Housewives is an acquired taste.
Personally I dig it because my parents are pretty much EVERY COUPLE on that show rolled into one. It's basically like watching 20+ years of my life play out before me with catastrophic results.
Your criticisms are all well placed and they only response to that is…that's the way they're supposed to be.
Bree is supposed to be an uptight nit because that's what she's like and there's a little bit of her in everyone. Same for Homer or Peter.
It's supposed to be "OMG what are the neighbors up to" because there really are people that frigging annoying (especially in Japan, Christ!)
The black lady with the son wasn't a villain, in fact unless you've seen every episode it's hard to pick up a villain for season 2, you also need to know a LOT from season 1. She's actually the most sympathetic character from Season 2 and a really loving parent that only wants her son to be at peace.
The overall point is, the show is supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek parody of real life couples and lives in a small suburban town. It's not out to be the next LOST or cop drama. If you can't relate to the situations then I can totally understand not liking it because....there's nothing you have in common with it.
But to someone like me who basically grew up with parents EXACTLY like a mish-mash of them all, it's just too funny.
And now for the typical 'but you have to see season 1' argument.
Compared to season 1, season 2 was very weak. But what it did very well was set itself up for season 3 about halfway through without the viewers even knowing.
Season 1 was a huge murder mystery and had some very, VERY cool revelations and twists. If you haven't seen season 1 then I can totally understand not getting the point because it was basically the story of her death.
As for her narration, that's something everyone should appreciate. You mentioned the end of the show, but it's not just the end, it's actually the entire show.
It's nowhere near as complex or dare I say 'realistic' as LOST but there's a theme for each week. It's usually introduced quite innocently in the opening narration but as the episode progresses, the theme is worked through the episode in each of the character's lives WHILE progressing the story. Then in the end it comes full circle and basically repeats the same thing, but this time you have a new take on it, or realize what it was really saying in the beginning. Even in boring episodes, that's the one part I really have to compliment the writers on. They do a FANTASTIC job of tying each episode around a theme of life (which is by no coincidence being told by someone who no longer has a life) as well as moving the story along.
But yeah. It's a good show if you don't take it seriously, because it doesn't usually take itself too seriously either.
