Welcome to the next week of Episode Guides! This week looks at Bewitched Season Two. A reminder of what the scores mean:
9-10: Exceptional
7-8: Strong
5-6: OK
3-4: Mediocre
1-2: Terrible
BEWITCHED: SEASON TWO
1965-196638 episodes
Season two of Bewitched is the last of its years in glorious black and white. I have a special place in my heart for the 74 black and white episodes as they were the ones I watched religiously on Nick at Nite back in the 90s when they only had the rights to those episodes. Season 2 is an unbelievable 38 episodes long. It's amazing that the show spends what seems like an entire season on Samantha's pregnancy and the birth of Tabitha only to have a whole second half of the season left to go. It's also the best season of the series overall with some absolute gems and crisp performances all around. With both Marion Lorne and Alice Pearce still with us and the cast settling into their roles, it is the show at its absolute peak.
Starring
Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens (38 episodes)
Dick York as Darrin Stephens (38 episodes)
Agnes Moorehead as Endora (20 episodes)
David White as Larry Tate (21 episodes)
George Tobias as Abner Kravitz (12 episodes)
Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz (11 episodes)
Irene Vernon as Louise Tate (8 episodes)
Marion Lorne as Aunt Clara (5 episodes)
Jill Foster as Betty (3 episodes)
Mabel Albertson as Phyllis Stephens (1 episode)
Maurice Evans as Maurice (1 episode)
Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur (1 episode)
Elizabeth Montgomery as Serena (1 episode)
Robert F. Simon as Frank Stephens (1 episode)
Aunt Clara accidentally turns Darrin into a chimpanzee on his first anniversary with Samantha. Samantha finds out she is pregnant.
I'm not typically a fan of animal-themed episodes of Bewitched or any sitcom, but I really enjoy this one. Maybe it's because the chimpanzee actor playing Darrin has so much personality. The season two premiere brings back all the favorites with Samantha, Darrin, Endora, Larry, Aunt Clara, and the Kravitzes all appearing in this episode to great effect. It's an excellent way to kick off a season in general, but the sweetest moment is when Samantha finally gets to tell Darrin, back in human form, that they're going to have a baby. It kicks into gear the long and strong season two story arc of Samantha's pregnancy.
RATING: 9.5/10
38. A Very Special Delivery (9/23/65)
When Larry convinces Darrin that he shouldn't be doing too much to help pregnant Samantha, Endora puts a spell on him to give him pregnancy symptoms.
A man having pregnancy symptoms is a common sitcom trope used in other sitcoms such as I Love Lucy and Full House. But I like this episode because it puts a spin on the common trope with Darrin actually feeling these symptoms thanks to a spell from Endora. Dick York is hilarious in this episode, especially when he gets in a fight with a client over a pickle. Despite my general dislike for dream sequences, Darrin's dream of actually having a baby is pretty funny with Samantha passing out cigars. I've always found this to be a pretty funny episode that moves along at a good pace without the gimmick going too far.
RATING: 9/10
39. We're in for a Bad Spell (9/30/65)
An army buddy of Darrin's comes to visit and Samantha discovers that he is under a spell from ancestors in Salem that has to be broken for him to not be labeled a common criminal.
Bewitched doesn't do these kind of episodes very often: where there's a race against the clock to break a spell. I wish there were more of these because it gives some urgency to the plot and I always like that. This is also the first episode that deals with Salem, which will come up from time to time and then of course in the major season seven arc when they travel there. It's also one of the only times that a character uses the phrase "bewitched" as a verb. So there are a lot of good things here except I think the end of the episode is a little silly. I know that's the point, but it still doesn't completely work for me. I wish there had been a better final task in the breaking of the spell.
RATING: 7.5/10
40. My Grandson, the Warlock (10/7/65)
Maurice visits and mistakenly thinks the Tate's baby that the Stephens are watching is their new baby. He then takes the baby to the warlock club in London.
I like Maurice as a character, but this episode is a little too reliant on him for a lot of the plot. There are echoes of the "Witch or Wife" episode from season one when Louise becomes convinced she sees their baby in London. I wish they had played that up a little bit more instead of returning the Tates stateside so quickly. Darrin trying to stall the Tates is funny, but it goes on a little too long. I think if there had been some sort of scene with the Tates and the baby in London followed by Darrin stalling, that might have worked better. Overall, this episode has funny moments but it just seems like a lot of little things that don't add up to a very strong episode.
RATING: 5.5/10
Practical joker Uncle Arthur visits the Stephens, and convinces Darrin he can learn how to do some simple magic.
The first appearance of Uncle Arthur is a Bewitched classic. Paul Lynde is so unabashedly joyful in this episode and brings so much life to the episode. Equally funny is Endora's utter disgust at everything Uncle Arthur does. The scene where Darrin attempts Uncle Arthur's "magic" is a little out of character for Darrin (he doesn't seem foolish enough to fall for Uncle Arthur's prank) but Dick York commits so fully to the scene that it's hysterical. The flip back to prank Uncle Arthur is equally silly but also works, again thanks to Dick York as well as Paul Lynde. Lynde would go on to make several more appearances (although not as many as it might seem in the memory of Bewitched fans) but this is definitely his shining moment on Bewitched.
