The new television season is officially underway now, with premieres coming on just about every night. None of my shows have started yet, though Bones does air tonight. After that, Entourage starts this Sunday, and then more premieres for my regular series will come on in upcoming weeks — including the Desperate Housewives S5 premiere, which is set for September 28.
I have to admit that I’m still on the fence about DH. I thought Season 3 was terrible, and while Season 4 was a definite improvement, there was way too much inconsistency in episode quality. Season 5, of course, brings the five-year time jump, and the way this plays out will determine whether or not I stick with the show or dump it.
From a few interviews I’ve read, it seems as though producer Marc Cherry wants to go back to the basic formula that helped make the show such a hit in its first season. In other words, he wants this to be about a group of regular housewives and the problems they face on a daily basis. So that probably means no more murder mysteries and other outlandish stories from seasons past.
I for one would love to see them recapture some of the essence of Season 1. I want to see Bree struggle with being the perfect hostess, always baking the best desserts, always preparing complete gourmet meals, always tending her perfect garden. That character was awesome until they had her start dating lunatics and faking pregnancies.
I’m also eager to see Gabby as a mother. Although she was opposed to the idea at first, I can totally imagine her embracing her role as the reality of the situation sank in. For instance, I can imagine her shopping for baby products, and taking her time in selecting a Bugaboo stroller for her child. Of course she would still go with the name-brand products — some things you just can’t get away from! But she would also choose that kind of stroller because of all its features, like the huge storage basket underneath, the ability to change the seat so that it faces forward or back, its overall portability, its ergonomic seat, and the five-point harness. She is still practical, after all!
What I hope to see less of is Lynette and Tom. I know a lot of DH fans are sick of the dynamic between these two, so it could be in the show’s best interest to get rid of Tom somehow (divorce, separation, death) and let Lynette flourish on her own. The Susan/Mike pairing doesn’t do much for me either, but things could change now that they have a child.
Anyway, I’m planning on giving Desperate Housewives 6 episodes (or roughly 1/4 of a season) to impress me. If the new storylines are interesting, I’ll stick around for the whole ride. If it turns out to be the same old thing, I won’t hesitate to dump the show. There are just too many other options on TV to be stuck with a boring program!