Secrets That I Never Want to Know
Encyclopedia
"Secrets That I Never Want to Know" is the eighth season
premiere episode
of the American comedy-drama television series Desperate Housewives
, and the 158th overall episode of the series. It was originally broadcast in the United States on September 25, 2011, on the American Broadcasting Company
(ABC). The episode focuses on the aftermath and cover-up of an accidental killing.
The episode was written by executive producer Bob Daily
and directed by David Grossman
. In the episode, Bree
(Marcia Cross
) and Gabrielle
(Eva Longoria
) work together to conceal the death of Gabrielle's stepfather (Tony Plana
) while Susan
(Teri Hatcher
) and Carlos
(Ricardo Antonio Chavira
) struggle with their guilt over the cover-up. Meanwhile, Lynette
(Felicity Huffman
) and Tom
(Doug Savant
) deal with their separation.
"Secrets That I Never Want to Know" received generally positive reviews from critics, most of whom agreed the episode provided a satisfactory opening to the show's final season. According to Nielsen ratings
, the episode drew 9.93 million viewers, making it the least watched season premiere in series history.
focuses on the lives of several residents in the suburban neighborhood of Wisteria Lane
, as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young
(Brenda Strong
), who kills herself in the pilot episode after receiving a blackmail note. In recent episodes, Bree Van de Kamp
(Marcia Cross
) begins dating a detective named Chuck Vance (Jonathan Cake). Meanwhile, Lynette
(Felicity Huffman
) and Tom Scavo
(Doug Savant
) decide to separate after experiencing problems in their marriage. Carlos Solis
(Ricardo Antonio Chavira
) accidentally kills his wife Gabrielle
's (Eva Longoria
) stepfather, Alejandro (Tony Plana
), who raped her in her childhood and returns to inflict more harm. Gabrielle's friends, Bree, Lynette, and Susan Delfino (Teri Hatcher
), agree to help cover up the killing.
), who tells him that will only be forgiven if he turns himself in; however, Carlos decides not to follow his advice in order to protect the other people involved in the cover-up.
Meanwhile, Susan's guilt over the cover-up causes her to withdraw from her friends and family. Her husband, Mike
(James Denton
), suspects that she is unhappy in their marriage. Susan wants to tell Mike about the cover-up, but Bree and Gabrielle discourage her, warning her that Mike could be implicated if they are ever caught.
Lynette and Tom have decided not to tell their children about their separation. After Lynette has a nightmare about Alejandro, she seeks Tom's company and they sleep together. The next morning, Tom assumes that they are getting back together, but Lynette tells him she still wants to separate. Meanwhile, Renee Perry
(Vanessa Williams
) attempts to seduce new neighbor Ben Faulkner (Charles Mesure
), but he rejects her.
Elsewhere, Bree struggles with dating a detective and covering up Alejandro's death. While trying to dispose of Alejandro's car, Bree and Gabrielle inadvertently attract Chuck's attention and have to create a series of elaborate lies to avoid him finding out the truth. Later, Bree receives a note reading, "I know what you did. It makes me sick. I'm going to tell." This is the same as the letter Mary Alice received before killing herself.
stated that he planned to end Desperate Housewives after its seventh season in 2011. He explained: "I think that, at the end of my deal, and after seven seasons, it will be a good time to call it quits. I don't want anybody else to run the show and I don't want [it] to fade away ... I don't want to overstay my welcome." Cherry reaffirmed his intentions the following year. However, in 2009, Cherry signed a deal with ABC
designed to potentially keep Desperate Housewives on air until the end of its ninth season in 2013. Lead actresses Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, and Eva Longoria signed on for an eighth season in April 2011, with each earning a reported salary of $325,000 per episode. Their contracts also included financial incentives for a potential ninth season. ABC officially announced the show's eighth season on May 17, 2011, along with the rest of its primetime schedule for the 2011-2012 television season
.
