Desperate Housewives - Season 1
—Overview
—Photos
—About this Series
—Spiritual Connections
I have heard a lot of flack from the Christian community over this show, and most are appalled at its immoral content: primarily the endorsement of multiple extra-marital affairs. But, I have a different viewpoint. Unlike many movies out there, this show follows the affairs to their true end results! It doesn't just show an affair and pretend that everyone lives happily ever after - that some get away with it, that others get caught, that forgiveness is in the air, tra la la la la! It deals with the REAL LIFE consequences of betrayal and the REAL LIFE difficulty of remaining faithful when life around you seems to be crumbling.
First case in point: Upon discovering her husband's betrayal, Bree suffers from fierce anger, desire for revenge, thankfulness and acknowledgement of the good years her husband did give her, and the bitterness that arises from deliberately choosing not to forgive and reconcile. The divorce is expected to be very harsh! What I like about Bree is that she's a three-dimensional character who struggles through the entire process of losing trust in her mate. She is not limited to one thought or overly-simplified character trait. Bree runs the gamut of emotions and feelings associated with betrayal, and responds realistically rather than idealistically.
Second case in point: Lynette and her husband battle the legitimate temptations that face married couples over the years. While people can be happily married for a long time, the appearance of a sweet, young, nanny's nakedness can still cause temptation. Why can't we admit that? And the recent revelation of his dad's infidelity points to a legitimate fear that women have when their husbands travel. What I like about their relationship is that they resolve to DISCUSS and WORK OUT their issues. Rather than denying the tensions that exist in a marriage, the two deal maturely with the issues and make changes that are necessary to keep a marriage alive. The nanny was fired after all. It will be interesting to see how the newest kink in their relationship develops - a secret which has not been openly discussed will soon hit the table. I'm hopeful that the writers will maintain the standard of honesty and integrity in this relationship. After all, that IS what it takes to make a relationship work.
Third Case in Point: Gabrielle's extra-marital relationship with John, the gardener, points out the dangers of dealing with 1. younger, more trusting individuals and 2. using people as playthings. Each person suffers from the fleeting nature of the relationship. The other realistic element is the extreme lengths that Gabrielle must go to in order to cover up their time together. Consider how much time and thought actually goes into hiding an affair - it's all consuming. The episode where Gabrielle had to mow her own grass was testimony to the rediculous feats that must be done to keep an affair hidden. This storyline explores even MORE consequences of affairs.
Overall, I think this series is fantastic - not because it is so morally pure, but because it actually educates people on the consequences of sin. Rather than simply saying "Don't do it because you know it's wrong," this series takes morality a step further. It deals with real feelings, addresses issues of the heart, shows the consequences of actions, and even seeks to resolve many of the legitimate frustrations of being married and being parents. Inevitably, Bible studies, lectures, retreats and conferences that have dealt RESPECTFULLY and HONESTLY with my fears, temptations, and errors have had the greatest impact on my life. They haven't tried to pretend my sins don't exist, but rather helped me acknowledge my humanity and the need for help from God. I guess I would say that's the only thing the series lacks: giving at least one character the outlet of faith. Because, truly, it is through faith and God's help that we can overcome temptation and learn forgiveness.
I don't know what the rest of the season will bring, but I hope it maintains its current standard. It's success seems to lie in connecting with people where they are. I hope it doesn't start "pretending" that life is easier than it really is, or creating "false endings" that don't follow a logical conclusion. At the same time, I realize they have to keep it interesting, so I guess we'll see what happens.
And I hope that the folks out there who do watch the show will see it differently too. Rather than slamming its content, we must open our eyes to its potential. This show is an incredible conversation starter!! Mary Alice's closing remarks always force us to examine our own motives and morals. In a strange way, her statements actually ask us questions - and those questions can open doors of honest conversation with our peers. We all struggle with temptation, fear, bitterness, etc...wouldn't it be nice to have someone trustworthy to talk to about those things? It would certainly open doors to sharing the tools and hope that God has given each one of us.
