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« Desperate Housewives
Episode Recap: "Mother Said"
It's Mother's Day on Wisteria Lane, and the fierce maternal instincts of the ladies of Desperate Housewives made me think for a second I had accidentally switched over to Animal Planet: When Mothers Attack! (As you'll see below, this episode has me in a rather exclamatory mood...)
Nude, snoring whore!
Mike's momma (the always brilliant Celia Weston – remember her in Junebug?) is in town, and is meeting Susan for the first time? That's weird. But anyhow, I guess it's just as well since she's kind of a pain, harping on Susan's every shortcoming and making it her goal to turn her into a "chef in the kitchen, a maid in the living room and a whore in the bedroom." Good luck with that!
Despite the great guest star, this story started strong -- and funny -- but quickly turned repetitive as Momma's barbs became less subtle and more just plain cruel. Susan's pregnancy, meanwhile, moved along at its usual clip, meaning that tonight she was ready to deliver! So after faking labor with a glass of club soda (for the record, amniotic fluid does not contain ice cubes and a lemon wedge), Susan actually had to put off delivery to hear Mike finally confront his silly momma, who promptly apologized. Just in time for Susan to have a son (?) named Maynard (?), if we are to believe this week's insanely jump-cut coming attractions.
Corn! dog!
Brace yourselves: This week's episode actually made me feel bad for that monster Kayla. I love Felicity Huffman, and I have nothing but respect for her acting and the character she's crafted here, but jeez, Lynette has seriously gone off the good-judgment rails. She has always been a charming wreck of a mother, but her behavior in handling Kayla is frankly despicable.
In a very revealing scene, the doctor asked Lynette if she loved Kayla. It's true that the situation is complicated, but her answer was far from believable. At that moment, it occurred to me that despite the neat narrative bow that the writers tied around Nora-gate (bang bang!), Lynette has never accepted Kayla. So the doc's advice for "attachment parenting" therapy sounded pretty sound to me.
But… well, no. Kayla naturally took advantage of Lynette's enforced goodwill, which, ultimately provoked Lynette to slap the twisted tyke -- the more shocking of the night's two slaps. True, she did threaten harm to adorable Penny Scavo, but I felt, like Tom, that this move was going to have serious repercussions. Cut to Kayla calling the doctor and crying child abuse, which apparently leads to Lynette being arrested next week. At least Kayla didn't torture the cat. Yet.
Just act normal!
So upon discovering that Mallory Ellie is a drug dealer ("I was a fashion model in the '90s." Gaby says. "I know cocaine!"), the Solises very uncharacteristically make the sound decision to drop a dime on her. Unfortunately, the cops are already on to Ellie, and need to stake her out a little longer to smoke out her supplier. So the Solises have to play dumb for now, lest Carlos' parole be compromised. It was nice to see that Gaby had developed a maternal instinct for Ellie, raising the emotional stakes a bit for the inevitable betrayal that seems like it's just around the corner.
No scar on the arm!
Wayne's DNA test results allow me to revise my theory about Katherine's secret. We know now that Dylan isn't Wayne's daughter, but perhaps the product of one of Katherine's many flings she 'fessed up to in an effort to get Wayne out of their lives. So here goes: I still think that Katherine accidentally killed Dylan I, whose fall from a bike scarred her arm, but she was already pregnant with Dylan II, and promptly moved away to escape her abusive husband and, ultimately, to hide Dylan II's age disparity (though, technically, Dylan II could still have been adopted).
Here's the kicker: It can't just be an extraneous detail that we met Susan's pervy cousin Tim earlier in the season and learned that he lost his virginity to Katherine. Could it be possible that he is actually Dylan's father? Now think back to his reaction upon meeting little Dylan Mayfair all grown up, and it's either touching (if he knows) or totally gross.
Nevertheless, I'm guessing that now that Wayne is all seething and drinking, we haven't seen the last of him.
The incident!