In July 2011, it was reported that ABC was considering ending the series after the eighth season. On August 7, ABC president Paul Lee confirmed that the eighth season would be the show's last at the Television Critics Association
media press tour. Cherry commented on the show's ending, stating: "Shows go on too long and they are unceremoniously booted off. I didn’t want it to happen to Desperate Housewives. While we are still a force to be reckoned with, I wanted to go off in the classiest way possible." Cherry reported that the cast was bittersweet over the news of the series' end. "The women knew it was a possibility," he explained. "There was a touch of shock but not completely."
and directed by David Grossman
. Filming for the episode began on July 11, 2011. The episode is only one of two season premieres Cherry did not write himself, as he took on a reduced production role for the eighth season in order to develop new series while Daily was given more creative authority. According to Daily, the series' ending allowed the writers more artistic freedom while developing storylines. "You get to do story lines that you wouldn't otherwise do because you don't have to worry about the ramifications," he explained. "So people can move, people can die, people can have babies and you don't have to worry about the babies growing up." The episode introduced Bree's blackmail storyline, which recalls the first season's mystery storyline surrounding series narrator Mary Alice's suicide. Daily stated that the similarity between the storylines was intentional: "We’re kind of just diving into the DNA of the series a little bit. Are there any unanswered questions floating around out there? Any characters we need to check in with one more time?" Cherry noted that the "mystery hearkens back to the first season, going back to the roots of Mary Alice [Brenda Strong]. This feels right for that mystery to take us out this year." Brenda Strong commented that "It’s the smartest way to end the series, to finish where you began. I think it really cements it in the psyche of the audience and gives them a sense of completion."
The episode further develops the relationship between Bree and Chuck, which is complicated by her involvement in the cover-up. "Bree’s dilemma is the fact that she’s falling for a cop and trying to cover up this crime that she was sort of the ringleader on," Daily explained. "So her thing is instead of balancing work and pleasure, it’s balancing crime and pleasure." Cross stated, "I think we’ll figure out if that’s really a big love for her or if she’s able to let it go." Jonathan Cake, who appeared as Chuck in four episodes during the seventh season, was promoted to series regular with this episode. On the relationship between Bree and Chuck, Cake stated: "As a detective, he's sort of drawn to this woman who seems both quite proper and conservative and yet can't seem to stop herself from being drawn into these sort of crazy, lurid scenarios. There's a sort of wild streak in Bree somewhere that he thinks is really interesting." To prepare for the role, Cake watched key episodes of the series focusing on Bree's previous relationships.
The episode also continues the storyline of Tom and Lynette's separation. Huffman enjoyed her character's storyline, stating: "I'm sure there are things that they knew the viewers want, which is for Tom and Lynette to get back together. But I do like that it's kind of up in the air and maybe they won't." Doug Savant commented, "For many years on this show, we knew that Tom and Lynette were the grounding force on the street. They were the couple that most resembled most couples in America. It just got to a point after so many years when [the writers] really wanted to explore the things that made this relationship work by first pulling it apart." Both actors expressed their desire for the couple to reunite by the series' end. Charles Mesure made his debut as new neighbor Ben Faulkner, a self-made contractor and Renee's new love interest. According to Vanessa Williams, "She’s working hard to make it happen and it’s not happening easily for her. And she’s not used to that and that’s where the comedy ensues and it gives her something to pursue."
, "Secrets That I Never Want to Know" was watched by 9.93 million viewers and held a 3.2 rating/7 share among viewers between 18 and 49 years of age. The episode is the least-watched season premiere in the series' history, indicating a 28 percent decrease in viewership from the seventh season premiere
one year earlier. The episode was outperformed by Sunday Night Football
on NBC, which averaged 20.36 million viewers and a 8.3 rating/21 share, and The Good Wife on CBS
, which was watched by 10.66 million viewers but held a 2.2 rating/5 share, 45 percent lower than Desperate Housewives. The episode was also outperformed by its lead-out program, the series premiere of Pan Am
. It averaged 1.2 million viewers more than "Secrets That I Never Want to Know", becoming the first lead-out program to outperform Desperate Housewives since Grey's Anatomy
in May 2006. The final minute of the episode drew 12.188 million viewers and received a 7.9 rating/12 share overall with 4.1 rating/9 share in the 18 to 49 demographic. The episode gained an additional 2 million viewers and 0.9 rating in the week following the original broadcast due to DVR recordings
.
