Desperate Housewives

loved this episode of desperate housewives this show is so good it is hard to believe it is also so addictive, the mystery was so great this week with susan and julie getting onvolved in it paul is still really creepy though, loved the stuff with bree and rex and there theripisst gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg and it was ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

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Looking back at Season 1 of Desperate Housewives reminds me of how fortunate we were for this show to have come along at the time that it did. It seems like common place on television nowadays for scandalous behavior and overall dramedies, but in 2004 this show was so fresh and original and the characters truly had not even come close to reaching their peak. Bree was as Bree as can be, if that makes sense....lol, and Gaby was becoming America's sweetheart before our eyes.

Desperate Housewives is still extremely good and one of TV's best, but watching these re-runs on Lifetime reminds me of how great this show once was. Just a tremendous, heavily eventful episode with top-notch comedy proving that women can be funny too.

No doubt I love all my housewives equally. But as a red-blooded American male, I must admit that my favorite moments are when the ladies bare all. In this episode, Marcia Cross shows some skin, and man oh man does she look fantastic! I've always been attracted to the obsessive compulsive red headed beauty, but now I think I may be in love!



But I digress. This week the war between Gaby and Mama Solice escalates, with some fine strategy from Gabrielle as she learns and exploits mama's gambling problem. Also enjoyable was Lynette's little war against the head of the school play committee, as watching these suburban mothers spit and spat over such silly things was a wicked delight.

Aparte de ciertos detalles que son revelados durante el episodio, como el acuerdo prenupcial de Gabrielle y Carlos, o la niña DANA a la cual Zack hirió, continuamos con la guerra entre la señora Solis y Gabrielle, y casi cuando uno cree que la victoria es de Gabrielle, se cae el esquema y Juanita levanta cabeza. La separación de Bree hace que queramos profundamente que la relación con su esposo se arregle, Lynette sigue ocupada con sus hijos y sus multitareas. Y Susan, Oh Susan, sigue demostrando que fué la más cercana a Mary Alice Young. Me encanta seguir viendo la inteligencia del show y su manera de hacernos más y más adictos... Como dice Lynette, "I just smoke some crack".

Lynette clashes with Maisy Gibbons after she changes the end to the Little Red Riding Hood. Lynette also is in charge of costumes but she is desperately in need of more time and that leads her to consuming ADD medications to give her a boost.

Bree treis to rekindle her sex life with Rex but turns out that it was a bed idea.

Gabrielle finds Juanita's major weakness and uses it to gain her trust but she is more sure then ever that Gabrielle was having an affair.

And lastly Susan and Julie follow Paul to see where Zach is and leads them to discovery of Dana...mystery deepens !

"I love everything about it. The sensations, the smells. I especially love the feel of a man. All that muscle and sinew pressed against my body. And then, when you add friction."--Bree (on sex)



A recurring device in the series that seems constantly evident is that of weaknesses. We all know everyone has a weakness whether it being lying, a particular sport, smoking, alcoholism and other familiar practices. Another theme on the show particularly in this episode that everyone wants to be in the driver's seat and getting what they believe is rightfully owed to them. Knowing the bittersweet reality of life we sometimes not always get what we want and have to fight for them no matter the harsh ending.



Last week, Zach had a lovely dinner with Bree and when he tried to reveal a family secret he ran out. Bree later sees Paul putting suitcases in a trunk and Zach getting in. We find out this week that Paul is keeping his son instituionalized (miles away from Fairview) since he is a "deeply troubled young man". Susan finds out when she secretly follows Paul. The following day, Susan brings Julie as her accomplice and while Susan distracts the guard, Julie sneaks in and moves towards Zach's room. When she sees Zach sitting alone, she enters and asks him what is bothering him. He tells her he is worried about what happened to Dana? Julie absorbs all this information at once and is quickly shooed out after a nurse catches her visiting Zach.



Meanwhile, Gabby is still being babysat by her mother-in law Juanita who is still trying to figure out if she is being unfaithful. Gabby being the smart woman she is tries to stall Mama Solis at all costs so she can have a few sacred moments alone with her fabulous gardener John. This means that Gabby does the unthinkable in order to get that one moment of satisfaction: when she places a stolen clothing item in her shopping bag and finds out from Carlos she has a gambling addiction after playing poker with the other wives. Gabby uses Mama's addiction by luring her to a casino which she runs into and exceeds Carlos' credit card limit. Gabby knows that Juanita would go to such a low and agrees to hock some of her old jewelry for cash to pay off the bill. Later, Mama gives Carlos the report and that she believes that Gabby is not stepping out on him. But the tables are turned when Carlos reveals to his mother he told Gabby about her little problem. Juanita comes to her final conclusion when Gabby walks straight passed John not even saying a word. Mama feels proud knowing that someone's about to be busted.



