desperate second season premiere episode american comedy drama series desperate 24th episode overall originally broadcast united_states september abc written directed episode susan recovers having held hostage attempts salvage marriage incarcerated husband deals mother law following husband death goes work episode introduces mystery storyline revolving family according nielsen ratings watched million viewers making watched season premiere abc years episode ranks second watched series history season finale episode received general positive reviews cross earning universal praise performance critics enjoyed acting character storyline plot background focuses residents living suburban neighborhood lane previous episodes learns biological father adopted parents paul mark moses killed mike previous girlfriend biological mother years earlier mike kidnapped paul left stranded desert holds mike current girlfriend hostage plan kill mike quit job decided stay home father forcing wife work force affair teenage exposed discovers pregnant husband sentenced time prison cross learned husband died awaiting surgery son matthew brooks moved lane episode mike arrives home find holding susan hostage opportunity kill mike susan gun away runs away later susan discovers mike want press charges missing questions mike confesses biological son susan mike tells dating continues search given history daughter mother comes town funeral clash heads visit especially claims miserable years prompting funeral eventually service discovers buried high school tie insisted forbade changes tie middle funeral prison john assumes continue relationship john told affair demands test work marriage unwilling actually test patient results passes tells interviews job advertisement firm interviewer woman named fisher skeptical learning children asks come final interview boss tom throws forced bring penny second interview despite unusual circumstances manages impress boss hires spot betty concert pianist continues settled neighborhood agrees play funeral later matthew bring food prisoner basement production written directed developing storylines second season series creator stated want finding new ways talk issues relate everyday women explaining needs focus small real everyday issues order audience interested cherry cited storyline example strategy job season returning advertising roots want address difficult work day come home expected care house recognized character storylines needed change pace hoped domestic life play integral role season hope lost corporate world home family husband children story explained times kids clear plates episode introduced new boss fisher describes character nasty suddenly come tiger lady stops reminding childless choice housewife desperate way death character return series second season open scene producers created life mask actor promoted series regular appearing recurring guest star season episode feature series regulars introduced final episodes season played deeply religious single mother portrayed son matthew regards characters mystery storyline cherry stated come street like nice people got secret pretty gothic real human awful time commented character means harm let flaws tough decisions quick law catches serve time catch final scene betty matthew bring food prisoner basement originally intended season finale saved instead regarded major black characters series cherry stated role betty originally offered white film actresses turned financial time commitment issues clarified strategically black character color incidental seen accepting role desperate producers sent episodes divided family members compared storylines recalled instantly hooked series reported experiencing heavy media attention accepting role brooks brother billy auditioned role matthew final decision came brothers actors according cherry brooks cast dangerous element combination sweet quality dark brooding quality reception ratings according nielsen ratings watched million viewers held rating share original broadcast indicating percent increase series premiere year earlier helping abc earn largest sunday night audience years additionally abc watched season premiere years episode second watched program week csi cbs watched program viewers years age episode second watched episode series following season finale critical reception variety gave episode positive review opined storyline looked extremely promising enjoyed addition cast tight new boss identified storyline real water cooler sequence complimented performance criticized susan storylines opining exhibiting signs wear tear entertainment weekly noted episode particularly opening minutes exciting plot points occurred second half episode praised scene changes tie corpse called cross performance episode pitch perfect complimented performance wondered fisher actress week criticized repetitive nature susan storylines thought mystery help reduce chances falling sophomore slump praised acting character storyline opining inherently warm maternal performance apple pie makes touches menace chilling cooper complimented storyline writing forget career stress baby daddy drama new story legs apparently arms found strange andrew characters showed little emotion regards death additionally noted storylines provided comic relief susan character comic relief sad premiere squad gave episode positive review stating episode delivered lots resolution power suits lots tears shouting critic selected 42nd best television episode writing rocky sophomore season deny strongly started citing tie changing scene episode memorable moment murphy nominated writing lost penned pilot episode showtime series
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