RATING: 9/10
42. Take Two Aspirin and Half a Pint of Porpoise Milk (10/21/65)
After coming in contact with a black Peruvian rose, Samantha develops a witch illness that results in square green spots on her face.
The first "witch illness" episode is great especially because this is before we meet Dr. Bombay to help solve problems (is that giving away how I feel about Dr. Bombay?) This is one of the few black and white episodes I want to watch colorized so I can see the square green spots on Samantha's face. Aunt Clara is particularly funny in this episode when she's helping to diagnose the "square green spot disease." The scene at the witch drugstore reminded me of Harry Potter and Hagrid shopping in Diagon Alley. I love how nonchalant the tasks of finding "eye of newt" or "porpoise milk" is in the witch's world. And again, my love for events taking place in the middle of the night makes the scene with Darrin stealing from the black Peruvian rose a favorite. All in all, this is a great episode.
RATING: 9.5/10
When Endora feels Darrin isn't sensitive to their hatred of Halloween, she turns him into a werewolf on the night of dinner with a client.
The second Halloween episode of the series, this episode deals with a lot of the same theme's as the season one episode "The Witches are Out." I don't think the plot of this episode is quite as good overall (the werewolf stuff is a little silly and doesn't resolve in a very believable way). However, the scene between Endora and Samantha in the hallway where Samantha accuses Endora of being the exact kind of witch she claims to hate is powerful and another real essential Bewitched scene that gets at the heart of the story. A young Maureen McCormick makes her second Bewitched appearance and this time in a more prominent and funny way.
RATING: 8.5/10
44. The Very Informal Dress (11/4/65)
Aunt Clara whips up a dress for Samantha when she doesn't have anything to wear to a party with a client of Darrin's, but the dress starts disappearing during the party.
This is another "Aunt Clara screws everything up" episode, and it's a pretty funny one with some pretty funny sight gags including the constantly changing outfits of Darrin, the client, and the policeman as well as Aunt Clara driving the car back to the Stephens' house herself. Although he had one brief appearance earlier, this is the first extended appearance by Dick Wilson as the resident drunk. Where the episode veers off course however if once Darrin lands in jail with the drunk. It just goes on too long with too many silly sight gags and not enough advancing of the story. The courthouse scene at the end redeems it a bit, but the strength of this episode is really the first third of it.
RATING: 6/10
45. And Then I Wrote (11/11/65)
Samantha is tasked with writing a pageant about the Civil War for a special event, and brings the characters to life to help her.
This is one of the few weak episodes of season two. Nothing here really works. First of all, it's a pretty silly plot. Samantha is writing a Civil War pageant? The whole plot point that these characters appear whenever Samantha thinks about them doesn't make a ton of sense, and it isn't consistent with Samantha's character in the series. The three characters from the pageant are pretty non-descript and don't add anything to the series. The only saving grace of this episode is Gladys Kravitz, who has some funny deliveries as she talks to the psychiatrist and repeats "it's all in my mind." Overall though, this is a rare miss in a great season.
RATING: 2.5/10
46. Junior Executive (11/18/65)
Endora turns Darrin into a child version of himself but the kid Darrin becomes integral to one of the advertising pitches.
This episode has a second great guest appearance by Billy Mumy in an entirely different role than the foster child from last season's Christmas episode. He does a great job mimicking some of Dick York's mannerisms and cadence of speaking. I like that it's not just Darrin is a little kid, but he's a little kid with Darrin's complete mind. Similar to many season one episodes and in contrast with later seasons, this has a more interesting story. Instead of Darrin spending the whole episode trying to undo Endora's spell, that happens early but then Darrin must deal with the repercussions through the rest of the episode. The only thing I don't really get is why it takes little Darrin longer than you would think to realize he's small. For example, why didn't he realize he was a little kid the second he stood up and realized his height next to Larry?
RATING: 8.5/10
An old suitor visits Aunt Clara and she tries to hide the fact that her powers have declined.
Perhaps the sweetest episode of the season, this is a great episode about aging and played beautifully by Marion Lorne and guest star Charlie Ruggles. As I'm sure you've been able to tell from reading these reviews so far, I think quite highly of Lorne as an actress, and this is one of her strongest episodes as she shows some real vulnerability. The Kravitzes also serve an interesting purpose in this episode as Gladys' snooping leads to the reveal that Hedley also has seen his magic capabilities erode. It also has a beautiful and sweet ending. She didn't win for this episode, but I'm so glad Marion Lorne eventually won an Emmy for this role.
RATING: 9.5/10
48. A Strange Little Visitor (12/2/65)
A young warlock comes to stay with the Stephens at the same time a thief tries to steal jewelry Darrin is holding on to for Larry.
This episode is called "A Strange Little Visitor" and it's a strange little episode. While the story is mostly about young Merle, it has an interesting cross plot with a jewelry thief. Typically, Bewitched doesn't set up stories like that with two different plots that intersect, but this is one of the few that does. Craig Hundley as Merle isn't as appealing of a child actor as Billy Mumy was two episodes ago. I know Merle is supposed to be a little bratty, but I don't think he's a great actor. When the plots intersect at the end, it's a little bit on the slapstick side and this is a rare occasion where I find Gladys a little bit more annoying than funny. It's not one of season two's better offerings.
