Welcome to the next week of Episode Guides! This week looks at the fourth season of Bewitched. A reminder of what the scores mean:
9-10: Exceptional
7-8: Strong
5-6: OK
3-4: Mediocre
1-2: Terrible
BEWITCHED: SEASON FIVE
1968-1969
30 episodes
Bewitched takes a steep dip in quality in season five. It's still not the lowest the show ever goes (wait for some of the Dick Sargent years) but the last year with Dick York sees him gone for eight episodes and the show grasping for straws to cover for his absence. It also sees an overuse of Serena, a character best used in small doses. The season actually starts out on a high note with the first three episodes all very strong. But it is very touch and go from that point. The best episode of the season ("Battle of Burning Oak") was actually filmed for season four and that may be why it seems out of place from a quality standpoint.
Starring
Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens (30 episodes)
Dick York as Darrin Stephens (22 episodes)
Agnes Moorehead as Endora (19 episodes)
David White as Larry Tate (17 episodes)
Erin Murphy as Tabitha Stephens (16 episodes)
Elizabeth Montgomery as Serena (7 episodes)
Mabel Albertson as Phyllis Stephens (5 episodes)
Kasey Rogers as Louise Tate (5 episodes)
Sandra Gould as Gladys Kravitz (4 episodes)
George Tobias as Abner Kravitz (4 episodes)
Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur (3 episodes)
Maurice Evans as Maurice (2 episodes)
Jill Foster as Betty (2 episodes)
Bernard Fox as Dr. Bombay (2 episodes)
Roy Roberts as Frank Stephens (2 episodes)
141. Samantha's Wedding Present (9/26/68)
After a fight with Darrin, Endora puts a spell on him that makes him increasingly shrink until a drunk finds him and thinks he's a leprechaun.
This episode gets season five off to a good start. I like when they sometimes relate the season premiere to an anniversary of Samantha and Darrin. This is a good "Endora spell" episode and has the best appearance of Dick Wilson's drunk in the entire series when he thinks Darrin is a leprechaun and takes him to Samantha for three increasingly outlandish wishes. The scene in the office where Darrin begins to shrink also plays pretty funny and the show does a decent job from a special effects standpoint to make the shrinking work.
RATING: 8.5/10
142. Samantha Goes South for a Spell (10/3/68)
Thinking she is Serena, a jealous witch sends Samantha back a century to New Orleans where she can't remember who she is. Serena sends Darrin back to retrieve her with a kiss.
This is a little bit of an outlandish premise, but it's just a brilliant episode. It's like a little movie contained in an episode with obvious references to "Gone with the Wind." They really broke the bank with this episode it seems and the first two episodes of the season make it seem like we are headed for a great run instead of the disappointing season that materializes. This episode also features fantastic guest performances by Jack Cassidy and future Louise Jefferson, Isabel Sanford. Dick York has a couple big falls in this episode, I can't imagine he did the stunts himself with his back problems? If he did, I'm sure this episode didn't help matters.
RATING: 9/10
1968-1969
30 episodes
Bewitched takes a steep dip in quality in season five. It's still not the lowest the show ever goes (wait for some of the Dick Sargent years) but the last year with Dick York sees him gone for eight episodes and the show grasping for straws to cover for his absence. It also sees an overuse of Serena, a character best used in small doses. The season actually starts out on a high note with the first three episodes all very strong. But it is very touch and go from that point. The best episode of the season ("Battle of Burning Oak") was actually filmed for season four and that may be why it seems out of place from a quality standpoint.
Starring
Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens (30 episodes)
Dick York as Darrin Stephens (22 episodes)
Agnes Moorehead as Endora (19 episodes)
David White as Larry Tate (17 episodes)
Erin Murphy as Tabitha Stephens (16 episodes)
Elizabeth Montgomery as Serena (7 episodes)
Mabel Albertson as Phyllis Stephens (5 episodes)
Kasey Rogers as Louise Tate (5 episodes)
Sandra Gould as Gladys Kravitz (4 episodes)
George Tobias as Abner Kravitz (4 episodes)
Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur (3 episodes)
Maurice Evans as Maurice (2 episodes)
Jill Foster as Betty (2 episodes)
Bernard Fox as Dr. Bombay (2 episodes)
Roy Roberts as Frank Stephens (2 episodes)
After a fight with Darrin, Endora puts a spell on him that makes him increasingly shrink until a drunk finds him and thinks he's a leprechaun.
This episode gets season five off to a good start. I like when they sometimes relate the season premiere to an anniversary of Samantha and Darrin. This is a good "Endora spell" episode and has the best appearance of Dick Wilson's drunk in the entire series when he thinks Darrin is a leprechaun and takes him to Samantha for three increasingly outlandish wishes. The scene in the office where Darrin begins to shrink also plays pretty funny and the show does a decent job from a special effects standpoint to make the shrinking work.
