Last week on Desperate Housewives it was revealed that Beth’s mother is Felicia Tillman, which was a shock to no one. I am not sure who is crazier in this scenario, Felicia for concocting an elaborate revenge plot that involves sending her daughter to seduce Paul in prison and then marry him, or Beth for going along with it. When Beth (Emily Bergl) goes to visit the prison and reveals to her mother that she finally had sex with Paul her response is concern. “Sex makes women stupid” she tells Beth. “Don’t allow yourself to develop feelings that you have no business having.” But she suggests that Beth try to get him to spill some info on the murder of Martha Huber after they have sex. There is no better time to ask about a murder than during post-coital bliss right?
It is an early holiday on Wisteria Lane thanks to the show being preempted next week for the American Music Awards. Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) and Gabby (Eva Longoria) have invited Grace and her family to eat with them. Renee (Vanessa Williams) invites Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and her family to her house and gets Susan (Teri Hatcher) by default which annoys her.
“She’s perky and poor, and makes me thankful I’m not her.” Renee snarks.
Poor Susan. I rejoiced when they finally wrote her out of the silly internet porn storyline but now the writers have dumped her into an equally silly nanny storyline in an effort to keep her on Wisteria Lane so she can interact with the other wives. It feels forced to me. Surely an accomplished artist and writer like Susan can find something that pays better than being Lynette’s nanny. I just don’t buy it. But if she could we wouldn’t be treated to the riveting drama of Susan and Lynette clashing over their differing opinions of child rearing. Lynette believes in letting a baby cry itself to sleep in order to train it how to sooth itself. Susan is a softy and can’t stand it. I’m sorry but it’s boring. It does lead to the revalation that Susan is not coping well with Mike in Alaska and MJ crying himself to sleep every night. It was a moving moment even if the build up was less than interesting.
Bree (Marcia Cross) is surprised to see Keith’s mother walking up her sidewalk with a potted plant. Dr. Wagner (Nancy Travis) stopped by to apologize for her appalling behavior when they first met. After she reveals that she’s a little bummed that Keith (Brian Austin Green) won’t be eating Thanksgiving dinner at their house Bree invites the Wagners to join them for dinner. It seems harmless enough, but the Wagners are not getting along and Bree suggests that Mary tell Richard (John Schneider) how she feels.
As with most holiday dinners on this street things don’t go so smoothly. Keith’s parents fight all during the meal making everyone uncomfortable until Mary finally asks Richard for a divorce. At the Solis house, Gabby forgot the pies so Carlos sends her out with Carmen’s husband Hector to pick them up. They get pulled over by the cops and it is revealed that he and Carmen are illegal immigrants. Carmen panics and rushes home to move her and Grace to Texas before the cops show up. Gabby convinces her to stay with them for a few days instead because she isn’t ready to say goodbye to Grace. And when she finds out that Grace is a US citizen you could just see the wheels turning in her head. She leaves Carmen to talk to Gay Bob the lawyer so she can tend to the girls in the kitchen. When Grace says to Gabby that she wishes she could live there all the time Gabby doesn’t hesitate to tell her that maybe she could make that happen. I predict a gut wrenching scene where Carmen is being hauled away in a police car while Grace waves from the Solis’ front porch.
For me this wasn’t a strong episode. The Beth/Felicia/Paul plot is just pointless. Of all the characters they could have brought back Paul Young was the last one I wanted to see again. Granted, his presence is a nod to the shows beginnings. He was married to the omnipotent Mary Alice whose suicide kick started the whole show six seasons ago so I guess I can see why having Paul back makes sense. I just don’t have to like it. And my feelings on the direction of Susan Delfino this year are well documented. And where was Bree’s son Andrew? Why wasn’t he at dinner?
What I do find interesting is the fling that Tom Scavo (Doug Savant) had with Renee twenty years ago. I don’t remember how long Tom and Lynette have been married but I am guessing that this fling happened either just after they met otherwise it wouldn’t be of any interest to anyone. And you know it’s going to come out and Lynette will not be pleased.
As the episode winds down Beth tells her mother that she believes maybe Paul didn’t kill Martha after all. Felicia loses it which pushes Beth even more securely into Paul’s arms. I don’t know where this plot is going but I hope it gets there soon.
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