RATING: 5/10
49. My Boss, the Teddy Bear (12/9/65)
Darrin mistakenly believes that Endora has turned Larry into a teddy bear
I like this episode because the plot isn't that Endora turned Larry into a teddy bear but rather Darrin mistakenly thinks Endora did it. That adds a layer to the plot that a simpler plot doesn't have. Interestingly, the episode did not show Darrin finding out the teddy bear was returned to the store by Louise, it advances the plot quicker than that. It's a pretty funny concept and decently executed. One downside is there isn't as much of Elizabeth Montgomery. Perhaps because she was very pregnant at this point (although not the last episode before Tabitha was born in airing order, this was the last episode Montgomery filmed before going on maternity leave).
RATING: 7.5/10
Endora gives Darrin a charm that makes humans say exactly what they're thinking when they're near it.
This episode seems to be a favorite among Bewitched fans. I like it, but I don't think it's up there with the best episodes of the series. I think the truth gimmick goes on a little too long with the same result over and over again instead of advancing the plot forward. The dinner party is a funny scene but we already basically saw the same scene at the office. I also think it's out of character for Larry to come over all upset when in fact, the client wasn't. That's not consistent with Larry's personality in most other episodes. Still, the dinner party scene does make it pretty funny along with the appearance of memorable 1960s cranky guest star Charles Lane.
RATING: 7.5/10
51. A Vision of Sugar Plums (12/23/65)
This is a re-cut version of the season one episode with one short new scene leading to the flashback of the same episode. No rating will be given.
52. The Magic Cabin (12/30/65)
With Darrin going through a slump, Larry offers up his rustic cabin for a getaway for him and Samantha. Samantha cleans it up with witchcraft, which leads a young couple to want to buy it.
This episode is so charming. There's something very romantic and cozy about the cabin setting and Samantha and Darrin were babymooning before that was a thing! Peter Duryea and Beryl Hammond are good guest stars as the young couple in the episode, and it's interesting to see the difference between them, Samantha & Darrin, and Larry. I don't love the resolve to the witchcraft with Samantha making the cabin half and half. Other than that, it is a very sweet episode that has a little bit of a throwback to season one with its romantic feeling and charming score.
RATING: 9/10
With the baby almost due, Darrin insists on hiring a maid for Samantha but she picks one who has a tendency to make huge mistakes until Samantha and her witchcraft step in.
In the same tradition as Paul Lynde earlier and Bernard Fox later, Alice Ghostley makes an appearance before she becomes a recurring Bewitched character. Here, she is Naomi (oddly enough the Tate's housekeeper is named Esmeralda). I'm not a big fan of Esmeralda, but I like Alice Ghostley here. I also like when Samantha and Darrin appear pushy in order to try to fix a witchcraft problem so that's funny. What I don't like about this episode is the stretching of believe-ability. Why didn't Samantha just go help Naomi without getting Darrin involved like she eventually ends up doing? It's only because that wouldn't be a great plot and I don't like when shows cheat like that. It's cheap storytelling in an otherwise pretty good plot/episode.
RATING: 6/10
54. And Then There Were Three (1/13/66)
Samantha gives birth to Tabitha. When Samantha's cousin Serena visits, Darrin mistakenly believes Endora has turned Tabitha into an adult.
An iconic episode for many reasons including the debuts of Tabitha and Serena and a memorable guest appearance by Eve Arden. Towards the beginning of the episode though is the best moment of the episode and one of the best of the series when Endora tells Darrin it's a girl in the waiting room. It's the only time we really see genuine sweetness between those two characters and it's delightful. The rest of the episode is good too though. Although Serena becomes more cooky in later episodes, she is quite mysterious here and it's obvious that Montgomery relishes playing a different type of role. And the veteran actress Arden is fantastic here playing the increasingly befuddled nurse. All in all, this is one of the quintessential Bewitched episodes though I don't think I like it from a personal standpoint enough to give it the full 10/10.
RATING: 9.5/10
55. My Baby, the Tycoon (1/20/66)
When a stock the Kravitzes buy for Tabitha goes up after 20 years, Darrin and Gladys become convinced that Tabitha can play the stock market.
This is a silly episode, but it's kind of funny to see Darrin and Gladys being equally mistaken. I also like that this is another episode where Darrin just thinks there is witchcraft, but there actually isn't. It's not like Endora put a spell on the stock market or anything. Samantha plays the straight woman here and her exasperation with Darrin is pretty funny. I also have always like Gladys mistaking "Poughkeepsie" for "Kapoopsie." It's not a memorable episode, but it plays pretty well and keeps the action moving.
RATING: 7.5/10
56. Samantha Meets the Folks (1/27/66)
This is a re-cut version of the season one episode with one short new scene leading to the flashback of the same episode. No rating will be given.
57. Fastest Gun on Madison Avenue (2/3/66)
When a man bothers Samantha at a bar, she helps Darrin when he tries to punch him. They find out later he's a heavyweight slugger, which leads to more problems.
This is a funny episode even though the visual effects of the punching are pretty bad, even by 1960s standards. Still, the premise is a good one with a lot of action and a pretty fast-moving plot. The problem with this episode is it almost seems to run out of time to finish the story. There's a lot that happens and yet the plot dangles us with Darrin having beat up two heavyweight contenders and yet there's not really a resolution. The final scene with Darrin, Samantha, and Larry seems to imply that another scene is coming but instead it leads right to the credits.