RATING: 8.5/10
142. Samantha Goes South for a Spell (10/3/68)
Thinking she is Serena, a jealous witch sends Samantha back a century to New Orleans where she can't remember who she is. Serena sends Darrin back to retrieve her with a kiss.
This is a little bit of an outlandish premise, but it's just a brilliant episode. It's like a little movie contained in an episode with obvious references to "Gone with the Wind." They really broke the bank with this episode it seems and the first two episodes of the season make it seem like we are headed for a great run instead of the disappointing season that materializes. This episode also features fantastic guest performances by Jack Cassidy and future Louise Jefferson, Isabel Sanford. Dick York has a couple big falls in this episode, I can't imagine he did the stunts himself with his back problems? If he did, I'm sure this episode didn't help matters.
RATING: 9/10
143. Samantha on the Keyboard (10/10/68)
With Samantha learning piano lessons, Endora turns Tabitha into a prodigy which catches the eye of Samantha's snobby piano teacher.
This is an unusual episode but it's actually decently clever and doesn't quite go where you think it might go. Why there is suddenly a piano in the Stephens' house notwithstanding, this seems like an episode that could have gotten itself stuck in a plot without a way to get out of it but the inclusion of a real child prodigy is a clever solution. A strong guest turn by Jonathan Harris as the piano teacher is enjoyable as well.
RATING: 8/10
144. Darrin, Gone and Forgotten (10/17/68)
A bitter mother of a warlock who Samantha was promised to by Endora years ago tries to seek revenge by making Darrin disappear.
After three solid episodes to start the season, Season Five takes a bad turn starting with this episode. There are still some good episodes in this season but this episode is so emblematic of the show Bewitched was becoming and its worse for it. A ridiculous plot starts it off on a bad foot. Plus, the episode goes to a "witch world" and those scenes just haven't aged well. I don't know why a show that can so often ground itself in reality with a twist feels the need to sometimes go off the deep end with these high concept episodes. They never work for me. It also keeps Dick York relegated to literally running in place for most of the episode.
RATING: 2/10
145. It's So Nice to Have a Spouse Around the House (10/24/68)
Samantha enlists Serena to pose as Samantha so she can go to a witches council meeting, but it happens on a day when Darrin decides to take Samantha on a second honeymoon.
This episode feels like a little bit of a successor to season four's "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble." It's a good setup for an episode and a funny premise, but it doesn't really work out to be a great episode. I think part of the reason is that Serena isn't being Serena. She's pretending to be Samantha and that doesn't play nearly as well. I think this episode could have stood to be a little more madcap, especially when Darrin and Serena (as Samantha) arrive at the inn. Instead, the plot just sort of plods along and never kicks into high gear.
RATING: 5/10
146. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall (11/7/68)
When Samantha tells Endora that Darrin doesn't have a vain bone in his body, Endora puts a spell on him that makes him incredibly into his looks.
This is a pretty standard Bewitched plot, but it's executed pretty well. I just like when the Endora spells unfold more organically than when Samantha just says one thing to Endora and that prompts the spell. That being said, there are some pretty hilarious sight gags in this episode with the variety of Darrin's "hip" outfits followed by Samantha in a very 60s mini-dress. I do feel like Dick York maybe doesn't quite commit as much to this version of Darrin under a spell as he sometimes can, but maybe that's a combination of his growing health problems and the show's age. This episode also features a cameo by director and Elizabeth Montgomery's husband William Asher as the man in the car behind Darrin.
RATING: 6.5/10
147. Samantha's French Pastry (11/14/68)
Uncle Arthur tries to whip up a french pastry for Samantha and accidentally brings Napoleon to the Stephens' house.
If you've been reading my Bewitched episode guides, you know I am not a big fan of the "historical figures in the present day" episodes and I think Bewitched does far too many of them. They all kind of follow the same premise and this is no exception: a figure mistakenly gets conjured up, they get themselves mixed in with Darrin's work or the human world, the Stephens have to get themselves out of the pickle. Never mind that it's Uncle Arthur instead of Aunt Clara, this certainly has a "been there, done that" feel to it.
RATING: 5/10
148. Is it Magic or Imagination? (11/21/68)
Samantha comes up with a slogan for a contest and she inadvertently messes with an ad campaign Darrin is working on.
This is a solid episode that has better plotting and a more grounded story line than a lot of season five's episodes. It feels like an episode that could have aired in season one and that's always a good thing. I don't quite know why Mabel Albertson made a guest appearance here as most episodes she's in seem to have much more of her in the plot and here she was only in one scene and just a catalyst to the plot. I do think the first half of the episode that set up the problem was better than the resolution, but it's still a solid episode.
RATING: 7.5/10
149. Samantha Fights City Hall (11/28/68)
Samantha decides to fight city hall when a park is supposed to be torn down for a parking garage by a client of Darrin's.
