 1, Episode 14, Aired

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It's Valentine's Day on Wisteria Lane, and love is all around (sort of), as Susan looks forward to a romantic date with Mike Delfino, until she learns a surprising fact about her favorite plumber. Also, Mike breaks into a neighbors house and is shot and tries to hide it from Susan. Meanwhile, after reconciling their relationship, Bree discovers something new about her husband Rex when it comes to his sexual needs.
Lynette's cranky and lonely old neighbor accuses the Scavo twins of thievery as Lynette tries her best to handle the situation. Lastly, Gabrielle's work adventures continue as she gets a gig as a mattress model for the "Siesta King" (guest star Jon Polito).moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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  • great

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By danny7277, Oct 28, 2011
    this was another brilliant episode from desperate housewives with great moments and unexpected suprise's loved all the stuff with bree and loved the stuff with susan and mike although i dont think even susan would be stupid enough to believe mikes story on how he got shot gg
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  • El amor nos rodea, y siempre nos alienta para hacer hasta los más grandes sacrificios.

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By chupisfunky, Mar 01, 2008
    Cuando nos damos cuenta de que el amor nos mueve la vida , es cuando decidimos sacrificarnos, asi sea por nuestros hijos, nuestros vecinos, nuestros amantes, o nuestros esposos. Este capitulo no toma el clich de hacer un especial de da de San Valentn romntico, sino que explora ms all y nos muestra como con tristeza aceptamos que el amor es ms fuerte y que toda la vida preferimos sumergirnos en la tristeza temporal para alcanzar un amor ms ltimo. Mike & Susan, Bree y Rex, Gabrielle y Carlos, cada una de estos matrimonios pone a su pareja por encima de sus convicciones personales para poder salir a adelante, y para Lynette, es mucho ms complicado, ya que le toca que bajar la cabeza contra su ms nuevo enemigo.moreless

  • So good

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By super_friend21, Apr 17, 2007
    It's Valentine's Day on Wisteria Lane, and love is all around (sort of), as Susan looks forward to a romantic date with Mike Delfino, until she learns a surprising fact about her favorite plumber. Also, Mike breaks into a neighbors house and is shot and tries to hide it from Susan. Meanwhile, after reconciling their relationship, Bree discovers something new about her husband Rex when it comes to his sexual needs. Lynette's cranky and lonely old neighbor accuses the Scavo twins of thievery as Lynette tries her best to handle the situation. Lastly, Gabrielle's work adventures continue as she gets a gig as a mattress model for the "Siesta King".moreless

  • It's Valentine's Day and love floats away from Wysteria Lane. Lynette's boys are out of control, Gabrielle has to do the unthinkable posing as a mattress model, and Susan almost discovers Mike's other life. Meanwhile Bree finds out Rex likes to be dominamoreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By miss2rs2ls, Aug 23, 2005
    Tom Spezialy manages to keep the suspense and laughter coming with the episode, "Love is in the Air." Taking a different approach from the usual holiday dedicated to romance and love, Spezialy creatively conjures up a world wind of hysterical drama that leaves these women hopelessly desperate. Keeping within the boundaries of the series, the author makes sure each character has a spicy and scandalous story hidden behind their perfect Mary Kay cosmetic facades. Within an hour, successfully each scene delivers jaw dropping news that will keep audiences' eyes "glued to the set." Lynette's boys put her parenting skills to the ultimate test, Bree's husband once again forces her to step outside the "Mrs. Perfect" image, Gabriel's ego forces her to resort to degrading jobs in order to maintain her lavished lifestyle and Susan's senses suspects the man she loves is up to no good. All the while Spezialy never loses the mystery of Mary Alice's suicide that lurks and loops these women's lives together. Most of all, by the end of this episode we learn how love can ultimately humble the core of these controlling wives. Scene after scene introduces a mounting disaster waiting to explode. Presented naturally, each heightened scene keeps your attention, wondering what will happen next. Interestingly Spezialy unravels the true nature of Bree, Lynette, Gabriel and Susan by wrapping them within these twisted story lines that humorously rattle their feathers. In addition, immediately the author also reveals something new about Mary Alice's character. We learn that she has two identities. Overall, Spezially consistently captures the unique trait of each character. For instance, Susan's usual quirkiness leaves her tripping, falling and bumping her head on the table. Bree's knack for cleanliness triggers her to put handcuffs in the washing machine before partaking in a forbidden act. Lynette's motherly instincts masterfully help her discipline her sons without laying a hand on them. Finally Gabrielle's materialism never lets her forget her pride, though put in a position completely against her principles.--excellent character consistency. Cleverly, the author slips in a few punch lines and visuals that guarantee laughs out loud. For instance it's too funny when Bree says, "We're WASPs Doctor Goldfine. Not acknowledging the elephant in the room is what we do best." Also, when Mrs. McClusky bashes Lynette in the middle of their argument with "No Offense but you should be sterilized" Classic! In addition, Spezially never misses a beat and creatively keeps the laughter coming with visuals like egg splattered all over Mrs. McClusky's forehead after her argument with Lynette, and Bree lying on the mattress display as various people lay down beside her. Spezialy leaves each character's predicament with sound endings. However, he manages to keep the suspense coming with excellent cliff hangers and other salacious scams to keep the mystery going. Planting Martha Huber's wrist watch in Mike's tool box only to have the Scavo twins steal it for Lynette to discover provides plenty to peak the audiences interest to tune in the next week.

