What I’m Watching: Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives: Season 6, Episode 9 “Would I Think of Suicide” (B)

This episode isn’t nearly as strong as the one before it, and that’s partially due to the devolvement of the central storyline that made last week pretty effective. Lynette, Gaby, and especially Carlos have taken their war way too far, and what they’re doing to try to get back at each other really doesn’t mesh with their previously-defined characteristics. Carlos in particular seems to be returning wholeheartedly to the aggressive businessman he was in season one, condescending to Lynette for deigning to want to be supportive of her children and assigning her too much work in a night in a flagrant attempt to get her fired. These are the kinds of things that he’d threaten to do but wouldn’t actually do. After all, aren’t he and Tom friends? And he doesn’t actually want to make Lynette move to Florida; I can’t believe that. The back-and-forth between Gaby and Lynette is somewhat entertaining, but it’s not as compelling as it might have been if the characters stuck truer to their guns. The murder from the end of last week’s episode provides an interesting way to get all the kids, including a Scavo twin, Danny, and Julie, involved in a storyline together. Julie is toughening up impressively, pointedly telling Danny off and describing to all the women taking the self-defense class that an attacker will find a way to get to you even if you’re prepared. Susan’s inevitable discovery of the affair between Bree and Carl was fun, and it’s also a treat to see Susan in the atypical role of the wronged woman. Her pointing out of all of Carl’s misdeeds was particularly amusing. Mike being mean really didn't seem right though, and Katherine going off the deep end was a long time coming but is still pretty anooying.