As I wind down my summer series of looking at how different shows deal with their MacGuffins, I want to talk about Desperate Housewives. I have to start by disclosing an important bit of information: I only watched the first two seasons of Desperate Housewives, so I can’t really comment on the latest few seasons. However, I do think that the first two seasons are worth looking at when it comes to mysteries and plotlines.
I started this series by talking about Twin Peaks. It’s one of my favorite shows of all time, and I think that DH is heavily influenced by it. They have a very similar flavor: an idyllic town/neighborhood full of quirky characters, with something very sinister lying under the surface. Certainly there was a whole lot more quirk and strangeness happening on Twin Peaks, but I think DH really owes that show a lot.
Desperate Housewives, however, learned from some of the mistakes that Twin Peaks made. DH has followed the Buffy-like model of changing the mystery/storyline each season. The first season of Housewives was really structured very well. The mystery was really personal to all the characters, and so it did exactly what a good MacGuffin is supposed to do: it moved the characters along their arcs, without getting in the way of their development.
When season two rolled around, though, a new family moved onto the street, and brought the “mystery” of the season with them. It didn’t work nearly as well (even with the supremely awesome Alfre Woodard at the helm). I think it was because the majority of the “mystery” just didn’t matter that much to the main characters of the show. I honestly think that season two would have been better without the mystery. It just wasn’t necessary. Frankly, it turned me off the show, and I haven’t watched since the end of season two.
I’ve heard the show has returned to form and is quite good again, but, frankly, I’m a young, single male; I really have no business watching Desperate Housewives.
When looking at MacGuffin management, DH illustrates a good point. It’s much easier to keep people interested and not frustrated when mystery arcs are only one season long. At the same time, however, this is a much bigger risk, as each season presents a unique story and could ultimately fail.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Aug 10, 2009 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
