What I'm Watching: Desperate Housewives (Season Premiere)

Desperate Housewives: Season 5, Episode 1 "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow" (C+)

Welcome back to Wisteria Lane! When we last left our friends the housewives, things weren't going so well for the show and it sort of sucked a lot. After a five-year time leap, things are looking a bit better, though I'm not convinced they'll stay that way. The show is still obsessed with arcing every episode so that each character has some humorous obstacle in their way which ends in their taking it seriously and realizing something about their lives (and in Gaby and Susan crying, Lynette and Tom bonding, and Bree stammering). That device used to work marvelously (I may just have to go back to watch season one to remember how great this show used to be), but it's becoming rather tired. Gaby with kids is a nice change, but she's still the same selfish brat who needs to grow up. That's the main problem here - the characters haven't really changed. After five years, pretty much everything is the same. The storyline I think I'm most impressed with is Lynette's family, which is a shock considering I usually detest her, but having the kids all grown up and still delinquent should make for some less serious and effective humor (case in point: giving them Tom's car and then him kicking off the already-broken mirror). Susan's whole relationship with the obnoxious painter doesn't do it for me. I don't need to see him on the show; he's not a good character. I hope to see more of her fight with Mike and to really get inside that breakup. I hope that wasn't all of it this episode. Bree and Katharine seriously need new storylines - this was just a rehash of last season. Lastly, I'd like to warmly welcome new cast member Neal McDonough, who gave one of the best performances I've ever seen on NBC's short-lived "Boomtown" a few years ago (buy it from Amazon - it should be on sale for under $20). His introduction was fierce and awesome, counting down to make that guy move out of his house. He always has inner demons, but his uncontrollable rage does seem like a bit of a bizarre mystery. I'm assuming that is this season's token mystery, so I guess the big secret is who he wants to kill. Any guesses? I say it's Katharine.