The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened

I thought this particular episode was outstanding. In fact it had me crying through half of the show. Yes it is true that this episode did not add to the regular plot theme of the 2009 season but it was in my opinion one of the most highly memorable episodes of the entire show. It was just so touching. It follows the life of one particular man who is not a regular on the series, and how he has touched the lives of most of the women who are regulars on the show. I thought Beau Bridges did an excellent job with the part and also, while all the women gave great performances I particularly liked that of "Susan." The scene where she is crying on her home staircase after going through yet another failed marriage is just heart-rending and the dialogue between her and the handy-man is something that will stay with you long after the show ends. Both turned in excellent performances not just in delivering the dialogue but to watch the change come over "Susan" when she hears how the handy-man views her and to watch the subtle change come over her face when she is pulled into a different realization. The episode is meant more as a story to reflect upon. It deals with the importance of each person's life but also how each person can have such a great impact on touching the lives of others.

When a neighborhood handyman, named Eli Scruggs, suddenly passes from a heart attack away one day before his retirement, the residents of Wisteria Lane come to realize just how much he affected their lives. Gabrielle recalls how Eli helped her make new friends when she first moved in, including her friendship with the late Mary Alice Young. Lynette remembers how Eli came to her aide when she was overwhelmed in raising her four wild kids, and as a result, neglected Penny. Susan remembers on how he repeatably helped her stay sane and was always there for her as a shoulder to cry on each time a man walked out of her life and was the only man who accepted her slightly-insane and neurotic personalty. Edie looks back on their "special friendship" she had with Eli at numerous times. Finally, Bree thinks fondly of how a small gesture Eli once made that helped get her to where she is

Such a moving episode tissues at the ready.

This episode is wonderful. As a 51 year old guy, I still find myself tearing up about the life of this person. How 1 person with kindness can reach out and touch lives in so many ways.

Not rich in money, but rich in personality, character, integrity, compassion, and a hard worker.

He touched so many lives and left a lasting impression in each of their lives. And what was he? A repairman... and so much more.

What a great episode. I don't understand how people can't like an episode like this. Maybe they lack the ability to relate to someone elses life. This is a wonderful episode...

One of the best touching episodes I have ever watched. :)

Writers had imagined an amazing 100th episode, and casting Beau Bridges was brilliant.

Can you watch this episode without crying?

They managed the impossible, create a new character and make us care as if he had always been on the show.

Mary-Alice's memories were the most emotional. When she met Eli, you could feel a genuinely good and sweet man, humble and caring. When she sees her shoe with the tape to hide the hole, and offers him to fix her broken vase.

"Ma'am, you don't have to do that" Eli replied.

All the tears, I was fighting to keep inside ... I became an instant fountain.

Truly one of the best episodes of the show, focused on a unique character, the amazing Beau Bridges.

so far season 5 has been pretty fantastic, compared with 3 and 4.. so this last episode came as a total disappointment .. it was a total fluff piece, with no relevance to plot whatsoever, it doesn't add anything to any of the characters .. and there's no point in making you care about some random stranger, who you create and kill off in the same episode .. it's more film than TV!

i do understand that sometimes series need filler episodes, they all do it, but then again, i don;t understand why they put it just before they have (YET ANOTHER) break .. breaks in the flow are annoying enough, without presenting your audience with a total anticlimax as the last thing they remember .. at least one would expect a minor drama, if not a cliffhanger .. which leaves you excited and gasping for more (as was the fire in the nightclub before the Christmas break)

in a nutshell, disappointing!

(and what is happening to Jackson? i thought he was making a full recovery from his accident and was going to be back??)