If you are re-watching the series, you might be tempted to skip this special. However, it offers a few unique elements:

The Desperate Housewives: The Complete First Season DVD collection is a 6-disc set that captures the explosive debut of Wisteria Lane, blending dark satire, mystery, and suburban drama. Released on September 20, 2005, this "special" home media package is notable for its extensive bonus material, including unrated, extended episodes and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the show's sudden rise to a cultural phenomenon. Core Series Overview

The first season centers on the aftermath of Mary Alice Young’s mysterious suicide, which serves as a catalyst for uncovering the secrets of her four closest friends:

Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher): The klutzy divorcee navigating a new romance with the mysterious plumber, Mike Delfino.

Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman): A former high-powered career woman struggling with the exhaustion of being a stay-at-home mother to four rambunctious children.

Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross): The "perfect" homemaker whose rigid exterior masks a crumbling marriage and family life.

Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria): The materialistic ex-model who, bored in her marriage to businessman Carlos, begins an affair with her teenage gardener. Special DVD Features & "Dirty Laundry"

This edition is packed with "extra laundry" for fans looking to dive deeper into the world of Wisteria Lane:

Unrated, Extended Episodes: Includes lengthened versions of key episodes like "Who's That Woman" and "Anything You Can Do," featuring footage not seen in the original broadcast.

Oprah Winfrey Special: Includes a unique segment where Oprah Winfrey "moves in" as the new neighbor.

Behind-the-Scenes Content: Featurettes like "A Stroll Down Wisteria Lane" with creator Marc Cherry and "Dressing Wisteria Lane," which explores the show's iconic costume and set designs.

Secrets & Bloopers: The set also includes deleted scenes, audio commentaries from the cast and crew, and a "multi-language" sequence showing how the series sounds around the world. Purchasing Options

You can find this complete season box set at various retailers:

Retailers: Available at Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and Best Buy.

Price Range: Typically retails between $29.99 $14.99 and $25.51 depending on the merchant and condition.

Condition: Both new and pre-owned copies are widely available on marketplaces like eBay and Mercari.

Warning for New Viewers: It is recommended to avoid watching the special features until you have finished the season, as they contain significant spoilers for the central mystery.

The special is structured as a retrospective. Mary Alice breaks the fourth wall to address the audience directly, categorizing the events of the season by character and theme. It features extensive flashbacks to earlier episodes in Season 1.

When Desperate Housewives premiered on ABC in October 2004, no one predicted the cultural firestorm it would ignite. It was a show that looked like a soap opera, walked like a comedy, but stabbed you like a thriller. Nearly two decades later, the show remains a benchmark for primetime television. However, for collectors, binge-watchers, and die-hard fans, there is one version of the premiere season that stands head and shoulders above the standard box set: the elusive Desperate Housewives Complete Season 01 Special.

If you are searching for the ultimate home viewing experience—packed with exclusive content, extended episodes, and the pristine visual quality that Marc Cherry’s vision deserves—you need to look beyond the standard DVD. Here is everything you need to know about this collector’s gem and why it is the definitive way to re-visit the scandalous residents of Wisteria Lane.

This is a "clip show" or recap special that was produced to air between the penultimate episode and the season finale. Because Season 1 had a deep central mystery (why Mary Alice shot herself), the producers created this hour-long special to explain the clues, review the character arcs, and prepare casual viewers for the final reveal.

It is not a standard narrative episode; instead, it is hosted by the late character Mary Alice Young, who guides the audience through the "dirty laundry" of Wisteria Lane.

Mary Alice reviews the secrets of her four best friends as of late Season 1: