Finally, a Plot Twist That's Not 'Desperate'

Desperate Housewives ended its fourth season with a cosmic bang, fast-forwarding five years into the future in the final minutes of its May 18 finale. The time-jumping device has actually helped shows like Alias and One Tree Hill, but did this particular decision propel the women in a useful direction? Split decision. Bree (Marcia Cross) launching a cookbook empire seems destined to bring out her perfectionist best (as long as she writes mostly from home — Housewives isn't a workplace comedy). Saddling Lynette (Felicity Huffman) with now-teenage hooligan twins is a brilliant move — Wisteria Lane needs a few unsweet teens, and the series' most self-aware character is just the one to deal with them. But I'd been enjoying married Susan's (Teri Hatcher) unexpected adultness, and fear her surprise new man (Queer as Folk's Gale Harold) is going to make her all flibbertigibbety again. And does anyone want to see Gabrielle (Eva Longoria Parker) in mommy mode? Karma, as Carlos reminded her, has a way of biting back, but the ex-model's hilarious selfishness will be slightly less funny when it's directed at toddlers. Maybe her daughters can go visit little Kayla...for a decade.