The bitch-slap heard 'round the Lane set off an interesting chain of events this week. Let's recap: Edie kissed Orson, which Bree witnessed. Bree slapped Edie, and then made it her job to ruin Edie's real estate practice (Why is the Young house still on the market? Didn't the Applewhites move out months and months and months ago in TV time?). Edie -- in her special way -- was in the right place at the right time and learned the truth about Invisible Benjamin's parentage. Edie then naturally blackmailed Bree with this knowledge.
Not so fast. Bree came clean with the other ladies at poker night, which was a nice nod to what is always the best part of the show -- when all the Housewives get together. Instead of a characteristically bubbly kaffeeklatsch, though, this get-together was poignant, as the original four ladies banded together to fight the enemy: Edie.
The image of the four leads sashaying down Wisteria Lane to deliver the strongly worded verdict ("We're done.") was pretty great, and a nice set-up to what I hear will be the finale's big twist, a five-year fast-forward.
One quibble: As we've discussed, morality is a bit of a loose concept in the world of Desperate Housewives, so it struck me a little odd that the ladies felt justified in getting up on their high horses with Edie. Think about all the schemes -- both large (burning Edie's house down) and larger (covering up a hit-and-run) -- that these ladies have been party to, and Edie's role as Wisteria Lane's "devil" is really just a matter of relativity.
Nevertheless, things aren't looking so good for Nicollette Sheridan's continued employment, as once the ladies initiated the freeze-out, she immediately hopped in her car to Boston to see her son, Travers, and it sounds like it might not be a temporary visit.
Next week is the season finale! What questions still remain unanswered? What is Katherine's secret? Will Gaby screw things up and defend her surrogate daughter? Does Lynette actually deserve to go to jail? Is Baby Delfino (apparently Mike's dad is the Italian) really going to be named Maynard? And with Edie at least temporarily out of the picture, will Bree and Orson reunite for the sake of their invisible fake baby?
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May 12, 2008 12:32 AM
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Amazing episode
i cant wait for the season finale
it is oging to be so awesomeeeeeeeeee
Marcia Cross deserves an emmy
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May 12, 2008 1:00 AM
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I really dislike the whole Kayla storyline. First, I thought we already did this storyline, and was glad when Kayla seemingly accepted Lynette as her new mom after surviving the tornado. Now it seems that it's just old material recycled again. I have mixed feelings about the characters in the storyline. On one hand, it irritates me how Lynette only wants to talk about Kayla and not her children. It's interesting how she calls them "my children". On the other hand, it seems they just play Tom off as really gullible. I get that he is defending his daughter from Lynette, but saying that it doesn't matter that she said she'd hurt Penny all because Lynette slapped her? And Tom should know that Lynette doesn't take striking a child lightly (think back to when Bree spanked her kids), and that something is up. Although I am disappointed with Lynette. She is usually sneaky in figuring things out, like when she "bribed" Andrew with a new car to see if he was telling the truth about his allegations about Bree earlier in the show. I'm surprised she doesn't carry around a tape recorder when she's with Kayla.
Wasn't crazy over Mike's mother. I was glad that she was honestly just trying to help Susan and had no ill will. Although I don't really think Mike should be saying some of the things he tells his mother about Susan.
I absolutely loved the imagery of the four ladies walking down the middle of the street towards Edie's. They really rule The Lane (as Bree called it).
As far as the Mayfairs, I'm glad that there finally seems more evidence pointing to Dylan not being the same Dylan that lived there, which I've suspected since she doesn't remember Julie or living there. At first I was really surprised that she wasn't Wayne's daughter, but then I remembered back to earlier clues this season. But I have to wonder, if something happened to Dylan (that Wayne obviously has no idea about), why would she tell him that she wasn't his daughter. Since now it's obviously got him thinking.
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May 12, 2008 1:25 AM
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I didn't like Mike's mom either or her teeth or her accent.The slap was the the slap heard around the world but as a father I felt bad that Lynette resorted to the physical act but wow did she deserve it. Restraint should have been used but now the police can be called in by the "omen" child. Why are the writers going in this direction so close to the finale episode? I guess we won't see Rick or his restaurant anymore.