The civic-minded episodes of Bewitched are not done frequently especially as the series goes on, but they are always enjoyable and this is a great episode that injects witchcraft into a solid sitcom premise as opposed to something outlandish. This of course was the way Bewitched often was at first but now episodes like this (and the previous one) are a breath of fresh air. Just like the previous episode though, I feel like the first half of the episode and setup are better than the execution. I guess that's still better than a trainwreck of an episode.
RATING: 7/10
150. Samantha Loses Her Voice (12/5/68)
In the midst of a fight between the Tates, Uncle Arthur accidentally switches Samantha's and Darrin's voices.
This is a silly concept for an episode that drags on way too long. The initial joke of Samantha and Darrin having each other's voice is a decent gag, but then they switch with Uncle Arthur and then they switch back and then they get stuck together. It's too bad that the gimmick overshadows the episode because the fight between the Tates was a decent premise (albeit one that has been used before). The "plan" at the end of the episode to try to save the situation is also a pretty big reach and those are never as funny as episodes that resolve naturally. The only good thing about this episode is a couple good Uncle Arthur zingers.
RATING: 4.5/10
151. I Don't Want to Be a Toad, I Want to Be a Butterfly (12/12/68)
Darrin's mother enrolls Tabitha in nursery school where she turns another girl into a butterfly.
One of the best episodes of the season and a great showcase for the emerging Erin Murphy as Tabitha. In the many debates about child characters on TV, I don't think Murphy gets enough credit for being one of TV's best kids. She has funny comedic timing and a spunk that makes her seem very much like her TV mother. This is a funny and original premise for the show and also features a great comedic turn by Maudie Prickett as the head of the nursery school. Although it is always weird to see an obvious I Dream of Jeannie set like the office for the nursery school clearly being one of NASA's offices on that other magic show.
RATING: 8/10
152. Weep No More My Willow (12/19/68)
Gladys is leading a neighborhood petition for the Stephens to take down their willow tree. When Dr. Bombay tries to help, he accidentally catches Samantha in the spell which causes her to cry uncontrollably every time the wind blows.
This episode has a decent premise but it falls apart in two ways, one of which is surprising. The unsurprising problem is the extensive amount of Dr. Bombay in this episode. It's his first this season but if you've been reading these episode guides, you know I am not a fan of Bernard Fox's character. The bigger surprise is how bad Elizabeth Montgomery is in this episode. Obviously Montgomery makes this show most of the time, but she just doesn't do well with the comedy here. Her hysterical crying (and later laughing) are not only annoying but also completely fake sounding. I guess it was something they tried, but this is not a comedic strength of Montgomery at all.
RATING: 3.5/10
153. Instant Courtesy (12/26/68)
Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes his courteous to a fault and causes him to nearly get fired.
This episode exemplifies everything that goes wrong with Bewitched's storytelling in many of the later seasons. Instead of an organic storyline, this episode simply starts with some throw away dialogue that leads to an Endora spell. The whole premise is that Endora puts a spell on Darrin, not that there is a particularly compelling reason for her to do so or it unfolds within the plot. And since when can Samantha just use her witchcraft to change people's feelings completely? It's just such lazy writing. And while I don't want to knock a show made in the 60s with no concept of binge watching, it does get a little tiring to see Larry threaten to or actually fire Darrin multiple times a season.
RATING: 4/10
154. Samantha's Super Maid (1/2/69)
At Mrs. Stephens' urging, Samantha hires a maid and then she and Darrin can't figure out how to get rid of her.
This episode is a standard "hire a maid" episode, but there's a couple major problems. First of all, there's a blatant I Love Lucy rip-off when Samantha asks the maid her name and she replies "Mrs. Harper" and then Samantha says "what should I call you?" and she replies "Mrs. Harper." The whole scene felt like a retread of the Lucy scene, but that is a word for word copying except for the last name. Secondly, the ending is one of the worst in Bewitched to date. The maid just gets done saying how much she loves Samantha and when Phyllis' friend tries to poach her, she says no until Samantha twitches and then she says yes and then the episode ends? What a cheap way to end the episode. Sigh.
RATING: 3/10
155. Cousin Serena Strikes Again Part 1 (1/9/69)
Serena shows up and interferes with an aggressive client who wants Darrin to run off to Italy with her.
After a small string of duds, this first part of a two part episode is a little better thanks to the madcap dinner party that stays fun throughout even if I'm not a huge fan of the monkey plot device. It's a little odd to see Nancy Kovack in this role after she's famously played Sheila in the series. But it was a different time in the 60s with continuity than it is now. Kovack is still delightful and seems to relish her role as the vampy client. This is also a good role for Serena because she's more of a disruption and supporting character than a central character in the plot.
RATING: 7/10
156. Cousin Serena Strikes Again Part 2 (1/16/69)
After Darrin's client is turned into a monkey by Serena, Samantha and Darrin scramble to try to fix the situation.
