See Also: 'Listen to the Rain on the Roof' Episode Guide

Online reviewers have weighed in on the season three premiere of Desperate Housewives.

Here's what they had to say about "Listen to the Rain on the Roof":

• Lindsay Soll at EW.com said Housewives tried to go "back to basics" and praised Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis).

  For me, the standout performer in this episode was Eva Longoria (and it's about time, right?). Between her hilarious scenes with surrogate Xiao Mei — as when she retorts, 'Tell it to my Chinese friend, Sue Me!' — and her cackle when Bree tells her she's planning to marry Orson without ever having had sex with him, Eva definitely looks like the one to watch this season.

  You can read her full analysis over at EW.com.

• Dave Anderson at TV Guide Online said Marc Cherry had "kept his promise" to and liked the fact that season three took up six months from where season two left off. "He's been in the media everywhere proclaiming that the show's quality will be back in tip-top shape, like it was in the first season. He deserves a pat on the back for cowriting a (for the most part) first-rate script with Jeff Greenstein. I thought it was a smart thing to fast-forward to six months from the last time we saw them. This way they didn't have to deal with following up on the aftermath of the Applewhites' departure; also, Xiao-Mei's more pregnant and they could have Bree realistically able to say yes to Orson's proposal." He praised most stories, but said the Scavos' was the "weakest link".

• Jen Creer at TV Squad admitted she doesn't always watch Housewives, and said she found the plot unoriginal but felt the cast saved the episode. "I would say that the primary strength and the primary weakness of the season three premiere is that there really wasn't an original plotline in it—yet, the actresses are so skilled that I found myself not caring much. I will still happily tune in next week."

  Jeff Commings at AZNightBuzz.com was positive, but still sounded cautious. "The premiere of third season of Desperate Housewives was better than any of the second season's shows. It was funny, compelling and a little bit scandalous. But I'm withholding judgment on whether this show is back or not until November sweeps." He said that "this show was all about comedy" in the episode.

  Laura Saltman at Access Hollywood was unimpressed, but got her colleague Bryant Huddleston (who was a fan of the premiere) to join her in writing an article. Saltman listed her complaints, and Huddleston rebutted her comments. "I like that Marcia Cross's Bree Van De Camp has found herself a man who is as equally anal retentive and uptight as she. So, why then do we need to repeat the psycho guy storyline here? Wasn't the crazy pharmacist enough for one woman to take?" asked Saltman. "Well, I will say I'll give Ms. Salty the dead body thing is getting rather decayed on Wisteria Lane BUT I have a feeling the Orson story will not be played out as expected. I think with the new writers and the significance of the pouring rain throughout the season premiere, the bad will be washed away to bring in a fresh and 'clean' season three," responded Huddleston.

• There is also brief recap at Television Without Pity, where visitors have so far rated it a B.

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