The episode received mixed to positive critical reviews. TV Guide
Kate Stanhope gave a mixed review of the episode, opining that "the episode moved a little slow for what was the last season premiere." She praised the sequence in which Bree and Gabrielle attempt to get rid of Alejandro's car, writing, "I always love the Bree-Gaby scenes because they contradict each other in such an interesting way." She enjoyed that the Bree character was "turning back into the controlling perfectionist we grew to love rather than the carefree woman she became" in the seventh season. Stanhope was critical of the Lynette and Tom storyline, opining: "it's annoying that their relationship has been reduced to this gimmick ... I was never on board with the whole Tom and Lynette split simply because it felt less honest and more of a last-ditch effort to cause conflict. But if they're going to go through with separating the formerly stable couple, at least go through with it all the way and show Lynette really and truly on her own." She also believed the Renee storyline to be a waste of Vanessa Williams's talents. Tanner Stransky
of Entertainment Weekly
called the episode's overall storyline "too juicy a landmine to not have the repercussions play out deliciously on this, the show’s last season."
TV Fanatic's Christina Tran gave the episode a positive review, giving it 4 out of 5 stars. She picked Susan's hamster burial scene and the scene in which Gabrielle eases Carlos' conscience her favorite scenes in the episode. She also appreciated the writers' decision not to prolong Tom and Lynette's attempts to hide their separation, opining: "Last season, their fights were relentless and exhausting. I was glad that this storyline wasn’t dragged out too much, as Tom and Lynette were both able to rip off the band-aid and let their children know of their new status." She also enjoyed the addition of the Ben character and hoped that the Renee character would receive her own storyline this season. John Griffiths of Us Weekly
awarded the episode 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing, "After last season's silly antics, the venerable dramedy pulls itself together for a clever final round." He opined that Carlos and Susan's guilt helped keep the cover-up storyline compelling. The Hollywood Reporter
Jethro Nededog was positive in his review of the episode, writing: "It was a strong return, because it relied on the series’ strength, which is the bond these women have with each other." Jamie Heller of The A.V. Club
noted that "there’s almost no other plot development" in the episode apart from the cover-up and Lynette and Tom's separation.
Desperate Housewives (season 8)
The eighth season of Desperate Housewives, a television series created by Marc Cherry, began broadcasting in the United States on September 25, 2011.Desperate Housewives was renewed for an eighth season by ABC on May 17, 2011...
premiere episode
Season premiere
In North America, a season premiere is the first episode of a new season of a given television show. It often airs in September or October, after several months of reruns.-Evaluating the changes:...
of the American comedy-drama television series Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
, and the 158th overall episode of the series. It was originally broadcast in the United States on September 25, 2011, on the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
(ABC). The episode focuses on the aftermath and cover-up of an accidental killing.
The episode was written by executive producer Bob Daily
Bob Daily
Bob Daily is an American television producer and screenwriter. Currently he serves as executive producer of Desperate Housewives, and second-in-command to showrunner Marc Cherry....
and directed by David Grossman
David Grossman (director)
David Grossman is an American film and television director known most notably for his work on the ABC series, Desperate Housewives which he also serves as co-executive producer, his first series as a producer....
. In the episode, Bree
Bree Van De Kamp
Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by Marcia Cross. Actress Marcia Cross was nominated from 2005 to 2007 for a Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy...
(Marcia Cross
Marcia Cross
Marcia Anne Cross is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and as Dr...
) and Gabrielle
Gabrielle Solis
Gabrielle Solís is one of four main characters on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Eva Longoria...
(Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
) work together to conceal the death of Gabrielle's stepfather (Tony Plana
Tony Plana
Tony Plana is a Cuban-American actor and director. He is well known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC show Ugly Betty.-Personal life:...