The conclusion of this two part episode is still pretty madcap, but I don't think it's as funny or as well put-together as the first episode. There's a too-long scene with Samantha trying to catch the escaped monkey and the end result in the office doesn't quite play out as well as it could. It also doesn't help that dynamic guest star Nancy Kovack is a monkey for most of the episode. Serena has some fun moments again here though as Elizabeth Montgomery seems to be getting more and more comfortable playing that kooky character.
RATING: 6/10
157. One Touch of Midas (1/23/69)
In order to make sure her daughter can get everything she wants, Endora puts a spell on a doll that Darrin invests in and becomes instantly rich from.
This is a good episode that seems to be a descendant of the classic "A is for Aardvark" episode from season one. While it isn't as touching as that one, it is the first time in awhile that Bewitched has explicitly touched on the fact that the Stephens are in love with each other and it doesn't matter if Darrin isn't the richest or most successful. The concept with the doll and the King Midas spell on it including some funny reactions to the weird looking toy is fun too. It's a well constructed story that directly involves a spell and that's nice to see in season five.
RATING: 8/10
158. Samantha the Bard (1/30/69)
Samantha wakes up and finds herself talking in rhymes and they are unable to find a cure or locate Dr. Bombay.
I find this episode exhaustingly obnoxious from the get-go. The entire episode is predicated on one dumb concept: that Samantha is speaking in rhymes and it starts from the very beginning of the episode. Not only are the rhymes super lame and annoying, but the show literally goes nowhere. When the obnoxious Dr. Bombay shows up, it seems hopeful that we are finally done with this charade and the show can go elsewhere but nope, Samantha starts rhyming again a little bit later. This is my least favorite episode of the series to date.
RATING: 1/10
159. Samantha the Sculptress (2/6/69)
Trying to help Samantha with her sculpting hobby, Endora creates living busts of Darrin and Larry that cause problems with a client.
While this episode is obviously an improvement over the worst episode of the series to date, it still doesn't totally land. The concept is funny enough and the living busts of Darrin and Larry are interesting. But as is so often the case with Bewitched episodes in later seasons, the plot really doesn't go anywhere and the scene with the client goes on far too long. The problem with this era of Bewitched is the plots are so thin, there's just very little to do except let the joke go on for way longer than it should.
RATING: 4/10
160. Mrs. Stephens, Where Are You? (2/13/69)
Mrs. Stephens visits while Serena is babysitting and after insulting the family, Serena turns her into a cat.
The non-Darrin episodes of the season kick off with this one and it's not that bad as far as non-Darrin episodes go. A lot of that has to do with a strong guest appearance by Ruth McDevitt as the befuddled neighbor. The general premise of turning Mrs. Stephens into a cat is a similar premise to previous Bewitched episodes but the Serena/Samantha dynamics make it a little bit different. I'm always curious if they broke these stories without Dick York intending to be in it or if they had to change it once he had to call off. This seems like it was created without a part planned for him.
RATING: 7/10
161. Marriage, Witches Style (2/20/69)
Serena decides she wants to marry a mortal and uses a computer dating service to find her perfect match.
Bewitched is really leaning hard into Serena. After barely using her in previous seasons, this is the fourth episode in the last seven with Samantha's cousin. There's a couple problems with this episode. First of all, with no Darrin - there is not even much of Samantha so the entire episode relies on the side character of Serena. Secondly, the idea that Serena would be interested at all in marrying a mortal seems completely out of character and that always makes a premise feel cheap. A solid guest turn by John Fiedler does help matters though.
RATING: 5/10
162. Going Ape (2/27/69)
A monkey finds Samantha and is turned into a human so she can see what's wrong, but he unwittingly becomes part of an advertising campaign when Larry and a client stop by.
The problem with this episode is that they literally just did a two part episode where a character is turned into a monkey and now we have an episode centered on a monkey being turned into a human? Again, I'm sympathetic to the time period but I would think even in this case, people watching Bewitched in 1969 might have thought "didn't we just see an episode about a monkey a few weeks ago?" Another thing that doesn't work here is the plot just feels so forced with Larry and a client but no Darrin.
RATING: 2/10
163. Tabitha's Weekend (3/6/69)
Frank and Phyllis insist on Tabitha spending the weekend with them but Samantha goes along to make sure nothing bad happens.
This is a very solid non-Darrin episode because it doesn't try to force a plot where Darrin would be an obvious player even though it is centered on his parents. This might be the place to talk about the two Frank Stephens. Watching it back, I think they both have strengths. Robert F. Simon is more dignified and seems like he could be Darrin's father and Phyllis' husband perhaps more believably so he's still my favorite but Roy Roberts is a warmer presence and there's some advantages there. A continuity issue: where exactly do the Stephens parents live? Early on, the series implies it's far away but now it's obviously intended to be close-ish.