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  • Valentine's Blues Written by Tom Spezialy Directed by Jeff Melman

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By shawnlunn2002, Jul 19, 2005
    Like many people, there isn't a bigger kick in the nuts than Valentine's Day. That one day in the year almost cruelly designed to make every singleton want to bury ourselves underground. It's also a day when incorporated into our favourite television shows can be a rather cheesy event. So double thanks to Tom Spezialy that this episode isn't riddled with enough slush to kill an elephant.

    First off, before I go into any of the main plots, the side note is that if you're expecting anything new on Mystery Dana, you're out of luck. She gets a mention as Bree and Lynette muse as to why the Young's may have covered up her death (they still believe Zach killed her) but this is fodder for the real juice of Felicia knowing Mary Alice, sorry Angela way back in Utah. You heard right and when confronted with this, Paul acts his usual cagey self. If Felicia didn't have her suspicions of him before, she does now, especially when she some digging of her own.

    Despite the fact it's Valentine, romantic thoughts are the least of Gabrielle's priorities. With her and Carlos up to their eyes in debt her tedious little Princess act becomes the undoing of her in a lot of ways in this instalment. First of all, Yao Lin rightly gives her a reality check with added truth for good measure, only then for Gabrielle to get fired from her Mattress King stint for being surly to customers, whinging about the coffee (Okay this part I side with. It does look like the kind of place with really bad coffee) as well as being something of a cheapskate. Last week Gabby's interactions with the Rowland's were fantastic but her one on one barbs with Yao Lin have always been funnier in a similar this kind of exchange used to be on Will And Grace between Karen and Rosario. Getting back to Yao Lin, she had every single right to say what she did to her former employer and the way she behaved when tables turned between her and Gabrielle at the makeup counter was dignified in comparison.

    No matter how much Gabrielle tries to act like she's above others, in essence she's no different from Yao Lin. Both women literally came from nothing and are currently both struggling to make ends meat but what separates them is that Yao Lin seems more happier and securer with herself than Gabrielle whose desperation to regain her former lavish life only seems to be a way to prove something to herself, even though she fails to realise she's luckier than others. I really liked this plot but once again, Carlos had virtually nothing to do.

    Another housewife whose Valentine's was just a blip on the radar was Lynette, whose hellions take stage when their mad thieving incurs the wrath of cranky old boot Karen Mc Cluskey. We've all had run ins with our neighbours, either defending our children's honours or having it defended, even when we are truly responsible for what our mean spirited neighbour accuses us of. The feud between the Scavos and Mrs Mc Cluskey is another case of this show's flair for slapstick with one party raiding their oppressor's house and getting egged for their own effort. Of course there's a moral conscience in Tom who encourages his wife to apologise and make things right. Lynette doesn't, which is a shame because Karen isn't all that bad but the Scavo kids don't get off so lightly as they have to return everything they've been swiping from the neighbourhood, leading to another juicy find.

