One never knows where to start when reviewing something as interesting as a DVD set for “Desperate Housewives.” After all, being that it is one of the most popular shows on the planet, I would guess that everyone knows what it is about. So should I try and give you a little synopsis of what the show is about or not? Hmmm… well I could assume that you are like me and have only watched the show on DVD. After all, who in their right mind can stand to watch a show and sit through commercials and those incredibly pesky scrolling ads at the bottom of the screen? If you aren’t in the know already… “Desperate Housewives” is a nighttime soap opera. However, it is not your typical nighttime soap. This was evident at the moment we learned that the show’s narrator, Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong), was deceased. That’s right… the narrator of the show is stone cold dead. Oh sure, we see her from time to time in flashbacks and the like, but in the show’s timeline she is narrating from beyond the grave.

The women of Wisteria Lane are, as one might expect, somewhat devious and mentally screwed up. This is a fairly dangerous combination for any one woman, but when ALL the ‘Desperate Houswives’ share this trait it is a recipe for disaster. Over the last four seasons, there have been marriages, divorces, murders and all of the wonderful things that make a neighborhood a home. To understand it all, you simply need to watch.

As we moved into the end of the 4th season, creator Marc Cherry made yet another unusual move in telling his tales. The series jumped. No… not the proverbial shark… but 5 years. Yup, he opted to close out the season by jumping 5 years into the future. This paved the way for a whole new set of plot arcs, some of which leave you wondering what exactly happened as you begin watching the 5th season. I have to give MC credit for taking such a huge leap of faith (and time)!

For the most part, this move worked to refresh the characters through the new season. But admittedly I was taken by two things… it took a little too long to get back into their lives as the first few episodes were kind of slow. It hit its stride about halfway through and started to pick back up and by the end of the 5th season the show was back in full swing. The 2nd item is the women themselves. All are lovely, but few of them look as though they are lovely without… some work, if you know what I mean. And in the case of one in particular, she actually spent the last 5 seasons looking like she had a little too much work. Admittedly she was more scary than pretty… and I’m sure fans of the series know who I mean.

Anyhow, for those of you like me who prefer the wonderful world of DVD, the 5th season made its way onto store shelves this month and this set is a doozy. So much so that the studio had to add a 7th disc to it just to house the special features. All 24 episodes are spread out over 6 discs (including a couple of decent commentaries), but when you get to the final disc be prepared to become a “Desperate Housewives” expert.

They give you extra features in spades. You get Bloopers (which are actually pretty amusing), deleted scenes (which are just kinda there), a look at Cherry’s favorite scenes, and a featurette about Teri Hatcher (my favorite Housewife!). But the best features include a look at how the process from script to screen works for an episode. The whole idea of being able to see a table read for the script is awesome. Then there is a feature on the show’s 100th episode. This one was pretty good (as it was also the season’s BEST episode), but there are a little too much self congratulation from the cast and crew for my taste.

If you’ve picked up the previous box sets of “Desperate Housewives”, don’t stop now… you won’t be disappointed.

Episodes:
You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow
We’re So Happy, You’re So Happy
Kids Aren’t Like Everybody Else
Back in Business
Mirror, Mirror
There’s Always a Woman
What More Do I Need?
City on Fire
Me and My Town
A Vision’s Just a Vision
Home is the Place
Connect! Connect!
The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened
Mama Spent Money When She Had None
In a World Where The Kings Are Employers
Crime Doesn’t Pay
The Story of Lucy and Jessie
A Spark, To Pierce The Dark
Look Into Their Eyes And You See What They Know
Rose’s Turn
Bargaining
Marry Me A Little
Everybody Says Don’t
If It’s Only In Your Head

Starring: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria
Extras: Bloopers, Deleted Scenes, Cherry-Picked, “What More Do I Need?” – A Very Good Read, I Know Things Now – Desperate Housewives Celebrates 100, So Very Teri, Audio Commentaries
Specifications: Widescreen (1.78:1); Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: 9/1/2009
MPAA Rating: NR
http://www.DesperateHousewivesOnDVD.com

We'll give Desperate Housewives: Season 5 a B+.