Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fifth Season – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews

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For the fifth season, the creative staff behind Desperate Housewives decided to speed things up and jump ahead five years. The purpose was to rejuvenate the stalled series, which hasn’t been as strong since the premiere season.

The series, set on the street of Wisteria Lane in the fictional American town of Fairview, Eagle State, centers around a group of women and their respective loved ones including Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross), Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria Parker), and Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan). These women are housewives who seem to have a desperate need to either be nosy neighbors and get into other people’s business or hide their own business from each other. Revealing these truths is their deceased neighbor and narrator Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong).

Now five years in the future, things have changed quite a bit on Wisteria Lane. Lynette and Tom (Doug Savant) Scavo are still running their pizza place, but now they have to deal with their twin teenager sons, Preston and Porter (Charles and Max Carver). Bree has now fully become a cooking megastar, but her catering business partner, Katherine (Dana Delaney), feels a little left out. Susan and Mike (James Denton) have gotten divorced, this after a tragic car accident involving them killed a mother and her daughter. Now Susan is dating a young painter named Jackson (Gale Harold). Meanwhile, former high-life model Gabrielle has given birth to two daughters and has to raise them mainly on her own, since her husband Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) is still blind. She has let herself go downhill as a result. The biggest storyline this season revolves around Edie. She was blackballed out of town years before, but moves back to the neighborhood with her new husband Dave (Neal McDonough), a motivational speaker. Of course, there has to be a mystery behind every season and Dave is a mysterious individual with a sinister side that will soon be revealed. Overall, the writing is as strong as ever this season.

With the improved writing, the cast is able to really show off their skills. Lynette is still the emotional center of the series; Bree is still the main comic relief; Susan is still involved in all the love triangles; and Edie is still Edie. The big surprise is that Gabrielle is now the mother figure on the show. But since all of these characters are now five years older, they now can all have added layers to their characters that fit in naturally. The biggest and best addition to the cast is Neal McDonough. He plays a great villain, and he certainly makes the storyline behind Dave interesting to watch throughout the season. Even the new kids added to the cast to play the older children of Gabrielle and Lynette fit in with the rest of the cast well as well.

The decision to do a major shake-up in terms of storylines proved successful as the writing in this season was almost as good as season one. Even with dragging storylines, the main mystery (though anticlimatic) was strong. The cast always kept things interesting even when the writing didn’t sizzle. With most of the main cast returning next season, things look more promising for Desperate Housewives than they did a couple of years ago.

Disc One:

Episode 1 – You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow
Five years later and the housewives of Wisteria Lane have different lives. Susan is no longer married to Mike, Bree is a successful business woman, Gabrielle has children, Lynette has to deal with her teenage kids and husband that is having a midlife crisis and Edie is married to a guy named Dave.

Episode 2 – We’re So Happy, You’re So Happy
Lynette is concerned about Porter, Susan is not exactly enjoying that her ex-husband and her new boyfriend are becoming close. Meanwhile, Mrs. McCluskey suspects something about Edie’s husband Dave.

Episode 3 – Kids Ain’t Like Everybody Else
Bree’s estranged daughter, Danielle, returns to Wisteria Lane and is met with a deluge of criticism. Meanwhile, Gabrielle and Susan find themselves embroiled in a catfight brought on by an altercation between their kids. To her chagrin, Lynette comes home to find Tom and Dave have formed a garage band after she told him to get rid of his old things. Finally, Katherine and Mrs. McCluskey invite Edie to lunch to press her for more information on Dave.

Episode 4 – Back in Business
Bree’s new cookbook and entrepreneurial success has the women of Wisteria Lane feeling envious. Lynette’s longing for a taste of her breadwinning days as an ad-exec leads her to lend an unsolicited hand to Bree’s marketing plan. MJ’s drawing of a family portrait has left Mike feeling like he’s not a presence in his son’s life. Gabrielle hatches a plan to have more sex with Carlos. Susan teaches a reluctant MJ how to fall. Meanwhile, Dave’s motives for moving to the neighborhood continue to take shape.