RATING: 6/10
58. The Dancing Bear (2/10/66)
When Darrin's parents visit with a stuffed bear for Tabitha, Endora makes her stuffed bear dance which leads to Darrin's father wanting to go into business with them.
Oddly, this is the second teddy bear-themed episode in the last 10 episodes of Bewitched. But the dynamics between Endora and Darrin's parents are always fun to watch. There is actually a pretty clever resolution to the story too as Samantha plays into the egos and possessive natures of both Mrs. Stephens and Endora. One random thing that borrows me about these early Tabitha episodes is the crying sounds so fake. Did they have an adult actor doing a baby cry for these scenes? I'm guessing that is the case.
RATING: 6.5/10
59. Double Tate (2/17/66)
Darrin unknowingly receives three wishes from Endora for his birthday and says he wishes he was Larry Tate for a day.
This is a funny switcheroo episode and a great chance for David White to shine. What makes this episode very funny is the problems keep building for a snowball effect. The fact that the client, Louise, and a time stop on the spell keep witchcraft from being able to resolve things also helps the plot from reaching an obvious solution. This would have been a great plot to use later when Dick York was having back troubles and not able to do as much because he's barely in the episode. I like that this episode references the crying scene between Endora and Darrin in the hospital. It seems as though the show realized the importance of that scene even at the time.
RATING: 9/10
60. Samantha the Dressmaker (2/24/66)
Samantha tries to make a dress for herself but when it doesn't work out, she whips up one she saw in Paris with Endora. Other women want the dresses but the original designer ends up in town.
This is a pretty middle of the road episode. It's not great, but it's not terrible either. It's a good showcase for Alice Pearce in one of her final episodes before her death. The twist of the designer from Paris being the newest client for Darrin is a little convenient but it also allows the episode to move forward with the plot and it gets funnier towards the end with the fashion show of the wives leading to the reveal of Gladys. This is one of those "canon" questions for Bewitched because Samantha seems to be able to do some mind control in this episode, but not other episodes. Of course, writers weren't nearly as careful then as they are now about things like that.
RATING: 7/10
61. The Horse's Mouth (3/4/66)
Samantha turns an escaped horse into a woman and she helps Darrin, Samantha, and Darrin's friend pick horses at the race track.
Remember how I said I don't usually like animal-themed episodes? This is a perfect example. I find the entire premise as well as the character of Dolly (the horse turned woman) super annoying. There's just horse joke after horse joke and it's all for cheap laughs. I also think it's a little bit out of character for Samantha to turn the horse into a woman and then get so invested in it. It sounds more like something one of her relatives would do. I guess guest star Patty Regan does a good job acting like what a horse turned woman, but I just find her irritating.
RATING: 3/10
62. Baby's First Paragraph (3/10/66)
Endora makes baby Tabitha talk in front of Gladys while she's babysitting and it ends up making national news.
This was the last episode Alice Pearce filmed before her death from cancer a couple months later. Pearce is as funny as ever (her baby talk is hilarious), but it's sadly obvious that she is sick (she was reportedly down to a mere 70 pounds at her death). The premise is a little silly, but it's well executed. This is one of those episodes where they get so deep into the plot, I was skeptical they could get out of it in a reasonable way. I feel like they do an OK job resolving the plot here, certainly better than some episodes. A bonus: Endora reading her version of "Hansel and Gretel" to Tabitha is pretty funny.
RATING: 8/10
63. The Leprechaun (3/17/66)
A leprechaun visits the Stephens claiming to be a relative of Darrin's and searching for a missing pot of gold.
It's very rare on a TV sitcom to get a leprechaun or St. Patrick's Day themed episode, but there are actually two of them on Bewitched. I've always liked this one and remember when Nick at Nite tinted it green for an event back in 1995. Henry Jones as Brian O'Brian is very strong and completely believable as a leprechaun (though quite tall!) There's also a good level of suspense when Samantha and Brian go to look for the pot of gold. All in all, it's a very festive and fun episode. It's also the second time in three episodes that Samantha and Darrin are the only series regulars that appear.
RATING: 8.5/10
64. Double Split (3/24/66)
After Samantha insults a client's daughter, Darrin and Larry get in a fight that leads to Darrin quitting so Samantha and Louise try to get past their fight.
This plot seems right out of I Love Lucy with the girls teaming up against the boys. It's another good showcase for the Tates. They seemed to be working on building up the Louise Tate role only for Irene Vernon to leave the show at the end of season two which meant they had to re-cast. I like the scene at the club where Larry and Darrin aren't aware for an extended period of time that the other is in the room. Although totally illogical, that always plays funny in a sitcom. One thing I found odd is they almost word for word re-use the plastic surgery/nose job joke to Samantha from the pilot. Perhaps the first sign of the recycling Bewitched would make a habit of doing later in the run.
RATING: 8/10
65. Disappearing Samantha (4/7/66)
The Stephens go to see a lecturer on witchcraft who Samantha and Endora dismiss as an amateur until he makes Samantha disappear with an incantation.