) while Susan
Susan Mayer
Susan Delfino is a fictional character played by Teri Hatcher on the American Broadcasting Company television series Desperate Housewives. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and first appeared in the pilot episode of the series on October 3, 2004...
(Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher
Teri Lynn Hatcher is an American actress, writer, and presenter. She is known for her television roles as Susan Mayer on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and Lois Lane on the ABC comedy-drama series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman...
) and Carlos
Carlos Solis
Carlos Solis is a fictional character on the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira.-Early life:Carlos was born in Guadalajara, Mexico to Juanita and Diego Solis...
(Ricardo Antonio Chavira
Ricardo Antonio Chavira
Ricardo Antonio Chavira is an American actor, perhaps best known for his role as Carlos Solis on Desperate Housewives.-Early life:...
) struggle with their guilt over the cover-up. Meanwhile, Lynette
Lynette Scavo
Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series Desperate Housewives. The character is playedby actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series...
(Felicity Huffman
Felicity Huffman
Felicity Kendall Huffman is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as executive producer Dana Whitaker on the ABC television show Sports Night , which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, and as hectic supermom Lynette Scavo on the ABC show Desperate...
) and Tom
Tom Scavo
Thomas "Tom" Scavo is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by actor Doug Savant.Tom originally was a recurring throughout the first season but became a regular in season two. Early storylines often revolve around Tom's working habits and that he is alway...
(Doug Savant
Doug Savant
Douglas Peter "Doug" Savant is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Matt Fielding on Melrose Place and Tom Scavo on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives.-Career:...
) deal with their separation.
"Secrets That I Never Want to Know" received generally positive reviews from critics, most of whom agreed the episode provided a satisfactory opening to the show's final season. According to Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, the episode drew 9.93 million viewers, making it the least watched season premiere in series history.
Background
Desperate HousewivesDesperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
focuses on the lives of several residents in the suburban neighborhood of Wisteria Lane
Wisteria Lane
Wisteria Lane is the fictional name of a street which the characters of the American drama television series Desperate Housewives live. Desperate Housewives storylines primarily centre around the residents of the street. Wisteria Lane is located inside Universal Studios Hollywood, and is actually...
, as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young
Mary Alice Young
Mary Alice Young is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actress Brenda Strong and narrates the series from beyond the grave; the character's suicide in the pilot episode served as the catalyst of the series...
(Brenda Strong
Brenda Strong
Brenda Lee Strong is an American actress and yoga instructor, known for her roles as as Capt. Deladier in the 1997 hit movie Starship Troopers and Mary Alice Young on the television show Desperate Housewives....
), who kills herself in the pilot episode after receiving a blackmail note. In recent episodes, Bree Van de Kamp
Bree Van De Kamp
Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by Marcia Cross. Actress Marcia Cross was nominated from 2005 to 2007 for a Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy...
(Marcia Cross
Marcia Cross
Marcia Anne Cross is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and as Dr...
) begins dating a detective named Chuck Vance (Jonathan Cake). Meanwhile, Lynette
Lynette Scavo
Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series Desperate Housewives. The character is playedby actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series...
(Felicity Huffman
Felicity Huffman
Felicity Kendall Huffman is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as executive producer Dana Whitaker on the ABC television show Sports Night , which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, and as hectic supermom Lynette Scavo on the ABC show Desperate...
) and Tom Scavo
Tom Scavo
Thomas "Tom" Scavo is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by actor Doug Savant.Tom originally was a recurring throughout the first season but became a regular in season two. Early storylines often revolve around Tom's working habits and that he is alway...
(Doug Savant
Doug Savant
Douglas Peter "Doug" Savant is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Matt Fielding on Melrose Place and Tom Scavo on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives.-Career:...
) decide to separate after experiencing problems in their marriage. Carlos Solis
Carlos Solis
Carlos Solis is a fictional character on the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira.-Early life:Carlos was born in Guadalajara, Mexico to Juanita and Diego Solis...