RATING: 8/10
164. The Battle of Burning Oak (3/13/69)
When Darrin attempts to join an exclusive country club owned by a client, Endora turns him into an insufferable snob.
A season five highlight and the last great Dick York episode (he barely appears in the final six episodes of the season). While York is hilarious as the snobby Darrin, what I like about this episode is the entire plot doesn't center on a spell Endora puts on Darrin. That is only part of the episode. It's actually a much more fleshed out plot compared to a lot of season five episodes. The reveal of all the snobby country clubber's history not to mention Samantha declaring she's part of the "greatest minority of all" add to the strength of this episode. There's also a funny and rare current events moment when Endora talks about picketing a new movie (presumably Rosemary's Baby, released around the time this episode was filmed).
RATING: 9.5/10
165. Samantha's Power Failure (3/20/69)
Samantha, Uncle Arthur, and Serena all lose their powers when they stand by Samantha against the witches council's ultimatum for her to end her marriage.
As a kid, I really liked this episode because it was slapstick and silly, but watching it in more recent years including this viewing, I am less impressed. First of all, it's a blatant ripoff of the iconic "Job Switching" episode of I Love Lucy right down to the conveyor belt speeding up and the same "Big Dipper" joke. There is a valiant attempt by Paul Lynde and Elizabeth Montgomery to make it funny, but it just doesn't come close for comedic timing. I think if it wasn't compared to that, it would play better but everyone knows that Lucy scene and I'm sure they did in 1969 too. In addition to that obvious issue, it also is a little bit of a scattered episode that doesn't seem to fully resolve itself.
RATING: 5/10
166. Samantha Twitches for UNICEF (3/27/69)
Samantha is tasked with getting a reluctant donor to donate to UNICEF and uses witchcraft to make it happen.
This episode starts out funny with a good guest appearance by Sara Seegar in the opening scenes, but it quickly veers off course in a way that is totally out of character for Samantha. We know that Samantha proclaims often that she prefers to not use witchcraft and many times we see it as a last resort. Here we see Samantha basically trolling this donor with her witchcraft in ways that are just dumb and not funny. So it doesn't have the humor and it's not in character at all. That's a problem.
RATING: 3/10
167. Daddy Does His Thing (4/3/69)
Maurice visits and turn Darrin into a jackass after an argument.
This was the episode that Dick York collapsed on set during filming and ultimately marks his final filmed episode as producers determined he was not well enough to continue. Because of that on-set issue, they had to change the script midway through filming and it shows. It seems like a thrown together episode, especially the ending where it doesn't actually resolve because they're awkwardly forced to use earlier footage of York. The one redeeming feature is more great iciness between Endora and Maurice, an underused but fascinating element of Bewitched.
RATING: 3/10
168. Samantha's Good News (4/10/69)
Maurice shows up to visit Samantha with a young woman who makes Endora jealous and threatens their marriage.
Despite some icky elements with two older men both courting a much younger woman, this is the best Maurice/Endora episode in the series because it really does explore their relationship and what basically amounts to an "open" marriage. This was a pretty complex and sophisticated story element to a 1960s family show and they are decidedly coy about it though this episode is a little more direct about it than others. It's unfortunate though that Samantha's news about her pregnancy had to be delivered to Darrin over the phone with Dick York unable to appear.
RATING: 7.5/10
169. Samantha's Shopping Spree (4/17/69)
Samantha, Endora, Tabitha, and cousin Henry go shopping together and Henry turns an employee into a mannequin.
This is an odd episode due in part to the heavy presence of guest star Steve Franken as Cousin Henry. They treat him like a character we've known forever when in fact this is his first and only appearance on the show. It does seem a little bit like they wanted Uncle Arthur for this episode and Paul Lynde wasn't able to do it. Franken as well as fellow guest star Jonathan Daly were both decent so that helps matters a little bit, but there is another clear sign that this has become just a silly 60s sitcom and that sign is when Endora goes to visit Henry camping out on the moon. This episode also seems like a who's who of 1960s sitcom guest stars.
RATING: 4.5/10
170. Samantha and Darrin in Mexico City (4/24/69)
Samantha and Darrin go to Mexico City for a client and Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes him disappear every time he speaks Spanish.
The end of an era of Bewitched: the final episode with Dick York (though it was filmed several months before the last few episodes were). Despite being a milestone in the series history, the episode is nothing special. Similar to the UNICEF episode, this one bothers me with how quickly Samantha just resorts to witchcraft to get her away, it just seems out of character. The trip to Mexico City and the disappearing act are mildly funny but nothing that hasn't been seen on Bewitched before. It's too bad the show couldn't send Dick York off on a better note. At his best, he was hilariously manic and/or sweetly tender. He also had an undeniable chemistry with Montgomery and the show is never the same after he leaves.