Bernard Fox joins Paul Lynde and Alice Ghostley in making an appearance on Bewitched before his regular character. And I like him in this episode a whole lot more than I do when he is Dr. Bombay. This is an interesting episode that delves into witchcraft in a way that few other episodes do and I always find them interesting and just a tad eerie. I really like when Samantha and Endora are trying to figure out what's going on with Fox's character. It is one of the rare episodes where the magic isn't very good - I can see the wires hanging from the cold compress over the invisible Samantha. For a show in the 1960s, Bewitched usually has very good effects but this is an exception. This is the final acting appearance of Irene Vernon as she quit acting following her Bewitched departure.
RATING: 9/10
66. Follow That Witch Part 1 (4/14/66)
A new client hires a private detective to follow the Stephens and he stumbles on Samantha performing magic.
As a kid, I loved this two part episode. I found it really funny and suspenseful. Watching it back now, I don't think it's as good as I thought back then. Robert Strauss is a memorable guest star as Charlie Leach, but the stakes just don't feel all that high for it to be a two parter with a cliffhanger ending. After a good setup to this episode, most of it seems to be just spinning its wheels with Leach finding weird occurrence after weird occurrence. It doesn't seem to really go anywhere, it just helps to build Leach's case against Samantha, but I think that could have been done in less time.
RATING: 5.5/10
67. Follow That Witch Part 2 (4/21/66)
Samantha makes a deal to keep Charlie Leach from revealing her secret while Darrin finds out a private investigator was hired to spy on him and Samantha.
The conclusion of the two part episode is better than part one if only because the story unfolds much more and is less stuck in neutral. Steve Franken gets to play a part he perfected in this era of sitcoms: a sniveling, conniving type. I enjoy the process of Darrin finding out about the private investigator and then confronting the situation. It helps keep the plot from simply being about Charlie Leach, like it was for too much of the pilot. One note from both parts, I really like the Charlie Leach theme music. It's interesting they chose to give him his own music and it sounds closer to an I Dream of Jeannie soundtrack than the usual sweeter scoring to Bewitched.
RATING: 6.5/10
68. A Bum Raps (4/28/66)
A bum visits Samantha to try to swindle her, but she mistakes him for Darrin's Uncle Albert, who was scheduled to arrive.
This is a very sweet episode with a warm performance from guest star Cliff Hall. This is another example of an episode where witchcraft takes a backseat to the story. In fact, barely any witchcraft is used until the very end of the episode. There are great witchcraft-themed episodes but Bewitched could also tell a story without resorting to its gimmick, especially in the early years. The mistaken identity story is told with a slow burn and in a natural way and it keeps the audience if suspense if "Uncle Albert" will actually go through with the plan to ransack the house. The sweetness of this episode is quite a contrast to the two parter that preceded it.
RATING: 8.5/10
69. Divided He Falls (5/5/66)
Darrin has to postpone another vacation so Endora divides Darrin into two halves: a work side and a fun side.
A Bewitched classic and for good reason. This is widely regarded as one of the best of the entire series (and fun trivia fact, was the #1 show on the first Nick at Nite Classic TV Countdown back in 1989). It is a tour de force for Dick York, who is equally hilarious as the fun Darrin and the work Darrin. His Fun Darrin's carefree and manic exuberance is exhaustingly funny. His Work Darrin's complete lack of a sense of a humor also allows for some laugh out loud moments. And when they both meet in Miami, there's more comic gold including Fun Darrin's sudden fondness for Endora. Bewitched is so often about Samantha or her wacky relatives, especially as the series goes on, but this is without a doubt Dick York's finest moment.
RATING: 10/10
70. Man's Best Friend (5/12/66)
Samantha has almost made it a month with no witchcraft when a warlock she used to babysit shows up. Trying to see if Darrin is worthy of her, he transforms himself into a dog.
This episode starts a little oddly with Darrin in a celebratory mood for Samantha not using witchcraft for almost a month but it comes across as him treating her like a child. Getting past that though, we meet a young Richard Dreyfuss as the warlock Rodney. The future star and Oscar winner does a good job as a purposely irritating character. Despite his early behavior, Darrin actually is pretty redeeming at the end by believing Samantha the whole time, but not making that clear to Rodney. For an animal themed episode (not one of my favorite topics), this is pretty enjoyable. Also, this is another episode with Mary Grace Canfield as Harriet Kravitz before they recast Gladys, but she can't come anywhere close to the energy and talent Alice Pearce had.
RATING: 7.5/10
71. The Catnapper (5/19/66)
Endora turns a beautiful client of Darrin's into a cat just as Charlie Leach has returned to town. Charlie kidnaps the cat to blackmail the Stephens.
Robert Strauss returns for his third and final appearance as Charlie Leach. But this episode sort of follows two parallel plots until the intersect. There's the Endora/Darrin/cat storyline and there's Charlie Leach once again snooping on the Stephens. In some ways, it seems like Leach is not necessary for this plot. I'm not really sure why they brought him back except they seemed to think he was a pretty great character, which I would dispute. Overall, I feel like this episode just doesn't work. They had too many stories they were trying to tell and nothing gets told very well.
