Who would have thought that the saucy, sassy, soapy “Desperate Housewives” would have returned after a strike-imposed hiatus with a smart and spiritual storyline? Definitely not me. I tuned in last night out of curiosity over any new programming, and I waited for the show to slip into some kind of mockery of church and faith, but surprisingly, it didn’t. It almost makes me wonder if this series has taken a turn for the better or if its conversion will be short-lived.

The pragmatic and grounded Lynette is the one with the nagging questions about God after she has survived a cancer scare and the possible loss of her family in a tornado. She decides the entire family should try going to church (husband Tom was raised Catholic, Lynette has never set foot inside of a church door.) after one of her children tells her he thinks “Jesus is the guy who helps Santa Claus.” Lynette is even excited enough to buy a Bible and mark it up with all of the burning questions she has.
The problems begin when Lynette shows up at Brie’s church and constantly interrupts the preacher’s sermon with her questions. Brie is embarrassed by her friend’s tactless behavior and politely tells her the next day that church is for answers, not questions. Lynette feels betrayed by her friend’s lack of support and decides to try another church. The twist then comes with Brie’s pastor asks Brie if Lynette is coming back to church because he found her questions so refreshing. In a hypocritical panic, Brie tries to lure Lynette back to church, but with no success.
While I certainly agree with other critics who say that the other lessons that were supposedly also meant to teach about faith were considerably less effective, I have to say that Lynette’s child-like earnestness and Brie’s horrible piety were a great mirror of the present-day church community and was as thought-provoking as it was entertaining.