Desperate Housewives: The Riot on Wisteria Lane a Recap

The "Desperate Housewives" disaster scenario episodes have become a mainstay for the series. This seventh season of "Desperate Housewives" offered up "Down the Block There's a Riot" a show whose citizen frenzy along perfectly manicured streets could not help but bring to mind "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street," a classic "Twilight Zone" episode. It was clear by the end of the episode that multiple injuries occurred and that maybe, just maybe, one persistently evil character was gravely injured.

Paul Young places a fuse in the proverbial powder keg by inviting in his first group of convicted felons to help put the finishing touches on his halfway house. Before the last splash of opening credits appears, the first handgun appears on Wisteria Lane - a portent of things to come on "Desperate Housewives."

After an initial confrontation with Paul, Lynette visits her neighbors to compile a list of sell or no-sells and, initially, turns down an offer of help from the Hydrangea Circle Homeowners' Association, a group with a history of violence. Lee's name became mud after Paul announced that he had purchased Jack and Lee's house. Unfortunately, the men sold their house based on false information from Paul. Because of this news, Lynette decides to join forces with the Hydrangea Circle Homeowners' Association. A discussion with Parker seems to inspire Lynette to consider the convict's a bit differently, but the moment is short-lived.

As Lynette walks the sidewalks, Susan was on a video chat with Mike to Alaska discussing Renee and Tom Scavo's past relationship. After overhearing Renee asking Tom to come over and do a handyman job on her front door, Susan ultimately tells Tom that he should ask Renee to leave the neighborhood so that temptation does not get the better of him.

Gabrielle's short attitude with Juanita coupled with her sadness over Grace led to Gabrielle writing a personal letter to Grace. When Juanita came across the letter, she was noticeably upset and assumed Gabrielle loved Grace more than her. She ends up storming out the front door into the crowds.

Keith finally was able to propose to Bree, but Bree did not accept. Instead Bree proposed that Keith move in with her for a bit before taking a serious plunge. This and the top two bureau drawers did little for Keith, and he left. It didn't take long for his father Richard to show up and put the moves on Bree.

The "Desperate Housewives" Disaster Takes Hold

When the mayor arrives to present Paul Young with a Good Samaritan award, a bus load of supporters follows shortly behind. No sooner than Mrs. McClusky comments that they must be outnumbered, The Hydrangea Homeowners' Association arrives on the scene.

As soon as Mayor Franklin manned the podium, the protest began. We see that Lee had a gun, and we see him put it in a duffle bag. Renee confronts Susan in the street about suggesting to Tom that he ask Renee to move while Bree told Keith about his father's advances. Gabrielle and Carlos take off after Juanita who is stashed in the back of Lee and Bob's car.

When Keith begins to punch out Richard for his advances toward Bree, citizens attack him on her lawn. Bree fires a shot in the air to stop the beating, and a human stampede starts. Susan and Gabrielle are both shown on the ground, and Susan is shown being repeatedly stamped on.

Lee and Bob's car is attacked after Mitzi Kinsky identifies them as having sold their home. As soon as the back window is forcibly smashed in, Gabrielle and Carlos are able to safely remove Juanita from the vehicle.

As the riot ended, Keith looked beat-up, Juanita looked scared, Lee was injured, and Susan was unconscious with an almost definite broken leg.

The final scene faded in with Mary Alice narrating as Paul Young walked down the street surveying the destruction with a sadistic grin. The scene founded out with the word "revenge" and Paul Young lying on the ground with a shirt covered in blood after the sound of a gunshot resonated through the dawn.

At this point in mid-season, so many plots are now in full circulation. Renee has an ultimatum about moving, Tom has to worry that Lynette will find about Renee, everyone has to worry about Susan's health, Gabrielle now has to move on from Grace as fully as possible, everyone has to wonder who shot Paul Young, and Bree and Keith's romance has to run its course. Definitely a great mid-season shot in the arm for "Desperate Housewives" fans.

It looks like for the rest of the season the show may rotate around who killed Paul Young. Was it Lee, who we saw with the gun? Was it Bree? Was it Lynette who was filled with rage?

Likely not.

My guess is on his wife, Beth, the daughter of Felicia Tillman who was the sister of Paul Young's murder victim, Martha Huber. The chaos from the riot provided an opportunity to exact the "revenge" Mary Alice spoke of in the closing.

The next episode of "Desperate Housewives" will air on January 2, 2011 at 8pm EST.