Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Desperately addictive, but majorly mature -- not for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 35 kid reviews
Kids say this show is highly addictive and engaging with gripping storylines, relatable characters, and a mix of drama and humor, making it a hit among teens and adults alike. However, reviews caution that its mature themes, including violence, sexual content, and suggestive dialogue, may not be suitable for younger viewers, emphasizing the importance of maturity and parental discretion when deciding to watch it.
- addictive storytelling
- mature themes
- parental discretion
- relatable characters
- not for young viewers
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
The highly addictive, Emmy-winning DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES centers on the women of Wisteria Lane and their struggles to cope with suburban life. Narrated by the main characters' friend Mary Alice (Brenda Strong) -- who killed herself in the show's first episode -- the story follows the many twists and turns in the lives of Susan (Teri Hatcher), Bree (Marcia Cross), Lynette (Felicity Huffman), and Gaby (Eva Longoria). Amid the standard soap opera plot elements (affairs, addictions, cover-ups), each season features a central mystery that ends up impacting most of the characters and their families.
Is It Any Good?
The show's stars give great comedic performances, and there are plenty of outrageous moments (klutzy Susan getting covered in cremated ashes, for example). Something positive can also be gleaned from the women's friendships with one another and from the show's examination -- however extreme -- of the complicated lives that women lead.
But it should be stressed that this is adult fare. In the first season alone, viewers were treated to Gabrielle's sexual relationship with a minor, Lynette's dependence on Ritalin, Bree's husband's S&M fetish, a naked nanny, a suicide, a hit-and-run with no consequences, and a grizzly strangulation. And things have only gotten more complicated -- and eyebrow-raising -- since.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the main characters. Are they positive or negative role models? How are they stereotypical -- and how do they defy those stereotypes? How do they get power in their lives? What do they get from each other?
The teen characters on the show -- who have been shown drinking, doing drugs, having sex with adults, lying to parents, and more -- also warrant some discussion. Is their behavior realistic? How should their parents respond when they catch them in the act?
What kinds of consequences would the behavior on the show have in real life?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 3, 2004
- Cast : Eva Longoria , Felicity Huffman , Marcia Cross , Teri Hatcher
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 24, 2025
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