In last night’s third season premiere of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, narrator Mary-Alice had this to say about rain, “This is what rainy days are good for, they make everything clean again. Which is necessary on a street like Wisteria Lane, where everything can get so messy”
Reading between the lines, it sounds as if creator Marc Cherry was asking the audience to forgive him for a not-so-spectacular second season, while at the same time pronouncing that HOUSEWIVES is ready to take back the title of the ‘most-buzzed about show on TV’ (watch your back GREY’S ANATOMY).
Last night’s episode gave fans everything they should expect from a re-energized group of housewives. A new and intriguing mystery (so long Betty Applewhite!), a classic Bree moment (“I don’t do that — I’m a Republican!”), some phenomenal guest stars (properly used) including the always fantastic Laurie Metcalf (ROSEANNE), Dougray Scott and Kathryn Joosten (I love Mrs. Landingham) and finally, no Paul Young — His character and story sucked all the entertainment out of last season.
So far I’m loving Gabrielle’s battle of wits with her maid/surrogate Xiao-Mei. And was surprisingly not annoyed by Susan and her story with Mike ‘coma-boy’ Delfino. My only complaint about the episode is the Lynette/Tom storyline. Everytime ‘crazy’ Nora enters a scene I want to fast-forward my PVR. Even in TV land, no woman is that deluded to think she can just join a family like that. Let’s hope the writers have a plan to make Nora ‘disappear’ and soon. This is after-all Wisteria Lane and folks have a habit of disappearing all the time. Perhaps creepy Orson will take care of Lynette’s ‘Nora problem’ for us?
All this TV addict has to say is this: Marc Cherry, keep giving us episodes as fun as last night, and you won’t have to worry about opening season four with a mea culpa.