Not So Desperate After All: The Real Queens of Wisteria Lane

I didn’t realize just how iconic Desperate Housewives (DH) was until I started getting reactions from people every single time I told them what I was watching.

I’d be cooped up in a corner during my night shift at work, and a co-worker would pass by, take a peek at my phone, and ask what I was watching. I’d say ‘Desperate Housewives,’ and like clockwork, they’d give me this flabbergasted look.

“As in, THE Desperate Housewives?” They’d ask, and I’d say, “The one and only.”

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Then I would be forced to pause my show and listen to them recount how, growing up, they used to rush their chores and finish early so they could run to their neighbor’s house to watch it.

A particular co-worker actually told me he watched the series while it was still in cassette form, the one with the long cassette tapes. I was shocked.

I got a lot of reactions from people that, at some point, I began to expect it. I even became proud when strangers would ask me what I was watching. Is that even normal?😅

Anyways, after binging all eight seasons in the last two months, I finally finished watching the final episode. I knew this day would come. “I just didn’t realize it’d be so soon,” in Gabby’s voice.

The Women of Wisteria Lane

I want to talk about the women of Wisteria Lane: Bree Van De Kamp, Lynette Scavo, Susan Delfino, and Gabrielle Solis.

Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross)—wife of Ray Van De Kamp and mother to a young man and lady, Andrew and Danielle Van De Kamp.

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She was the perfect housewife, famous for her delicious baked recipes, and she knew her way around a gun. She knew how to take control of situations, and it was an added advantage, seeing as she grew a catering business from scratch.

She always held a smile on her face and was prim and proper. She loved to entertain guests and made sure no one left her home on an empty stomach.

Bree represented the traditional housewife. I like to describe her as the ideal image of what a wife should be. She loved to cook and clean, tended to her garden, and always made sure her roses were properly trimmed.

Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman)—wife to Tom Scavo and mother to her five kids, Porter, Preston, Parker, Penny, and Paige Scavo. Lynette was a driven businesswoman, a go-getter, who never wanted kids in the first place.

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She eventually got pregnant with her twins, and after birth, she was forced to be a stay-at-home wife. She later resented her husband for it.

She felt her potential was being wasted in the kitchen and cleaning around the house. She was a high achiever; I mean, she once went on a date and tried to draw a five-year plan for her date because she thought he wasn’t at the level he could be if he applied himself.

Lynette was the one actress I could relate to.

Susan Delfino (Teri Hatcher)—wife to Mike Delfino and ex-wife to Carl, mother of Julie and MJ Delfino. Susan was the sweetheart of the group. She was a children’s books illustrator and an artist. In earlier seasons, she was recovering from a divorce from her cheating ex, Carl.

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She was a disaster in the kitchen and a klutz everywhere else. But she had a beautiful spirit and generous personality. She always stood for what was right. Her one flaw that viewers couldn’t wrap their heads around was the fact that she always felt she needed a man in her life.

She couldn’t be single and content. She felt that without a male partner, she wasn’t complete and always sought attention and approval from them. She even went as far as fighting with a neighbor for a man.

She was good, though, and lovable.

Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria)—wife to Carlos Solis and, 5 seasons later, mother to Juanita and Celia Solis. Gabrielle was a retired model turned housewife to the successful businessman, Carlos. She was materialistic and loved the rich life.

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She always had her eyes out for the latest designer clothes, bags, and shoes. She tended to be selfish and low-key abusive, but let’s call it crazy. On getting married to her hubby, she planned to never have kids.

She wasn’t a fan of her mother-in-law. Gabby was more of an acquired taste. I didn’t care for her role at first, but as the seasons progressed, she grew on me.

Their Friendship

If there is anything I admire about the show, it is the unbreakable bond that existed among these unforgettable ladies. They were fiercely loyal to one another and managed to have room for flaws.

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Jealousy, competition, and even betrayals all showed their ugly heads, but one thing is for damn sure: the ladies always found their way back to one another. I lived for their legendary Friday night poker games, which were really meetings where they felt free to gossip and talk trash about people.

Their bond is the dream bond that I wish to have some day with my girls. I mean, their friendship survived multiple marriages, murders, lawsuits, illnesses, deaths, and fallouts. And yet they stayed strong. Now that’s a sisterhood worth fighting for!

_{I plan to talk more about the series, so if you’re interested, stay tuned 😊😊.}