    It was only a matter of time before someone was going to find Martha's jewellery in Mike's garage and while I expected it to be the cops or Susan; it was a masterstroke to have the Scavo kids and then Lynette to be ones. Just like his girlfriend, Mike's sleuthing skills are getting sloppier by the minute. Not only does him breaking into an unknown home result in him being shot, badly stitched and hospitalised but his excuses for covering his tracks this time are truly pathetic and with cops crawling all around him, it looks like he's gonna be arrested for something he hasn't even done. You definitely feel for the guy as much as you wanna kick Paul for this. I dread what Susan's going to do next. She may be madly in love with Mike but this time you just know she won't be giving him the benefit of the doubt. The annoying is, you can't blame her either even if she decides to show the police the jewellery. With enough tangled lies and odd behaviour, Mike has made himself into someone you would be wary. It's just a shame but sickly perfect this occurred now that he and Susan were getting serious. They were also the only couple to get closer to celebrating Valentine's Day as well.

    On the Van De Kamp front, with George seemingly out of the way, Bree finally discovers that what really makes Rex a happy boy, sex wise is literally being whipped into a frenzy among saucier sadomasochistic things. I'm not a prudish person, so unlike Bree, her husband's little fetish isn't that much of a shocker but I do wonder where this kind of sexual interest stems from. Was Bree right in suggesting that it originates from some kind of trauma or abuse as a child? And is it only weak willed people like Rex who solely enjoy this kind of foreplay? Anyways, the end result is Bree actually gives into her husband's whim in a truly hilarious style. From picking out control words to washing the handcuffs in the dishwasher, it's a bloody shame we don't get to see Bree in Madame Whiplash mode but this is an excruciatingly funny plot you would be off your rocker if you don't laugh. I know I certainly did.

    Also in "Love Is In The Air"

    Seeing as it's Valentine's Day what the men offered was a card on Carlos' part (now we know he's really skint), the old flowers and candy routine for Rex (tres original), Mike made dinner reservations (and then passed out. Poor thing) and Tom forget (so I guess he made dinner to amend that slip up).

    Lynette: "Do you know what psychological warfare is?"
    Parker: "No"
    Lynette: "Too bad for you".

    It seemed Felicia and Mary Alice/Angela judging from the picture worked as nurses in Utah. Please tell me there isn't gonna be an Annie Wilkes/Misery type twist here?

    Gabrielle: "You are so fired"
    Yao Lin: "Not kidding".

    Loved Gabrielle's "Please Do Not talk To The Model" sign. That's one way of getting rid of unwanted customers.

    Lynette (to Tom): "Pack your things, we're moving".

    Mike's crazy handler from eps 5 and 12 (aka Kendra/Deirdre's father) is called Noah.

    Waiter: "Oh mam, your napkin"
    Susan: "Don't even thing about it".

    For a Valentine's episode this was surprisingly devoid of music, except for score harkening back to the first couple of episodes.

    Rex: "I like to be dominated"
    Bree: "Huh?"
    Rex: "Sexually".

    Bree and Rex's list of safety words included Boisey, Palistine and Philadelphia. I think there's a bit of a kink mistress in Bree just waiting to come out after all.

    Bree (to Rex): "Would you mind if I ran these through the dishwasher once?".

    Tom: "The only motto that matters is love thy husband"
    Lynette: "Funny, I don't recall that motto".

    I don't think I've enjoyed a Valentine's episode of any other show until I saw this one. "Love Is In The Air" had the right temperament from start to finish and it's an episode in a long in which I can't decide which plot I enjoyed more. Despite the absences of John and Edie who probably could've added something, this was a terrific episode.




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  • TRIVIA (10)

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    • In the scene when Mrs. McCluskey takes the pot and Lynette follows her, she claims to have bought it in Costa Rica and she shows Lynette the price "200 p" but in Costa Rica the currency is the "colon" not "pesos."

