“There is something rotten in the state of the muffin.” So said Virginia Marcucci, Ph.D. in American Studies and author of the essay Desperate Housewives, a guilty pleasure?, and we could not have summarised the sulphurous charm and the shenanigans of the ladies in the cult series better ourselves.

Lynette goes to yoga to “stop being the crackpot who criticises everything.” Does each episode that goes on air remind you of anything? In ten years, the desperate housewives have loved, cried, deceived and even killed, but also aged, and rather elegantly we might add.

It is of the midlife crisis that this series speaks the best, like Lynette who wants to go on her “first hot date in twenty years” after her divorce. Empathy, humour, and true tips from the girlfriends.

The expert’s opinion:

“A more caustic soap, second degree to his great forebears Dynasty, West Coast, Melrose Place. Although the roles are stereotyped, the series is about the issues of today: interracial families, cancer, professional retraining, homosexuality…” shares Marjolaine Boutet, historian and specialist in American series who co-authored Sériescopie – A Thematic Guide to TV series with Pierre Sérisier and Joël Bassaget (Ellipses).

This is for you if…
You feel the need to explore your own character, and ask yourself what kind of woman you really are. Bree, doesn’t she have a completely legitimate reason to chain men up like that? Susan, won’t she finally grow up one day? Gabrielle might seem haughty, but she is the most human, no? A true test of temperament.

Discover more of our report on “Our fave series that say a couple of things about us”

You are more into the old America of Mad Men?
Like Cold Case for its human interest stories?
Are you crushing on the sexy Mentalist?
Do you prefer medical mysteries with Dr. House?
Are you murderous like Dexter?
Are you one of the NCIS?
Like the danger of CSI?

Yves Rossel