RATING: 6.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON FIVE:
5.6/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Battle of Burning Oak" (#164) - 9.5/10
2. "Samantha Goes South for a Spell" (#142) - 9/10
3. "Samantha's Wedding Present" (#141) - 8.5/10
4. "I Don't Want to Be a Toad, I Want to Be a Butterfly" (#151) - 8/10
5. "One Touch of Midas" (#157) - 8/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Samantha the Bard" (#158) - 1/10
2. "Going Ape" (#162) - 2/10
3. "Darrin, Gone and Forgotten" (#144) - 2/10
4. "Daddy Does His Thing" (#167) - 3/10
5. "Samantha Twitches for UNICEF" (#166) - 3/10
With Samantha learning piano lessons, Endora turns Tabitha into a prodigy which catches the eye of Samantha's snobby piano teacher.
This is an unusual episode but it's actually decently clever and doesn't quite go where you think it might go. Why there is suddenly a piano in the Stephens' house notwithstanding, this seems like an episode that could have gotten itself stuck in a plot without a way to get out of it but the inclusion of a real child prodigy is a clever solution. A strong guest turn by Jonathan Harris as the piano teacher is enjoyable as well.
RATING: 8/10
144. Darrin, Gone and Forgotten (10/17/68)
A bitter mother of a warlock who Samantha was promised to by Endora years ago tries to seek revenge by making Darrin disappear.
After three solid episodes to start the season, Season Five takes a bad turn starting with this episode. There are still some good episodes in this season but this episode is so emblematic of the show Bewitched was becoming and its worse for it. A ridiculous plot starts it off on a bad foot. Plus, the episode goes to a "witch world" and those scenes just haven't aged well. I don't know why a show that can so often ground itself in reality with a twist feels the need to sometimes go off the deep end with these high concept episodes. They never work for me. It also keeps Dick York relegated to literally running in place for most of the episode.
RATING: 2/10
Samantha enlists Serena to pose as Samantha so she can go to a witches council meeting, but it happens on a day when Darrin decides to take Samantha on a second honeymoon.
This episode feels like a little bit of a successor to season four's "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble." It's a good setup for an episode and a funny premise, but it doesn't really work out to be a great episode. I think part of the reason is that Serena isn't being Serena. She's pretending to be Samantha and that doesn't play nearly as well. I think this episode could have stood to be a little more madcap, especially when Darrin and Serena (as Samantha) arrive at the inn. Instead, the plot just sort of plods along and never kicks into high gear.
RATING: 5/10
146. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall (11/7/68)
When Samantha tells Endora that Darrin doesn't have a vain bone in his body, Endora puts a spell on him that makes him incredibly into his looks.
This is a pretty standard Bewitched plot, but it's executed pretty well. I just like when the Endora spells unfold more organically than when Samantha just says one thing to Endora and that prompts the spell. That being said, there are some pretty hilarious sight gags in this episode with the variety of Darrin's "hip" outfits followed by Samantha in a very 60s mini-dress. I do feel like Dick York maybe doesn't quite commit as much to this version of Darrin under a spell as he sometimes can, but maybe that's a combination of his growing health problems and the show's age. This episode also features a cameo by director and Elizabeth Montgomery's husband William Asher as the man in the car behind Darrin.
RATING: 6.5/10
147. Samantha's French Pastry (11/14/68)
Uncle Arthur tries to whip up a french pastry for Samantha and accidentally brings Napoleon to the Stephens' house.
If you've been reading my Bewitched episode guides, you know I am not a big fan of the "historical figures in the present day" episodes and I think Bewitched does far too many of them. They all kind of follow the same premise and this is no exception: a figure mistakenly gets conjured up, they get themselves mixed in with Darrin's work or the human world, the Stephens have to get themselves out of the pickle. Never mind that it's Uncle Arthur instead of Aunt Clara, this certainly has a "been there, done that" feel to it.
RATING: 5/10
148. Is it Magic or Imagination? (11/21/68)
Samantha comes up with a slogan for a contest and she inadvertently messes with an ad campaign Darrin is working on.
This is a solid episode that has better plotting and a more grounded story line than a lot of season five's episodes. It feels like an episode that could have aired in season one and that's always a good thing. I don't quite know why Mabel Albertson made a guest appearance here as most episodes she's in seem to have much more of her in the plot and here she was only in one scene and just a catalyst to the plot. I do think the first half of the episode that set up the problem was better than the resolution, but it's still a solid episode.
RATING: 7.5/10
Samantha decides to fight city hall when a park is supposed to be torn down for a parking garage by a client of Darrin's.
The civic-minded episodes of Bewitched are not done frequently especially as the series goes on, but they are always enjoyable and this is a great episode that injects witchcraft into a solid sitcom premise as opposed to something outlandish. This of course was the way Bewitched often was at first but now episodes like this (and the previous one) are a breath of fresh air. Just like the previous episode though, I feel like the first half of the episode and setup are better than the execution. I guess that's still better than a trainwreck of an episode.
