The BEST episodes of Desperate Housewives

Every episode of Desperate Housewives ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Desperate Housewives!

In the town of Fairview there's a street called Wisteria Lane; a peaceful cul-de-sac with manicured lawns and beautiful houses. It's a place where you know all your neighbors and your neighbors know all about you. It's the perfect suburban fantasy. But, behind every picket fence there are secrets. And, in every seemingly happy home, you'll find jealousy, lust, passion, and sometimes... murder.

Last Updated: 9/28/2026Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
Bang
star
8.21
762 votes

#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.

Directors: Larry Shaw
Writer: Joe Keenan
Free
star
8.19
761 votes

#2 - Free

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/18/2008

After Katherine announces that she has to leave town, Bree is left responsible for catering Bob and Lee's wedding. Gabrielle finds $118,000 in Ellie's teddy bear. Susan realizes she will soon lose someone she loves. Katherine Mayfair's secrets are finally revealed, and several residents of Wisteria Lane are faced with deadly threats.

Directors: David Grossman
Finishing the Hat
star
8.10
873 votes

#3 - 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.

Directors: David Grossman
Writer: Marc Cherry
Something's Coming
star
8.01
816 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: David Grossman
Give Me the Blame
star
8.00
1739 votes

#5 - 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.

Directors: Larry Shaw
Writer: Bob Daily
A Weekend in the Country
star
8.00
702 votes

#6 - A Weekend in the Country

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2006

It is a holiday weekend on Wisteria Lane. Bree and Orson are going on their honeymoon, while Gabrielle and Lynette are going a spa vacation and Tom is going on a camping trip with the kids. Meanwhile Susan is going on a quiet romantic getaway with Ian, not sure if she's cheating on Mike. However, things don't go as planned.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Writer: Bob Daily
Come On Over for Dinner
star
7.90
1290 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Larry Shaw
Writer: Bob Daily
Into the Woods
star
7.90
843 votes

#8 - Into the Woods

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/6/2007

Susan goes into the woods to try to find Mike. Gabrielle gets into an argument with a meter man who gives her a ticket. Victor is elected mayor, and Gabrielle goes back to teach the meter man a lesson. Edie's ex-husband comes back to collect Travers. Lynette realizes she has feelings for another man.

Directors: David Grossman
Distant Past
star
7.90
841 votes

#9 - Distant Past

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/25/2007

A mysterious stalker from Adam's past shows up on Wisteria Lane, and they have dinner. Detectives question Gabrielle about Victor's whereabouts. Danielle's baby puts stress on Bree and Orson's marriage. Lynette has a reunion with her long-lost stepfather, Glen. Susan notices Mike is behaving strangely.

Directors: Jay Torres
Writer: Joe Keenan
Liaisons
star
7.90
814 votes

#10 - Liaisons

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/15/2007

Susan considers moving from Wisteria Lane to London. Later, an accident causes Ian, Susan, and their car to find themselves stranded in a lake. Tom feels threatened by the interest a new Scavo's Pizzeria employee Rick shows in Lynette. While debating his opponent in the mayoral election, Victor Lang witnesses something disturbing.

Directors: David Grossman
I Remember That
star
7.90
786 votes

#11 - I Remember That

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/2007

Ian proposes to Susan. The Scavo pizzeria prepares for its grand opening. Mike visits a hypnotherapist in hopes of remembering Monique. Gabrielle's romantically interested in a lawyer, but he's working for Zach who wants her for himself. Bree is hospitalized after a fall, after being tricked to climb on a ladder to retrieve Monique's teeth.

Directors: David Warren
Children and Art
star
7.89
702 votes

#12 - Children and Art

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/2006

Lynette returns home from the hospital. Gabrielle decides to get back into modeling and travels to New York. Susan comes home to find Austin and Julie making out on her couch. Bree meets her antagonistic mother-in-law Gloria, with whom Orson is in a quarrel. Detective Ridley has Mike's house searched.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
One Wonderful Day
star
7.80
676 votes

#13 - 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.

