The Worst Episodes of Desperate Housewives
Every episode of Desperate Housewives ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst 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 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 P.O.V.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Desperate Housewives" is "Careful the Things You Say", rated 7.5/10 from 533 user votes. It was directed by Bethany Rooney and written by Peter Lefcourt. "Careful the Things You Say" aired on 11/8/2009 and is rated 0.0 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "I'm Still Here".
7.5/10 533 votes#1 - Careful the Things You Say
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 11/8/2009
Susan believes that Katherine may be Julie's assailant. Angie invites reluctant Bree and Orson to dinner. Gaby struggles to home school Juanita. Lynette has her own suspicions about who attacked Julie. Angie confronts Nick.
Director: Bethany Rooney
Writer: Peter Lefcourt
7.5/10 505 votes#2 - I'm Still Here
Season 7 Episode 13 - Aired 1/16/2011
Lynette feels her mother (guest star Polly Bergen as Stella) is marrying Frank (guest star Larry Hagman), an abrasive and obnoxious man, for all the wrong reasons, and thus tries to talk her out of it. Meanwhile, Carlos becomes concerned when he learns about Gabrielle's obsession with her doll, and Bob and Lee hire a non-maternal Renee to decorate their newly adopted girl's bedroom. Bree runs into Keith's ex-girlfriend (guest star Rochelle Aytes as Amber) and learns some shocking news about his past, and Susan tries to befriend a curmudgeonly man (guest star Gregory Itzin as Dick) who has given up on ever finding a kidney donor. In the meantime, Paul appears to have some plans for Beth (guest star Emily Bergl), as he books a trip for the two of them to a remote cabin in the woods.
Director: Lonny Price
Writer: Josann McGibbon
7.5/10 513 votes#3 - Watch While I Revise the World
Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2011
Lee has a problem with Jenny; Susan and Carlos attempt to find the people responsible for tagging the wall with graffiti; Lynette grows suspicious of Lydia and her fiancé.
Director: David Warren
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 503 votes#4 - School of Hard Knocks
Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2011
While at a yoga class, Lynette and Renee spy on Jane, Tom's new girlfriend; Gabrielle tries to affect change at a PTA meeting; Bree discovers what Danielle is up to; Susan battles with art class teacher Andre Zeller.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Marco Pennette
7.5/10 502 votes#5 - Who Can Say What's True?
Season 8 Episode 11 - Aired 1/15/2012
While in Oklahoma, Susan learns that the late Alejandro has been sexually abusing his 15 year old step-daughter, Marisa, just like he abused Gabby years earlier. Meanwhile, Bree gets an unpleasant surprise from a man she meets in a bar, Gabrielle tries to bluff her way through a business dinner in order to woo a potential client for Carlos, and Mike catches Ben doing something he shouldn't do to try to salvage his faltering real estate project.
Director: Larry Shaw
Writer: N/A
7.6/10 684 votes#6 - You'll Never Get Away from Me
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2005
Susan tries bravely to accept Edie’s new role in Julie’s life, while Lynette’s demanding boss makes her miss Parker’s first day of kindergarten. Bree later on takes a polygraph test to prove her innocence in Rex's death and realizes she has feelings for George. Gabrielle finally comes to the truth about Carlos and John after seeing John with another woman.
Director: Arlene Sanford
Writer: Tom Spezialy, Ellie Herman
7.6/10 687 votes#7 - My Heart Belongs to Daddy
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2005
On one of Gabrielle's prison visits to see Carlos she creates a terrible riot, which lands Carlos in hot water. Also, Susan puts her feelings aside and joins Mike in searching for his son Zach. Lynette is surprised to find out that her son Parker has an imaginary friend. Lastly, George and Andrew both vie for Bree's attention as they both compete in making each other look bad in front of her, until one fight goes a little too far.
