9.5/102,123 votesLoading...#1 - Bang
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/2006
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
9.2/101,297 votesLoading...#2 - Something's Coming
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 12/2/2007
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
9.2/101,614 votesLoading...#3 - The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 1/18/2009
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
9.1/101,083 votesLoading...#4 - Finishing the Hat
Season 8 Episode 23 - Aired 5/13/2012
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
8.9/10845 votesLoading...#5 - Down the Block There's a Riot
Season 7 Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/2010
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
8.8/10939 votesLoading...#6 - One Wonderful Day
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/22/2005
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: Kevin Murphy, Tom Spezialy, Joey Murphy, John Pardee, Marc Cherry, Katie Ford
8.8/10887 votesLoading...#7 - Free
Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 5/18/2008
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
8.8/10751 votesLoading...#8 - Give Me the Blame
Season 8 Episode 22 - Aired 5/13/2012
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
8.7/10821 votesLoading...#9 - Look Into Their Eyes and You See What They Know
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 4/19/2009
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
8.6/10778 votesLoading...#10 - The Little Things You Do Together
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 2/18/2007
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
8.6/10809 votesLoading...#11 - Getting Married Today
Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 5/20/2007
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
8.6/10695 votesLoading...#12 - City on Fire
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/2008
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
8.6/10627 votesLoading...#13 - Come on Over for Dinner
Season 7 Episode 23 - Aired 5/15/2011
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
8.5/101,598 votesLoading...#14 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/2004
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
8.5/10758 votesLoading...#15 - Remember
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/21/2006
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: Tom Spezialy, Alexandra Cunningham, Marc Cherry, Jenna Bans
8.5/10766 votesLoading...#16 - Welcome to Kanagawa
Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 1/6/2008
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
8.5/10695 votesLoading...#17 - Boom Crunch
Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2009
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
8.5/10684 votesLoading...#18 - I Guess This Is Goodbye
Season 6 Episode 23 - Aired 5/16/2010
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
8.4/10927 votesLoading...#19 - Guilty
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/28/2004
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
8.4/10712 votesLoading...#20 - That's Good, That's Bad
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/27/2005
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
8.4/10846 votesLoading...#21 - Now You Know
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/30/2007
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
8.4/10744 votesLoading...#22 - Now I Know, Don’t Be Scared
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 11/4/2007
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
Writer: Dahvi Waller, Susan Nirah Jaffee
8.3/10626 votesLoading...#23 - A Spark. To Pierce the Dark.
Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 3/22/2009
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
8.3/10666 votesLoading...#24 - If It's Only in Your Head
Season 5 Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/2009
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
8.3/10607 votesLoading...#25 - Lovely
Season 6 Episode 15 - Aired 2/21/2010
Former exotic dancer Robin will have a profound effect on Susan's friends with three teenage boys at home, Lynette will keep a watchful eye; Bree picks up a few tricks to engage Orson; Gaby looks for help with troublesome niece Ana; and Katherine will find a friendly companion.
Director: David Warren
Writer: N/A
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!
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...
Genres:MysteryDramaComedy
Network:ABC
Best Episodes Summary
"Bang" is the best rated episode of "Desperate Housewives". It scored 9.5/10 based on 2123 votes. Directed by Larry Shaw and written by Joe Keenan, it aired on 11/5/2006. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Something's Coming".