Another entertaining and very emotional season of “Desperate Housewives”.  This time around, there is a good amount of focus on the main female characters of the series and also a few surprises as well. The seventh season also introduces actress Vanessa Williams to the series and for the most part, season 7 is one of the more emotional seasons yet. If you invested so much time to this series, then “Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition” is definitely recommended!
Images courtesy of © Disney. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition
DURATION: (23 episodes) 989 minutes
DVD INFORMATION: NTSC, Region 1, Widescreen (1:78:1), NTSC, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles
RATED: TV 14 DLSV
COMPANY: abc studios
RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2011
Created by Marc Cherry
Directed by Larry Shaw, David Grossman, David Warren, Bathany Rooney
Written by Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, Matt Berry, Joe Keenan, Jason Ganzel, Jeff Greenstein, Marco Pennette, David Schladweiler, John Paul Bullock II, Josann McGibbon, Sara Parriott
Executive Produced by Marc Cherry, Geroge W. Perkins, Larry Shaw, David Grossman, Sabrina Wind, Dana N. Wilson, Josann McGibbon,
Co-Executive Produced by Sara Parriott, Annie Weisman
Produced by Charlas Skouras II, Stephanie Hagen
Consulting Producer: Jeff Greenstein. Joe Keenan
Music by Steve Jablonsky
Cinematography by Lowell Peterson, David J. Miller
Editing by Andrew Doerfer, Jonathan Posell, Karen Castaneda
Casting by Scott Genkinger, Junie Lowry-Johnson
Production Design by Erik Carlson
Series Art Direction by Brian Jewell
Series Set Decoration by Eric Rogalia
Series Costume Design by Catherine Adair
Series Casting by Scott Genkinger, Junie Lowry-Johnson
Production Design by Erik Carlson
Art Design by Brian Jewell, Erik Carlson
Set Decoration by Erica Rogalla
Costume Design by Catherine Adair
Starring:
Terri Hatcher as Susan Mayer
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo
Marcia Cross as Bree Hodge
Eva Longoria Parker as Gabrielle Solis
Dana Delany as Katherine Mayfair
Ricardo Chavira as Carlos Solis
Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young
Doug Savant as Tom Scavo
James Denton as Mike Delfino
Shawn Pyfrom as Andrew Van De Kamp
Andrea Bowen as Julie Mayer
Kyle MacLachlan as Orson Hodge
Kathryn Joosen as Karen McCluskey
Richard Burgi as Karl Mayer
Maiara Walsh as Ana Solis
Vanessa Williams as Renee Perry
Harrie Sansom Harris as Felicia Tilman
Darcy Rose byrnes as Penny Scavo
Emily Bergl as Beth Young
Brian Austin Green – Keith Watson
Polly Bergen as Stella Wingfield
The action gets even wilder in the sizzling seventh season of ABC’s acclaimed dramatic comedy, “Desperate Housewives”. Experience all the humor, mystery and juicy thrills in this spectacular 5-disc collection.
It’s high noon on Wisteria Lane as a brand-new rival (Vanessa Williams) stirs up even more excitement, deceit and romance in the neighborhood. Lynette gets jealous when Renee starts spending time with Tom and Bree find herself falling for Keith (Brian Austin Green). Meanwhile, Gabrielle makes a shocking personal discovery, Susan copes with a life-threatening event and a mysterious shooting has everyone on edge. Through all the drama, the world’s most famous housewives are bound together by the friendship they share and the secrets they keep.
Relive every red-hot episode and dive deeper into television’s most addicting primetime series with never-before-seen bonus features. It’s the perfect gift for every “Desperate Hosuewives” fan!
“Desperate Housewives”, the popular ABC drama series (created by Marc Cherry, “The Golden Girls”, “The Golden Palace”, “Amas de casa despesperadas”) which started back in 2004 definitely has gone through some major ups and downs with its dark comedy storylines to its complex marriage or relationship problems but if there is one thing definite about the series… its that the the fans love it and to keep the fans interested, the series went through a significant change for its fifth season.
“Desperate Housewives” is a series that had so many complex storylines that to even explain what has happened in the last four seasons would be difficult but if there is one thing that remains the same, it’s our housewives.
The premise of the first season was based around the death of fellow housewife Mary Alice Young (played by Brenda Strong, “Everwood”, “The Help”, “A Plumm Summer”). Mary Alice Young is the narrator of the series and every episode, she has setup the sequences of what is going on in the life of her friends. And its the housewives of Wisteria Lane who have lived complex lives full of love, betrayal, pain and sadness.
For the seventh season of “Desperate Housewives”, each of the housewives are dealing with problems in their life. Susan and Mike are struggling financially to make ends meet and Susan misses living in Wisteria Lane with her friends. She must make a decision on how to pay the bills, that means taking on a job she doesn’t want to do. Gabrielle and Carlos must deal with the news that their daughter was switched as birth and that Juanita is not their true blood daughter. Meanwhile, Gabi has a person in her past return back to her life. Bree meanwhile is single but she has her eyes on her young contractor. Lynette and Tom are trying to work on their marriage after going through some major difficulties and Lynette’s best friend/rival from college, Renee Perry (played by Vanessa Williams) moves to Wisteria Lane.
Also, the seventh season of “Desperate Housewives” marks the return of Paul Young, the creepy husband of Mary Alice who now wants to take revenge on the housewives.
The main characters of “Desperate Housewives” Season 7 are:
- Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher, “Seinfeld”, “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”) – One of the lead characters who was married to Karl and had a daughter named Julie. They divorced and Susan married Mike Delfino who she ended up divorcing. But in season 5, they manage to patch things up and remarry and have a song together. But because Mike’s plumbing business has gone south, both Susan and Mike are forced to leave Wisteria Lane and the family struggle to make ends meet.
- Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman, “Frasier”, “Sports Night”, “Raising Helen”) – Lynnette was a former advertising executive who is married to Tom Scavo (Doug Savant, “Melrose Place) and has four children: her teenage twins (and often in trouble) Preston and Porter, Parker is the youngest son and the well-behaved youngest daughter Penny. She is now back at home for work while Tom is working the corporate job.
- Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross, “Everwood”, “Melrose Place”) – Bree was a former cooking tycoon but has since sold her business, divorced Orson and is once again single.
- Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria Parker, “Dragnet”, “The Hearbreak Kid”, “Young and the Restless”) – The youngest housewife who enjoys money. She is married to Carlos Solis (Ricardo Chavira, “Six Feet Under”) and has two daughters.
- Renee Perry (Vanessa Williams, “Ugly Betty”, “Shaft”, “Eraser”, “Soul Food) – Lynette’s best friend from college. Formerly married to a professional baseball player, now in a divorce, she moves to Wisteria Lane and hangs out with the women. She also runs an interior design business with Lynette.
- Mike Delfino (James Denton, “Threat Matrix”) – The husband of Susan who works as a plumber. He has re-married Susan and both are struggling financially.
- Tom Scavo (Doug Savant, “24”, “Melrose Place”) – The husband of Lynette who has return back to a corporate job and is now the main breadwinner of the family.
- Carlos Solis (Ricardo Chavira, “Prinha”, “Days of Wrath”) – The husband of Gabrielle and a successful business owner.
- Paul Young (Mark Moses, “Letters from Iwo Jima”, “Platoon”) – A former resident of Wisteria Lane and married to Mary Alice Young, who were good friends with the women of Wisteria Lane. Paul has been in prison for a few years and now that he is out, he wants to exact revenge on the women of Wisteria Lane.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:
- Karen McCluskey (Kathryn Joosten, “Scrubs”, “Joan of Arcadia”) – An older widowed housewife and is seen as one of the nosiest neighbors on the block. She is now dating Roy.
- Lee McDermott and Bob Hunter (Kevin Rham, Tuc Watkins) – Two gay men who live in Wisteria Lane. A loving couple who love to argue in public.
- Orson Hodge (Kyle MacLachlan, “In Justice”, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2”) – The ex-husband of Bree who is a former thief and con man.
“Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season” on DVD features the following episodes 135-157 (the following are spoiler-less summaries):
DISC 1:
- EPISODE 135 – Remember Paul? – Paul Young is back in the neighborhood, Lynette’s frienemy comes to Wisteria Lane for more than just a visit and Bree tells Gaby the truth of what happened to her mother-in-law.
- EPISODE 136 – You Must Meet My Wife – Lynette’s friend Renee stays with the family, meanwhile Tom gets some help. Meanwhile, Bree starts to fall for her contractor and Gaby and Carlos find out that a hospital mishap has accidentally switched their child with another child. Meanwhile to make money, Susan takes up on a non-porn streaming site job.
