The Best Episodes of Desperate Housewives

Everyone's lives on Wisteria Lane are forever changed when Carolyn Bigsby holds shoppers hostage at a local supermarket. Meanwhile, Gabrielle and Carlos finish dividing their assets: Gabrielle gets the house, and Carlos gets everything in it. Susan is preparing to go to Paris with Ian.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: Joe Keenan

When Eli Scruggs (Beau Bridges), the neighborhood handyman, passes away, the residents of Wisteria Lane realize how much he affected their lives.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: Marc Cherry, Bob Daily

A tornado comes to Wisteria Lane, forcing residents into basements, cellars and safe rooms, and destroying homes and lives. Meanwhile, Susan ends up at the hospital after falling down the stairs.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: John Pardee, Joey Murphy

Everything that begins must eventually end. This episode of beginnings and endings walks us both backwards and forwards as we take our final stroll down Wisteria Lane.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Marc Cherry

Bree contemplates selling her business in order to revive her marriage. Meanwhile, Lynette is threatened at work; Katherine is caught in an unforseen circumstance; and Edie's worst fear begins to come true.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Alexandra Cunningham

Paul's nefarious plan for Wisteria Lane is put into full effect. Juanita discovers that she isn't Gabrielle's biological daughter, and Bree invites Keith (guest star Brian Austin Green) to move in with her, whilst Tom is confronted about his past indiscretion with Renee.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: Bob Daily

Bree confides that she feels guilty because she and Rex were having a fight when he had his heart attack and that now he needs a pacemaker. Lynette's marriage takes a dramatic turn after an upset Tom vows that it is now her turn to go back to work and he'll be staying home with the kids. Carlos finally learns that John and Gabrielle have been lovers for a while, and vows revenge as he is carted off to jail. Mike takes Paul out to a deserted quarry, intending to shoot him.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: Marc Cherry, Tom Spezialy, John Pardee, Joey Murphy, Kevin Murphy, Katie Ford

Susan and Mike try to name their son. Lynette is arrested for supposedly attacking Kayla, and Tom must do what he can to save his family. Bree is being stalked by Orson, and when she meets with Reverend Green, the reverend tries to hit on her. In the meantime, Gabrielle is still helping the police trying to detain Ellie for dealing drugs. Finally, Katherine is visited by her ex-husband, Wayne.

Director: David Grossman, Bethany Rooney

Writer: Jeff Greenstein, Bob Daily

Lynette adapts to Tom's decision to go back to school, Orson takes a beating that Bree cannot comprehend, Gabrielle's niece moves to Wisteria Lane, and Susan and MJ's lives are in grave danger at the hands of Dave.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Jeffrey Richman

Bree's trial finally comes to an end with a surprise confession. Tom takes steps to finalize his divorce.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: Bob Daily

Susan's daughter Julie comes to visit with her surprising new boyfriend. Gabrielle learns that Mrs. Hildebrand has made her and Carlos heirs of her entire fortune. A reporter looks to expose Bree's imperfections. Lynette learns Porter and Anne Schilling plan to leave Fairview and disappear. Finally, everyone has gathered at a club to see the guys play in the annual "Battle of the Bands" when a fire erupts, threatening the lives of those in attendance. Some will fall as a hero will rise.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Bob Daily

Edie becomes the subject as the other housewives reminisce about her: with Susan recalling the first time they met; Lynnette remembers an unforgettable night; Gaby remembers an evening of friendly competition; and Bree remembers how thoughtful she was towards Orson.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: N/A

All of Wisteria Lane gathers at Pizzeria Scavo for the grand opening event, while one resident meets an untimely fate and another accepts a marriage proposal.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Marc Cherry, Joe Keenan

As Gabrielle prepares for her fairy tale wedding, Bree returns to Fairview with a surprise. Meanwhile, Lynette's mother Stella pays her a visit after finding out Lynette has cancer. Finally, Susan and Mike tie the knot in an unexpected location.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Kevin Murphy, Joe Keenan