    • When Gabrielle fired Yao Lin, the latter wasn't wearing long sleeves, but as Yao Lin passed Gabrielle, you can see that she's wearing long sleeved white cardigan in the reflection of the mirror behind Gabrielle.

    • In the scene where Mrs. McCluskey is searching the boys' bedroom, she is holding two pillows, a blue one and a checkered one. When the neighbor leaves she chucks the blue one at the door, but when the shot changes the checkered one is being thrown.

    • In the scene where Gabrielle is arguing with Yao Lin (who's scrubbing the floor) she had thrown her earrings off into a bowl, a second later they were on her ears.

    • When Gabrielle is putting the lipstick on Yao Lin the lipstick changes between shots.

    • In one scene were you can see Bree talking her purse is in her lap, then we get a shot of her therapist talking, then its back to her and her purse is on the couch.

    • In the first scene you can see one of Lynette's kids (the one that had his head shaved) with a certain length to his hair. Then in the scene when the kids were hiding you can see the kid with longer hair than in the first scene...and then in the scene after that when Lynette is making them pick their punishing weapon of choice the kid has shorter hair, as short as in the first scene.

    • The photo of Mike Delfino with Deirdre Taylor switched, where Mike suddenly was on the left (mirror image; Mike is originally on the right, and the woman on the left).

    • Parker's hair was still very short (almost bald) in the scene where Lynette was "torturing" the boys. Then his hair has grown a lot in the scene where the boys was apologizing in person to Mrs. McCluskey (supposedly only two days after).

    • When Susan visits Mike in the hospital she opens the door to his room outwards but when the police come to see him they push the door inwards.

  • QUOTES (12)

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    • (Bree says that she will ignore her problems with Rex and stay with him) Dr. Goldfine: How could this reconciliation work if you can't be open to each other? Bree: We're WASPs, Dr. Goldfine. Not acknowledging the elephant in the room is what we do best.

    • Lynette: Do you know what psychological warfare is? Porter: (shakes head) No. Lynette: Too bad for you.

    • Lynette: Are you sure you didn't misplace it? No offence, but you're getting up there in the years. Mrs. McCluskey: No offense, but you should be sterilized.

    • Yao Lin: The only reason you have anything in your life is because you're pretty. One day you'll be old, and when that happens you'll be nothing. Gabrielle: You are so fired. Yao Lin: No kidding.

    • (Lynette moves three Valentine's Day cards off to the side and begins to place objects: a hickory stick, a hairbrush, a ping pong paddle, a spatula, a long metal ruler, and a belt.) Preston: We don't want to get spanked. Porter: Yeah, we promise we'll be good. Lynette: Too late, you stole and then you lied. Even worse, you made me look bad in front of Mrs. McCluskey, who you know is mommy's sworn enemy. Time to pick your poison. How 'bout a belt? It's a classic. (Scavo kids shake their heads) Lynette: Well, we could go with the old hickory stick. It's a cliché, but it's pretty effective. I know, we'll go with the spatula. The holes give it less wind resistance; moves faster. Scavo kids: No! No! No! No! Lynette: Guys, guys, guys, hey my hands are tied. Thieves get spanked. Just the way it works. Unless... Porter: Unless what? Lynette: For a first time offense, if you swear, cross your heart, that you will never, never steal again, and you write Mrs. McCluskey a letter of apology, I will let it slide. Scavo kids: Okay! Yeh! We swear! Yeh! We swear! Lynette: Alright, start with Dear Mrs. McCluskey. Porter: Mommy, why are you smiling? Lynette: Do you know what physiological warfare means? Porter: No. Lynette: Well, too bad for you. Okay, start with a big M, little c. Good.

    • Gabrielle: That's the difference between you and me, Yao Lin, our dreams. Close your eyes, please. Thank you. You see I dreamed of pulling myself up from nothing, and I did. I dreamed about the things I wanted and I got them all: a high powered career, a handsome husband, an extravagant house. So, this is just a blip in the radar for me, because now, I know what I'm capable of and if I did it once, I can do it again. I'm never really down, Yao Lin, even when it looks like I am. So, enjoy this moment, enjoy your dream, because for you, it doesn't get any better then this.

