The season premiere of “Housewives” stirred things up by fast forwarding five years into the future. At first this seemed like a combination for disaster, but it’s still the same great characters and, more importantly, the same great writers.

For some reason, the “Housewives” writers are determined to keep the Susan/Mike on-again, off-again drama going at all costs. The season premiere teases viewers into thinking Mike’s dead, which would be better than another season of watching this dramatic relationship unfold. But in fact he’s alive and kicking – what a shame.

Eddie is now married to a murderous sociopath – poor girl just can’t catch a break – and Gabby is a mother of two daughters. Carlos is as blind as ever – still wondering if the writers are going to have mercy and find some way for him to see again.

Going five years into the future might be jumping the shark for this series, or it might be genius.

“Desperate Housewives” airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on ABC, but catch up anytime at ABC.com