Lynette takes extreme measures to protect her son. Carlos realizes the extent of Gaby's sacrifices for their family. Bree wants to prove to Andrew that she has accepted him for who he is. Katherine finds happiness, as Susan and Mike recognize the fate of their relationship. Meanwhile, Dave starts to lose his grip.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: David Flebotte

The Wisteria Lane residents each enjoy a progressive dinner; Renee begins a short-lived relationship with a bartender; Bree sees a connection with Chuck; the housewives cover up a fatal accident.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: Bob Daily

Looking down on her friends and family isn't a way of life for Mary Alice Young. It's a way of death. One day, in her perfect house, in the loveliest of suburbs, Mary Alice ended it all. Now she's taking us into the lives of her family, friends and neighbors, commenting from her elevated POV. Her husband's acting suspicious, the neighbors are talking, and her girlfriends are wondering why one of their own would do something so rash… and so messy.

Director: Charles McDougall

Writer: Marc Cherry

Flashbacks take us back to to moving-in day on Wisteria Lane for Bree, Lynette, Susan and Gabrielle and how Mary Alice brought them all together. Back in the present, Bree gets some frightening news. Susan moves into a trailer after her house was burnt down. Lynette and the kids are staying at a hotel. After seeing a report on the news, Gabrielle believes Carlos died. Paul begs Zach to get him a good lawyer via Noah.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: Marc Cherry, Tom Spezialy, Alexandra Cunningham, Jenna Bans

In the aftermath of the tornado, the residents of Wisteria Lane try to rebuild their lives. Katherine discovers someone may know her secret while Lynette faces the possibility of her family's fate.

Director: Larry Shaw

Writer: N/A

Driven by a hidden agenda, Dave convinces Susan to throw Mrs. McCluskey a surprise party for her 70th birthday. Jackson wants to take his relationship with Susan to the next level. Gabrielle's concerned she might be pregnant. Tom tells Lynette he's sold the pizzeria. A startling reason for the bond between Bree and Katherine is revealed. And finally, an outraged Mrs. McCluskey has the entire neighborhood questioning her sanity.

Director: David Grossman, Scott Ellis

Writer: John Pardee, Joey Murphy, Jeff Greenstein

Bree clashes with Alex's mother for their sons' affections. Gabrielle urges Carlos to take a six-figure job, even though it means spending more time away from home. Susan turns to Lee for company while Jackson is away. Lynette catches Preston talking to Porter on the phone. Meanwhile, Edie grows weary of Dave, whose strange behavior hasn't abated.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Jamie Gorenberg

Gabrielle becomes upset when Carlos offers to have his not-so-innocent niece, Ana, come and stay with them for a while and disrupts their routine. Meanwhile, Lynette becomes angry at Tom as he desperately tries to hold on to his youth. The brutal battle of the sexes between Orson and Bree gets nasty when Orson discovers what she's been up to. Elsewhere, Detectives Lyons and Collins make headway in the arson fire.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

Gabrielle and Lynette's friendship is on the brink of collapse, whereas Bree and Orson come to an agreement about their marriage. Meanwhile, Susan hatches a plan to help an irrational Katherine, and Danny's vital mistake might cost Angie her freedom. In the meantime, Christmas cheer is curtailed when disaster strikes, as a plane crashes down on Wisteria Lane, putting lives in peril.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: John Pardee, Joey Murphy

Gaby risks her safety to help Angie; Lynette's fate and that of her unborn child lie in the hands of Eddie; Susan comes to grips with her financial woes; Bree considers confessing a secret she's harbored for years; and Angie must submit to Patrick's demands in order to protect her son.

Director: David Grossman

Writer: Alexandra Cunningham

In the aftermath of tragedy with Bree's son Andrew running over Carlos' mother Juanita Solis, the residents of Wisteria Lane take stock of their lives. Meanwhile, Susan grows suspicious of Mike's real reason for moving to the street. Lynette reaches the breaking point in her addiction to the twins' ADD medication as she tries other measures like acupuncture to release her stress. The mysterious Mr. Shaw gets down to business as he develops a relationship with Edie. Lastly, Gabrielle confesses her adulterous affair to a priest while Carlos' mother Juanita is in the hospital.

Director: Larry Shaw, Fred Gerber

Writer: Kevin Murphy