    • Mary Alice: Most mothers will tell you their children are a gift from God. Most mothers would also tell you that the gifts their children give them are less than heavenly. Lynette had suffered through art work made in kindergarten, spice racks made in summer camp, and jewelry made at the scout jamboree. But this day, Lynette Scavo received a gift every mother dreams of. One she wasn't embarrassed to display. Lynette knew she'd cherish the memory of that moment for the rest of her life. The memory of that moment was ruined the very next day. Yes, most mothers will tell you their children are a gift from God. Most mothers will also tell you there are some days when you wish you could return them.

    • Mary Alice: It's impossible to grasp just how powerful love is. It can sustain us through trying times (shot of Carlos hugging Gabrielle.) Or motivate us to make extraordinary sacrifices (shot of Bree washing handcuffs in the dishwasher.) It can force decent men to commit the darkest deeds (shot of Paul getting his mail.) Or compel ordinary women to search for hidden truths (shot of Felicia getting her newspaper. She and Paul wave to each other.) And long after we're gone, love remains burned into our memories (shot of Mrs. McCluskey looking at the photograph of her son.) We all search for love, but some of us, after we find it, wish we hadn't. (Shot of Susan looking at Mike's house.)

    • Bree: Okay. So what's our control word? Rex: Well, lately I've been using Philadelphia. What's wrong? Bree: Well it's just that my Aunt Fern lives in Philadelphia and I don't want to be thinking about her while I'm spanking you with a leather strap. Rex: Okay. Fine. You pick a control word. Bree: Um, how about Boise? Rex: Boise? Bree: What's the matter with Boise? Rex: We're going to be doing psychological role playing here, Bree, and a funny word like Boise would ruin the mood. We need something that sounds serious. Bree: Hmm. How about Palestine? Rex: Boise will be just fine.

    • Rex: For gods sake, you promised to be supportive. Bree: What do you want me to say? My husband likes to wear metal clamps around his nipples. Hooray?

    • Rex: I like to be dominated. Bree: Huh? Rex: Sexually. Bree: Huh? Rex: Never mind.

    • Mrs. McCluskey: How old are you boys anyway? (about Preston and Porter) Porter: We're six. Mrs. McCluskey (to Parker): And you? Parker: Five. Mrs. McCluskey: Wow, your mum just pops them out doesn't she? Preston: How old are you? Mrs. McCluskey: How old do you think? Porter: 150.

  • NOTES (5)

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    • This episode marks Mrs. McCluskey's (Kathryn Joosten) first appearance on the show.

    • This episode was formerly titled "What I Did for Love".

    • "Desperate Housewives" became the first program in 10 years to top the "Grammy Awards" on the night of its broadcast - since March 1, 1995, when ABC's "Roseanne" and "Ellen" both outdrew the music awards show on that evening.

    • This episode was promoted on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Thursday, February 3. Oprah filmed a special 9-minute episode of Desperate Housewives that premiered on her show and played a new lady on the street who found herself running away from Wisteria Lane after uncovering all the dirty secrets of her fellow neighbours. Her character lived in the house that had once been used in the 60s sitcom "The Munsters" and was placed between the houses that belong to Gabrielle and Susan. This edition of Oprah also featured special appearances by Jesse Metcalfe, Ricardo Antonio Chivera and James Denton.

    • Although credited, Nicollette Sheridan (Edie Britt), Jesse Metcalfe (John Rowland), Cody Kasch (Zach Young) and Jolie Jenkins (Deirdre Taylor) are absent from this episode.

  • ALLUSIONS (2)

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    • Episode Title: "Love is in the Air" was the title of a song that Stephen Sondheim was originally going to use as the opening for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," before a suggestion was made that it didn't quite set up the show properly, at which point Sondheim chose the much more appropriate "Comedy Tonight."

    • Alternate Title: The other title for this episode, "What I Did For Love" alludes to the song by that name from the musical "A Chorus Line".

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