—Overview
—Photos
—About this Series
—Spiritual Connections
—Photos
—About this Series
—Spiritual Connections
I have heard a lot of flack from the Christian community over this show, and most are appalled at its immoral content: primarily the endorsement of multiple extra-marital affairs. But, I have a different viewpoint. Unlike many movies out there, this show follows the affairs to their true end results! It doesn't just show an affair and pretend that everyone lives happily ever after - that some get away with it, that others get caught, that forgiveness is in the air, tra la la la la! It deals with the REAL LIFE consequences of betrayal and the REAL LIFE difficulty of remaining faithful when life around you seems to be crumbling.First case in point: Upon discovering her husband's betrayal, Bree suffers from fierce anger, desire for revenge, thankfulness and acknowledgement of the good years her husband did give her, and the bitterness that arises from deliberately choosing not to forgive and reconcile. The divorce is expected to be very harsh! What I like about Bree is that she's a three-dimensional character who struggles through the entire process of losing trust in her mate. She is not limited to one thought or overly-simplified character trait. Bree runs the gamut of emotions and feelings associated with betrayal, and responds realistically rather than idealistically.
Second case in point: Lynette and her husband battle the legitimate temptations that face married couples over the years. While people can be happily married for a long time, the appearance of a sweet, young, nanny's nakedness can still cause temptation. Why can't we admit that? And the recent revelation of his dad's infidelity points to a legitimate fear that women have when their husbands travel. What I like about their relationship is that they resolve to DISCUSS and WORK OUT their issues. Rather than denying the tensions that exist in a marriage, the two deal maturely with the issues and make changes that are necessary to keep a marriage alive. The nanny was fired after all. It will be interesting to see how the newest kink in their relationship develops - a secret which has not been openly discussed will soon hit the table. I'm hopeful that the writers will maintain the standard of honesty and integrity in this relationship. After all, that IS what it takes to make a relationship work.
Third Case in Point: Gabrielle's extra-marital relationship with John, the gardener, points out the dangers of dealing with 1. younger, more trusting individuals and 2. using people as playthings. Each person suffers from the fleeting nature of the relationship. The other realistic element is the extreme lengths that Gabrielle must go to in order to cover up their time together. Consider how much time and thought actually goes into hiding an affair - it's all consuming. The episode where Gabrielle had to mow her own grass was testimony to the rediculous feats that must be done to keep an affair hidden. This storyline explores even MORE consequences of affairs.
Overall, I think this series is fantastic - not because it is so morally pure, but because it actually educates people on the consequences of sin. Rather than simply saying "Don't do it because you know it's wrong," this series takes morality a step further. It deals with real feelings, addresses issues of the heart, shows the consequences of actions, and even seeks to resolve many of the legitimate frustrations of being married and being parents. Inevitably, Bible studies, lectures, retreats and conferences that have dealt RESPECTFULLY and HONESTLY with my fears, temptations, and errors have had the greatest impact on my life. They haven't tried to pretend my sins don't exist, but rather helped me acknowledge my humanity and the need for help from God. I guess I would say that's the only thing the series lacks: giving at least one character the outlet of faith. Because, truly, it is through faith and God's help that we can overcome temptation and learn forgiveness.I don't know what the rest of the season will bring, but I hope it maintains its current standard. It's success seems to lie in connecting with people where they are. I hope it doesn't start "pretending" that life is easier than it really is, or creating "false endings" that don't follow a logical conclusion. At the same time, I realize they have to keep it interesting, so I guess we'll see what happens.
And I hope that the folks out there who do watch the show will see it differently too. Rather than slamming its content, we must open our eyes to its potential. This show is an incredible conversation starter!! Mary Alice's closing remarks always force us to examine our own motives and morals. In a strange way, her statements actually ask us questions - and those questions can open doors of honest conversation with our peers. We all struggle with temptation, fear, bitterness, etc...wouldn't it be nice to have someone trustworthy to talk to about those things? It would certainly open doors to sharing the tools and hope that God has given each one of us.—Overview
—Photos
—About this Series
—Spiritual Connections
