What I’m Watching: Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives: Season 7, Episode 12 “Where Do I Belong?” (C+)

So, in the episode immediately following Paul’s discovery that his wife is in the daughter of his most sworn enemy, we don’t see either him or her for even a second. Instead, we see Beth struggling to be accepted into Wisteria Lane’s elite club – hardly anything new – and yet another instance of the show’s number one hat trick, bringing back characters from the first season (see also the wonderful Andrea Bowen as Julie, who just happens to return in this episode as well). Zach Young has always been a character sort of on his own, never quite making it clear if he’s a good guy or a bad guy. I was pretty sure that the heavily-disguised flower deliver man was Keith, and the revelation that it was Zach presents some new intrigue to be sure, but the way this show has been addressing plotlines lately feels way too reminiscent of some of the more frustrating seasons of “Lost,” where certain characters wouldn’t be seen for episodes at a time. Pertaining to the other characters, however, this show did a bit better this outing than it has recently. Lynette’s torture of Tom didn’t last long thanks to some fortunate sneaky behavior on the part of Renee, and though it was tough, it seems to have ultimately reaffirmed the strength of their relationship. Even if the sudden, unintentional overnight maturity of Susan’s mom seems all too conveniently-timed, what isn’t on this show? Bob and Lee’s decision to adopt a baby and go tell the Solis family about it also fits that bill, and I’m not sure exactly how I feel about Gaby’s peculiar attachment to the doll even after the doll seller’s explanation. What did work well, of course, was Bree’s verbal duel with her priest that involved quotations from the Bible and ended with him calling her out on living together before marriage.