If there's one thing to fault the finale of Desperate Housewives for it would be failing to meet impossibly high expectations. But that has less to do with the episode itself and more to do with ABC's promo department and the show's writers, who delivered an overall brilliant and rather unexpected first season.
One of television's most welcome new additions, the highly enjoyable blend of mystery, satire and soap opera antics finished off its debut season in a fitting manner. The big mystery established in episode one (why did Mary Alice Young kill herself) was elegantly wrapped up, with all of the pieces falling into place in a way that came as little surprise to anyone who's been paying attention all season long.
The show had been gradually revealing information throughout its 22 previous episodes. That made the finale less about a big reveal and more about satisfying closure, while also ensuring new storylines opened up for all of the key characters.
Of those new developments I'm most concerned with where Bree's character is heading. If the finale had a "surprise" it would be Rex's death (although the groundwork had been laid in the previous episode and the death of a major male character had already been promised). So what next for Bree? How can a soap opera (especially a satiric one) credibly handle a recent widow in a central role? And how will this effect the established threat by her son, Andrew, who has vowed to rock his mother's world in a major way? I would guess the solution lies in looking within. Bree will likely have to struggle with some inner demons before she can begin to put her life back together, but this will be some very tricky territory for the writers to navigate.
Otherwise everything suggested for next season is extremely promising: Lynette re-entering the work world, Gabrielle dealing with a husband in jail and a lover who may be the father of her baby (and will she even have that baby? I kinda doubt it), two brand new characters whose arrival in town remains a mystery and Mike, who is about to discover that the son (?) he never knew he had wants him dead. Right now.
But we'll have to wait till September.
Finale Grade: A-
Season Grade: A
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