'Desperate Housewives' Kisses One Wisteria Lane Resident Goodbye (Video)

Ron Tom/ ABC

Sunday’s big Desperate Housewives death was spoiled in court this past week, so what that leaves for hardcore fans is the mystery of finding out how.

our editor recommends

'Desperate Housewives' Major Character Death Revealed During Testimony

'Desperate Housewives' Trial: Sheridan's Lawyer Presses ABC Conspiracy Theory

'Desperate Housewives' Trial: Former ABC Chief Stephen McPherson Says He Approved Sheridan Firing Months Before Cherry Incident

William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman Talk the End of 'Desperate Housewives' and How to Make a Hollywood Marriage Survive (Q&A)

PHOTOS: TV's Priciest Primetime Shows for Advertisers

After a cold open asking viewers to consider the moments in which we don’t appreciate our loved ones and our neighbors, Mary Alice’s (Brenda Strong) voice asked us to look down upon Wisteria Lane as one of these people won’t be alive by the hour’s end. And then the show proceeded to throw viewers several deadly possibilities before the actual death was revealed.

Would it be the cancer-stricken Karen McCluskey (Kathryn Joosten) who sought to end her life on her own terms? Or could it be Tom’s (Doug Savant) new girlfriend who would choke to death in Lynette’s (Felicity Huffman) kitchen? Or young Juanita (Madison De La Garza) who found herself frozen with fear on the roof while trying to save her cat?

It would be none of them. Instead, it would be a character who was arguably at his prime: A brave protector, a loving husband, a principled father, and a loyal friend. It would be Susan’s (Teri Hatcher) husband, Mike Delfino (James Denton).

VIDEO: Emmy Roundtable -- Comedy Actresses

Over the seasons of the series, Mike has conquered death many times. This time, he was gunned down on his front porch and just after pushing Susan out of harm’s way by the loan shark he had thrown out of Rene’s (Vanessa Williams) house just an episode ago.

In the moments before the bullet fatally hit Mike in the chest, time slowed down and the memories of his relationship with Susan filled the moments – presumably the thoughts that flashed before him as death hurled itself at him.

Watch the scene again below.

What did you think of Desperate Housewives’ choice to kill off Mike? And more importantly, longtime viewers, was it a death worthy of him? Tell us in the comments section below.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter: @TheRealJethro