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The Best Episodes of Desperate Housewives

Every episode of Desperate Housewives ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Desperate Housewives!

Binge this in 5d 9h•Peaking at 9.5/10

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Desperate Housewives Season 3 Episode 7 - Bang
    9.5/10(2377 votes)

    #1 - Bang

    S3:E7

    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

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  2. Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode 13 - The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened
    9.3/10(1867 votes)

    #2 - The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened

    S5:E13

    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
    Writers:Bob Daily, Marc Cherry

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  3. Desperate Housewives Season 4 Episode 9 - Something's Coming
    9.2/10(1442 votes)

    #3 - Something's Coming

    S4:E9

    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
    Writers:Joey Murphy, John Pardee

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  4. Desperate Housewives Season 8 Episode 23 - Finishing the Hat
    9.2/10(1216 votes)

    #4 - Finishing the Hat

    S8:E23

    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

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  5. Desperate Housewives Season 7 Episode 10 - Down the Block There's a Riot
    9.0/10(966 votes)

    #5 - Down the Block There's a Riot

    S7:E10

    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

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  6. Desperate Housewives Season 8 Episode 22 - Give Me the Blame
    8.9/10(853 votes)

    #6 - Give Me the Blame

    S8:E22

    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

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Desperate Housewives

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  7. Desperate Housewives Season 1 Episode 23 - One Wonderful Day
    8.8/10(1074 votes)

    #7 - One Wonderful Day

    S1:E23

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

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  8. Desperate Housewives Season 4 Episode 17 - Free
    8.8/10(992 votes)

    #8 - Free

    S4:E17

    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.

    Directors:David Grossman, Bethany Rooney
    Writers:Bob Daily, Jeff Greenstein

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  9. Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode 19 - Look Into Their Eyes and You See What They Know
    8.7/10(941 votes)

    #9 - Look Into Their Eyes and You See What They Know

    S5:E19

    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:Unknown

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  10. Desperate Housewives Season 3 Episode 15 - The Little Things You Do Together
    8.6/10(870 votes)

    #10 - The Little Things You Do Together

    S3:E15

    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
    Writers:Marc Cherry, Joe Keenan

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  11. Desperate Housewives Season 3 Episode 23 - Getting Married Today
    8.6/10(896 votes)

    #11 - Getting Married Today

    S3:E23

    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
    Writers:Kevin Murphy, Joe Keenan

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  12. Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode 8 - City on Fire
    8.6/10(785 votes)

    #12 - City on Fire

    S5:E8

    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

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  13. Desperate Housewives Season 6 Episode 23 - I Guess This Is Goodbye
    8.6/10(763 votes)

    #13 - I Guess This Is Goodbye

    S6:E23

    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

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  14. Desperate Housewives Season 7 Episode 23 - Come on Over for Dinner
    8.6/10(716 votes)

    #14 - Come on Over for Dinner

    S7:E23

    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

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  15. Desperate Housewives Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.5/10(1814 votes)

    #15 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    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

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  16. Desperate Housewives Season 2 Episode 23 - Remember
    8.5/10(855 votes)

    #16 - Remember

    S2:E23

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

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  17. Desperate Housewives Season 4 Episode 10 - Welcome to Kanagawa
    8.5/10(850 votes)

    #17 - Welcome to Kanagawa

    S4:E10

    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:Unknown

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  18. Desperate Housewives Season 6 Episode 10 - Boom Crunch
    8.5/10(795 votes)

    #18 - Boom Crunch

    S6:E10

    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
    Writers:Joey Murphy, John Pardee

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  19. Desperate Housewives Season 1 Episode 8 - Guilty
    8.4/10(1056 votes)

    #19 - Guilty

    S1:E8

    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.

    Directors:Larry Shaw, Fred Gerber
    Writer:Kevin Murphy

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  20. Desperate Housewives Season 4 Episode 1 - Now You Know
    8.4/10(931 votes)

    #20 - Now You Know

    S4:E1

    Susan learns that she is expecting a child while Bree continues to fake her own pregnancy. Gabrielle begins an affair with her ex-husband, Carlos and Lynette tries to conceal her cancer from her friends and children. The episode also introduces Katherine Mayfair, Susan's old friend who returns to the neighborhood after being away for 12 years.

    Director:Larry Shaw
    Writer:Marc Cherry

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  21. Desperate Housewives Season 4 Episode 6 - Now I Know, Don’t Be Scared
    8.4/10(833 votes)

    #21 - Now I Know, Don’t Be Scared

    S4:E6

    This is the show's first Halloween episode. Edie Britt's biggest fear comes true when Carlos walks out on their relationship. Susan finds Mike's father, who was supposedly dead. Danielle goes into labor right in the middle of the Halloween party... and somebody has to deliver the baby.

    Director:Larry Shaw
    Writers:Susan Nirah Jaffee, Dahvi Waller

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  22. Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode 24 - If It's Only in Your Head
    8.4/10(761 votes)

    #22 - If It's Only in Your Head

    S5:E24

    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

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  23. Desperate Housewives Season 2 Episode 9 - That's Good, That's Bad
    8.3/10(821 votes)

    #23 - That's Good, That's Bad

    S2:E9

    George stalks Bree, despite her efforts to break up with him. Lynette takes charge of office politics. Carlos is paroled from prison and returns a new man, and Gabrielle is jealous of his new 'holier-than-thou' confidante. Susan meets her birth father and tries to begin a relationship with him.

    Director:Larry Shaw
    Writer:Kevin Murphy

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  24. Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode 5 - Mirror, Mirror
    8.3/10(730 votes)

    #24 - Mirror, Mirror

    S5:E5

    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.

    Directors:David Grossman, Scott Ellis
    Writers:Joey Murphy, Jeff Greenstein, John Pardee

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  25. Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode 18 - A Spark. To Pierce the Dark.
    8.3/10(710 votes)

    #25 - A Spark. To Pierce the Dark.

    S5:E18

    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

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Best Episodes Summary

"Bang" is the best rated episode of "Desperate Housewives". It scored 9.5/10 based on 2377 votes. Directed by Larry Shaw and written by Joe Keenan, it aired on 11/5/2006. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened".