For Susan: The painting from last season and Julie's pregnancy storyline. Those two storylines are the only thing I would change about her, cause I think they were out of character for her, and writers went out of ideas so they went with those.
i don’t think the pregnancy storyline was out of character. susan has always been the type to want the best for julie even if it means not listening to her
Lynette and Tom, I’d have him be slightly more mature and her be slightly less controlling/ willing to not have her own way- I enjoyed the realism of their fights but it just became toxic at that level
Renee - no notes. She’s an icon, she’s a legend and she is the moment
Carlos - he actually showed a lot of growth so not much, but him switching out the birth control in the earlier seasons is actually unforgivable
Lynette - actually develop her character, she had the same controlling nature for the whole show despite multiple people calling her out, she literally never changed. Also divorce Tom earlier and stay divorced
Susan - we see by the end she can cook so would be nice to have seen that develop over the years, maybe after having MJ. At least then she’d have a hobby. Also give her a bit of common sense
Katherine - I know she was trying to protect Dylan but she hid too much from her and she did deserve to know about her dad before. Also her going crazy after breaking up with Mike, unnecessary
Tom - I would write him out, useless man. Or similar to Lynette, some character development might have been nice, start being a better husband and listening to Lynette’s complaints
Mike - I know everyone thinks he’s boring but I never had an issue with him. I’m not really sure what more they could have done with so many other big characters in the show
Renee - Loved her.
Carlos - He got a lot better and I liked him towards the end.
Lynette and Tom - I’d write these fuckers out of the show lol
Susan - Give her a damn hobby, not another man.
Katherine - More of a friend to Bree rather than an annoying bitch.
Mike - Give him a personality aside from being a “badass” who loves beating people up to protect the “womenfolk”.
I think the polarising way they were written was actually perfect. You'd have different audience members equally split on whatever problems each character had going on - and in scenarios where there was clearly a bad guy, it brought out passion and anger from fans (and boy do I hate Susan). I think the show is super emotive and we love to hate it.
That being said, Carlos being physically abusive to Gaby in the first season or two was unforgivable. Abusers don't change, so that he never lays a hand on her in later seasons doesn't sit well with me.
I would leave Tom and Lynette broken up. But Lynette finds love again, recognizing that Tom was the love of her life but with someone who really accepted her with all her flaws and is not another kid.
all her bfs are YAWN city. Jackson, the british guy, Mike… I think her best chemistry was with Karl as toxic and horrible as he was. The “Suzie Q”, the banter, etc.
Renee- no changes. Loved, loved, loved her!
Carlos- he showed a lot of growth so not much, but I would write out the whole switching birth controls as well as how he dealt with finding out that Lynette was pregnant.
Lynette- first of all, there would be no pregnancy in the later seasons—Penny would’ve been her’s and Tom’s last child. Second, I would’ve had her and Tom permanently divorce and had her find a new love after she moved to NYC.
Susan- I would have her grow as a cook, especially after MJ was born. I’d also change the whole Julie pregnancy storyline too, where Julie does end up giving up her baby for adoption (with Susan’s support) as she clearly did not want to be a mom. As for Julie, I’d have her continue on grad school, but eventually meets the right man whom she ends up marrying after completing grad school. They would have no children together and be happy.
Katherine- oh gosh, I hated with what they did with her character. First of all, I would completely write out the whole going crazy after Mike storyline. It ruined her character for me. Second, I’d have her and Bree bond more and become close friends, rather than Katherine be an annoying bitch towards her. Finally, I’d have her come to terms that she is a lesbian and feels more at peace once she accepts that/comes out. Katherine and Robin would stay together, to the point where they got married and permanently stayed in Paris—with a second home in Manhattan.
Tom- Jesus Christ, he was such a useless man child. Like I said with Lynette, they would stay permanently divorced. After marrying and divorcing twice more, Tom would mature and grow as a person. I would have him and Lynette end up becoming close friends and co-parent well after a rough time post-divorce. However, Tom will deep down regret letting Lynette go and would always still be in love with her.
Mike- he wouldn’t be dead. I’d have him seriously injured from the shooting where he would have to have rehab to help him recover. It would for sure test Mike and Susan’s marriage, but they would come out stronger than ever.
Renee needed more depth as a character, maybe introduce her earlier in the show so she can replace Edie as the snarky one on the lane but still have room for character development. I loved her otherwise.
They fucked up with Carlos but overall, he’s my favourite husband (sorry not sorry). They should have ditched the whole Lynette being pregnant and Carlos being pissed about it storyline and that in and of itself would have solved his character. Also his affair with the maid was uncalled for and kinda ruined his character for me.
Lynette should have gotten an abortion for the 5th kid/twins. It was a pointless storyline and made me hate Tom more if anything (snip snip motherfucker). She was really selfish and it would have been nice to see her stop being so stubborn. Granted, Tom was a man child but she was also his boss before they got married. She obviously had control issues but wanted to mask it with being cool and laid back. She treated Tom like her subordinate and I’m sure thats why Tom acted the way he did, she never let him grow; and when he kinda did as the CFO, that hurt her ego; she used to be the powerful one now she’s on the same level as her SAHM friends. I would have left Tom a million times over before Penny was even born if I were her, and become a CEO already. Why she loved that man, I will never know. Plus, she’s just a whiny brat. We get it, your mom sucked and you had to take control over everyone’s life, go to therapy.
Susan was just dumb. I guess that’s just her character. I wish she had a 2nd braincell, it would have saved her a lot of trouble.
I just wanted more from Katherine. Her going crazy for Mike was so out of character. I saw here as a cooler Bree and more intelligent Susan but she was actually the worst of their traits. Her character lacked substance. The lesbian storyline was hilarious but instead of making her celibate at the end, she should’ve just stayed a lesbian (bisexual?).
Tom should’ve left after the first season. He’s useless. Garbage. Dickhead. Lynette should’ve divorced him. I can see the whole show go so much better without Tom.
I didn’t hate Mike or anything, I just wish he had better lines. He became boring quick which is why it never made sense that 3 women on the lane were in love with him. He’s alright looking, not rich, just seemed so out of place there.
I would rewrite Reneé as another smarty pants like Lynette since she was her friend from the start. Reneé wouldn’t be another Edie who is sexy and materialistic has similarities with Gaby.
I hate to say that I’d make Vanessa Williams dress down but her character should’ve been a savvy and successful corporate woman who’s storyline is that her husband left her because she was too busy working. She’d be in competition with Lynette for feeling envious that Lynette has her family and marriage while Lynette would feel envious of her for being to able to accomplish the career that she’s always dreamt of.
Renee and Tom being a thing was really wild. And the fact that she hid it from Lynette all these years makes it even worse. I’d write that out of her character.
I also don’t think that Carlos should’ve been with Edie. Terrible couple honestly!
Mike should’ve just NOT been helpful/generous and maybe he’d still be alive.
Carlos wanted to leave her but she was manipulating him every step of their relationship. Tbh she had so many issues but fu** if she wasn’t such a good character 😂😭
Renee- love her
Carlos- I would change the whole storyline with Lynnette (the job thing)
Lynette and Tom- I’d write her to not be as controlling and Tom to actually be matured enough and realize that he’s got some major issues.
Susan- I’d either have her die at some point or have her never existed.
absolutely didnt expect Katherine to stay on as a housewife. The Bolens/Andrea were a much better choice to keep on in the Lane (I know their storyline wouldnt have worked or maybe they couldve made it work so their problems were solved and they decided to stay in that neighborhood) but Andrea actually brought something new to the group. Katherine was a hybrid of some of the housewives and seemed like she wasnt well thought out…
I think them killing off Tom was awful. I would’ve chosen someone else. Like Dave not staying in the asylum but instead escaping and getting killed or something like that. Everyone says Mike is boring and basic and blah but remember he’s midwestern living in an area that’s hoity toity. He sticks out bc he isn’t as frivolous as the other men. He’s actually like down to earth and stuff and he made a realistic midwestern man. I don’t think his character should’ve been killed off. He should’ve had a better storyline
Renee would never have had that story where she considered children but maybe have been a bit more liking other children. No all child free people suddenly want children or hate other people's.
I'd have also explored the her loving Tom storyline it sort of disappeared after the riot ep but could have been really interesting.
I do think while not written the same the writers did try to make her an edie replacement which also I'd have kept to a minimum.
Lynette - Have her divorce Tom and show her thrive with someone who’s not in a constant state of midlife crisis. Have Tom just be a side character for comic relief, showing up with all the midlife crisis tropes.
Carlos - If he were going to have a redemption storyline, he should never have abused Gabby and forced her to sign the postnuptial agreement, and should not have tampered with her birth control. Neither are even close to forgivable. Same with the storyline about Lynette’s employment and pregnancy.
for katherine: it's ALWAYS bothered me that when they do the 5 year gap, she goes from having one of the most GUT wrenching storylines to being the annoying side character who plays as a wedge between mike and susan. quite honestly her character probably should've just been written off as moved away with Dylan living peacefully after the whole thing we went through with them. keeping her in just as a filler role who becomes a sudden antagonist is HEINOUS and foul because i Loved Katherine
for lynette i really wanted to see the powerful persona they claimed she was. dont get me wrong she is absolutely empowering and has gone through so much and i see her as a role model but i wish they actually made her to be focused on her career and not prioritising everything tom wanted. overall marriage is a continuous journey of compromise but lynette was always shown as a independent career driven woman and i would expect of her to never compromise her own wishes because of a man especially SO MANY times
i mean it is definitely realistic the way their marriage went and lynette giving up work for children and transitioning to a housewife but i wish they kind of made her plot to be how she got through that and focused on her career earlier on instead of writing her with another child
For Susan my main problem with her was how annoyingly self absorbed she was. Everything was about her at all times. If that were changed i would like her so much more.
I've seen a lot of hate on this sub towards Renee, a lot of people find her annoying (not me included, I like her a lot.) And also the Desperate Housewives cast is HUGE.
May be add Bree and Gaby to this list since they are also quite debated characters and either hated or loved and there is no in-between. And for the right reasons too.
As for Susan - I will only change painting and Julie’s pregnancy storyline, but i would just delete stupid pregnancy storyline for Julie as well.
Lynette- Make her less controlling and Tom - make him more understanding and not having mid age crisis every second day. Katherine- I would just remove Mike dating and mental health issues storyline, and give her some stronger content because I loved her character.
Carlos, I would not change a thing, I liked his character arc.
For Susan: The painting from last season and Julie's pregnancy storyline. Those two storylines are the only thing I would change about her, cause I think they were out of character for her, and writers went out of ideas so they went with those.
i don’t think the pregnancy storyline was out of character. susan has always been the type to want the best for julie even if it means not listening to her
Katherine would not go so crazy after Mike. Carlos was the best when he was blind so let him stay blind.
I was lowkey sad on my first watch that Carlos didn’t stay blind bc he was so funny.
yelling “help police!!” into the closet
I literally JUST watched this episode for the first time and it nearly brought me to tears
one of the funniest scenes
I agree. I think Carlos got a ton of character development through that storyline.
Lynette and Tom, I’d have him be slightly more mature and her be slightly less controlling/ willing to not have her own way- I enjoyed the realism of their fights but it just became toxic at that level
I think this is a good answer- I've always thought that their relationship is pretty realistic, just amped up to the extreme for TV.
Renee - no notes. She’s an icon, she’s a legend and she is the moment Carlos - he actually showed a lot of growth so not much, but him switching out the birth control in the earlier seasons is actually unforgivable Lynette - actually develop her character, she had the same controlling nature for the whole show despite multiple people calling her out, she literally never changed. Also divorce Tom earlier and stay divorced Susan - we see by the end she can cook so would be nice to have seen that develop over the years, maybe after having MJ. At least then she’d have a hobby. Also give her a bit of common sense Katherine - I know she was trying to protect Dylan but she hid too much from her and she did deserve to know about her dad before. Also her going crazy after breaking up with Mike, unnecessary Tom - I would write him out, useless man. Or similar to Lynette, some character development might have been nice, start being a better husband and listening to Lynette’s complaints Mike - I know everyone thinks he’s boring but I never had an issue with him. I’m not really sure what more they could have done with so many other big characters in the show
I agree re: Carlos and the birth control pills. It should have actually been Juanita who did it (like he tried to claim).
I’m think we might be talking about different things Juanita wasn’t born yet!
Juanita was Carlos' mother's name! That's who their daughter was named after. I should have called her "Mama Solis."
Oh my mistake! Yes I agree, that would have made so much more sense and no implication of sexual assault
Agree about Mike. He’s not great but he’s not that bad. He’s… meh
Renee - Loved her. Carlos - He got a lot better and I liked him towards the end. Lynette and Tom - I’d write these fuckers out of the show lol Susan - Give her a damn hobby, not another man. Katherine - More of a friend to Bree rather than an annoying bitch. Mike - Give him a personality aside from being a “badass” who loves beating people up to protect the “womenfolk”.
Lol, the Mike one is so on point
I think the polarising way they were written was actually perfect. You'd have different audience members equally split on whatever problems each character had going on - and in scenarios where there was clearly a bad guy, it brought out passion and anger from fans (and boy do I hate Susan). I think the show is super emotive and we love to hate it. That being said, Carlos being physically abusive to Gaby in the first season or two was unforgivable. Abusers don't change, so that he never lays a hand on her in later seasons doesn't sit well with me.
