Desperate Housewives s4 ep 14

A return to action this week for a few characters we haven’t seen much of recently.  Firstly, a big welcome back to Lee and Bob, the underemployed token gay couple whose presence always enlivens an episode.  Maybe the actors are away doing a lot of film work; I can’t think of any other reason why they’re not in every week, given the snappy, waspish dialogue the writers lavish on them.  It must be such a pleasant change from trying to find a new way for Susan to be all, y’know, goofy.  And it can’t be the fear of the loss of advertising revenue, given the ‘Housewives’ demographic.

Less welcome is the return of Kayla, who exists only as a plot device to ratchet up the tension in the Scavo marriage, and perhaps also to suggest that Tom is incapable of fathering a non-satanic child.  However, this week she needs to give second place in the Fairview all-comers badass competition to Wayne (Gary Cole), Katherine’s ex-husband, who might as well have horns growing out of his head.  Perhaps the writers will pull a switch on us and reveal that since splitting up with Katherine he’s devoted himself to charity work.

And least welcome of all is Ellie, Gaby and Carlos’s new lodger.  Those of you who have seen ‘Housewives’ before will know what’s coming next.  We can do this together.  Ready?   She’s a new character.  Hidden in her room she has a secret.  She lies about it.  No-one cares.

Finally, line of the week goes to Edie, who describes the possibility of a fling with Orson as “like having sex with PBS”.  Doesn’t stop her at least reaching for the remote, though.