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Desperate Housewives: Season 1


RRP: £44.99
Our Price: £10.00 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Audiences were captivated by the women of Wisteria Lane in the first season of Desperate Housewives, the breakout hit from ABC that almost single-handedly lifted the network from its ratings doldrums and brought back the classic TV soap, remixed now with satire, comedy, and mystery. An affectionate yet darkly tinged send-up of suburbia that skirted Twin Peaks territory as much as that of Knots Landing, Desperate Housewives opened with a bang--literally--as perfect-seeming housewife Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong) went through her picture-perfect day before putting a handgun to her temple and pulling the trigger. Mary Alice's sudden suicide leaves her four closest friends, all housewives of a sort, with a surfeit of grief, a re-examination of their own lives, and a mystery to solve. It also proves to be a catalyst for a seamy study of what goes on inside the finely appointed homes of Wisteria Lane--the tales of which Mary Alice narrates from beyond the grave with a sardonic tone dipped in both honey and arsenic.

There's Martha Stewart-perfect Bree (Marcia Cross), who rules her household with an iron fist in a tailor-made garden glove and seems to have it all, until she finds out her husband (Steven Culp) is cheating on her-–and has a serious fetish habit to boot. Sultry Gaby (Eva Longoria), the youngest of the set, is a bored trophy wife whose predilection for shopping and clothes are the perfect decoy for her affair with the hunky teenage gardener (Jesse Metcalfe). Former career woman Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is the most stereotypical housewife, raising four (or was it five?) kids and frustrated at using her cutthroat business skills for suburban politics. And daffy Susan (Teri Hatcher), the divorcee looking for love, sees her prospects brighten with the arrival of hunky plumber Mike (James Denton), who has some desperate secrets of his own. And did we mention the neighborhood hussy (Nicollette Sheridan), the snotty busybody (Christine Estabrook), and Mary Alice's increasingly agitated son (Cody Kasch)?

It was a fast and wild mix of plot and characters that gave Desperate Housewives the zing that made it a number one hit, as it never got too bogged down in any dilemma before moving on to the next. And though it was neither as hard-hitting nor salacious as it was trumpeted to be, the show nevertheless breathed fresh, funny air into comedy television, for even though it hewed to the hour-long soap format, the content was far more dark comedy than sudsy drama. There were fun bright spots to be had, but the story behind Mary Alice's death--which included drugs, murder, blackmail, secret identities, and vengeance in equal amounts--hovered over all the characters, tingeing the farce with the specter of danger. The show's other source of strength is in its peerless ensemble cast, headed by four perfect leading ladies, all Emmy-worthy. Hatcher received the (deserved) lion's share of praise (and a Golden Globe), but her co-stars–-especially the underrated Longoria-–matched her scene for scene. And though the mystery of Mary Alice's death was ultimately solved (no Twin Peaks teasing here), it was just the beginning of the troubles on Wisteria Lane, where no life went unexamined for too long. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com


Easily 5 stars
Review date: 2008-06-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

Not more than 10 minutes ago my wife and i finished watching series 1 and we thought it was brilliant. We normally watch 24 or lost on dvd but thought we'd give this ago and i'm so glad we did. Not a dull episode. Not one.

Am just about to order series 2. I hope it's as good.

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Reviews


Best show on earth
Review date: 2008-06-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

I bought this season recently to cheer myself up after Channel Four put the fourth season on hold until the autumn. All I can say is that it has done the trick, the show is quirky, engaging and funny and is very original. The cast are fantastic and each bring a different depth to the show. Buy it and it will keep you entertained for hours!

Desperate(ly) (seeking) Housewives
Review date: 2007-10-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

The women of Wisteria Lane drew enormous interest in the media since this adult rated TV show began airing on ABC. The story revolves around Martha Stewart-perfect Bree (Marcia Cross), who has it all, until she finds out her husband is cheating on her. Gaby (Eva Longoria) is a bored trophy wife whose addiction for shopping and clothes are the perfect decoy for her affair with the hunky teenage gardener (Jesse Metcalfe). Former career woman Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is the most stereotypical housewife raising four kids and frustrated, and Susan (Teri Hatcher), the divorcee looking for love sees her prospects brighten with the arrival of hunky plumber Mike (James Denton) who has some desperate secrets of his own.

It is a fast and wild mix of plot and characters that made this a hit show. There are 23 episodes on this DVD set, and six of the episodes can also be viewed in unrated extended versions. The DVD also includes five leading ladies' separate commentaries on few of their favorite scenes discussing the characters' clothes and homes, the show's appeal, casting decisions, the show's much-hyped secrets, and how naked Teri Hatcher had to be. There is also a segment in which talk show diva Oprah pays a visit to Wisteria Lane. If you are a fan of this soap opera your dreams are fulfilled; the DVD is out there for you to check it out.


cooly cool!
Review date: 2006-08-26 Rating: 8 out of 10

I didnt watch all the episodes of this first season when it was aired but i got it bought for my birthday and watched it all, and i really thought it was brill. It was maybe a little far fetched in some parts, but it was fun with it. The extras on the DVD are really good, and the packaging is stylish and fabulous.

Lynette is brill as the stressed mother and her husband Tom is fab! I also like Gabrielle and Carlos Solis. I was hoping this show would be a substitute for my much loved Sex and the City but it couldnt really replace, or live up to that for me, but none the less, it is a brilliant show. I will definately buy Season 2 when that is released also.

One of the best show ever made
Review date: 2006-08-22 Rating: 10 out of 10


I love this show. At first didn't like that much but the more episodes that I saw the more I liked it. My favourites are Bree, Gabrielle and Edie. I love the dark humor, funny and clever plots and the well-written dialog. I just love the way they talk and all actors and actresses are amazing. These are people who know to act. This season box is filled extras, mostly pretty good too and all episodes. Every episode is a joy to watch and you will never know what will happen. Season 2 is almost as good but the first is still the best, but I can't wait to what happens next.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Felicity Huffman
Marcia Cross
Teri Hatcher

Creators:
Teri Hatcher (Primary Contributor)
Felicity Huffman (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
EAN: 8717418056209
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 6
Format: PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-10-10
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 997 minutes
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

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