The lives of a neighborhood group of suburban housewives are looked upon and commented on by the spirit of Mary Alice Young, a housewife who committed suicide.
When Gabrielle's husband comes home early, she acts quickly to hide her affair; Lynette has a difficult time disciplining her twins; Bree and Rex agree to marriage counseling.
The women host a big dinner party to honor the memory of Mary Alice.
When Mrs. Huber discovers that Susan had something to do with Edie's house fire she tries to blackmail her.
Susan reluctantly accepts a date with a persistent policeman after a robbery on Wisteria Lanes leaves everyone feeling vulnerable.
Lynette argues with another mom who is trying to produce a politically correct version of "Little Red Riding Hood" at the twins' school.
Susan gets upset with Mike when his attractive houseguest forces him to delay their first office; the twins’ medication proves harder to give up than Lynette anticipated.
The residents of Wisteria Lane take stock of their lives in the aftermath of Andrew running over Juanita Solis. Susan wonders why Mike really moved into the neighborhood. Lynette's ADD medication addiction reaches the breaking point.
Susan discovers Gabrielle's secret; Bree determines to deal with Andrew's behavior problems herself; Gabrielle determines to organize a charity fashion show.
Uber mom Maisy Gibbons returns, and her secret life intersects with Bree's. Gabrielle's predicament worsens. Susan plans to take her relationship with Mike to the next level. Lynette is suspicious, and a little jealous, of her new nanny and decides to secretly videotape her.
Mrs. Huber's sister arrives to help Edie locate the missing Mrs. Huber. Despite hopes to repair her marriage, Bree asks out a pharmacist. Ever jealous of her nanny, Lynette starts to think that Tom is falling for her. Gabrielle is forced to get a job. Susan is faced with the reappearance of her ex-husband.
There are unexpected consequences for Susan when she and her neighbors learn what really happened to Mrs. Huber. Bree's new romantic relationship starts to get a little too intimate too fast. Gabrielle isn't sure how to react when Carlos returns home from his time in prison. Lynette lies to get into a yoga class.
Lynette learns some family secrets when her father-in-law comes for a visit. Rex tries to reconcile with Bree. Gabrielle is asked by John's parents to do them a favor. Susan gets upset by Julie's romance with Zach.
Susan's romantic dinner with Mike takes a sudden turn when she find out some surprising facts about him. Lynette is faced with her cranky neighbor's accusations that her children are stealing. Gabrielle gets a job as a mattress model. Bree discovers some secrets about Rex that he'd rather she didn't know.
Gabrielle finds herself the unlucky victim of blackmail by John's friend Justin, who has become her new gardener. Mike is questioned by the police as a suspect in Mrs. Huber's murder. Lynette thinks that if Tom gets a promotion at work she will be stuck with their children even more.
After Maisy Gibbons is arrested for solicitation, shocking revelations throughout Wisteria Lane start to have consequences for Bree.
Lynette makes friends with a deaf mother whose children also attend Barcliff, but is then offended by the woman's husband constantly making fun of her without her knowledge. Mrs. Solis' condition changes.
Susan's mother comes to visit with the intent to move in after leaving her boyfriend. After Bree spanks one of Lynette's children while babysitting, Lynette starts to doubt the strength of their friendship.
Lynette learns that sometimes good deeds bring bad rewards when she tries to be friendly with Mrs. McClusky. Susan's mother tries to help Susan get back into the dating game, but picks up a man herself and ends up taking him back to Susan's house, much to Susan's horror.
Gabrielle realizes she is pregnant as she plans a going away party for Carlos, who is headed to jail. Bree annoys Rex when George Williams comes back into her life. Susan helps Julie try to get an overeager Zach to leave her alone, and ends up with her kitchen on fire for her troubles. Lynette learns her husband is working closely with his ex-girlfriend.
After Mr. Shaw deflects Susan's suspicions on Paul's behalf, Susan sends him to find out Mike's secret. Felicia gets the upper hand over Paul. Bree continues her friendship with George, and is spotted with him by Edie. Lynette tries to put the spice back into her marriage. Gabrielle tells John about the baby, and he does not take it well.
Susan agrees to move in with Mike, but grows suspicious that there is more he hasn't told her. She and Julie follow him, and stumble upon Mrs. Huber's journal, which was given to Mike by Felicia.
The reason Mary Alice killed herself is revealed. Tom tells Lynette he lost his job and says that she is going back to work so he can be the stay at home parent now.