- EPISODE 137 – Truly Content – Tom gets prescribed medical marijuana and Lynette is against it. Meanwhile, Gaby goes to find her real biological daughter against Carlos wishes. Meanwhile, the group tries to welcome Paul’s wife Beth to the neighborhood.
- EPISODE 138 – The Thing That Counts in What’s Inside – Susan’s secret job may come out in public when a billboard of her in lingeree goes up around the city. Renee and Bree compete on who can win Keith’s affections.
DISC 2:
- EPISODE 139 – Let Me Entertain You – Lynette is not thrilled when Tom hires his mother to become the nanny. Meanwhile, what happens when Renee and Gabriel share intimate secrets with each other.
- EPISODE 140 – Excited and Scared – Susan is blackmailed by Paul and must come clean about her part-time job. Meanwhile, Juanita wonders why her mother is spending too much time with Grace.
- EPISODE 141 – A Humiliating Business – Susan needs a job badly and thus Lynette hires her as her nanny. Bree meets Keith’s parents and finds out why she is having hot flashes. Also, Paul’s motive of buying the homes in Wisteria Lane is revealed.
- EPISODE 142 – Sorry Grateful – Bree invites Keith’s parents to Thankgiving Dinner. Meanwhile, Lynette is concerned of how Susan is becoming too concerned about her baby Paige. Meanwhile, what happens when Gaby finds out that Grace may need to leave town.
- EPISODE 143 – Pleasant Little Kingdom – Gaby begins to panic when she finds out that Grace’s mother wants to flee the area from deportation. Renee accidentally reveals a secret with Susan and Paul’s plan is revealed to the neighborhood.
DISC 3:
- EPISODE 144 – Down the Block There’s a Riot – Juanita learns the truth about why her mother cares so much about Grace. Meanwhile, a riot hits Wisteria Lane and a few are seriously injured.
- EPISODE 145 – Assassins – As police are on the lookout for Paul’s shooter, Paul finds out the truth about Beth. Meanwhile, Susan needs kidney dialysis and Carlos and Gabrielle are told by their therapist to eliminate Grace from their lives for Juanita’s sake. Lynette learns the truth about Tom and Renee’s past.
- EPISODE 146 – Where Do I Belong – Susan needs a kidney transplant and her mother and her daughter comes to visit her in the hospital. Meanwhile, Lynette exacts her revenge on Tom for his betrayal.
- EPISODE 147 – I’m Still Here – Bree is approached by a woman from Keith’s past and finds out that he has a son that he knows nothing about.
- EPISODE 148 – Flashback – Gabrielle goes to therapy and learns the truth about her past, Bree tells Keith the truth about the boy and Mike confronts Zach about Paul’s shooting.
DISC 4:
- EPISODE 149 – Farewell Letter – Gabi and Carlos go back to Texas in order for Gabi to deal with her past. Bree makes an important decision in regards to her relationship with Keith, Mike and Paul decide to help Zach.
- EPISODE 150 – Searching – Susan and Mike spend time together, Beth wants to help Susan through tragic circumstances and Renee offers to babysit Paige.
- EPISODE 151 – Everything’s Different, Nothing’s Changed – Susan has a donor but Paul stands in the way, meanwhile Felicia is released from prison and wants revenge for what happened to her daughter.
- EPISODE 152 – Moments in the Woods – Carlos finds out the truth about who killed his mother and Felicia tries to make her peace with Paul.
- EPISODE 153 – The Lies III-Concealed – Carlos forbids Gabi to become friends with Bree, meanwhile Felicia begins her plans for revenge.
DISC 5:
- EPISODE 154 – I’ll Swallow Poison on Sunday – Felicia uses Susan to exact her revenge on Paul, Tom gives Lynette and Renee a chance to redesign his office.
- EPISODE 155 – Then I Really Got Scared – Bree investigates the man she is dating and Juanita has nightmares after watching a horror film. Meanwhile, Tom and Lynette go on vacation to fix their marriage.
- EPISODE 156 – And Lots of Security – The police investigate Susan who is accused of trying to poison Paul, meanwhile Tom and Lynette discuss their marital problems.
- EPISODE 157 – Come on Over For Dinner – The Wisteria Lane gang hold a dinner but Gabi has an uninvited guest.
VIDEO:
“Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition” is featured in Widescreen (1:78:1), enhanced for 16×9 televisions. “Desperate Housewives” looks very good on DVD. Outdoor scenes are nice and vibrant, blacks and low-light scenes do not have the excessive noise problems that some series tend to exhibit on a DVD release.