(Ricardo Antonio Chavira
Ricardo Antonio Chavira
Ricardo Antonio Chavira is an American actor, perhaps best known for his role as Carlos Solis on Desperate Housewives.-Early life:...
) accidentally kills his wife Gabrielle
Gabrielle Solis
Gabrielle Solís is one of four main characters on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Eva Longoria...
's (Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
) stepfather, Alejandro (Tony Plana
Tony Plana
Tony Plana is a Cuban-American actor and director. He is well known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC show Ugly Betty.-Personal life:...
), who raped her in her childhood and returns to inflict more harm. Gabrielle's friends, Bree, Lynette, and Susan Delfino (Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher
Teri Lynn Hatcher is an American actress, writer, and presenter. She is known for her television roles as Susan Mayer on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and Lois Lane on the ABC comedy-drama series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman...
), agree to help cover up the killing.
Episode
Carlos and the women bury Alejandro's body in the nearby woods and, at Bree and Gabrielle's urging, make a pact to keep his death a secret. One month later, Carlos's guilt has left him irritable and depressed. He confesses to having committed an unspecified crime to Father Dugan (Sam McMurraySam McMurray
Sam McMurray is an American television, film and voice actor.-Early life:McMurray was born in New York City, the son of Jane and Richard McMurray, both actors...
), who tells him that will only be forgiven if he turns himself in; however, Carlos decides not to follow his advice in order to protect the other people involved in the cover-up.
Meanwhile, Susan's guilt over the cover-up causes her to withdraw from her friends and family. Her husband, Mike
Mike Delfino
Michael "Mike" Delfino is the name of a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor James Denton.- Season 1 :...
(James Denton
James Denton
James "Jamie" Thomas Denton, Jr. is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Mike Delfino in the television series Desperate Housewives.-Early life:...
), suspects that she is unhappy in their marriage. Susan wants to tell Mike about the cover-up, but Bree and Gabrielle discourage her, warning her that Mike could be implicated if they are ever caught.
Lynette and Tom have decided not to tell their children about their separation. After Lynette has a nightmare about Alejandro, she seeks Tom's company and they sleep together. The next morning, Tom assumes that they are getting back together, but Lynette tells him she still wants to separate. Meanwhile, Renee Perry
Renee Perry
Renee Perry is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Vanessa Williams.-Personality:...
(Vanessa Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
) attempts to seduce new neighbor Ben Faulkner (Charles Mesure
Charles Mesure
Charles William David Mesure is an English born, Australian and New Zealand actor.When Mesure was five, his family moved to Australia and he grew up in Sydney. Mesure attended Newington College and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia, with a degree in Performing Arts...
), but he rejects her.
Elsewhere, Bree struggles with dating a detective and covering up Alejandro's death. While trying to dispose of Alejandro's car, Bree and Gabrielle inadvertently attract Chuck's attention and have to create a series of elaborate lies to avoid him finding out the truth. Later, Bree receives a note reading, "I know what you did. It makes me sick. I'm going to tell." This is the same as the letter Mary Alice received before killing herself.
Renewal for final season
In 2007, series creator and executive producer Marc CherryMarc Cherry
Marc Cherry is an American writer and producer, best known for creating the show Desperate Housewives.-Early life and career:...
stated that he planned to end Desperate Housewives after its seventh season in 2011. He explained: "I think that, at the end of my deal, and after seven seasons, it will be a good time to call it quits. I don't want anybody else to run the show and I don't want [it] to fade away ... I don't want to overstay my welcome." Cherry reaffirmed his intentions the following year. However, in 2009, Cherry signed a deal with ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
designed to potentially keep Desperate Housewives on air until the end of its ninth season in 2013. Lead actresses Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, and Eva Longoria signed on for an eighth season in April 2011, with each earning a reported salary of $325,000 per episode. Their contracts also included financial incentives for a potential ninth season. ABC officially announced the show's eighth season on May 17, 2011, along with the rest of its primetime schedule for the 2011-2012 television season
2011–12 United States network television schedule
The 2011–2012 network television schedule for the five major English commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 2011 through May 2012...
.
