The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened

Season 5, Episode 13, Aired
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Episode Summary

When neighborhood handyman Eli Scruggs (guest star Beau Bridges), passes away, the residents of Wisteria Lane come to realize just how much he affected their lives. Gabrielle recalls how Eli helped her make new friends when she moved in, Lynette remembers how he came to her aide when she was overwhelmed and neglected Penny, Susan reflects on how he was always there for her as a shoulder to cry on each time a man walked out of her life, Edie looks back on their special friendship, and Bree thinks fondly of how a small gesture he once made helped get her to where she is today.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (47)

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  • the 100th episode of Desperate Housewives!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By RockyBoc, Jun 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    I loved this epsiode and i thought it was the perfect way for the show to celebrate its 100th episode. Showing just how the female leads have developed and changed over the years was great 2 see and all through the local handyman.
    I loved Lynettes flashback and as well as being funny was also very emotional in the fact that she realised she was going to put work above her kids. Brees again was very emotional and showed just how far she has come as a person from being that perfect housewife to being a sucessfull business woman!
    Edies flashback was definatly the comic one of the ladies although Gabrielles featured some great comedy 2. Overall a great way for the show to celebrate its 100th episode and it was nice to see Mary Alice, Rex and Mrs Huber again!moreless

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    6 0

  • An interesting episode and we get to see some of our favourite ladies step a little out of the norm.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By mistresswitch, Jun 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    This isn't my favourite episode, but that's ok. It's still a good one and we get to see a different side to the Wisteria lane women. We get to see them as themselves, but, also in a non-selfish caring way.

    I haven't seen Eli before and possibly we have (or not) I don't think it actually matters in this episode as we are on the journey to seeing how each of the characters has been affected by someone outside of their circle.

    I'm a sap, so, Susan's tears worked for me. I saw character differently than what I have done before and I got to see more of her evolution as well, in 5 mins I got more of her character than watching this on & off for the last few years.

    One of the reasons why I liked this episode is that it was a one off, not in the middle of any other story line, it was just there, diverted us a little from other storyline arcs we've seen.

    Good episode to put your feet up to.moreless

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    0 1

  • Desperate Housewives reaches its 100th episode and, frankly, the jury's out.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By screenagedkicks, Jun 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    Desperate Housewives reaches its 100th episode and, frankly, the jury's out. Perhaps wisely, Marc Cherry chooses to reject conventional expectation and eschews the action-packed in favour of a quiet, reflective piece that studies the personalities of our central cast through the eyes of an outsider. Beau Bridges is instantly loveable as the utterly selfless Eli Scruggs; he brings an understated intelligence to the part that prevents his 'role' as mechanic for the housewives' hearts from becoming overly clichd or hokum. It is certainly fun to watch his rather overly successful attempt to reassure Edie that she hasn't lost her 'touch' (the moment that she pushes him onto the bed is priceless), and the sequence in which he comforts Susan in the aftermath of her break-up with Mike is one of the highlights of the season. The dialogue is pitched perfectly and contains a great deal that has needed to be said for quite some time: finally, Susan gets the recognition she deserves for being brave enough to open up her heart, time and time and time again. All too often, the show either berates her (usually through Edie) for not wanting to be single, or makes comedy out of her poor track record with men. It is good to see her strengths being highlighted here; it certainly makes a refreshing change. Eli's other contributions to the housewives' lives are also relatively interesting - particularly Lynette's, as Felicity Huffman proves she's the best damn actress on the show, yet again - but therein, perhaps, is the problem. The stories may be of interest but they don't truly grip: sure, it's nice to see how Gaby becomes accepted by the group but is there really anything in this to be truly excited about? Eli rescues Bree's first attempt at writing a cook book from the trash and gives it back to her following Rex's death. Again, a nice morsel of a plot point but nothing truly engaging. And the final sequence, in which the housewives gather for Eli's funeral, takes the episode into truly corny territory; Bree's 'I wanted to fix something for Eli' is a completely unnecessary vocalisation of activity. The scene would arguably have had a far greater level of poignancy without it. Clearly, this is the emotion Cherry was aiming for and, for a significant proportion of the episode, he achieves it. It's just a shame the things he had to say about our housewives couldn't have had a little more substance. Still, nice to see Mrs Huber, Yao Lin, Rex Van De Kamp and Mary Alice again.moreless