When Bree and the gang were walking towards Edie I instantly was waiting to her the music from one of Clint Eastwood's westerns with the whistling tones at the beginning of the piece. That would have been very funny.
I wish the finale was broken into two one hour episodes that there will be more to look forward to. All in all this was an excellent episode.
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May 12, 2008 1:53 AM
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Ah but you see the ladies are rarely if ever against each other. They might argue from time to time but at the end of the day they are friends. Edie has never been a friend, she's always forced her friendship onto them.
One thing they've never done is gone after each other's men. Even the implication caused a riff between Lynette and Gaby. That's just not who they are.
And yes, they've all been underhanded but again, not to each other. The closest they've come is Andrew running over Mama Solis and that was more about Bree protecting her son than trying to hurt Gaby.
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May 12, 2008 2:08 AM
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BTW the episode is titled "Mother Said".
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May 12, 2008 2:09 AM
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Mike's mother was irritating, but I'd be "bitch slapping" Mike about now for all the things he told her about Susan. I hate that the character of Mike Delfino has had a nothing role this season and now, tonight, was made to look like a Mama's boy with a big mouth.
Nothing surprising in the least about the Mayfair storyline.
As for slapping Kayla, sheesh! Yes, it's bad to slap a child, but give Lynette a break. She's been through a hellish year with the cancer and life in general, and now this resurgence of the devil's child, Kayla. She reached a breaking point and she was sorry for it. Someone needs to believe her about the kid. Hate this storyline.
I always like Edie, but it appears that she may be leaving the show. Hmmm. We'll see, I guess.
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May 12, 2008 4:20 AM
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It seemed as though Wayne believed the story that Katherine told him after getting the DNA test. The only reason he realized that it may not actually be "Dylan" is because she doesn't have the same scar that young Dylan had.
If this is a child that Katherine later had and is using it to cover up the death of the real Dylan, it doesn't make sense. It looks like there is at least a 5 year age difference in the 2 girls. I mean in the video she was riding a bike so that Dylan would have been older. That would mean the the older Dylan who thinks she is almost 18 would actually be around 13. I don't know how that would work.
If she had adopted, there would be paperwork.
I think the best scenario might be she kidnapped a child to replace Dylan.
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May 12, 2008 6:04 AM
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I think Im the minority in this, but I would of done the samething....slapping the mess out Rosemary's baby. However I on the other hand wouldn't feel sorry for it. The girl had it coming. Thats my personal feelings on it.
Anyway, Im loving your theory Mickey about Katherine and Susan's cousin Tim tryst could actually be Dylans(this Dylan here) father. However I just thought of this. If this is true wouldn't Dylan be a little younger than she actually is? But either way I still like it.
Maynard really? I hope thats is what Mike's mother suggested from someone from his family. But Im getting tickled from it because all I can think off Maynard G. Krebs from Dobie Gillis.
But anyway, just a few corrections, Edie's son name is Travers not Travis. And the Applebee's didn't live in the Young's house, they lived in another house on Wisteria Lane. Speaking of the youngs I hope we get an update on Paul and Zach. And espcially Felicia. I miss her.
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May 12, 2008 6:22 AM
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I recently was watching Alice re-runs on Ion Television and saw Celia Weston as Jolene on the show.She certainly has come a long way since the '80's.
The show seemed really rushed.I wish the Edie/Bree conflict would have lasted longer.
I am interested on how the Justine Bateman storyline plays out and how the Gary Cole storyline plays out.
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May 12, 2008 8:38 AM
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So I dont understand how Ellie can be like Gaby's surrogate daughter since she looks at least 15 years older than Gaby. Way, way older. Kayla's character reminds me of Maculay Culkin in the "Good Son." Creepy. The Scavo's dont have a cat, but the do have a dog and for sure he isnt safe with Kayla around. How old is she supposed to be anyway? She has to be older than the oldest Scavo child since Tom and Nora were together before he and Lynnette were. Oh, and Edie's son's name is Travers not Travis.
