Making the Connection

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"Making the Connection" is the 159th episode of the ABC television series. Desperate Housewives. It is the second episode of the show's eighth season and was broadcast on October 2, 2011.

Plot[]

Gaby seeks advice from a stripper to teach her how to dance on a pole, while trying to get Carlos to forget about the Alejandro murder, but is dreadfully unsuccessful. She then hires the stripper to dance for Carlos as he experiences an erectile dysfunction, though Carlos tells Gaby that none of this will make him forget and move on.

As she realizes the letter she received has exactly the same wording as the letter Mary Alice Young received years earlier, Bree is frightened prompting her to commit suicide. Bree then seeks advice from Paul Young, who is now in prison after confessing murder, though at first he does not remember anything.

Still riddled with guilt. Susan tries to get her herself punished in public. Susan forgets to pay for a pack of soda, and is followed by eating all the free samples at a bakery, and others. Eventually she is pulled over by a cop for parking in front of a fire hydrant, though at first is let off with a warning because the cop wants to get home to his newborn daughter. Eventually, Susan kicks down his motorcycle and she is arrested. Afraid to call Mike, she calls Carlos who comes to pick her up at the police station. So, Carlos takes her out for coffee to discuss. Tom is staying in a fancy hotel. Lynette and Tom face their separation. Lynette says that Tom cannot say no to the kids. She says that as he gave Penny a large slushy, which evidently gave her a sugar rush. In the following days, Parker asks to go a party hosted by an irresponsible friend, where there will be no adult supervision. Lynette leaves the decision up to Tom,, where his response is "it's not a no," wanting to test out Tom. Parker then goes to the party, which turns out to be a house party where everyone is drinking alcohol illegally. Lynette soon shows up looking for Parker and soon finds Tom, and finds out that Parker called him to come get him because he drank too much. Tom blames Lynette for the entire situation. Then, Tom reveals that he misses his kids and that's why he can't say no.

After that, Renee wins the affection of new neighbor Ben Faulkner, so he asks her out. Little does she know the date is feeding the elderly at a retirement home. Later in the evening, Renee reveals that she dislikes charity because when her mother died, years ago, Renee shifted from relative to relative, most of them dirt poor, and she would receive clothing and food from charity. It brings back bad memories for her. Ben listens and accepts Renee for who she is.

When Bree decides to tell someone about the letter, she tells Gaby. Gaby demands that Bree break up with Chuck to hide the possibility of him finding out. Bree agrees to do so. When she arrives home, she finds Chuck in the shower. Soon, she receives a collect phone call from Paul, saying that when he confessed to Martha Huber's murder, the letter was taken by a cop with a short name. He suggests Hans and Vince, leading Bree to realize that he means Chuck Vance and abruptly hangs up. After that, Bree acts as if everything is okay. Finally, the episode ends with Bree and Chuck lying in bed that night, as Bree stares at his gun.

Reception[]

According to Nielsen ratings, "Making the Connection" was watched by 9.16 million viewers and held 3.0 rating/7 share among viewers between 18 and 49 years of age.^[1] The episode was outperformed by Sunday Night Football on NBC, which averaged 18.90 million viewers and an 11.5 rating/18 share, and The Good Wife on CBS, which was watched by 11.08 million viewers but held a 2.2 rating/5 share,^[1] The episode gained an additional 2.7 million viewers and 1.1 rating in the week following the original broadcast due to DVR recordings.^[2]

TV Fanatic's Christina Tran gave the episode a positive review, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.^[3]

Notes[]

• The title of this episode comes from Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George".
• Although credited, Madison De La Garza (Juanita Solis) does not appear in this episode.
• Brenda Strong (Mary Alice Young) appears on-screen in this episode.
• Mark Moses (Paul Young) makes his final appearance.

International titles[]

• Italian: Stabilire un Legame (create a bond-connection)
• German: Gefährliche Verbindung (dangerous connection)
• Polish: Nawiązanie kontaktu (Establishing contact)

References[]