Director: Robert Duncan McNeill
Writer: Joey Murphy, John Pardee
7.6/10 672 votes#8 - They Asked Me Why I Believe in You
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2005
Susan's longtime book agent and dear friend, Lonny Moon gets into financial trouble. Lynette is forced to go out to bars night after night with her man-hungry boss, Nina. Bree finds out about Rex's feelings about her prior to his death. Lastly, Gabrielle hires hotshot lawyer David Bradley to defend Carlos in court but Carlos rejects him after he witnesses an attraction between David and Gabrielle.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Alan Cross, Alan Cross
7.6/10 541 votes#9 - Everybody Ought to Have a Maid
Season 6 Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/2009
When Juanita’s party is on the verge of being ruined after Gaby is deemed a bad mom, Gaby is determined to prove she’s a responsible parent. Bree gets defensive when she’s judged by a motel maid for having an affair with Karl. Lynette is put off by her new handyman when he defers to Tom for approval on all things and Susan and Katherine come to blows over Mike. Meanwhile, a lapse in judgment on Danny’s part leads to a terrible mishap that Angie and Nick must cover up.
Director: Larry Shaw
Writer: Jamie Gorenberg
7.6/10 515 votes#10 - You Gotta Get a Gimmick
Season 6 Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2010
Susan turns up the heat for Mike, Bree learns it won't be easy to undo the hurt she's caused Orson, Lynette discovers Tom's true intentions, and Gaby is forced to examine feelings she's suppressed about her heritage.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Joe Keenan
7.6/10 519 votes#11 - Chromolume No. 7
Season 6 Episode 17 - Aired 3/14/2010
While in the Big Apple, a chance encounter with supermodels Heidi Klum and Paulina Porizkova leads Gaby to an unexpected revelation about herself. Meanwhile, Lynette and Tom are in for a big surprise when Preston returns from Europe; Mike is determined to show Susan what a man he is after feeling emasculated; Bree discovers a shocking connection to her new employee, Sam; and Katherine is confused over her feelings for Robin.
Director: Lonny Price
Writer: Marco Pennette
7.6/10 529 votes#12 - My Two Young Men
Season 6 Episode 18 - Aired 3/21/2010
Angie’s ex-boyfriend, Patrick, emerges after her trip to New York. Meanwhile it’s game on between Gaby and Susan, as they go to shameless lengths to top each other’s kids; Lynette believes there’s more to Preston’s fiancée than she’s letting on; Bree invites Sam over for a family dinner; and Katherine comes out of the closet.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Bob Daily
- 7.6/10 494 votes
#13 - Sorry Grateful
Season 7 Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/2010
Thanksgiving on Wisteria Lane finds Gabrielle and Carlos hosting Carmen, Hector and Grace to a bountiful feast. But the Solis's discover some surprising news about the Sanchez's that could threaten their time with Grace. Meanwhile, Bree invites Keith's parents to partake in Thanksgiving at her house and learns some family secrets; Susan butts heads with Lynette over her sleep training techniques for baby Paige; Renee continues to remind Tom about their past; and Beth tries to uncover more about Paul's past misdeeds.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/10 494 votes
#14 - Flashback
Season 7 Episode 14 - Aired 2/13/2011
While in therapy, Gabrielle learns the truth about her past; Keith becomes suspicious about Bree's secret; Lynette's mother tells a lie to a coroner about Frank's death; Mike confronts Zach about Paul's shooting; someone makes arrangements to give Susan a new kidney.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/10 489 votes
#15 - Is This What You Call Love?
Season 8 Episode 13 - Aired 2/12/2012
Bree's sexual escapades are getting out of hand and help comes from an unexpected source, Susan learns that Julie is pregnant, and Gabby has to deal with a situation at Juanita's school.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/10 506 votes
#16 - Any Moment
Season 8 Episode 18 - Aired 3/25/2012
Bree is not so sure about Andrew's upcoming marriage; Gabrielle tries to find work in an employment agency in order to teach Carlos and the kids a lesson; Lynette plans to win back Tom at any cost; Susan's parenting skills concern Julie; Ben asks Renee to marry him.
Director: Randall Zisk
Writer: N/A
7.7/10 905 votes#17 - Come In, Stranger
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/31/2004
A break-in on Wisteria Lane leaves the neighbors feeling vulnerable, especially Susan, who reluctantly accepts a date with a persistent policeman after Mike appears indifferent to her. Rex takes the kids away for the weekend as a lonely Bree finds herself bonding with Zach. Meanwhile, Lynette and Tom pull out all the stops to get their uncontrollable twins Porter and Preston accepted at a prestigious private school, and the unexpected arrival of Carlos' mother puts a crimp in Gabrielle's covert love life.
Director: Arlene Sanford, Jeff Melman
Writer: Alexandra Cunningham
7.7/10 791 votes#18 - Your Fault
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/23/2005
When Lynette's father-in-law pays a visit to to the family, she unwittingly learns a family secret. Meanwhile, Susan is disturbed by Julie's growing romance with Zach. Rex attempts to reconcile with Bree as she tries to play hard-to-get. Lastly, Gabrielle is shocked when John's parents ask her for a favor in convincing John to move back home as he officially turned eighteen and no longer wants to live at home and trying to pursue a relationship with Gabrielle.
Director: Arlene Sanford, David Grossman
Writer: Chris Black, Kevin Etten
7.7/10 775 votes#19 - Live Alone and Like It
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/17/2005
Lynette learns that no good deed goes unpunished when she momentarily befriends the mean Mrs. McClusky. Susan's mother decides to try and jump start her and her daughter's love lives. Andrew talks to a priest about his feelings, and tells him of his shocking plans for his mother, Bree. Gabrielle has her credit card declined in an upscale restaurant, and Carlos sends Gabrielle a big message about what will happen if she leaves him.
Director: Arlene Sanford, Larry Shaw
Writer: Kevin Murphy, Jenna Bans
7.7/10 707 votes#20 - You Could Drive a Person Crazy
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2005
Susan is surprised when she finds out who Edie's new boyfriend is. Meanwhile, Lynette has gone back to work, leaving Tom at home in charge of the house. Carlos makes an unusual request to Gabrielle after his life is threatened behind bars. Lastly, pharmacist George reemerges in Bree's life, which sets off an alarm to mother-in-law Phyllis and her suspicions surrounding her son's death.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Chris Black, Alexandra Cunningham
7.7/10 677 votes#21 - I Wish I Could Forget You
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 11/6/2005
Mike and Susan face a crisis in their relationship when Susan tries to get Paul Young arrested by confessing to a police officer that he killed Mrs. Huber and Mike has her diaries as proof. The officer goes over to Mike to get the story, but Mike denies the whole thing. As Carlos continues serving his jail sentence, Gabrielle valiantly tries to free him. Bree goes to a romantic hotel with George, but requests they sleep in separate rooms.
Director: Larry Shaw
Writer: Josh Senter, Kevin Etten, Marc Cherry
7.7/10 668 votes#22 - Coming Home
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/4/2005
Lynette tries to put a daycare center in Parcher & Murphy by recruiting employees' children to get the program started. Gabrielle and Sister Mary Bernard face off over Carlos' mission of mercy to Africa. Bree brings Andrew home and tells him about the revelation of George poisoning his father Rex and killing him. Lastly, Susan confronts her biological father's wife after she thinks they are having an affair.
Director: Arlene Sanford
Writer: Chris Black
7.7/10 660 votes#23 - We're Gonna Be All Right
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 1/15/2006
After a number of bad dates, Susan finally meets Dr. Right. Susan flirts with a handsome doctor, but they accidentally head butt. Meanwhile, some old pictures of Gabrielle turn up on the Internet. Tom is alarmed when his kids come down with chicken pox because he never had it. Bree gets arrested. Lastly, after months of silence, Noah Taylor contacts Mike Delfino.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Alexandra Cunningham
7.7/10 655 votes#24 - Thank You So Much
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 2/19/2006
Edie thinks that Karl is going to pop the question after she finds an engagement ring and prenuptial agreement in his briefcase. Also, Gabrielle and Carlos learn she is highly unable to conceive a child again because of complications caused from her recent miscarriage. Lastly, Bree's problem with alcohol intensifies with the notice of Lynette after Bree babysits her children.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Dahvi Waller
7.7/10 658 votes#25 - Come Play Wiz Me
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/2007
Gabrielle cannot avoid Zach. Mike's new lawyer suggests he pleads guilty, but Susan doesn't agree with that. Gloria informs Bree that she and Alma believe Bree is the other woman. Instead of going back to work Lynette pretends to be ill so she can help Tom promote the pizzeria at a food fair.
Director: Larry Shaw
Writer: Valerie Ahern, Christian McLaughlin