Disc Two:

Episode 5 – Mirror, Mirror
Driven by a hidden agenda, Dave convinces Susan to throw Mrs. McCluskey a surprise party for her 70th birthday. Jackson wants to take his relationship with Susan to the next level. Gabrielle’s concerned she might be pregnant. Tom tells Lynette he’s sold the pizzeria. A startling reason for the bond between Bree and Katherine is revealed. And finally, an outraged Mrs. McCluskey has the entire neighborhood questioning her sanity.

Episode 6 – There’s Always a Woman
Gabrielle is over the moon when Carlos’ client makes them an offer they can’t refuse, but a startling discovery leaves her second guessing. Lynette grows suspicious that Tom is cheating on her. After breaking up with Jackson, Susan tries to surprise him, only to find the surprise is on her. Meanwhile, the bond between Bree and Katherine grows when the latter reveals she plans to move to Maryland. Finally, Mrs. McCluskey enlists the help of her sister Roberta (guest star Lily Tomlin) to dig up dirt on Dave.

Episode 7 – What More Do I Need?
Lynette and Tom uncover the unsettling truth about their son Porter. Gabrielle suspects Carlos’ best client, Virginia (guest star Frances Conroy), has ulterior motives. Bree’s moment of weakness could bring her great embarrassment and shame. Katherine’s secret affair is unveiled. Susan learns of Jackson’s true passion. Finally, Mrs. McCluskey’s sister Roberta (guest star Lily Tomlin) unearths a disturbing fact about Dave.

Episode 8 – Only On Fire
Susan’s daughter Julie comes to visit with her surprising new boyfriend (guest star Steven Weber). Gabrielle learns that Virginia Hildebrand (guest star Frances Conroy) has made her and Carlos heirs of her entire fortune. A reporter looks to expose Bree’s imperfections. Lynette learns Porter and Anne Schilling (guest star Gail O’Grady) plan to leave Fairview and disappear. Finally, everyone has gathered at a club to see the guys play in the annual “Battle of the Bands” when a fire erupts, threatening the lives of those in attendance. Some will fall as a hero will rise.

Disc Three:

Episode 9 – Me and My Town
or Gabrielle and Carlos, injuries sustained in the fire lead to a fortunate discovery. But for most, the consequences are less benign. Lynette and Tom vow to protect son Porter at any cost, though they too worry that he may have been the culprit behind the arson. Susan must learn to let go of the man she loves. Orson’s attempt at a good night’s sleep puts Bree in a most precarious, though amusing, position on the day of her big cooking demonstration.

Episode 10 – A Vision’s Just a Vision
ynette takes extreme measures to protect her son. Carlos realizes the extent of Gabrielle’s sacrifices for their family. Bree wants to prove to Andrew that she has accepted him for who he is. Katherine finds happiness, as Susan and Mike recognize the fate of their relationship. Meanwhile, Dave starts to lose his grip.

Episode 11 – Home is the Place
Bree clashes with Alex’s mother (guest star Joanna Cassidy) for their sons’ affections. Gabrielle urges Carlos to take a six-figure job, even though it means spending more time away from home. Susan turns to Lee for company while Jackson is away. Lynette catches Preston talking to Porter on the phone. Mrs. McCluskey and her sister, Roberta (guest star Lily Tomlin), arrive at Dr. Heller’s office in Boston to talk with him unaware that he’s recently deceased. Meanwhile, Edie grows weary of Dave, whose strange behavior hasn’t abated.

Episode 12 – Connect! Connect!
Connections lead to surprising resolutions, as Susan and Edie are forced to spend time alone together when they accidentally lock themselves in a basement. Bree doesn’t like it when Alex (guest star Todd Grinnell) indicates that she is emasculating her husband. Gabrielle loses control of her children and turns to Carlos for help. The ongoing search for Porter leads Lynette to her mother, Stella (guest star Polly Bergen). Katherine and Mike define their relationship. Meanwhile, Dave gets a step closer to exacting revenge.