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May 12, 2008 8:39 AM
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lizzybelle: " think Im the minority in this, but I would of done the samething....slapping the mess out Rosemary's baby. However I on the other hand wouldn't feel sorry for it. The girl had it coming. Thats my personal feelings on it."
Add me to your list of being in the minority, Lizzy. I felt Kayla so had that slap coming. She's EVIL!
Granted, I stopped watching this show after disaster Season 2, and never really got back into it until the last few episodes of this season (love Dana Delaney).
When did Mike turn into such a weenie/wuss?
I remember Celia Weston on the old sitcom, Alice. Wow, she has come a long way.
I hate. hatehahtehate that Gary Cole is a bad guy. I love this man! From his days of Nightcaller and that short-lived FBI series on tnt.
~Sangeeta
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May 12, 2008 8:57 AM
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Lynette's treatment of Kayla has been "despicable"? Are you kidding me?
Kayla is a MONSTER! A vengeful, sadistic, manipulative, sick monster!
I was sorry that Lynette only slapped her once! I would have throttled her until she turned blue for so coldly threatening to do Penny harm.
Lynette has bent over backwards far enough for her shoulder blades to touch the floor to make Kayla comfortable in the family, considering how her birth mother made the Scavos miserable for the time she was in the picture. But the little psychopath seems intent on causing more misery and even physical injury to her stepmom and step-siblings. She deserves to be carted off in chains to the krazy kiddie ward, so the rest of the Scavo family can get on with their lives.
I actually felt bad for Edie when the others both literally and figuratively turned their backs on her. I'm sure she didn't think her blackmail attempt on Bree was any worse than many of her other schemes to get what she wanted at the Housewives' expense. She seemed truly shocked and upset that they cut her off the way they did. I was upset, too!
By the way, Lizzybelle, as long as you're correcting other people--the black family on the street was the Applewhites, not Applebees.
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May 12, 2008 9:00 AM
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I liked how Susan poured the soda on herself. I was cringing waiting for her to throw it on Adele and thought it was a great twist and showed a tiny bit more maturity and restraint than Susan usually shows.
I don't think Tim is Dylan's dad. I think that Katherine accidentally killed the real Dylan and stole another child the same age. This explains why Dylan doesn't remember anything about living on the lane before. Also, if Katherine was preggers before she left Dylan's dad, then the "new" Dylan would still share DNA with her Dad. I'm betting "new" Dylan doesn't have the same DNA as Katherine either. Can't wait to see how this story plays out though.
I loved when Bree told the women her secret. Remember in the first season when Lynette was on Ritalin and they all promised not to keep stuff from each other, well I'm glad that Bree finally realized she could trust her friends, and I so loved the freeze out. Although everyone's messed up, Edie keeps intentially hurting everyone. I really don't want Edie to be written out, so even though I love them not talking to her anymore, I hope the writers keep Nicolette Sheridan around.
And I must say that Kayla TOTALLY deserved to be hit, and should've been hit earlier. Tom needs to respect that Lynette has taken a child in that's not hers and is doing the best she can to love Kayla, but Kayla is a sociopath and Tom is just a blind idiot! Kayla shows no remorse or empathy which are signs of sociopaths/psychos. I hope they kill her off somehow. But before they do I hope that Tom finally sees that Lynette is right in focusing the therapy solely on Kayla since she is the one threatening the safety of the other Scavo kids. I usually like the Scavos, but lately Tom's been bugging me cuz he's just acting so stupid! Wake up! You had a kid with a psycho. Lynette was right....apple....tree....not so far.
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May 12, 2008 9:07 AM
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I agree with most of the postings about this episode. I hope Kayla "gets hers" at some point--she totally deserved that slap, regardless of the "bad parent" rap that Lynette earned in the eyes of many. Would love to see Kayla get caught in her own trap, so to speak, or be the girl who cried "wolf."
What should have happened last week is Lynette's calling Kayla's bluff--let the police find out that the twins set the fire--at Kayla's "suggestion." As Bree learned this week, telling the truth can set you free and those who love you will appreciate you for it and support you no matter what.
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May 12, 2008 9:08 AM
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