Desperate for drama

What’s it about? Five years and plenty of Botox later,the fabulous five of sunny Wisteria Lane come back into our lives—with more engaging stories and a few surprises. For starters,Susan Mayer is no longer with the love of her life,Mike Delfino,and is in a casual-soon-to-be-serious relationship with a younger man. Gabrielle Solis has two kids,one of them with a serious weight problem,and no time for facials. Bree Hodge runs a successful catering business with one-time rival,Katherine Mayfair,and is a celebrity cook. Lynette Scavo is still struggling with wild,out-of-control kids who’re now old enough to drive and a well-meaning but ineffectual husband,while (surprise,surprise) former man-eater of Wisteria Lane,Edie Britt,is now in what seems to be a stable and loving marriage.

Who’s in it? Teri Hatcher continues her run as the ditzy but lovable Susan,recuperating after the devastating break-up of her marriage,by running into the eager arms of her house painter,Jackson Braddock—played with a lot of puppy-dog passion by Gale Harold. Felicity Huffman as the harried Lynette is still one of the most sympathetic characters,while Eva Longoria Parker,who plays Gaby,with fresh baby weight,finally gets to show her acting chops,rather than her toned derriere. Returning,after a gap in the fourth season,is Nicollete Sheridan,now married to the rich,mysterious and slightly creepy Dave Williams (Neal McDonough). Marcia Cross,back to her svelte self after a baby,plays the obsessive and suddenly ambitious Bree with perfection—we only wish she hadn’t Botoxed her face into such a mask.

What’s hot? It seems like all the world’s problems can be found in the tiny suburb of Fairview—not that we’re complaining. The instances of homophobia,alcoholism,teen pregnancies,abduction and murder give plenty of scope for juicy storylines,a Desperate Housewives staple. So we have a potential murderer with rage issues,a pair of juvenile delinquents,a kleptomaniac and a coma patient to look forward to this season. Susan’s boy-toy promises to be the new Desperate Housewives heart-throb,while Williams,as this season’s villain is so noxiously charming and eerily perfect.

What’s not? The show has moved forward five years,but actors seem to have gotten younger-looking; especially scary and artificial is Cross,with nearly-vertical eyebrows and an immobile forehead. Hatcher has finally gained some weight and doesn’t look as starved as she did from the second season on,although we wish she would lose the mile-long fake eyelashes. Some of our favourite characters are missing in action. The yummy James Denton,who plays Mike Delfino,makes fleeting appearances,while the wonderfully creepy Young family has completely disappeared. Bree seems to be in yet another dysfunctional relationship with husband Orson taking to stealing just so he can grab his wife’s attention. This character definitely needs a fresh look,as does Susan’s now-on,now-off relationship with Mike. Moreover,after five seasons,the show is getting increasingly low on laughs and more hysterical with the drama to the point that the viewer may just stop caring about the characters — a serious problem for what started out as a character-driven show.

Should you be watching it? If you sat through season four,there is no way you can miss season five if you want to know how life changes so drastically for all the characters. But we warn you —the secrets are less explosive and the dilemmas just a wee bit predictable.