Still ‘Desperate’ after five years

(Published Sept. 28, PDI-Entertainment)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

The fifth season of “Desperate Housewives” still utilizes its unique formula, which is equal parts drama and comedy, and a requisite dose of crime mystery. While previous seasons may just be pale, drawn-out versions of the initial one, it’s always been about the eventful, sometimes scandalous lives of the women of Wisteria Lane.

And to keep it from stagnating, the show makes a desperate but welcome jump at the end of season four. We see how the characters fare five years later in the subsequent season, the show revitalized with new ideas and situations focusing on far-from-perfect family bonds and romantic relationships.

Bree (Marcia Cross) is now a successful cookbook author but her marriage and friendships are deteriorating. Susan (Teri Hatcher) is raising a young son, and is dating a younger man. Gabby (Eva Longoria-Parker), previously unable to bear children, is now the mother of two girls. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is dealing with her husband’s midlife crisis, and later discovers an illicit affair between her teen son and a married woman. And Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) returns with a new husband, David (Neal McDonough), whose secret revenge plan affects a number of their neighbors.

The multiple characters still keep the viewer busy, and separate storylines still help the women evolve further. Some of the repetitive stories, however, center on Gabby’s financial woes, and Susan’s complicated relationships with her new beau and exes.

Vengeful David’s initial machinations keep many of the episodes lively, his complicated ruse and the character’s resourcefulness appropriately grating. David’s schemes and uncanny ability to adapt to his changing situations are engaging, but his arc builds up to an unspectacular climax.

The untimely demise of Sheridan’s character is a loss, and strong-willed Edie leaves a void that must be filled. Still, there’s a moving sendoff episode that examines her place in the lives of the other housewives, who were mostly former rivals.

While some of the women’s storylines rehash problems they already hurdled, the new concepts provide much-needed reinvigoration. The “five years later” gimmick is an experiment that succeeded, providing the mother-spouse characters new hopes and, yes, some interesting new flaws and insecurities.

“Desperate Housewives” season five reruns air on Studio 23, Thursdays at 9 p.m.