In July 2011, it was reported that ABC was considering ending the series after the eighth season. On August 7, ABC president Paul Lee confirmed that the eighth season would be the show's last at the Television Critics Association
Television Critics Association
The Television Critics Association is a group of approximately 200 United States and Canadian journalists and columnists who cover television programming...
media press tour. Cherry commented on the show's ending, stating: "Shows go on too long and they are unceremoniously booted off. I didn’t want it to happen to Desperate Housewives. While we are still a force to be reckoned with, I wanted to go off in the classiest way possible." Cherry reported that the cast was bittersweet over the news of the series' end. "The women knew it was a possibility," he explained. "There was a touch of shock but not completely."
Episode development
"Secrets That I Never Want to Know" was written by executive producer Bob DailyBob Daily
Bob Daily is an American television producer and screenwriter. Currently he serves as executive producer of Desperate Housewives, and second-in-command to showrunner Marc Cherry....
and directed by David Grossman
David Grossman (director)
David Grossman is an American film and television director known most notably for his work on the ABC series, Desperate Housewives which he also serves as co-executive producer, his first series as a producer....
. Filming for the episode began on July 11, 2011. The episode is only one of two season premieres Cherry did not write himself, as he took on a reduced production role for the eighth season in order to develop new series while Daily was given more creative authority. According to Daily, the series' ending allowed the writers more artistic freedom while developing storylines. "You get to do story lines that you wouldn't otherwise do because you don't have to worry about the ramifications," he explained. "So people can move, people can die, people can have babies and you don't have to worry about the babies growing up." The episode introduced Bree's blackmail storyline, which recalls the first season's mystery storyline surrounding series narrator Mary Alice's suicide. Daily stated that the similarity between the storylines was intentional: "We’re kind of just diving into the DNA of the series a little bit. Are there any unanswered questions floating around out there? Any characters we need to check in with one more time?" Cherry noted that the "mystery hearkens back to the first season, going back to the roots of Mary Alice [Brenda Strong]. This feels right for that mystery to take us out this year." Brenda Strong commented that "It’s the smartest way to end the series, to finish where you began. I think it really cements it in the psyche of the audience and gives them a sense of completion."
The episode further develops the relationship between Bree and Chuck, which is complicated by her involvement in the cover-up. "Bree’s dilemma is the fact that she’s falling for a cop and trying to cover up this crime that she was sort of the ringleader on," Daily explained. "So her thing is instead of balancing work and pleasure, it’s balancing crime and pleasure." Cross stated, "I think we’ll figure out if that’s really a big love for her or if she’s able to let it go." Jonathan Cake, who appeared as Chuck in four episodes during the seventh season, was promoted to series regular with this episode. On the relationship between Bree and Chuck, Cake stated: "As a detective, he's sort of drawn to this woman who seems both quite proper and conservative and yet can't seem to stop herself from being drawn into these sort of crazy, lurid scenarios. There's a sort of wild streak in Bree somewhere that he thinks is really interesting." To prepare for the role, Cake watched key episodes of the series focusing on Bree's previous relationships.
The episode also continues the storyline of Tom and Lynette's separation. Huffman enjoyed her character's storyline, stating: "I'm sure there are things that they knew the viewers want, which is for Tom and Lynette to get back together. But I do like that it's kind of up in the air and maybe they won't." Doug Savant commented, "For many years on this show, we knew that Tom and Lynette were the grounding force on the street. They were the couple that most resembled most couples in America. It just got to a point after so many years when [the writers] really wanted to explore the things that made this relationship work by first pulling it apart." Both actors expressed their desire for the couple to reunite by the series' end. Charles Mesure made his debut as new neighbor Ben Faulkner, a self-made contractor and Renee's new love interest. According to Vanessa Williams, "She’s working hard to make it happen and it’s not happening easily for her. And she’s not used to that and that’s where the comedy ensues and it gives her something to pursue."
