Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry recently announced that, starting in November, one of the lead characters would be taken hostage and killed during the resulting crisis. The smart man gave no hints as to which one. Depending on how one defines 'lead character,' the possibilities are either extremely narrow or open to endless speculation.
If you consider the term to be specific to the housewives themselves, the scope shrinks to five people: Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria, Nicolette Sheridan, and Alfre Woodard. Brenda Strong's character, Mary Alice Young, established her identity as a deceased woman with the Season One premiere.
Technically speaking, not all of those women are wives. Bree Van DeKamp is a widow after her husband, Rex, died after he was poisoned by Roger the pharmacist. Edie has yet to be married at all. I always had the impression Alfre Woodard's character was divorced.
When one takes the term to mean characters seen on a regular basis but not in the title, the list includes Bree's kids, Susan's daughter, Mary Alice's now-widowed husband, Gabrielle's husband, Mike the plumber, Lynette's four kids, and her husband. Betty's two boys are added to the list if the family returns for the new season. Let's not forget Zach Young, the creepy kid played to perfection by Cody Kasch. If he were to die, I guarantee he would not be missed. At least for long.
Obviously, the new storyline is not going to kick off the season. It will probably hit during the holidays, when schedules meet schmaltzy programming. Breaks come during the months after the hits return and new shows are trying to establish themselves.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - DrPat
I vote for Bree's snotty son -- if ever a kid need whacking, he's it!
2 - NancyGail
As stated, Cherry never said who. Responding to your comment-Andrew may be snotty, but I always got the impression he wasn't born that way. Bree and Rex had something to do with it.
3 - DrPat
We're talking about a guy who got away with vehicular homicide. (And yes, that was thanks to the collaboration of his parents, but THEY were not driving the car, after all.)
But I'm not even talking about the Season Two antics of this brat. I have thought Andrew needed a solid whupping since he was first introduced to us as a kid who accepted everything his mother did for him with a word of thanks or even a whiff of notice that she was doing anything.
In that, he was solidly schooled by his father, and supported by his sister. I have been amazed for two years now that Bree, who appears to be a strong woman and capable with a firearm, didn't shoot the lot of them years before.
4 - Brent
I thought that Alfre Woodard's character was leaving at the end of season two so that would eliminate her. I also thought that Edie had been married in her deep dark past (and even had a kid who was supposed to have been introduced in Season 2). We know that Bree is going to be marrying Kyle McLaughlin's very creepy character, so she's out.
Personally, as much as I'd like to see Andrew get his ass whupped, I'd like to see him undergoing repeated humiliations just because a quick death is too good for him.
If I were to pick an obvious candidate it would be Zach's adopted dad Paul Young, although as a long shot I could certainly see it being Carlos (Gabby would look so hot in black - before she took it off for youn John or someone else).
5 - NancyGail
Keep in mind when Season Two closed, the opener for Season Three had not been written yet. Who knows what happens next? Rex defended Bree against Andrew, btw. He supported his son when Andrew realized he was gay. In the end, Rex and Bree made a good team.
6 - NancyGail
Edie supposedly has a nephew due to appear. We'll see. Vehicular homicide? Was under the impression Carlos' mother not dead from that, but fall down stairs.
7 - Alisha Vertin
Mike & Susan were supposed to have hooked up. Why does Orson run over Mike. Edie is definitely hiding something about her past. Zach is in a powerful position to help his dad but chose not to, he realises he has feelings for Mike, his real dad. Bree feels she cant cope with life and falls for Orson who won her trust by not ratting her out at the mental institute. Lynette and Tom are trying to piece their lives back together. Gabrielle and Carlos try to find their pregnant maid to get the child. All in all it makes for an intruiging 3rd season
8 - NancyGail
Mike is the "real" dad? Paul has done more to fulfill that role. Why in the world Zach needed to know someone else donated sperm I have no clue. I have a feeling Orson would mow down anyone in his path who got in his way. As for the rest, it sounds like a lot of supposition to me. However, perhaps DH is going to get back to what people watch week after week.
9 - Alisha Vertin
The only reason Paul has done more, is because he was forced to do so to protect Zach, or as his real name is Dana. He has been perfectly set up by Martha Huber's sister. Orson has some dealings with Mike as he posed some curious questions at Mike during his dental exam. Depending on how long Mike takes to recover, I am sure he is going to be suspicious of Carl, who is Susan's ex.
10 - NancyGail
Zach works a bit better, imo. Question: Martha Huber died at Paul's hand, or rather, her blender. Is her sister aware of this? Keep in mind Paul and Mary Alice (or as you are sure to remind me Angela Forrest) worked together to abduct Zach from the hospital. Yes, I know Deidre was an addict. That doesn't justify what Mary Alice did, especially when she did not even try to conder the possibility Zach's mom had changed.
11 - Alla
Well I´m afraid that mike´s gonna be the one who dies because of this car accident. and then susan and carl will get back together again.
the one thing i don´t understand is why should bree trust once again the wrong person? is it possible to have so much misfortune?
12 - NancyGail
From what I've seen, the car accident wasn't it. A grocery store is involved, methinks. However, the writing may still be being tweaked, so who knows? Anything can happen with this show.
13 - alla
yeah, that´s right. anything can happen. but it looked really bad. .....i really hope that mike´s not going to die.
what do you think about the relationship between bree and orson? isn´t this once again leading to a huge drama?
14 - NancyGail
That might depend on the contact Kyle McClachlan signed. And if Bree was the character killed a few months into the season.... just speculating here, I don't know for sure. Supposedly it was to happen in the winter months.
15 - alla
no! :-) i love bree! she´s my favourite protagonist of DH. actually i don´t think that cherry´s gonna kill one of the housewives, especially because he´s one of the biggest fans of marcia cross......but in fact no one knows, anything can happen here..
i´m curious about adrew? do you think the relationship between him and bree will improve?
16 - NancyGail
Wait and see.
17 - alla
ericcio, what do you think?
18 - ericcio
dont't make me laugh alicia;-)
in the end everything will be the same. i agree in the bree point, but after all it will take its way, or so? why not!
19 - alla
erricio, u know- we love u, but what do you mean when saying in the end everything will be the same?
everything´s changing!
that´s the point honey!
20 - ericcio
oh alla,
this is new york darling, its all about paying taxes
21 - alla
i know, i know.....
just breathe in and breathe out.....
everything´s gonna be just fine!
22 - ericcio
a girl with a broken foot can't walk a mile, physics thats all...
23 - alla
are you refering to edie´s broken leg?
well listen, i know that you love susan, but you have to be fair also. she should be more careful driving her big big car.
and you also, because you might turn into a spinaccio!
24 - Katie
I have caught a mistake in the show. The last episode was when Mike got hit by th ecar and went into the coma, at this point Susan was still homeless because Edie set her house on fire. I no that her ex tried to buy her a new house but Susan didn't accept it. Now in the new season, Susan is in her old house again that supposably got burnt down. And she is living like nothing happened... Am i missing a detial? PLEASE EXPLAIN???
25 - Grace
Hey, I'm 12 years old and I LOVEEE desperate housewives! I would NEVER miss an episode!
It's funny, fresh, and I love eva longoria!
Theres always drama on that street!
I'M THE BIGGEST FAN EVERR! :)