Disc Four:

Episode 13 – The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened
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.

Episode 14 – Mama Spent Money When She Had None
Bree reaps the success of her new book by treating herself to a new car, while Lynette and Tom resolve to sell his Mustang for some extra cash. Susan is determined to send MJ to the best school, even though she and Mike can’t afford it. Meanwhile, Gabrielle joins Edie’s no nonsense boot camp to get herself back into shape, and Lee is conflicted over whether to tell Lynette and Tom some disturbing facts about Dave.

Episode 15 – In a World Where the Kings are Employers
Susan starts a new job in order to give son MJ the best, but when Mike leaves their son in Katherine’s care, anger and jealousy pervade. As the Scavo restaurant continues to take a hit in the current economy, Lynette tells Tom they have to sell. Carlos receives a generous bonus when Gabrielle discovers his boss’ dirty little secret. Orson confronts Bree when he learns she’s given Andrew a raise. Meanwhile, Dave comes closer to performing his vengeance scheme.

Episode 16 – Crime Doesn’t Pay
In a gesture of friendship, Bree tells Lynette she’ll help Tom secure a new job, but the best intentions will reach a tempestuous end and reveal Orson’s shameful misdeeds. Gaby finds herself in a precarious position when Carlos’ adulterous boss begins using her to cover for himself as he continues to cheat on his wife. Meanwhile, Edie digs into Dave’s past after a chance encounter with an old acquaintance.

Disc Five:

Episode 17 – The Story of Lucy and Jesse
When Susan tries to impress Jessie (guest star Swoosie Kurtz), a teacher at work, Jessie comes away with the wrong impression. With the wrong intent, Gaby convinces Carlos to hire Lynette, and Carlos finds himself working with an old acquaintance (guest star Lesley Boone as Lucy). As Orson’s shameful habit grows, Bree will protect herself from embarrassment at all costs, and a suspicious Edie slyly digs further into Dave’s past.

Episode 18 – A Spark, To Pierce the Dark
ree considers selling her business to save her marriage. Lynette is threatened by her new boss, and boundaries are crossed for Gabrielle and Carlos. Meanwhile, Katherine is caught in the most unexpected of circumstances and Edie’s worst fears come true.

Episode 19 – Look Into Their Eyes And You See What They Know
As the women look back on Edie’s life, Susan recalls their first meeting, Lynette reflects on a memorable afternoon out, Bree is reminded of the thoughtfulness she bestowed upon Orson, and Gaby remembers fondly a night of friendly competition.

Episode 20 – Rose’s Turn
Carlos finds Lynette in a precarious position, which she chooses to hide from Tom, and Gabrielle hastily covers for Tom’s coy behavior. Orson tries to hide the truth about his wounds from Bree, while Katherine confesses to Mike, which leads to a surprising realization. In the meantime, Susan confides her dark secret in Dave.

Disc Six:

Episode 21 – Bargaining
Bree sinks to a new low to retain the best lawyer, and Gabrielle’s vanity is put to the test when she makes a deal with her daughter Juanita. Meanwhile, Lynette and Tom negotiate sex, and Katherine deceives Mike to win his heart. Jackson (guest star Gale Harold) walks back into Susan’s life with a proposal, and an unexpected visit sends Dave to do some bargaining of his own.

Episode 22 – Marry Me A Little
Bree goes to extremes to hide her true intentions from Orson, while Susan and Jackson (guest star Gale Harold) put on an act for the authorities. Lynette is shocked at the lengths Tom will go to in order to look younger, and Katherine masks the truth from Mike, afraid to lose him. Meanwhile, Dave is on edge when he learns a key witness to his misdeeds surfaces.

Episode 23 – Everybody Says Don’t
Gabrielle and Carlos attend a family meeting hosted by Carlos’ aunt Connie (guest star Liz Torres), who reveals an ulterior motive. Bree comes clean to Orson about her true intentions behind stealing and hiding her stuff, and Orson blackmails her into staying married to him. Lynette freaks out when she learns her husband wants to go back to college to study… Chinese. Susan learns just how desperate Katherine is to get Mike to stay with her after Jackson (guest star Gale Harold) tells her he believes Mike was the one who gave him away to the authorities. In the meantime, Roberta Simmons (guest star Lily Tomlin) learns of Dr. Heller’s death, and Dave records a very important tape and starts hallucinating again.