Reception
According to Nielsen ratingsNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, "Secrets That I Never Want to Know" was watched by 9.93 million viewers and held a 3.2 rating/7 share among viewers between 18 and 49 years of age. The episode is the least-watched season premiere in the series' history, indicating a 28 percent decrease in viewership from the seventh season premiere
Remember Paul?
"Remember Paul?" is the seventh season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama television series Desperate Housewives, and the 135th overall episode of the series. It was originally broadcast in the United States on September 26, 2010, on the American Broadcasting Company...
one year earlier. The episode was outperformed by Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football is a weekly American football game held throughout most of the season by the National Football League. Sunday night games have been played regularly since 1987 and have thus far aired on three different television outlets:...
on NBC, which averaged 20.36 million viewers and a 8.3 rating/21 share, and The Good Wife on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, which was watched by 10.66 million viewers but held a 2.2 rating/5 share, 45 percent lower than Desperate Housewives. The episode was also outperformed by its lead-out program, the series premiere of Pan Am
Pan Am (TV series)
Pan Am is an American period drama television series created by writer Jack Orman. Named for the iconic Pan American World Airways, the series focuses on the pilots and stewardesses of the airline as it operated in the early 1960s at the beginning of the commercial jet age.Sony licensed the rights...
. It averaged 1.2 million viewers more than "Secrets That I Never Want to Know", becoming the first lead-out program to outperform Desperate Housewives since Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
in May 2006. The final minute of the episode drew 12.188 million viewers and received a 7.9 rating/12 share overall with 4.1 rating/9 share in the 18 to 49 demographic. The episode gained an additional 2 million viewers and 0.9 rating in the week following the original broadcast due to DVR recordings
Digital video recorder
A digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
.
The episode received mixed to positive critical reviews. TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
Kate Stanhope gave a mixed review of the episode, opining that "the episode moved a little slow for what was the last season premiere." She praised the sequence in which Bree and Gabrielle attempt to get rid of Alejandro's car, writing, "I always love the Bree-Gaby scenes because they contradict each other in such an interesting way." She enjoyed that the Bree character was "turning back into the controlling perfectionist we grew to love rather than the carefree woman she became" in the seventh season. Stanhope was critical of the Lynette and Tom storyline, opining: "it's annoying that their relationship has been reduced to this gimmick ... I was never on board with the whole Tom and Lynette split simply because it felt less honest and more of a last-ditch effort to cause conflict. But if they're going to go through with separating the formerly stable couple, at least go through with it all the way and show Lynette really and truly on her own." She also believed the Renee storyline to be a waste of Vanessa Williams's talents. Tanner Stransky
Tanner Stransky
Tanner Stransky is a journalist and television critic for Entertainment Weekly. In 2005, he moved to New York City and took a job as an editorial assistant at Direct TV. He later received an offer from the New York Post to write about weddings and relationships...
of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
called the episode's overall storyline "too juicy a landmine to not have the repercussions play out deliciously on this, the show’s last season."
TV Fanatic's Christina Tran gave the episode a positive review, giving it 4 out of 5 stars. She picked Susan's hamster burial scene and the scene in which Gabrielle eases Carlos' conscience her favorite scenes in the episode. She also appreciated the writers' decision not to prolong Tom and Lynette's attempts to hide their separation, opining: "Last season, their fights were relentless and exhausting. I was glad that this storyline wasn’t dragged out too much, as Tom and Lynette were both able to rip off the band-aid and let their children know of their new status." She also enjoyed the addition of the Ben character and hoped that the Renee character would receive her own storyline this season. John Griffiths of Us Weekly
Us Weekly
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment...
awarded the episode 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing, "After last season's silly antics, the venerable dramedy pulls itself together for a clever final round." He opined that Carlos and Susan's guilt helped keep the cover-up storyline compelling. The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
Jethro Nededog was positive in his review of the episode, writing: "It was a strong return, because it relied on the series’ strength, which is the bond these women have with each other." Jamie Heller of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
noted that "there’s almost no other plot development" in the episode apart from the cover-up and Lynette and Tom's separation.
External links
- "Secrets That I Never Want to Know" at ABC.comAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...