For the most part, cinematography for “Desperate Housewives” has been excellent and the editing top notch. The series looks great and I can only imagine how beautiful this series would look on High Definition (via Blu-ray).
AUDIO:
“Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition” is featured in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and pretty much, “Desperate Housewives” has always been a dialogue-driven television show and is primarily front and center channel driven. For the most part, dialogue is clear and understandable. The show uses minimal music and nor is it the kind of series that utilizes a lot of sound effects (the final episode has a little). For the most part, the setting I preferred to watch the series was to set my receiver setting and have stereo on all channels.
The series includes subtitles in English SDH, Spanish and in French.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season” comes with the following special features:
DISC 5:
- Desperate For Trivia – “Desperate Housewives” trivia game. Use your remote to anwser the correct answers.
- Growing Up on Wisteria Lane – (9:55) The young cast who grew up on the set of “Desperate Housewives”. The main talent talk about the children they work with on the show.
- Bloopers – (4:18) “Desperate Housewives” season seven outtakes.
- Deleted Scenes – A total of 12 deleted scenes.
EXTRAS:
“Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition” comes with a slip cover case.
Since the fifth season, I felt that the “Desperate Housewives” reboot was necessary in establishing a new beginning for the Housewives. As each housewife deals with becoming parents and the story now benefiting from the five year advance, I felt that creator Marc Cherry did what he can to help jumpstart the series.
The sixth season was similar to the second season in some ways as a secretive family moves to Wisteria Lane and a strangler was on the loose. But for this seventh season, “Desperate Housewives” goes back to the basics by retaining similar storylines of another creepy person moving into Wisteria Lane (but this time, a familiar face), bringing a new character to the mix as part of the housewives group and last, focusing on the lives of each character.
While I did find the seventh season to be entertaining, I do feel that the writers are really trying hard to find ways to put a damper on the life of these housewives.
Susan and Mike continue to be a couple who face challenges but this time financial and also a health scare that hits the family hard.
But this time around, I feel that the writers wanted to make sure the wives and their families get full coverage and thus we have ex-housewife, Bree involved in two relationships throughout the course of the season. But the ones that face the most emotional damage is Gabrielle, who finds out that Juanita is not her true blood daughter and when she meets her real daughter, she has a hard time coping. But to make matters worse is part of her past comes back to haunt her.
The character I feel that the writers tried to zero in on is Lynette. Part of me feels so bad for this character because she had to go through cancer, going back to work and so many other problems that she and her family are constantly have to face. I was hoping that the writers would at least take it easy with Lynette in the seventh season but I get a feeling that because she is strong-willed and opinionated, she is the character that will be facing extreme difficulties in her marriage. In some ways, with every character being divorced, you would have hoped Marc Cherry and fellow writers to have at least one person have a good marriage (yes, not perfect but still have a marriage intact).
I do feel the addition of Vanessa Williams to the cast is pretty cool. But in some ways, her character is almost like her diva character on “Ugly Betty”. Snooty, uptight and judgmental. But it’s great to see her on the shoe but it’s obvious that her character being the newcomer of the group, is not yet being welcomed with open arms.
We do know that the next season of “Desperate Housewives” will be the final season and I just hope Marc Cherry can at least give closure to fans as many of us have invested into the show for so many years. And while the series tends to have its good seasons and OK seasons, I have to say that the seventh season was very good. Hilarious, emotional, entertaining and so many things were introduced this season but with that being said, it’s a bit farfetched this time around, especially seeing a riot hit Wisteria Lane. It’s one thing for a tornado or a an airplane but a riot? I don’t know about that.
But the riot scene episode was still very entertaining but I do feel that the shocking storylines that the series is known for, wasn’t so shocking by the second half of the season. In fact, the way the series ended made me think of another ABC series, ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars”. It’s almost cliche to see something like this happen but at the same time, these women are very good friends and they would always back each other up.
I don’t know if I agree with the series finale but I can only hope that things work itself out by the final eighth season.
As for “Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition”, the DVD set is good, but considering that the last season set and even previous releases had audio commentary, this time around, we only get a few featurettes and that was a bit of a surprise. I was expecting a bit more in terms of special features.
Overall, If you are a fan of “Desperate Housewives”, then “Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition” is a good season, just not their best. Still, if you invested so much time in watching this comedy/drama series, then this seventh season is definitely recommended!
