Bree Van de Kamp
| Bree Van De Kamp Hodge | |
|---|---|
| File:Marciac.jpg Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp Hodge | |
| First appearance | Pilot (episode 1.01) |
| Created by | Marc Cherry |
| Portrayed by | Marcia Cross |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Bree Mason (maiden name) Bree Van De Kamp (second name) |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Housewife |
| Family | Henry Mason (father) Eleanor Mason (step-mother) Phyllis Van De Kamp (former mother-in-law) Gloria Hodge (mother-in-law) |
| Spouse | Orson Hodge Rex Van De Kamp (deceased) George Williams (ex-fiancé) (deceased) Ty Grant (ex-fiancé) Peter McMillan (ex-boyfriend) |
| Children | Andrew Van De Kamp (son) Danielle Van De Kamp (daughter) |
| Relatives | Aunt Fern |
Bree Hodge (née Mason, formerly Van De Kamp), is the name of a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by Marcia Cross.
History
...Everyone on Wisteria Lane thought of Bree as the perfect wife and mother, everyone that is, except her own family.
Bree Hodge is a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, conservative Republican, and NRA member who owns four guns. Bree was trapped in a dull marriage with Rex, her fed-up husband, and her rebellious children, Andrew and Danielle.
An obsessive perfectionist, Bree tries to show as little emotion as possible. Consequently she has a strained relationship with her family.
She also had a relationship with George Williams, her pharmacist when she and Rex were briefly separated. This relationship was mostly her way of making Rex jealous. However, George fell obsessively in love with her. At the end of the first season, she reconciled with Rex over what happened with their family before he died. She also had, at the time of his death, a very bad relationship with Rex's mother, Phyllis, including her obsession over what tie he had to wear before he was buried.
Season 2 marked a change in the character as George's obsession with her mounted to the point where the two became engaged, culminating in Bree failing to help George as he died of a lethal overdose after she learned of his role in Rex's death. Bree also sent Andrew off to boot camp for a second time when he attacked George for kissing her, but allowed him to return after George's death.
While babysitting Lynette's kids, Bree passed out after drinking wine. Lynette intervened trying to help Bree acknowledge her drinking problem. Bree has forced herself to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings although she, herself, does not believe that she actually has a drinking problem -- she is doing it to prevent her son from being emancipated. "Perception is reality, Andrew; and if people perceive me to have a drinking problem, then I do." Andrew is angered that she won't simply let him take his trust fund and leave, as they are both unhappy, and tells her that he hates her. To this Bree responds, "You know, the opposite of love isn't hate. It's indifference. And if you hate me, that means you still care and we're still connected and I still have a chance to set you right."
Bree attends AA and meets Peter McMillan, a kind, attentive man who becomes her sponsor. She confesses to him that she doesn't like herself anymore; Peter says he likes her just fine. And so, Peter becomes her new addiction. After Bree kisses him in thanks, Peter warns her that he is also a sex addict. He tries to foist her on another sponsor, but Bree falls off the wagon (possibly with the intention of showing Peter how much she needs him). Peter then helps her get sober. However, Bree starts to go into a deep depression after she abandons Andrew at a gas station because he had seduced Peter, and Danielle runs away with Matthew. On the verge of collapse, she checks herself into a psychiatric facility. She escapes once she learns that Matthew is the true murderer of Melanie Foster. Matthew holds her at gunpoint and is about to pull the trigger, when he is shot dead by the police.
Bree meets the charming dentist Orson Hodge, and it looks like she might start dating him, not knowing that Orson is responsible for the hit and run on Mike Delfino. They get involved so that they will get married on episode 2 of season 3. In the first episode of season 3, it is revealed that, before Orson, she has never had a "proper" orgasm. Bree and Orson have now wed and her son, Andrew Van De Kamp has returned home. Things seem to be looking good for Bree, other than the fact that her husband ran over Mike Delfino, and possibly killed one woman, namely Monique Pollier, as Alma was revealed alive just before Christmas break. Bree met her just before realizing Susan had told the cops about Orson. She then ended their friendship.
Appearance
Bree is recognized by both fans and non-fans of the show by her perfect red hair and fair skin. She is also recognized by all the bright "preppy" clothing she wears, except for when her husband died, when she wore black and had her hair in a bun, a change from her traditional hairstyle, a shoulder-length "flip." She is also the tallest of the female characters on Desperate Housewives.
Quotes
- "It's the age-old question, isn't it? How much do we really want to know about our neighbors?"
- "All I'm saying is that we're both going to die eventually, and in the time that we have left, whether it's two days or two decades, I think that we should be nice to each other."
- "The least we can do is try to keep up appearances."
- "My daughter is planning on giving you her virginity and I'd consider it a personal favor if you wouldn't take it."
- "Do me a favor, Rex. Please don't mistake my anal retentiveness for actual affection."
- "Rex cries after he ejaculates."
- "The opposite of love isn't hate; it's indifference."
Trivia
- Bree is based on creator Marc Cherry's own mother, as the entire Van De Kamp family is based on the family in which he grew up.
- Marc Cherry originally wanted Nicole Kidman to play Bree.