RATING: 3.5/10
72. What Every Young Man Should Know (5/26/66)
Samantha questions whether or not Darrin would have married her if he knew she was a witch before they got married so Endora sends her back in time to find out.
This is an interesting concept and the last of the several very sweet black and white Bewitched episodes. It seems when the show goes to color, they don't do the romantic storylines as much (there's less in season two than season one even). It also is one of the bigger fights involving Samantha, Darrin, and Endora. The idea of Darrin proving his love to Samantha even before he commits to her in marriage is essential for the foundation of Samantha and Darrin's relationship. It's also fun to have a throwback to when Samantha and Darrin were dating.
RATING: 8.5/10
73. The Girl with the Golden Nose (6/2/66)
Darrin becomes convinced that the reason he landed a big time account is because of Samantha's witchcraft, but then decides to embrace that he has a charmed life.
This is a Bewitched plot that's used quite a bit. This is already the second time in the series that this is the basic plot (first was season one's "Help Help Don't Save Me") and it is used as a catalyst for other plots many times too. It's still a good episode because I prefer when Darrin thinks he's under the influence of witchcraft that when he actually is. The added layer of Darrin believing he's on a lucky streak allows for Dick York to have some smarmy confidence, which is funny. Also, McMann & Tate go through secretaries like Murphy Brown. There's an entirely different Betty than the one from earlier this season, not to mention the others not named Betty.
RATING: 8/10
74. Prodigy (6/9/66)
The Stephens reminisce about meeting Gladys' brother, a prodigal violinist with a terrible case of stage fright.
This episode plays like a re-cut episode as they did earlier in the season, but it's not. It was an episode that never aired and they have to treat it like a flashback because Samantha is pregnant in the episode. It's a joy to see Alice Pearce one last time twelve episodes after her last appearance. This episode aired a couple months after Pearce's death and it's the last time we get to see her greatness. As an episode as a whole, it's only a so-so plot and Jack Weston as Louis is not particularly funny. I do get a kick out of so many scenes in the Kravitz house because it's so obviously better known as Tony Nelson's house on I Dream of Jeannie. I wonder why this was held, did they think it wasn't good enough and then changed their mind to honor Pearce one last time?
RATING: 5.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON TWO:
7.4/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Divided He Falls" (#69) - 10/10
2. "And Then There Were Three" (#54) - 9.5/10
3. "Alias Darrin Stephens" (#37) - 9.5/10
4. "Take Two Aspirin and Half a Pint of Porpoise Milk" (#42) - 9.5/10
5. "Aunt Clara's Old Flame" (#47) - 9.5/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "And Then I Wrote" (#45) - 2.5/10
2. "The Horse's Mouth" (#61) - 3/10
3. "The Catnapper" (#71) - 3.5/10
4. "A Strange Little Visitor" (#48) - 5/10
5. "Follow That Witch" Part 1 (#66) - 5.5/10
58. The Dancing Bear (2/10/66)
When Darrin's parents visit with a stuffed bear for Tabitha, Endora makes her stuffed bear dance which leads to Darrin's father wanting to go into business with them.
Oddly, this is the second teddy bear-themed episode in the last 10 episodes of Bewitched. But the dynamics between Endora and Darrin's parents are always fun to watch. There is actually a pretty clever resolution to the story too as Samantha plays into the egos and possessive natures of both Mrs. Stephens and Endora. One random thing that borrows me about these early Tabitha episodes is the crying sounds so fake. Did they have an adult actor doing a baby cry for these scenes? I'm guessing that is the case.
RATING: 6.5/10
59. Double Tate (2/17/66)
Darrin unknowingly receives three wishes from Endora for his birthday and says he wishes he was Larry Tate for a day.
This is a funny switcheroo episode and a great chance for David White to shine. What makes this episode very funny is the problems keep building for a snowball effect. The fact that the client, Louise, and a time stop on the spell keep witchcraft from being able to resolve things also helps the plot from reaching an obvious solution. This would have been a great plot to use later when Dick York was having back troubles and not able to do as much because he's barely in the episode. I like that this episode references the crying scene between Endora and Darrin in the hospital. It seems as though the show realized the importance of that scene even at the time.
RATING: 9/10
Samantha tries to make a dress for herself but when it doesn't work out, she whips up one she saw in Paris with Endora. Other women want the dresses but the original designer ends up in town.
This is a pretty middle of the road episode. It's not great, but it's not terrible either. It's a good showcase for Alice Pearce in one of her final episodes before her death. The twist of the designer from Paris being the newest client for Darrin is a little convenient but it also allows the episode to move forward with the plot and it gets funnier towards the end with the fashion show of the wives leading to the reveal of Gladys. This is one of those "canon" questions for Bewitched because Samantha seems to be able to do some mind control in this episode, but not other episodes. Of course, writers weren't nearly as careful then as they are now about things like that.
RATING: 7/10
61. The Horse's Mouth (3/4/66)
Samantha turns an escaped horse into a woman and she helps Darrin, Samantha, and Darrin's friend pick horses at the race track.
Remember how I said I don't usually like animal-themed episodes? This is a perfect example. I find the entire premise as well as the character of Dolly (the horse turned woman) super annoying. There's just horse joke after horse joke and it's all for cheap laughs. I also think it's a little bit out of character for Samantha to turn the horse into a woman and then get so invested in it. It sounds more like something one of her relatives would do. I guess guest star Patty Regan does a good job acting like what a horse turned woman, but I just find her irritating.