Directors: Larry Shaw
Writer: Katie Ford
Sweetheart, I Have to Confess
star
7.80
786 votes

#14 - Sweetheart, I Have to Confess

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/2006

Susan professes her love for Ian. Gabrielle and Carlos try to rekindle their love. Bree is confronted with Orson's past. In the meantime, Nora and Lynette go to war.

Directors: David Grossman
You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover
star
7.80
869 votes

#15 - You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/2007

Lynette's sisters Lydia and Lucy come to visit. While having dinner with Susan and Mike, Bree and Orson realize they share different views on whether their newborn baby should be circumcised. On a boat, Victor confronts Gaby about her affair with Carlos and she throws him into the ocean. Later, Bree informs Susan that she thinks Mike is addicted to drugs.

Directors: David Warren
The Gun Song
star
7.80
925 votes

#16 - The Gun Song

Season 4 - Episode 16 - 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.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Move On
star
7.80
673 votes

#17 - Move On

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/9/2005

Edie organizes a neighborhood search for the missing Mrs. Huber, just as the absent busybody's sister Felicia Tilman arrives on Wisteria Lane. Meanwhile, Bree resigns herself to her marital state and asks an attractive pharmacist on a date. Susan's ex Karl suddenly reappears in her life, and Lynette fears that Tom is attracted to the new nanny. Lastly, Gabrielle sinks to new depths.. she gets a job.

Directors: Fred Gerber
Writer: Patty Lin
Watch Now:Apple TV
Gossip
star
7.80
757 votes

#18 - Gossip

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/29/2007

Susan goes to the therapist and realizes she must choose between Ian and Mike. Travers is having a birthday party which only spells trouble for Mrs. McCluskey, Gabrielle's engagement party is upstaged by an unexpected announcement and the neighborhood is full of gossip about the dead body found on Wisteria Lane.

Directors: Wendey Stanzler
Now I Know, Don't Be Scared
star
7.80
812 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: Larry Shaw
I Guess This Is Goodbye
star
7.80
2296 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: David Grossman
The Ballad of Booth
star
7.80
2323 votes

#21 - The Ballad of Booth

Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/9/2010

Lynette comes to a shocking realization about Eddie. Meanwhile, Angie discreetly relies on Gaby for help when Patrick threatens the life of her son; Bree offers Sam a generous payoff to walk away; and Susan and Mike's financial woes result in the ultimate sacrifice.

Directors: Larry Shaw
Writer: Bob Daily
Not While I'm Around
star
7.80
814 votes

#22 - Not While I'm Around

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/2007

Bree isn't happy Alma has moved to Wisteria Lane. Gabrielle's secret admirer is revealed. The new Scavo Pizzeria faces an uncertain future. Julie and Austin go to Edie about giving them parental consent to buy birth control pills.

Directors: David Grossman
Beautiful Girls
star
7.80
702 votes

#23 - Beautiful Girls

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/2006

Gabrielle takes a shot at training potential young beauty queens. After discovering a wall of photos of half-naked boys in his basement, Lynette is convinced her new neighbor Art is a pedophile. Susan stays at Ian's house and clashes with his butler. Carlos asks Mike if he could stay with him for a while. With his mother living in the Hodge house temporarily, another part of Orson's past is revealed.

Directors: David Grossman
No One Is Alone
star
7.80
674 votes

#24 - No One Is Alone

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/14/2006

Reaching the end of her rope, Bree checks herself into the Fairview psychiatric hospital. Lynette suspects that Tom is cheating on her, so she follows him to Atlantic City. Susan must start over. Felicia Tilman has more in store for Paul Young, resulting in their war reaching its final battle. Gaby and Carlos get Xiao-Mei pregnant.

Directors: David Grossman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Your Fault
star
7.80
703 votes

#25 - 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.

Directors: David Grossman
Writer: Chris Black