RATING: 7/10
150. Samantha Loses Her Voice (12/5/68)
In the midst of a fight between the Tates, Uncle Arthur accidentally switches Samantha's and Darrin's voices.
This is a silly concept for an episode that drags on way too long. The initial joke of Samantha and Darrin having each other's voice is a decent gag, but then they switch with Uncle Arthur and then they switch back and then they get stuck together. It's too bad that the gimmick overshadows the episode because the fight between the Tates was a decent premise (albeit one that has been used before). The "plan" at the end of the episode to try to save the situation is also a pretty big reach and those are never as funny as episodes that resolve naturally. The only good thing about this episode is a couple good Uncle Arthur zingers.
RATING: 4.5/10
151. I Don't Want to Be a Toad, I Want to Be a Butterfly (12/12/68)
Darrin's mother enrolls Tabitha in nursery school where she turns another girl into a butterfly.
One of the best episodes of the season and a great showcase for the emerging Erin Murphy as Tabitha. In the many debates about child characters on TV, I don't think Murphy gets enough credit for being one of TV's best kids. She has funny comedic timing and a spunk that makes her seem very much like her TV mother. This is a funny and original premise for the show and also features a great comedic turn by Maudie Prickett as the head of the nursery school. Although it is always weird to see an obvious I Dream of Jeannie set like the office for the nursery school clearly being one of NASA's offices on that other magic show.
RATING: 8/10
Gladys is leading a neighborhood petition for the Stephens to take down their willow tree. When Dr. Bombay tries to help, he accidentally catches Samantha in the spell which causes her to cry uncontrollably every time the wind blows.
This episode has a decent premise but it falls apart in two ways, one of which is surprising. The unsurprising problem is the extensive amount of Dr. Bombay in this episode. It's his first this season but if you've been reading these episode guides, you know I am not a fan of Bernard Fox's character. The bigger surprise is how bad Elizabeth Montgomery is in this episode. Obviously Montgomery makes this show most of the time, but she just doesn't do well with the comedy here. Her hysterical crying (and later laughing) are not only annoying but also completely fake sounding. I guess it was something they tried, but this is not a comedic strength of Montgomery at all.
RATING: 3.5/10
153. Instant Courtesy (12/26/68)
Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes his courteous to a fault and causes him to nearly get fired.
This episode exemplifies everything that goes wrong with Bewitched's storytelling in many of the later seasons. Instead of an organic storyline, this episode simply starts with some throw away dialogue that leads to an Endora spell. The whole premise is that Endora puts a spell on Darrin, not that there is a particularly compelling reason for her to do so or it unfolds within the plot. And since when can Samantha just use her witchcraft to change people's feelings completely? It's just such lazy writing. And while I don't want to knock a show made in the 60s with no concept of binge watching, it does get a little tiring to see Larry threaten to or actually fire Darrin multiple times a season.
RATING: 4/10
154. Samantha's Super Maid (1/2/69)
At Mrs. Stephens' urging, Samantha hires a maid and then she and Darrin can't figure out how to get rid of her.
This episode is a standard "hire a maid" episode, but there's a couple major problems. First of all, there's a blatant I Love Lucy rip-off when Samantha asks the maid her name and she replies "Mrs. Harper" and then Samantha says "what should I call you?" and she replies "Mrs. Harper." The whole scene felt like a retread of the Lucy scene, but that is a word for word copying except for the last name. Secondly, the ending is one of the worst in Bewitched to date. The maid just gets done saying how much she loves Samantha and when Phyllis' friend tries to poach her, she says no until Samantha twitches and then she says yes and then the episode ends? What a cheap way to end the episode. Sigh.
RATING: 3/10
155. Cousin Serena Strikes Again Part 1 (1/9/69)
Serena shows up and interferes with an aggressive client who wants Darrin to run off to Italy with her.
After a small string of duds, this first part of a two part episode is a little better thanks to the madcap dinner party that stays fun throughout even if I'm not a huge fan of the monkey plot device. It's a little odd to see Nancy Kovack in this role after she's famously played Sheila in the series. But it was a different time in the 60s with continuity than it is now. Kovack is still delightful and seems to relish her role as the vampy client. This is also a good role for Serena because she's more of a disruption and supporting character than a central character in the plot.
RATING: 7/10
After Darrin's client is turned into a monkey by Serena, Samantha and Darrin scramble to try to fix the situation.
The conclusion of this two part episode is still pretty madcap, but I don't think it's as funny or as well put-together as the first episode. There's a too-long scene with Samantha trying to catch the escaped monkey and the end result in the office doesn't quite play out as well as it could. It also doesn't help that dynamic guest star Nancy Kovack is a monkey for most of the episode. Serena has some fun moments again here though as Elizabeth Montgomery seems to be getting more and more comfortable playing that kooky character.
