"Secrets That I Never Want to Know" received generally positive reviews from critics, most of whom agreed the episode provided a satisfactory opening to the show's final season.

Desperate Housewives focuses on the lives of residents in the suburban neighborhood of Wisteria Lane, as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong), who kills herself in the pilot episode after receiving a blackmail note.

[1] In recent episodes, Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross) begins dating a detective named Chuck Vance (Jonathan Cake).

[2][3][4] Meanwhile, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and Tom Scavo (Doug Savant) decide to separate after experiencing problems in their marriage.

[4] Carlos Solis (Ricardo Antonio Chavira) accidentally kills his wife Gabrielle's (Eva Longoria) stepfather, Alejandro Perez (Tony Plana), who raped her in her childhood and returns to inflict more harm.

Gabrielle's friends, Bree, Lynette, and Susan Delfino (Teri Hatcher), agree to help cover up the killing.

[4] Carlos and the women bury Alejandro's body in the nearby woods and, at Bree and Gabrielle's urging, make a pact to keep his death a secret.

He confesses to having committed an unspecified crime to Father Dugan (Sam McMurray), who tells him that he will only be forgiven if he turns himself in; however, Carlos decides not to follow his advice in order to protect the other people involved in the cover-up.

While trying to dispose of Alejandro's car, Bree and Gabrielle inadvertently attract Chuck's attention and have to create a series of elaborate lies to avoid him finding out the truth.

[14] The episode gained an additional 2 million viewers and 0.9 rating in the week following the original broadcast due to DVR recordings.

[16] Overall, the season premiere was comprised of suspense, jokes and touching moments amongst the housewives ... [I]t is absolutely refreshing and nice to have the ladies back.

"[18] She praised the sequence in which Bree and Gabrielle attempt to get rid of Alejandro's car, writing, "I always love the Bree-Gaby scenes because they contradict each other in such an interesting way.

"[18] She enjoyed that the Bree character was "turning back into the controlling perfectionist we grew to love rather than the carefree woman she became" in the seventh season.

[18] Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly called the episode's overall storyline "too juicy a landmine to not have the repercussions play out deliciously on this, the show’s last season.

Tran also appreciated the writers' decision not to prolong Tom and Lynette's attempts to hide their separation, opining: "Last season, their fights were relentless and exhausting.

[17] John Griffiths of Us Weekly awarded the episode 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing, "After last season's silly antics, the venerable dramedy pulls itself together for a clever final round.

[20] The Hollywood Reporter's Jethro Nededog was positive in his review of the episode, writing: "It was a strong return, because it relied on the series’ strength, which is the bond these women have with each other.