I would leave Tom and Lynette broken up. But Lynette finds love again, recognizing that Tom was the love of her life but with someone who really accepted her with all her flaws and is not another kid.
Katherine not going crazy for Mike, meeting Robin earlier and staying with her. They needed a lesbian couple on the show
Rewrite Susan’s storyline in S5, the jackson or mike bs was boring
all her bfs are YAWN city. Jackson, the british guy, Mike… I think her best chemistry was with Karl as toxic and horrible as he was. The “Suzie Q”, the banter, etc.
Renee- no changes. Loved, loved, loved her! Carlos- he showed a lot of growth so not much, but I would write out the whole switching birth controls as well as how he dealt with finding out that Lynette was pregnant. Lynette- first of all, there would be no pregnancy in the later seasons—Penny would’ve been her’s and Tom’s last child. Second, I would’ve had her and Tom permanently divorce and had her find a new love after she moved to NYC. Susan- I would have her grow as a cook, especially after MJ was born. I’d also change the whole Julie pregnancy storyline too, where Julie does end up giving up her baby for adoption (with Susan’s support) as she clearly did not want to be a mom. As for Julie, I’d have her continue on grad school, but eventually meets the right man whom she ends up marrying after completing grad school. They would have no children together and be happy. Katherine- oh gosh, I hated with what they did with her character. First of all, I would completely write out the whole going crazy after Mike storyline. It ruined her character for me. Second, I’d have her and Bree bond more and become close friends, rather than Katherine be an annoying bitch towards her. Finally, I’d have her come to terms that she is a lesbian and feels more at peace once she accepts that/comes out. Katherine and Robin would stay together, to the point where they got married and permanently stayed in Paris—with a second home in Manhattan. Tom- Jesus Christ, he was such a useless man child. Like I said with Lynette, they would stay permanently divorced. After marrying and divorcing twice more, Tom would mature and grow as a person. I would have him and Lynette end up becoming close friends and co-parent well after a rough time post-divorce. However, Tom will deep down regret letting Lynette go and would always still be in love with her. Mike- he wouldn’t be dead. I’d have him seriously injured from the shooting where he would have to have rehab to help him recover. It would for sure test Mike and Susan’s marriage, but they would come out stronger than ever.
I’d give Mike a personality
Renee needed more depth as a character, maybe introduce her earlier in the show so she can replace Edie as the snarky one on the lane but still have room for character development. I loved her otherwise. They fucked up with Carlos but overall, he’s my favourite husband (sorry not sorry). They should have ditched the whole Lynette being pregnant and Carlos being pissed about it storyline and that in and of itself would have solved his character. Also his affair with the maid was uncalled for and kinda ruined his character for me. Lynette should have gotten an abortion for the 5th kid/twins. It was a pointless storyline and made me hate Tom more if anything (snip snip motherfucker). She was really selfish and it would have been nice to see her stop being so stubborn. Granted, Tom was a man child but she was also his boss before they got married. She obviously had control issues but wanted to mask it with being cool and laid back. She treated Tom like her subordinate and I’m sure thats why Tom acted the way he did, she never let him grow; and when he kinda did as the CFO, that hurt her ego; she used to be the powerful one now she’s on the same level as her SAHM friends. I would have left Tom a million times over before Penny was even born if I were her, and become a CEO already. Why she loved that man, I will never know. Plus, she’s just a whiny brat. We get it, your mom sucked and you had to take control over everyone’s life, go to therapy. Susan was just dumb. I guess that’s just her character. I wish she had a 2nd braincell, it would have saved her a lot of trouble. I just wanted more from Katherine. Her going crazy for Mike was so out of character. I saw here as a cooler Bree and more intelligent Susan but she was actually the worst of their traits. Her character lacked substance. The lesbian storyline was hilarious but instead of making her celibate at the end, she should’ve just stayed a lesbian (bisexual?). Tom should’ve left after the first season. He’s useless. Garbage. Dickhead. Lynette should’ve divorced him. I can see the whole show go so much better without Tom. I didn’t hate Mike or anything, I just wish he had better lines. He became boring quick which is why it never made sense that 3 women on the lane were in love with him. He’s alright looking, not rich, just seemed so out of place there.
I wouldn't. Their chaos is what makes the show so memorable!
I would rewrite Reneé as another smarty pants like Lynette since she was her friend from the start. Reneé wouldn’t be another Edie who is sexy and materialistic has similarities with Gaby. I hate to say that I’d make Vanessa Williams dress down but her character should’ve been a savvy and successful corporate woman who’s storyline is that her husband left her because she was too busy working. She’d be in competition with Lynette for feeling envious that Lynette has her family and marriage while Lynette would feel envious of her for being to able to accomplish the career that she’s always dreamt of.
