By J.E.
After last week’s stronger than expected season premiere, I found myself anxiously awaiting the newest episode of Desperate Housewives, which is something I hadn’t really done since early in Season 2. Surprisingly enough, “Smiles of a Summer Night” proved to be an excellent follow-up to the premiere, and has thrust Desperate Housewives back up near the top of my list of favorite shows. Here’s what happened in episode 4×02.
Carlos/Edie: Edie has resorted to flat-out blackmail in order to get Carlos to marry her. It was her birthday, and at first she bought an $80,000 sports car for herself, telling Carlos that he needed to move some money from his offshore account to pay for it. Carlos refused, saying that would cause too much suspicion, so Edie grudgingly agrees to return the vehicle.
Later on, she says that she got a different present for herself. She gives Carlos an envelope containing a card with the word “Yes” printed on it. When he asks what that’s supposed to mean, Edie gets down on bended knee to propose to him. She basically says that she wouldn’t be able to testify against him in the future if she’s his wife, so it would be in his best interest to accept. He does.
But after that, Carlos meets some guy in a seedy bar, explaining that Edie is a problem and that he wants her “taken care of.” Carlos slides the guy an envelope full of cash, and we’re left to speculate just what it is he wants done.
Lynette/Gabby: Lynette is still in the midst of her chemo treatments, and she wants the other wives to sit with her. Tom is useless because all he can do is dredge up old memories and make Lynette feel as though she already has one foot in the grave. Bree, Susan, and even Katherine Mayfair agree to take turns sitting with Lynette; Gabby is the only one who doesn’t volunteer.
Lynette confronts Gabby about it, at which point Gabby says she doesn’t like hospitals, but will go just because it’s Lynette. Then, when Gabby is supposed to be sitting with Lynette, she makes every excuse she can to stay out of the chemo room. Lynette calls her out on her attitude, and Gabby finally confesses that her father died of cancer when she was a child. She was forced to visit him during chemo and was forced to wear a fake smile the entire time — even on the night he died.
Susan/Mike/Julie: Julie gets Susan’s permission to go to a party, but Mike cautions against it. He says he’s been to that particular house, and the kids there are notorious for throwing wild parties where people get drunk, take their clothes off, and generally act crazy. This scares Susan, who then changes her mind — much to Julie’s annoyance. But then Susan goes behind Mike’s back and tells Julie she can go to the party, as long as she keeps it a secret from Mike.
Of course, Susan’s lies always get her into trouble, so it was no surprise when she had to run out of the house (practically in her underwear) to go pick Julie up after Mike told her the party got out of hand just as he suspected. When she and Julie arrive back home, Julie tells Mike exactly what happened, and Mike tells Susan that she has every right to raise Julie as she sees fit. He was just giving his opinion about the party.
Katherine/Bree: Katherine continues her attempts to upstage Bree at every opportunity. She suggests having a lunch for Lynette, and then argues with Bree over who should bring dessert. Bree thinks that’s her domain because she has always made the best desserts; Katherine, on the other hand, wants a chance to show what she can do.
Katherine ends up making a lemon meringue pie, and switches hers for Bree’s when no one is looking. The other wives rave about the pie until Bree says it’s not hers. That leads to a showdown between Katherine and Bree in which both women try their best to remain civil despite the fact that everyone in the room can tell they hate each other’s guts.
Bree makes it her mission to find out Katherine’s recipe, so she sneaks into the Mayfair residence when no one’s home. Unfortunately, the recipe box is padlocked. But while she’s in there, she hears a few more tidbits about the Mayfair’s secret. Katherine and her husband are definitely hiding something important from daughter Dylan.
My Reaction: Again, I thought this was another strong episode that really takes us back to the stuff that hooked viewers during Season 1. We’ve got intrigue that involves housewives being housewives, instead of all that other crap that took place in the last couple of years. I mean, Bree breaking into someone’s house to try to steal a dessert recipe? That’s classic DH right there!
Oh, and how awesome were Orson’s responses to Bree’s plight? “That’s culinary terrorism!” and “She plays to win” (after Bree listed Katherine’s salad recipe) were hilarious!! KM’s delivery on those lines were perfect!
Gabby continues to be my favorite housewife. Her scene with Lynette in the chemo room was so touching; Eva Longoria really showed off her acting chops in that one. I’m just wondering where her husband Victor was and why it already seems like she’s living back on Wisteria Lane again.
Susan and Mike were cute again. I can’t believe I’m totally digging those two as a couple now! I wonder if the minor parenting spat in this episode is a precursor to bigger problems in this area later on in the season.
I can’t stand Edie now and really hope that Carlos was paying off a hitman. Unfortunately, I don’t really think that’s the case. He’s either paying the guy to move his money again or he’s paying the guy to dig up some dirt on Edie. There’s no way Carlos would have her… removed like that.
I’m really loving the wives this season and hope the streak of good eps continues next week as well!