RATING: 3/10
Endora makes baby Tabitha talk in front of Gladys while she's babysitting and it ends up making national news.
This was the last episode Alice Pearce filmed before her death from cancer a couple months later. Pearce is as funny as ever (her baby talk is hilarious), but it's sadly obvious that she is sick (she was reportedly down to a mere 70 pounds at her death). The premise is a little silly, but it's well executed. This is one of those episodes where they get so deep into the plot, I was skeptical they could get out of it in a reasonable way. I feel like they do an OK job resolving the plot here, certainly better than some episodes. A bonus: Endora reading her version of "Hansel and Gretel" to Tabitha is pretty funny.
RATING: 8/10
63. The Leprechaun (3/17/66)
A leprechaun visits the Stephens claiming to be a relative of Darrin's and searching for a missing pot of gold.
It's very rare on a TV sitcom to get a leprechaun or St. Patrick's Day themed episode, but there are actually two of them on Bewitched. I've always liked this one and remember when Nick at Nite tinted it green for an event back in 1995. Henry Jones as Brian O'Brian is very strong and completely believable as a leprechaun (though quite tall!) There's also a good level of suspense when Samantha and Brian go to look for the pot of gold. All in all, it's a very festive and fun episode. It's also the second time in three episodes that Samantha and Darrin are the only series regulars that appear.
RATING: 8.5/10
64. Double Split (3/24/66)
After Samantha insults a client's daughter, Darrin and Larry get in a fight that leads to Darrin quitting so Samantha and Louise try to get past their fight.
This plot seems right out of I Love Lucy with the girls teaming up against the boys. It's another good showcase for the Tates. They seemed to be working on building up the Louise Tate role only for Irene Vernon to leave the show at the end of season two which meant they had to re-cast. I like the scene at the club where Larry and Darrin aren't aware for an extended period of time that the other is in the room. Although totally illogical, that always plays funny in a sitcom. One thing I found odd is they almost word for word re-use the plastic surgery/nose job joke to Samantha from the pilot. Perhaps the first sign of the recycling Bewitched would make a habit of doing later in the run.
RATING: 8/10
The Stephens go to see a lecturer on witchcraft who Samantha and Endora dismiss as an amateur until he makes Samantha disappear with an incantation.
Bernard Fox joins Paul Lynde and Alice Ghostley in making an appearance on Bewitched before his regular character. And I like him in this episode a whole lot more than I do when he is Dr. Bombay. This is an interesting episode that delves into witchcraft in a way that few other episodes do and I always find them interesting and just a tad eerie. I really like when Samantha and Endora are trying to figure out what's going on with Fox's character. It is one of the rare episodes where the magic isn't very good - I can see the wires hanging from the cold compress over the invisible Samantha. For a show in the 1960s, Bewitched usually has very good effects but this is an exception. This is the final acting appearance of Irene Vernon as she quit acting following her Bewitched departure.
RATING: 9/10
66. Follow That Witch Part 1 (4/14/66)
A new client hires a private detective to follow the Stephens and he stumbles on Samantha performing magic.
As a kid, I loved this two part episode. I found it really funny and suspenseful. Watching it back now, I don't think it's as good as I thought back then. Robert Strauss is a memorable guest star as Charlie Leach, but the stakes just don't feel all that high for it to be a two parter with a cliffhanger ending. After a good setup to this episode, most of it seems to be just spinning its wheels with Leach finding weird occurrence after weird occurrence. It doesn't seem to really go anywhere, it just helps to build Leach's case against Samantha, but I think that could have been done in less time.
RATING: 5.5/10
67. Follow That Witch Part 2 (4/21/66)
Samantha makes a deal to keep Charlie Leach from revealing her secret while Darrin finds out a private investigator was hired to spy on him and Samantha.
The conclusion of the two part episode is better than part one if only because the story unfolds much more and is less stuck in neutral. Steve Franken gets to play a part he perfected in this era of sitcoms: a sniveling, conniving type. I enjoy the process of Darrin finding out about the private investigator and then confronting the situation. It helps keep the plot from simply being about Charlie Leach, like it was for too much of the pilot. One note from both parts, I really like the Charlie Leach theme music. It's interesting they chose to give him his own music and it sounds closer to an I Dream of Jeannie soundtrack than the usual sweeter scoring to Bewitched.
RATING: 6.5/10
68. A Bum Raps (4/28/66)
A bum visits Samantha to try to swindle her, but she mistakes him for Darrin's Uncle Albert, who was scheduled to arrive.
This is a very sweet episode with a warm performance from guest star Cliff Hall. This is another example of an episode where witchcraft takes a backseat to the story. In fact, barely any witchcraft is used until the very end of the episode. There are great witchcraft-themed episodes but Bewitched could also tell a story without resorting to its gimmick, especially in the early years. The mistaken identity story is told with a slow burn and in a natural way and it keeps the audience if suspense if "Uncle Albert" will actually go through with the plan to ransack the house. The sweetness of this episode is quite a contrast to the two parter that preceded it.
