Desperate Housewives – Don’t call my name, Alejandro!

With only eleven more episodes left in its concluding season, Desperate Housewives managed to offer up a very entertaining installment, a nice improvement over last week’s tame chapter. It’s no secret that the writers have had trouble in the past when it comes to balancing multiple housewives in addition to a mystery element. Does season five ring a bell? Nevertheless, this particular episode proved just what those writers can do when they put their minds to it. However, that isn’t to say that every storyline was stellar. There was one minor exception … Bree.

You know it’s got to be a sad day on Wisteria Lane when Bree Van de Kamp doesn’t mind being labeled a slut. This episode found the neighborhood drunk bedding multiple men … including one that was married. Jeez, Bree! What happened to your ethical standards? And to think she once had a problem with Edie kissing Orson back in season four. As usual, I digress. After the rarely seen Mrs. McCluskey alerts Reverend Sikes to Bree’s newfound promiscuity, the good ole holy man goes to fetch the intoxicated redhead from the bar where she is busy flirting with yet another man. However, she refuses to leave. It seems Bree has taken quite a liking to wood … and I’m not referring to the lumber that they sell at your local Home Depot. After a showdown at a church social with the wife of one of her gentleman callers, Bree decides to embrace her newfound inner slut and leaves with her head held high.

As entertaining as this plot was supposed to be, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Bree. Clearly she is acting out. It’s nothing more than a call for help. Here’s hoping that Kyle MacLachlan‘s Orson Hodge gets to her soon to knock some sense into her because Bree is undoubtedly spiraling out of control. Still, one can’t blame her. Bree’s lackluster friends turned their backs on her when she was doing nothing more than trying to help protect them all. This really irks me. It seems she has no one left … well, no one except Renee Perry who has been increasingly more fascinating these days.

Renee’s storyline took an interesting turn this week when Ben, or the hot Aussie as my friend Leontyne affectionately refers to him, proposed. Sadly, he was only in it for Renee’s millions. It seems that things have been going amiss with his company, and Ben needs all of the cash he can get. However, one thing that I did like was that Ben withdrew his proposal once he realized just how much he’d hurt Renee in the process. Unfortunately, once she discovered the truth, Renee broke up with him and shattered a vase on the way out of his home. Way to keep it sassy, Renee! With Renee out of the picture, Ben was forced to deal with the shady financier from last week who warned him that if he missed two payments, something bad would happen. Whatever could he be referring to? Death perhaps? Furthermore, he also mentioned Renee’s cash. Could Renee be in danger? Only time will tell.

Lynette had a smaller plot this week. After enlisting the aid of Renee and Gaby in order to land a new man, Lynette ends up going on a date with Renee’s hairdresser, a kind gentleman who just divorced a controlling and manipulative wife. Go figure! Needless to say, Lynette ruins their date when she becomes hypercritical of him, but later admits to Renee that she is starting to realize the degree of her control issues. I have to say that while Lynette’s plot this season seems to be moving a little slower than what I’d prefer, I think it’s nice to see her finally learning from her mistakes.

It was also nice to see the writers wrap up the lengthy Alejandro plot. In order to effectively do so, Gabrielle and Susan shared a storyline. It turns out that Alejandro’s wife tracked Susan down and believed she was having an affair with her husband. Susan comes clean to Gaby about her trip to Oklahoma City, and Gaby decides to tell Alejandro’s wife the truth about what really happened to her husband. However, she neglects to mention that he was killed. It’s after her daughter reveals that she was also molested that Alejandro’s wife notices the red stain underneath Gaby’s carpet. Gaby told her it was wine, but the wife knows better. She gives Gabrielle a knowing look and tells her that she should really get the “wine stain” removed.

So, is the Alejandro plot really over? Or will Alejandro’s wife go to the authorities? To be honest, I don’t think she will. She seemed rather satisfied knowing that her husband was dead. I think this storyline has come to an end, and I’ve really enjoyed it. Perhaps now the writers can focus on getting the ladies back together for poker … oh, and then there’s the matter of finding out who has been sending Bree those notes. Creepy.

The next episode of Desperate Housewives airs February 12 … just in time for sweeps. What a coincidence! Until then, we’ve been given a few questions to ponder. Who is sending the mysterious notes? Will Lynette ever find love? Will Bree ever get sober? Will Susan ever get a brain? Is Mike in danger? Heck if I know! That’s why I’m asking you guys! Feel free to sound off below!

Clacked by Jaylen Christie
on Jan 23, 2012 @ 13:03 EST5EDT