photo: abc
Desperate Housewives
Remember Paul?
Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010
Annette – Associate Staff Writer
annette@thetwocentscorp.com
Oh how I’ve missed Wisteria Lane! Being back is like reuniting with old friends – catty, bitchy, murderous old friends, but still, I missed them.
When we left last season, Paul Young had moved back to Wisteria Lane. We’ve also got a new housewife. Vanessa Williams has joined the cast, but what kind of housewife is she? I’m worried she’ll be too much like her character on Ugly Betty.
We pick up right where we left off last season. Bree is telling Gaby that Andrew was the one that killed Carlos’s mother. Gaby flips, but only because she doesn’t want to tell Carlos because she’s afraid that he’ll kill Andrew and find a way to blame her. Of course, it’s all about Gaby! In all seriousness, she really does think the news will break Carlos’s heart, so she decides not to tell him.
Paul Young was supposed to be serving a life sentence in prison for the murder of Felicia Tillman. So how did he end up renting Susan’s house? Well, Felicia was caught speeding and when she had no identification for the officer, she was arrested. When her true identity was discovered, she was thrown in prison and Paul was released.
You also may remember that last season a nurse on her death bed confessed that she switched two babies. Juanita is one of those babies. The hospital guy tells Carlos, but he doesn’t want to tell Gaby. He even gives the hospital guy an ultimatum. Stop the search for the other family of the switched baby and never tell Gaby or he will sue the hospital for $10-20 million.
Lynette’s fancy rich friend Renee (Vanessa Williams) who usually invites her to New York for a luxurious weekend has decided she’s coming to visit Lynette instead. It’s an interesting friendship since they are always sniping at each other and insulting each other. Renee goes too far when she tells Lynette that she’s surprised she settled for just being a suburban housewife. When Lynette tries to kick her out, Renee confesses her perfect life is falling apart. Her husband is leaving her.
Susan’s new landlord runs a creepy website – women doing housework in lingerie. She tries to get Susan involved when she hears that they’re having money problems. Susan is briefly tempted by the money, but sanity wins out and she runs out of the apartment. When Mike says he’s going to Alaska to work on an oil rig for six months, Susan tells him to wait to see if she can come up with some money selling her (really ugly) jewelry. In reality, she signs up for the Va-Va-Va Broom website.
Orson officially leaves Bree and even though she says she’s going to work on her emotions rather than bury herself in a new project, she ends up ripping down all the wallpaper in her dining room. She hires a sexy handyman (Brian Austin Green, no less) to fix up the room. When Bree finds out Orson is dating his physical therapist, she sees sexy handyman in a whole new light.
Paul wants to buy his old house. When Lee tells him it’s not a good plan he’s says he’s had ten years to work on this plan and it’s a good one. So, what’s he up to? This revelation is followed up by Felicia telling her cellmate that Paul Young will be dead within six months because he has no friends on Wisteria Lane and she does. Intrigue…
There was a whole lot going on in this premiere. It was good, with some funny moments, but it mostly felt like set up for what’s to come this season. I think Vanessa Williams is going to fit in just fine. However, I’m not sure about this whole Paul Young/Felicia Tillman thing. This show is supposed to be about the housewives and there story’s already been told. Why is it being brought up again? Have the writers run out of ideas? What did you all think? Leave me your two cents!
TheTwoCents 
I loved the episode, it was amazing!
Finally, Orson is leaving, I could not stand him anymore for the past two seasons. The baby storyline, if the writers know how to deal with it, it could be really good, if the don’t, it is goind to end up being a disaster.
On the other hand, the fact that both, Paul and Felicia, came back to the show made my day (or night), cuz, even when their story has already been told, it never came to a conclusion, I mean, for the past four years I’ve been wondering what happend to Felicia and to Paul. In fact, it is good to have a link to the original/first season mystery/story and to the dead narrator Mary Alice, since, you know, the show began thanks to her.
I didn’t like what they had done to Orson’s character for the last two seasons, but somehow I still liked him. And I thought he was given some of the funniest lines of the show. I have to admit i will miss him, but I think they’ve done all they could with those two.
You are right, it is interesting to have Felicia and Paul link back the first season. I’m not sure how it will go, but since they are some of the original villains, it should be interesting. And they are both deliciously evil!
Anyone else think Carlos looks weird with no facial hair?!?!?!
oh my god! yes! i wasnt even sure if it was the same actor! the only way i knew it was was by looking at his eyes, and googling it afterward. he looks a little windswept, too.
I think he looks much better with a goatee. I didn’t recognize him until he started talking. He also looks like he lost a little weight.
I thought it was one of the better premieres this Fall. Setting up the season, but having its own action and intrigue to drive the episode along.
I love the idea of the Mom from “Big Fat Greek Wedding” as the landlord/website hostess. It was a fun turn when you thought she was going to introduce Susan to Mary Kay or Longaberger, until she walked her toward her “office”.
@Luis – both Bree and Orson are my hot & cold characters on DH. I think they’re awesome, then I think they’re boring, but not consistently or even in a wave fashion, just switches. I won’t miss him either. And YAY for BAG, I mean, BG!
@Ifayeo – my wife almost didn’t believe that Carlos was the same actor. He looks super-different. I think he lost weight and shaved, so he looks completely different.
It took me a minute to realize who the landlady was. I kept thinking she looked familiar and in my head I kept saying “Isn’t she Greek?!” I love the name of the website!
I missed Brian Austin Green’s name in the credits. Is he just going by Brian Green now? It looks like he’s shaping up to Bree’s version of Jon.
Brian Austin Green – or Brian Green, whatever he is going by – has yummified even more.
I enjoyed this episode. For the first time in years I actually am looking forward to next year.
However, I did not enjoy Carlos without facial hair. EW.
BAG really did buff up, but I’m not lovin’ the tats. Are those real or just for the character?
Ditto on Carlos…