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    0 5

  • One of the best episodes of Desperate Housewives. Very entertaining. Great story.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By NikoGlogowski, Jun 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    This is the 100th episode to air on a Sunday on ABC (the show's airdate in America has not changed since the series began). What a great episode! It resembles the first season. After the ones of the first and the fourth season, this episode has become one of my favourites. Beau Bridges received an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series" for his performance as Eli Scruggs in this episode. He really deserves it. A great quote: "Susan: You can't retire. I break too many things! - Eli: I know! You're paying for my trip to Hawaii."moreless

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  • A beautiful stand alone episode.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By attackmonkeygo, Jun 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    I love the story arc and this tale stands alone and proud. Connecting with past Desperate Wives tales it pulls in the streets ladies deepening characters in a way beautifully told. Funny and sentimental. I have only recently got into the show and have watched through them ever so fast. This stopped me in my tracks, dynamically clever story arcs, with character driven comedy that although sometimes pushes the envelope of belivabilty in its storyline never chooses to sell out the charcters. Well done for this episode. "You're my hero" had me choked and the baby in the car was perfectly realised and superbly acted, Felicity Huffman is something else. Thank you.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Goof: Eli started to help out the residents in Wisteria Lane as a result of not being able to prevent Mary Alice's death. However early in the episode in Gabrielle's flashback Eli helped Gabrielle get her friends when Mary Alice was still alive. Edit
    • This episode marks the third time a character has had a husband that turned out to be gay Sophie Bremmer's third husband, Stella Wingfield's husband Glen (Lynette's step-father), and now Edie's second husband, Umberto. Edit
    • Goof: Martha Huber's hair color and style look different from the pilot when she discovered Mary Alice's body. Back then she was a redhead and her hair looked quite messy while in this episode it has a blondish look and is more blow-dried. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: To nejlepší, co nás kdy potkalo (The Best Thing That Ever Befell Us) Edit
    • Beau Bridges received an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series" for his performance as Eli Scruggs in this episode. Edit
    • This episode marks the 100th appearances by Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Eva Longoria Parker as Gabrielle Solis and Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young (although in episode 3.16, "My Husband, the Pig", she only performed an original voice-over for the Previously on "Desperate Housewives"... segment). Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Susan: You can't retire. I break too many things! Eli: I know! You're paying for my trip to Hawaii. Edit
    • Eli: Come on! You've had a gay guy sleeping with you for two years; now those guys are pretty hard to land. (Eli and Edie both laugh) Eli: Now trust me, no need to be sad. You're a knockout. (Eli kisses Edie's hand. In response to this, Edie holds Eli's hand tighter) Eli: I...I need this hand back. It's hard to be a handy man without a hand. (Edie gives Eli a very passionate kiss) Eli: Ms. Britt, what are you doing? Edie: Put the mirror over my bed. (pushes Eli backward onto the bed) You know exactly what I'm doing. (climbs onto the bed and prepares to ride Eli) Eli: Are you sure about this? I don't want to take advantage over you, unless I have to. (Edie rips open Eli's shirt) Edie: Oh, I'm sure you'll be gentle. (rips open her own shirt, exposing her bra) Edit
    • Lynette: Allright... Time for my luck to change. This hand is for Eli. (Looks at her cards) Hmm... next hand is for Eli. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • We see Gabrielle making the remark: "I've only lived here a month and I want to put a gun to my head". She then turns and gives Mary Alice a friendly pat on the shoulder. It is well known that Mary Alice actually killed herself by putting a gun to her head and shooting herself. Edit
    • Gabrielle: I guess I'm just gonna have to get used to the fact that the best part of my life is behind me. "Goodbye" drinking vodka shots with Kate Moss and "Hello" to sipping international coffee with you girls. Kate Moss is an English model born on January 16th 1974. She is very famous for her tiny frame that is pretty uncommon among models. Edit
    • Gabrielle: So I said, 'Pumpkin', that's what I call Jon Bon Jovi, I said 'Pumpkin, even if I could steer a yacht, I'm certainly not about to do it in 5-inch heels. Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician and songwriter. He was born on March 2nd 1962. He is the leader of his rock band called Bon Jovi. Edit

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