RATING: 8.5/10
69. Divided He Falls (5/5/66)
Darrin has to postpone another vacation so Endora divides Darrin into two halves: a work side and a fun side.
A Bewitched classic and for good reason. This is widely regarded as one of the best of the entire series (and fun trivia fact, was the #1 show on the first Nick at Nite Classic TV Countdown back in 1989). It is a tour de force for Dick York, who is equally hilarious as the fun Darrin and the work Darrin. His Fun Darrin's carefree and manic exuberance is exhaustingly funny. His Work Darrin's complete lack of a sense of a humor also allows for some laugh out loud moments. And when they both meet in Miami, there's more comic gold including Fun Darrin's sudden fondness for Endora. Bewitched is so often about Samantha or her wacky relatives, especially as the series goes on, but this is without a doubt Dick York's finest moment.
RATING: 10/10
Samantha has almost made it a month with no witchcraft when a warlock she used to babysit shows up. Trying to see if Darrin is worthy of her, he transforms himself into a dog.
This episode starts a little oddly with Darrin in a celebratory mood for Samantha not using witchcraft for almost a month but it comes across as him treating her like a child. Getting past that though, we meet a young Richard Dreyfuss as the warlock Rodney. The future star and Oscar winner does a good job as a purposely irritating character. Despite his early behavior, Darrin actually is pretty redeeming at the end by believing Samantha the whole time, but not making that clear to Rodney. For an animal themed episode (not one of my favorite topics), this is pretty enjoyable. Also, this is another episode with Mary Grace Canfield as Harriet Kravitz before they recast Gladys, but she can't come anywhere close to the energy and talent Alice Pearce had.
RATING: 7.5/10
71. The Catnapper (5/19/66)
Endora turns a beautiful client of Darrin's into a cat just as Charlie Leach has returned to town. Charlie kidnaps the cat to blackmail the Stephens.
Robert Strauss returns for his third and final appearance as Charlie Leach. But this episode sort of follows two parallel plots until the intersect. There's the Endora/Darrin/cat storyline and there's Charlie Leach once again snooping on the Stephens. In some ways, it seems like Leach is not necessary for this plot. I'm not really sure why they brought him back except they seemed to think he was a pretty great character, which I would dispute. Overall, I feel like this episode just doesn't work. They had too many stories they were trying to tell and nothing gets told very well.
RATING: 3.5/10
72. What Every Young Man Should Know (5/26/66)
Samantha questions whether or not Darrin would have married her if he knew she was a witch before they got married so Endora sends her back in time to find out.
This is an interesting concept and the last of the several very sweet black and white Bewitched episodes. It seems when the show goes to color, they don't do the romantic storylines as much (there's less in season two than season one even). It also is one of the bigger fights involving Samantha, Darrin, and Endora. The idea of Darrin proving his love to Samantha even before he commits to her in marriage is essential for the foundation of Samantha and Darrin's relationship. It's also fun to have a throwback to when Samantha and Darrin were dating.
RATING: 8.5/10
73. The Girl with the Golden Nose (6/2/66)
Darrin becomes convinced that the reason he landed a big time account is because of Samantha's witchcraft, but then decides to embrace that he has a charmed life.
This is a Bewitched plot that's used quite a bit. This is already the second time in the series that this is the basic plot (first was season one's "Help Help Don't Save Me") and it is used as a catalyst for other plots many times too. It's still a good episode because I prefer when Darrin thinks he's under the influence of witchcraft that when he actually is. The added layer of Darrin believing he's on a lucky streak allows for Dick York to have some smarmy confidence, which is funny. Also, McMann & Tate go through secretaries like Murphy Brown. There's an entirely different Betty than the one from earlier this season, not to mention the others not named Betty.
RATING: 8/10
74. Prodigy (6/9/66)
The Stephens reminisce about meeting Gladys' brother, a prodigal violinist with a terrible case of stage fright.
This episode plays like a re-cut episode as they did earlier in the season, but it's not. It was an episode that never aired and they have to treat it like a flashback because Samantha is pregnant in the episode. It's a joy to see Alice Pearce one last time twelve episodes after her last appearance. This episode aired a couple months after Pearce's death and it's the last time we get to see her greatness. As an episode as a whole, it's only a so-so plot and Jack Weston as Louis is not particularly funny. I do get a kick out of so many scenes in the Kravitz house because it's so obviously better known as Tony Nelson's house on I Dream of Jeannie. I wonder why this was held, did they think it wasn't good enough and then changed their mind to honor Pearce one last time?
RATING: 5.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON TWO:
7.4/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Divided He Falls" (#69) - 10/10
2. "And Then There Were Three" (#54) - 9.5/10
3. "Alias Darrin Stephens" (#37) - 9.5/10
4. "Take Two Aspirin and Half a Pint of Porpoise Milk" (#42) - 9.5/10
5. "Aunt Clara's Old Flame" (#47) - 9.5/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "And Then I Wrote" (#45) - 2.5/10
2. "The Horse's Mouth" (#61) - 3/10
3. "The Catnapper" (#71) - 3.5/10
4. "A Strange Little Visitor" (#48) - 5/10
5. "Follow That Witch" Part 1 (#66) - 5.5/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV news stories of the week!
Next Thursday: A look at Season 3 of Bewitched!
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