Last night’s episode of Desperate Housewives was called “The Little Things You Do Together,” and though it played out like a season finale, it most certainly wasn’t. There were plenty of questions answered and a major storyline was wrapped up, so let’s get right to the recap. So much happened that I’m just going to use bullet points and give highlights rather than attempt to give a blow-by-blow of the entire episode:
- Orson didn’t kill Monique, his mother did. It was also Mrs. Hodge’s idea to remove Monique’s teeth so she couldn’t be identified. Orson went along with the cover-up because he felt guilty about his father’s suicide (which, actually, was another of Mrs. Hodge’s murders).
- Mrs. Hodge tries to kill Bree, making it look like suicide, but Orson intervenes just in time. In the ensuing struggle, Mrs. Hodge has a stroke and is left completely paralyzed and unable to talk.
- Alma died after falling off the roof of her house in an attempt to escape from the attic where Mrs. Hodge had locked her up. Orson makes it look like Alma was the one who killed Monique in a jealous rage, and also makes it look like his mother had a stroke after finding Alma’s body. In other words, Mike, Orson, and Bree are all free and clear now.
- The Scavos had the grand opening for the pizza parlor, and despite Lynette’s mistake in ordering chairs, the night is a big success. Tom chokes up during his thank you speech, and it’s clear that he’s very happy about everything (and grateful that Lynette is helping him out).
- Gabby wakes up in bed next to a half-naked Zach, who tells her that they slept together. Gabby is totally hung over from the night before and can’t remember a thing. Later on, however, Carlos gets a glance at Zach while they’re standing at the urinals in Tom’s restaurant, and he tells Gabby that she would remember if she had sex with Zach. Gabby then freaks out because Zach lied to her and tells him that the whole friendship thing isn’t working. Later, Carlos says that the friendship thing isn’t working for him either, which I hope means that they’ll get back together soon!
- Ian found out that Mike had an engagement ring on him when he was in that car accident. Obviously the ring was intended for Susan, and that fact kicks Ian into gear. He proposes to her at the Scavo party and she says yes, while a depressed Mike looks on.
My Reaction: I thought this was one of the strongest DH episodes of the entire third season! I am so glad to finally be done with that Monique murder mystery, and while I still think that the writers intended Orson to be a bad guy and then changed their mind mid-stream (the dangling plot threads bear this out, I think), I’m satisfied with the way the situation was resolved.
I am also glad that the stupid Zach/Gabby storyline seems to be over once and for all. That was tiresome (x10). Now I hope we get to focus on Gabby and Carlos, because that’s where the real action is, IMO!
I thought the pizza parlor opening was a bit of a letdown; the writers spent so much time on the set up that the payoff should have been way better. I am interested in seeing how the working relationship changes Tom and Lynette’s relationship, so I’m not giving up on this storyline just yet.
The best lines of the night all belonged to Carlos. I can’t give exact quotes here, but I’m sure you’ll know what I’m talking about: “You bagged another neighborhood kid?” “I’m going to warn the Scavo boys.” “You’d KNOW if you had sex with Zach” (said while patting a huge salami). “Seabiscuit” (throwaway reference to Zach later on).
MORE CARLOS, PLEASE!!!!
