Desperate Housewives, which aired for eight seasons from 2005 through 2012, was a dark comedy drama that explored the complicated, and occasionally criminal, lives of a group of beautiful, self-involved women living in upper-middle class American suburbia. Delving into their often deeply flawed relationships with lovers, children, parents and colleagues, Desperate Housewives above all highlighted the value and difficulty of maintaining friendships between successful, complex women. And how no betrayal or neighborhood brawl was so big that it couldn't be set right by a friendly game of Friday night poker.
Here are our five tips for lasting friendships, as taught by the housewives:
1. Laughter is the best medicine.
Corny? Yes. True? YES. If the women of Wisteria Lane weren't able to laugh together in the face of their sorrows, they surely would have drowned in their own tears halfway through season 1. Sure, the completely ridiculous nature of the plot made us laugh too, but that doesn't dampen the message. The next time it feels like your world is crumbling, grab a bottle of wine and a couple good friends and take some time to appreciate the irony of the situation and see the funny side of life.
2. Know thine enemy.
Ok, not exactly a friendship tip, but who hasn't heard the timeless motto 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer'? The housewives proved that whether it be needing to keep tabs on the ex who's trying to kill you, the crabby blackmailer down the street or the hot one in your own garden, it's important to groom not only the best, but also the worst, relationships in your life. Hey, it's in the name of self-preservation! And when it's time to strike back and take that meddling old lady out, it's your friends who will be there to help bury the body.
3. Support each other to find your passion.
How many of us have seen good friends, or even ourselves, stymied by prescribed career or family paths that don't reflect our true passions? That was the story for each of the housewives at the start of the series. How many of them hit a rough path every now and then. Don't sit idly by and encourage the people you care about in your life to think about what would make them happy and to chase after their dreams. If you're lucky, they'll come back and do the same for you.
4. Poker can solve any problem.
One of the reasons poker is becoming popular among many women, some of whom are now reaching the upper echelons of the game, is because poker allows people to learn about other people. Through all of the housewives' ups and downs, the lies they told each other, the love and hate they shared, and even the bodies they buried, one thing remained constant through their eight years of friendship - anything could be overcome by sitting around the table on a Friday night playing a friendly game of poker with the girls. They got to know each other's tells which helped them to know when they hiding something that in reality they really need to talk about. You should always try to help your friend open up, but first you need to know when are hiding something. If Bree decides to cater the event, even better!
5. Friends are forever.
We've all heard this time and again from our mothers, aunts and older sisters, and it's true. No matter the twists and turns that your love life takes, your girlfriends will always be there to pick up the pieces and put you back together again. The housewives were insane, but they stuck together and got each other through the tough times. So next time you're thinking of canceling on your best mates to go out with that new guy, stop and think again. Men often come and go, but good friends last a lifetime.
We wouldn't wish the trails and tribulations that the crazy ladies of Wisteria Lane have endured on any group of real-life women, but take our advice and learn the lessons they weren't always able to.