More than a decade after its finale, Desperate Housewives remains one of the most enduring shows of the last 25 years, finding new life on streaming as fresh audiences devour its delicious twists.
I was a teenager when the show debuted and instantly found myself drawn to the goings-on on Wisteria Lane.
So much so that I even finished Desperate Housewives Season 8, even though it chipped away at much of what made the show a hit in the first place.
The sisterhood between Bree Van De Kamp, Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo, and Gabrielle Solis was the backbone of the frothy ABC dramedy.
Even when the women were not on good terms, they’d still find a way forward.
But all of that changed during the final season when Bree found herself pushed out of her friend group in the aftermath of Alejandro Perez’s death.
Alejandro was Gabrielle’s stepfather, who was presumed dead for years, and returned to make her life a living hell.
Her husband, Carlos, killed him with a candlestick during the Desperate Housewives Season 7 finale — an act of protection that set the final season’s chaos in motion.
On a show where people kept secrets like their lives depended on it, it was a simple enough task, but Bree’s friends made it their mission to derail her relationship with Chuck.
Their methodology made sense.
They didn’t want a cop on the lane, especially one with a good nose for sniffing out liars.
Despite Bree and Chuck having a whirlwind romance, Bree felt she had no choice but to call the relationship off because her friends were so worried about coming under police scrutiny.
But that wasn’t much of an excuse.
Bree Went Through It During Desperate Housewives Season 8
She wasn’t asked; she was told to end the relationship. Ultimately, Bree put her friends’ needs before her own because she was gaslit into believing she was responsible for a situation she didn’t create.
Desperate Housewives pushed Bree to the breaking point.
Chuck stalked her and promised to bury her for Alejandro’s murder, all because she didn’t pursue their relationship any further.
Chuck’s transformation from romantic interest to obsessive antagonist felt less like organic character development and more like narrative convenience.
As if the illogical writing wasn’t bad enough, the situation cost Bree her friendships with the ladies.
Would Susan have abandoned a relationship to protect someone else’s secret? Would Gabrielle? Would Lynette?
The answer feels obvious — and that’s what makes their treatment of Bree so difficult to swallow.
So why did they hold her to such a high standard?
Even in the aftermath of her relationship with Chuck, the ladies remained straight-up hostile, blaming her for the police circling.
I struggle to watch Desperate Housewives Season 8 on rewatches because the season pushed Bree to the brink.
Season 8 Ruined Much of a Great Series
Her suicide attempt felt like a hollow attempt to echo Mary Alice’s death on Desperate Housewives Season 1. It was a full-circle moment that ignored the emotional logic that made the original tragedy so powerful.
Marcia Cross worked her butt off to deliver during a season where the end didn’t justify the means. Bree came out of the other side, sure, but she forgave her friends a little too easily for my liking.
They watched on as she became a shell of her former self, showcasing that when the going got tough, they wouldn’t actually be there for one another.
Bree was always there for these women, and they felt it was appropriate to disregard her feelings and allow her to slip into depression and alcoholism.
Bree didn’t commit the crime. She didn’t swing the candlestick. She didn’t demand the cover-up.
She stepped up when her friends were so afraid that they couldn’t think clearly.
And in return, they isolated her, judged her, and let her unravel.
Desperate Housewives’ final season didn’t just test its central friendship; it broke it, and the creatives should regret going as far as they did.
Okay, Desperate Housewives Fanatics!
I’ve said my piece, now it’s time for you to have yours!
Do you think the show made a big mistake with its anti-Bree storyline? Has it put you off watching the potential Desperate Housewives reboot? Hit the comments!
Don’t look now, but we’re actually rooting for a reboot. WHAT? It’s true. David Boreanaz as Jim Rockford is inspired casting for The Rockford Files.
Cross Season 2, Episode 4 delivers a shocking twist and a tragic romance, but it juggles one too many plots.
Well, Tell Me Lies is officially over. And we have some thoughts about how they wrapped up this twisty series. Come check it out!
Shrinking, “The Field,” hits everyone hard with new fatherhood, old relationships, & a health emergency. That last one? Not okay. Our review!
We have an exclusive sneak peek our the episode TV Fanatic had the privilege of being part of, and if you aren’t a shipper, you will be!
Desperate Housewives’ final season pushed Bree to the brink, but the real shock was how Susan, Lynette, and Gabrielle turned on her.
Grey’s Anatomy Season 23 may shrink again amid budget cuts, but how much smaller can the ABC drama get before it loses what made it iconic?