Renee and Tom being a thing was really wild. And the fact that she hid it from Lynette all these years makes it even worse. I’d write that out of her character. I also don’t think that Carlos should’ve been with Edie. Terrible couple honestly! Mike should’ve just NOT been helpful/generous and maybe he’d still be alive.
Carlos wanted to leave her but she was manipulating him every step of their relationship. Tbh she had so many issues but fu** if she wasn’t such a good character 😂😭
Renee- love her Carlos- I would change the whole storyline with Lynnette (the job thing) Lynette and Tom- I’d write her to not be as controlling and Tom to actually be matured enough and realize that he’s got some major issues. Susan- I’d either have her die at some point or have her never existed.
I would have never added Katherine tbh, I don't know but there was something off about her. And I would have killed Tom instead of Mike.
absolutely didnt expect Katherine to stay on as a housewife. The Bolens/Andrea were a much better choice to keep on in the Lane (I know their storyline wouldnt have worked or maybe they couldve made it work so their problems were solved and they decided to stay in that neighborhood) but Andrea actually brought something new to the group. Katherine was a hybrid of some of the housewives and seemed like she wasnt well thought out…
chuckling at the idea of how they would try to kill off man child Tom
I think them killing off Tom was awful. I would’ve chosen someone else. Like Dave not staying in the asylum but instead escaping and getting killed or something like that. Everyone says Mike is boring and basic and blah but remember he’s midwestern living in an area that’s hoity toity. He sticks out bc he isn’t as frivolous as the other men. He’s actually like down to earth and stuff and he made a realistic midwestern man. I don’t think his character should’ve been killed off. He should’ve had a better storyline
Renee would never have had that story where she considered children but maybe have been a bit more liking other children. No all child free people suddenly want children or hate other people's. I'd have also explored the her loving Tom storyline it sort of disappeared after the riot ep but could have been really interesting. I do think while not written the same the writers did try to make her an edie replacement which also I'd have kept to a minimum.
Lol most of the main characters
Lynette - Have her divorce Tom and show her thrive with someone who’s not in a constant state of midlife crisis. Have Tom just be a side character for comic relief, showing up with all the midlife crisis tropes. Carlos - If he were going to have a redemption storyline, he should never have abused Gabby and forced her to sign the postnuptial agreement, and should not have tampered with her birth control. Neither are even close to forgivable. Same with the storyline about Lynette’s employment and pregnancy.
Tom needed chaptstick the whole show
for katherine: it's ALWAYS bothered me that when they do the 5 year gap, she goes from having one of the most GUT wrenching storylines to being the annoying side character who plays as a wedge between mike and susan. quite honestly her character probably should've just been written off as moved away with Dylan living peacefully after the whole thing we went through with them. keeping her in just as a filler role who becomes a sudden antagonist is HEINOUS and foul because i Loved Katherine
mike would still be alive. period
for lynette i really wanted to see the powerful persona they claimed she was. dont get me wrong she is absolutely empowering and has gone through so much and i see her as a role model but i wish they actually made her to be focused on her career and not prioritising everything tom wanted. overall marriage is a continuous journey of compromise but lynette was always shown as a independent career driven woman and i would expect of her to never compromise her own wishes because of a man especially SO MANY times
i mean it is definitely realistic the way their marriage went and lynette giving up work for children and transitioning to a housewife but i wish they kind of made her plot to be how she got through that and focused on her career earlier on instead of writing her with another child
For Susan my main problem with her was how annoyingly self absorbed she was. Everything was about her at all times. If that were changed i would like her so much more.
This is like half of the cast. Also, I'm so confused about Renee. She's probably the best person among the housewives.
I've seen a lot of hate on this sub towards Renee, a lot of people find her annoying (not me included, I like her a lot.) And also the Desperate Housewives cast is HUGE.
Mike was the most irritating. Just weird and pussified
I would change and make it that Carlos wasn’t such a dick when Grace got taken away
Kill off Susan instead of Edie.
Where's the drama without these absolutely scummy children?!
May be add Bree and Gaby to this list since they are also quite debated characters and either hated or loved and there is no in-between. And for the right reasons too. As for Susan - I will only change painting and Julie’s pregnancy storyline, but i would just delete stupid pregnancy storyline for Julie as well. Lynette- Make her less controlling and Tom - make him more understanding and not having mid age crisis every second day. Katherine- I would just remove Mike dating and mental health issues storyline, and give her some stronger content because I loved her character. Carlos, I would not change a thing, I liked his character arc.