DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 6.14 – "The Glamorous Life"

WRITER: Dave Flebotte
DIRECTOR: Bethany Rooney
GUEST STARS: Julie Benz, Jane Leeves, Brent Briscoe, Suzanne Dodd, John Rubinstein, Orson Bean, Edmund L. Shaff, Michael Crider & Mindy Stirling

[SPOILERS] While by no means an excruciating watch, this week's snoop around Wisteria Lane suffered from not packing enough of a dramatic punch. A mid-season lull, perhaps? Far too many of the show's multiple story threads were treading water in "The Glamorous Life" (or only just picking up), and in the one instance where drama and affection should have been ramped up, writer Dave Flebotte chose puns over poignancy, robbing the episode of its heart and settling for superficial gloss instead. "Glamorous" indeed...

I will start with my gripe: I was astounded at the unsuitably trivial tone of recently paralysed Orson's (Kyle MacLachlan) struggle with depression -- since when has the solemn subject of suicide been handled with such humour?! I have mentioned in recent weeks how it is hard for me to identify with such an unsettled character as Orson Hodge, so how are we meant to sympathise with his grave and weighty matter if he's slinging out brash one-liners while supposedly contemplating giving up on life?! Furthermore, why has Bree (Marcia Cross) suddenly decided that she no longer loves her husband? While she was sleeping with Karl she admitted to Angie (Drea de Matteo) that she couldn't let go of her strong bond with Orson, so why the abrupt change of heart?

With Danny Bolen (Beau Mirchoff) and Ana Solis's (Maira Walsh) relationship in full swing, Gabrielle (Eva Longoria Parker) and Carlos (Carlos Chavira) fret about the teens doing the nasty, while Danny's mother takes a more laid-back and realistic view. That is until she spies Carlos pinning her half-dressed son up against the wall and her heckles flair up. Threatening to kill Carlos if he dares touch her son again, Angie returns home to be berated by husband Nick (Jeffrey Nordling) for letting her temper get the better of her; he fears their cover will be blown if she flairs up too often, especially as she has been getting narky with a neighbour (Suzanne Dodd) for not separating her rubbish into separate bins (see what I mean about treading water?) As coincidence would have it, Gaby and Carlos are at the Bolen's front door armed with apologies and cookies, only to overhear the unsettling domestic riot. Tongues will wag and judgement will be passed after Gaby is through spreading this exclusive around the Lane...

Having hugged out her rivalry with mentally unstable Katherine (Dana Delaney, who did not feature this week) at the end of last week's episode, it was high time Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) found herself a new story arc to stress her out until the end of the season. Well she couldn’t have spent a whole week doing anything vaguely normal, could she? This new hobby, conveniently, arrived in "The Glamorous Life" in the form of stripper-with-lofty-aspirations, Robin Gallagher (Julie Benz).

After signing over the deeds of her inherited share in gentlemen's club Double D's to Jimbo Rooney (Brent Briscoe), Susan spots the far-too-perfect Robin reading Moby Dick -- cue a phallus joke -- while waiting for a client, and plants in her head the idea of quitting and finding a more fulfilling and less sleazy way of earning money. Of course, that is easier said than done when you live in a community as close-knit as Fairview and you take your clothes off every week. Susan feels the weight of meddling -- sorry, responsibility, and invites the jobless and penniless Robin to stay at chez Mayer until she lands on her feet, much to son MJ's (Mason Vale Cotton) delight. Just a fortnight ago, Susan was furious at Mike (James Denton) for taking a job amongst beautiful women, now she is inviting one to live with them -- isn't that a little contradictory of her character?

Lastly, disagreeable couple Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and Tom Scavo (Doug Savant) were this week finally granted a reprieve from their stretch of solemn storylines, although they are still in therapy, so they aren't out of the woods and free to smile yet. They are, however, finished with Dr. Graham (Jane Leeves), after brown-nose Tom bought tickets to her amateur performance of Antony and Cleopatra and they endured four hours of the shoddiest acting ever from a deluded professional whose opinion they are meant to trust. It was amusing to watch Jane Leeves purposefully fluff her lines as her prop crown clanged to the stage floor, but it did seem like an episode of padding for Tom and Lynette's storyline. Although at least now they can finally agree on something, as Tom had to sacrifice being liked to admit how terrible Dr. Graham's "talent" was. Negligible progress all round for the housewives this week, then...

5 MAY 2010: CHANNEL 4/HD, 9PM