‘Desperate Housewives’: Top 10 Most Shocking Moments

For eight straight seasons, “Desperate Housewives” has provided loyal viewers with nothing but a whirlwind of explosive, shocking and climatic moments. The suburban secrets of Wisteria Lane culminated into many memorable, comedic and sadistic crimes that had us on the edge of our seats for eight years faithfully.

“Desperate Housewives” will finally sign off with a two-hour finale on May 13. But before the women of Wisteria sign off for good, AccessHollywood.com counts down the Top 10 Most Surprising Moments in “Desperate Housewives” history!

10. “It’s in the Detonator”: Patrick Logan’s Death (Season 6) —
Angie Bolen (Drea de Matteo) and her family were the focus of Season 6’s mystery. In the season finale, Angie and her son were taken hostage by her ex, Patrick Logan (John Barrowman). In an effort to hurt Angie, Patrick placed a bomb Angie made in the house where her son was held captive. However, unbeknownst to Patrick, Angie placed the bomb in the detonator — instantly killing him.

9. A Lil’ Lady Love! (Season 6) —
Girl-on-girl action was introduced to the lane in Season 6. Fresh out of the loony bin, Katherine Mayfair (Dana Delany) begins to struggle with her sexuality when a stripper moves in with her. This comes as a surprise since Katherine spent a many of moons obsessing over her former lover– Mike Delfino (James Denton). She stabbed herself and blamed it on him –fatal attraction gone wrong.

8. A Deadly Christmas Story (Season 6) —
More than snowflakes were falling from the sky during Wisteria Lane’s annual Christmas party. The story line was a major cliffhanger in Season 6. Viewers were left wondering who died after a small plane barreled into an adult sized gingerbread house. In the end it was discovered that Karl Mayer (Richard Burgi) died in surgery from wounds he sustained from the crash.

7. A Whirlwind of Emotions: Tornado Hits Wisteria Lane (Season 4) —
Destroying homes and lives, a massive tornado touched down on Wisteria Lane. Mother nature took no mercy as she tore through suburbia, interrupting and negatively influencing the lives of each “Housewife.”

6. Hook, Line & Sinker (Season 1) —
Feeling neglected in her marriage, Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) begins a scandalous affair with her underage – aka jailbait – gardener (Jesse Metcalfe). Gabby only meant to add a little excitement to her boring suburban life. But she got more than she could bargain for once she discovered she was pregnant and unaware of the child’s father.

5. An Icy End To A Dysfunctional Marriage (Season 1) —
The sanctity of the Van de Kamp marriage was jeopardized the moment Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross) discovered Rex (Steve Culp) was sleeping with the neighborhood prostitute. Bree quickly showed what a cold woman she could be, when she opted to continue tidying up her bedroom while her husband suffered from a heart attack downstairs. The marriage ended tragically when Rex’s pharmacist, who was madly in love with Bree, tampered with his medication. As a result, Rex died in the hospital thinking Bree poisoned him.

4. The Time Traveler’s Housewife (Season 5) —
Season 4 of “Desperate Housewives” ended once Katherine Mayfair’s secret was exposed. In solidarity, the women of Wisteria Lane lie to the police to protect Katherine. Season 5 picked up five years later. The leading ladies still look flawless, but their personal lives were far from it. A tragic car accident forced Mike and Susan Delfino to divorce, and Edie Britt returned to the lane with a new husband who had a unbridled anger and an unusual secret – he was the father and husband of the family Mike and Susan crashed into, prompting him to seek revenge.

3. Tales from the Crypt: Mary Alice’s Secret (Season 1) —
Serving as a catalyst for the entire show, Mary Alice Young’s suicide (Brenda Strong) coined the dark nature “Desperate Housewives” became known for. As she narrated from beyond the grave, viewers, as well as her neighbors, struggled to uncover what provoked her to take her own life. Mary Alice was the most mysterious housewife because only portions of her story were ever told. But later, it was unveiled that this devoted and loving mother killed her illegally adopted son’s mother and stuffed the body into a toy chest. Commit a vicious crime. Clean up a murder scene. That’s not a typical routine for your average housewife – but pretty standard fare for Wisteria Lane.

2. Mike Delfino’s Death (Season 8) —
Wisteria Lane’s studly handyman, Mike Delfino (James Denton), took many physical, mental and emotional beatings over the years. In Season 1, the search for his missing girlfriend ended with the discovery of a son he never knew he had. In future seasons, Mike spent six months in a coma, suffered from an addiction to pain medication, and underwent a series of male ego-hitting financial problems. Just when you thought vindication was near, the nice guy finishes last. Delfino was shot to death outside of the home he shared with Susan (Teri Hatcher).

1. Edie Britt’s Death (Season 5) —
Beginning the series as Susan Mayer’s enemy (Teri Hatcher), Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan) quickly became the man-eating character we all loved. However after a series of witty exchanges, sabotage schemes, blackmail, and suicide attempts, in Season 5 Edie was unexpectedly killed from an electric shock during a car accident. Edie said it best — “She died just the way she lived. The complete and utter center of attention.”

— Josanta Gray