Mehcad Brooks. Shirtless. FINALLY.
Yes and no. Only the upper torso and only for a few frames. Instead, we were treated to more of the usual, the camera lingering over Danielle Van De Kamp (Joy Lauren) in a push-up bra. Sure, we were happy to see some pecs and one or two abs—even if it was only just for a millisecond—but poor Bree Van De Kamp was not amused. Last week she discovered her son in bed with another boy and this week she finds a strapping young black man in bed with her daughter. Well, actually, hiding under the bed.
It's refreshing that the producers have decided to inject some new life into the series because the recent story lines—with the exception of gay Andrew—have been stale and predictable. Last night's Desperate Housewives was ROFL from almost the first scene. It was a brilliant move to lead off the episode with the Caleb Applewhite drama and quickly segue into Bree catching Matthew and her daughter Danielle in flagrante. Remember how Danielle asked Matthew if he wanted to go out on a "date"? This little hussy doesn't waste any time; her idea of a "date" is making out with supa-phine Mehcad. Okay, well, that would probably be our idea, too.
Bree's discovery was truly entertaining—it's becoming a weekly feature that while trying to be the perfect mother, she finds her children getting their freak on. Last week, she very thoughtfully brought Andrew some orange juice and croissants and found him in bed with another boy. Last night, she only was trying to collect Danielle's laundry when Matthew's hand appeared from under the bed to help her with a few items that she missed. Too rich, a throwback to the Preston Sturges humor of the 1940s. Of course, her very proper question to Danielle was even more comical: "Is that a black man hiding under your bed?"
Betty Applewhite (Alfre Woodard) was also not amused. Bree marched the two teenagers to Matthew's home to explain the situation and Alfre Woodard slapped the taste of Danielle out of Mehcad's mouth. Ouch!
But as funny as the situation and scripting may have been, it also raises another uncomfortable issue: Race. Someone finally realized that the Applewhites were black, which has been the 600 pound gorilla that the producers and residents of Wisteria Lane have tried their best to ignore. That may explain why the producers are reluctant to show a fully shirtless Mehcad—why not? most of the other Desperate hunks are always stripping. The camera's odd framing of Danielle and Matthew was schizophrenic. You're wondering if they are afraid to show too much black skin and are reluctant to eroticize Mehcad like they've done with Shawn Pyfrom, Ryan Carnes and Jesse Metcalfe.
Not only did Bree discover a black man under her daughter's bed, but she saw a Caleb Applewhite, a second—possibly more dangerous—black man living on her block. Then, there were hints that Caleb is also lusting after Danielle—which Alfre Woodard shot down by threatening to bitch slap him like she did her with other son. (Why all the fever for Danielle? She's not that cute. Edie Britt is much fiercer.) Now we're starting to tread on dangerous ground. The southern Gothic storyline worked as part of blind casting, but if we're going to have a procession of (dangerous) black men lusting after the local cheerleader, we might have to give this show a break.
Just One Scoop (Rod 2.0)
Kids These Days (Towleroad)
People Under the Stairs, Part Dieux (Rod 2.0)
The People Under the Stairs (Rod 2.0)