At a group therapy session with Dr. Goldfine, Bree learns that Rex would like to improve their sex life by hiring a sex surrogate to coach them. Bree feels hurt by Rex even suggesting such a thing since sex is such a private matter. At a restaurant the following day, Bree meets Dr. Goldfine who is eating alone and Bree asks if she would like to eat with him. However Dr. Goldfine has a policy that he cannot associate with clients. After a trade occurs, Dr. Goldfine allows Bree to sit down and eat and continues to talk of Rex's unusual request. That evening, Bree arrives at Rex's hotel room unannounced in the attempt to seduce him by wearing a stunning outfit which automatically gets her in bed. Bree returns to her perfectionist ways though when Rex's sandwich leans on the edge of the coffee table. Rex tells her to leave it but Bree interrupts the intercourse by repositioning the sandwich. Rex loses interest and asks her to leave.



Lynette helps out at the boys' new school with the upcoming school play where she meets Maisy Gibbons, a woman that no one likes to f*** around with. Lynette takes her as a challenge and when Maisy complains that "Little Red Riding Hood" should be made politically correct Lynette stands up to her and asks her that they not change it. Her suggestion wins by a landslide as all the other mothers agree. Maisy then treats her like a slave when she tells Lynette she is not pulling her weight. Lynette then asks one of the other very busy mothers Jordana how she does it. A little pill used for the sole purpose of calming down children with ADD has the opposite effect with those who do not have ADD. The following day, Lynette gets more done then she ever does in 8 years. The following evening she brings Maisy to a showdown when she makes a harsh comment on Lynette's designs. Lynette tells her they should take it outside only frustrating her even more. The other women praise Lynette for her independence and bravery and that Maisy has finally been defeated. However Lynette's new weakness would be popping pills which will get her nowhere except to a forseeable breakdown.



Other important events in "Running to Stand Still"...

*Gabrielle will do anything to get to her man John if that means framing her mother-in-law and exposing her weakness. Are we really that desperate?

*Marcia Cross really looked sexy in that fur coat and then when she took it off to reveal her stunning body, just beautiful. That is one of the things that attracted me to the show: how such beautiful women could be so willing to do anything it takes to solve a problem, in fact many if you think about it.

*People missing from the episode included Edie, Mrs. Huber and of course Mike. Seeing that there was so many plots and little ways to fit in the trio it felt kind of appropriate.

*In some ways if you haven't noticed, Julie is perhaps more of a mother to Susan then Susan is for her. What lengths Susan went to just to find out what exactly triggered her friend to suicide.



"Running to Stand Still" continues to amaze viewers and raise all of our suspicions as mysteries remain unsolved... at least for now slowly being revealed as time goes by. You have to think to yourself though: when all of these secrets arise to the surface, won't that be the day of reckoning for all those involved? To answer that "Yes, indeed".

It's all about power and control. Who has it and who knows how to use it. In "Running To Stand Still", the power and control shifts from each housewife to their antagonists and back again. And for some, back again.



A woman who should know a thing or two about control is Lynette Scavo. A former corporate head who was near to making partner in her firm before fulfilling the role of mother, she had to deal with tough nuts each and every day in her former line of work and those days are back. Enter Maisy Gibbons - a freakish control hound in her right who makes it her personal mission to scupper Lynette in every way possible, all because the Scavo managed to sway the rest of the Stepford Wives into having the Barcliff tykes performing the correct version of Little Red Riding Hood, instead of some lame politically correct version.



Normally Lynette's victories against someone like Maisy Gibbons would be reason for celebrating, if it wasn't for the worrying cocktail of ADD medication she uses to boost her energies. Thus, probably beginning our first possible drug addiction storyline on Wisteria Lane. And while Lynette may be on top now, i'm preparing for the inevitable crashdown.