Episode 24 – If It’s Only In Your Head
Bree tells Karl about Orson’s shady blackmail scheme, and Karl finds a way to scare him off, but things backfire when Bree becomes upset with him and Orson still doesn’t leave her. Tom learns he’s been accepted in college after all, and Lynette worries her cancer might be back. Katherine and Mike head off to the airport to get married in Las Vegas afterwards. Ana Solis (guest star Maiara Walsh), Carlos’ niece, arrives on Wisteria Lane to stir up some trouble. Karen and her sister Roberta (guest star Lily Tomlin) break into Dave’s home, and in the meantime Dave comes closer and closer to exacting his revenge schemes, and no one is safe.

The video is given in anamorphic widescreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, which is enhanced for 16X9 TVs. The transfer is great with minimal grain. Like previous seasons, nothing but quality, top-notch video from ABC. Not many compression issues.

The audio included is in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound. There are subtitles available in English, Spanish, and French as well. The music is crisp and the dialogue is succinct.

Audio Commentaries - 
There are 2 audio commentaries for 2 different episodes in this season.
Larry Shaw (producer), Doug Savant (actor), Kyle MacLachlan (actor) and James Denton (actor) comment on the “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow” episode. Then, Marc Cherry (creator) and Brenda Strong (narrator) comment on the 100th episode of the series entitled “The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened”. The first one is more entertaining, since most cast members are involved, while the second one is more insightful. So between there is a nice mix, and worth listening to for fans of the series.

“What More Do I Need?: A Very Good Read” Featurette
This runs 11 minutes and it shows the cast doing a roundtable reading for the episode “Connect! Connect!” It’s interesting to watch the writers and actors interact and fine-tune and polish lines that were written for them. It is explained that the actors often change lines to make things flow together better.

“I Know Things Now: Desperate Housewives Celebrates 100 Featurette
This runs 21 minutes and it focuses on the 100th episode and the series itself. The actors look back at the pilot and the series impact around the world. They talk about the trouble with classifying the series as either a comedy or a drama. Then, there is footage from the party that had past cast members showing up and the ladies starting a fight with the cake. Another good and intriguing piece.

“So Very Teri Featurette
This runs 8 minutes and it’s all about Teri Hatcher with the focus on how Susan is always the one doing pratfalls and other physical comedy stunts on the show. Not as good as the previous featurettes, but solid nonetheless.

“Cherry Picked: Creator Marc Cherry’s Favorite Scenes”
The creator, Marc Cherry, picked 7 scenes that were his “favorite” of the season for various reasons. These total 14 minutes, and you have the option of hearing Cherry explain why he likes each scene. Once again these are all great and memorable scenes in this season, so it’s always nice to hear the creator’s take on them.

Deleted Scenes
There are 8 scenes that got cut from this season. They total 8 minutes. All of them were cut for time reasons, but none of them are scenes that are “must-watch” or anything. Fans might want to check this out, though

Bloopers
Your standard set of screw ups and gags that run for 6 minutes. The usual not really funny stuff.

The time jump allowed Desperate Housewives to stay fresh, and should let the series run smoothly for a few more seasons without any problems. It will be tough to beat this season, though.


Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment presents Desperate Housewives: Season 5. Created by Marc Cherry. Starring Terri Hacher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria Parker, Nicolette Sheridan, Brenda Strong, Ricardo Chavira, Doug Savant, James Denton, Shawn Pyfrom, Andrea Bowen, Kyle MacLachlan, Kathryn Joosen, Dana Delany, Richard Burgi, and Neal McDonough. Running time: 1032 minutes. Rated: NOT RATED. Released on DVD: September 1, 2009. Available at Amazon.com

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