Control being the central theme, someone who seems to have none of it really is Carlos as both Mama Solis and Gabrielle get to yank his chain with fun results. Juanita gets him to fire the maid, seconds laters he's rehired her. It's the world's most sloppiest adultress who comes out swinging as soon as she gets winds of Juanita's one big weakness and milks it to her advantage. Gabrielle's tricks may be foul but I do admire the woman's survival instincts, if nothing else about her. That being said, it seems that Gabby may have a rival for John's affections (Dan-Belle) and her moment of triumph looks to be shortlived. Hurrah (come on, I side with Juanita than Gabrielle).





Susan on the otherhand doesn't really have any control. She's determined to find out what happened to Mary Alice, but creepy Paul becomes pure asshole and tells her to mind her business while making sure that Zach, at Camp Crazy is only drugged. Never to be deterred, Susan unethically gets Julie (who is the more the grown up than her mother) to get some more info out of Zach. Susan's parenting skills may be questionable but Julie could turn out to be one cool secret ops gal in her future and at least Ms Mayer's motive are truly selfless. The latest clue on offer is the mystery Dana. More on that later.



The control theme is best used for Bree whose marriage counselling plot is now back in the fray. During the sessions with Dr Goldfine we were lead to believe that Bree was the repressed one in the sex department but we should have realised it was Rex. It almost makes sense. Every since they've been doing the counselling we've seen Bree attempt to connect with her husband, only for him to push her way. The motel scene, in which Bree goes from Martha Stewart to Heidi Fleiss best shows this. Okay, she panicked about the burrito but she wanted to continue her seduction, Rex was the one who came to a screeching halt, not her.



Even in the kitchen scenes and earlier at the restaurant, we were shown that Bree, despite her perfectionism still has blood pumping through her veins and I had to admit I laughed during the scene with Dr Goldfine when she described how much she really liked sex. Okay, so it reminded of the episode in Sex And The City where Charlotte met with a few prissy old friends and unloaded about her nonexistant sex life with Trey. Marcia Cross really played the dialogue brilliantly but that was only a lull to the moments where Bree tried to uncover Rex's problems. It felt like I was watching a HBO show for a second. Whatever Rex's problems are I don't know, though I wager some sort of sexual repression or kinkiness we've just to see but it does add a layer to the character.



Also in "Running To Stand Still"



Juanita (to Gabrielle): "It's only called help when you do some of the work yourself".



Did anyone notice the amount Juanita owed the casino was the same amount Yao Lin gets paid annually by Carlos? Coincidence much?



Maybe it was me but did it look like Dr Goldfine was reading a sex manual? And why didn't Bree attempt to probe him for info about Mary Alice?



Bree: "The only thing I don't like about sex is the scrotum. Sure it has its practical applications but i'm not a big fan".



I'm not straight but I will admit Marcia Cross did look stunning in a get up that LB Edie would be proud of.



Was it me or did the structure of the Van De Kamps kitchen really look like the coach house the Fishers have in Six Feet Under?



Juile:"How am I supposed to blend in with a bunch of messed up teenagers?"

Susan:"I dunno, pretend you're bullimic, gag a little".



Nice to see Susan's children books occupation get referenced. Now the writers may have her work sometimes.



The episode's title comes from a U2 song. I'm embarrassed to admit I haven't heard the song.



Speaking of music, i've noticed that the show has really used a lot of it. While I appreciate not using hit singles other shows tend to abuse, Desperate Housewives should take a leaf out of Sex And The City/Six Feet Under's book and use some to heighten certain scenes.



Theories about Dana - possibly a child Mary Alice had before Zach and Wisteria Lane. Most definitely the skeletal remains in that toy chest.



Although I noticed that Mike was a no show (yes I did miss him), I wasn't too heartbroken especially as next ep will more than make up for it.



There was a lot of red symbolism in the last couple of seconds in the episode. Not an original way to signify upcoming danger but effective nonetheless.



Lynette:"Next Spring when we do Bambi, his mother's gonna take a slug to the heart. And you're gonna like it".



"Running To Stand Still" is another excitingly paced episode. Funnier than the previous two with some truly quick fire pithy commentary and hilarious slapstick comedy especially from Huffman whose comic timing is improving, this was sheer entertainment. My only quibble is the men who did appear really got bugger all to do, but hey - can't have it all.

This is the first episode I saw since I was so busy and forgot the air date of this show and I got to say this is now one of my guilty pleasures. I only got to see the pilot and still wondered why Mary- Alice shot herself but that will have to wait in the next episode I see but still I think Gabby's mother-in-law is catching up to her scheams and all. I don't want to give a way anthing good but as they say better late than never!