RATING: 6/10
157. One Touch of Midas (1/23/69)
In order to make sure her daughter can get everything she wants, Endora puts a spell on a doll that Darrin invests in and becomes instantly rich from.
This is a good episode that seems to be a descendant of the classic "A is for Aardvark" episode from season one. While it isn't as touching as that one, it is the first time in awhile that Bewitched has explicitly touched on the fact that the Stephens are in love with each other and it doesn't matter if Darrin isn't the richest or most successful. The concept with the doll and the King Midas spell on it including some funny reactions to the weird looking toy is fun too. It's a well constructed story that directly involves a spell and that's nice to see in season five.
RATING: 8/10
158. Samantha the Bard (1/30/69)
Samantha wakes up and finds herself talking in rhymes and they are unable to find a cure or locate Dr. Bombay.
I find this episode exhaustingly obnoxious from the get-go. The entire episode is predicated on one dumb concept: that Samantha is speaking in rhymes and it starts from the very beginning of the episode. Not only are the rhymes super lame and annoying, but the show literally goes nowhere. When the obnoxious Dr. Bombay shows up, it seems hopeful that we are finally done with this charade and the show can go elsewhere but nope, Samantha starts rhyming again a little bit later. This is my least favorite episode of the series to date.
RATING: 1/10
159. Samantha the Sculptress (2/6/69)
Trying to help Samantha with her sculpting hobby, Endora creates living busts of Darrin and Larry that cause problems with a client.
While this episode is obviously an improvement over the worst episode of the series to date, it still doesn't totally land. The concept is funny enough and the living busts of Darrin and Larry are interesting. But as is so often the case with Bewitched episodes in later seasons, the plot really doesn't go anywhere and the scene with the client goes on far too long. The problem with this era of Bewitched is the plots are so thin, there's just very little to do except let the joke go on for way longer than it should.
RATING: 4/10
Mrs. Stephens visits while Serena is babysitting and after insulting the family, Serena turns her into a cat.
The non-Darrin episodes of the season kick off with this one and it's not that bad as far as non-Darrin episodes go. A lot of that has to do with a strong guest appearance by Ruth McDevitt as the befuddled neighbor. The general premise of turning Mrs. Stephens into a cat is a similar premise to previous Bewitched episodes but the Serena/Samantha dynamics make it a little bit different. I'm always curious if they broke these stories without Dick York intending to be in it or if they had to change it once he had to call off. This seems like it was created without a part planned for him.
RATING: 7/10
161. Marriage, Witches Style (2/20/69)
Serena decides she wants to marry a mortal and uses a computer dating service to find her perfect match.
Bewitched is really leaning hard into Serena. After barely using her in previous seasons, this is the fourth episode in the last seven with Samantha's cousin. There's a couple problems with this episode. First of all, with no Darrin - there is not even much of Samantha so the entire episode relies on the side character of Serena. Secondly, the idea that Serena would be interested at all in marrying a mortal seems completely out of character and that always makes a premise feel cheap. A solid guest turn by John Fiedler does help matters though.
RATING: 5/10
162. Going Ape (2/27/69)
A monkey finds Samantha and is turned into a human so she can see what's wrong, but he unwittingly becomes part of an advertising campaign when Larry and a client stop by.
The problem with this episode is that they literally just did a two part episode where a character is turned into a monkey and now we have an episode centered on a monkey being turned into a human? Again, I'm sympathetic to the time period but I would think even in this case, people watching Bewitched in 1969 might have thought "didn't we just see an episode about a monkey a few weeks ago?" Another thing that doesn't work here is the plot just feels so forced with Larry and a client but no Darrin.
RATING: 2/10
163. Tabitha's Weekend (3/6/69)
Frank and Phyllis insist on Tabitha spending the weekend with them but Samantha goes along to make sure nothing bad happens.
This is a very solid non-Darrin episode because it doesn't try to force a plot where Darrin would be an obvious player even though it is centered on his parents. This might be the place to talk about the two Frank Stephens. Watching it back, I think they both have strengths. Robert F. Simon is more dignified and seems like he could be Darrin's father and Phyllis' husband perhaps more believably so he's still my favorite but Roy Roberts is a warmer presence and there's some advantages there. A continuity issue: where exactly do the Stephens parents live? Early on, the series implies it's far away but now it's obviously intended to be close-ish.
RATING: 8/10
When Darrin attempts to join an exclusive country club owned by a client, Endora turns him into an insufferable snob.
A season five highlight and the last great Dick York episode (he barely appears in the final six episodes of the season). While York is hilarious as the snobby Darrin, what I like about this episode is the entire plot doesn't center on a spell Endora puts on Darrin. That is only part of the episode. It's actually a much more fleshed out plot compared to a lot of season five episodes. The reveal of all the snobby country clubber's history not to mention Samantha declaring she's part of the "greatest minority of all" add to the strength of this episode. There's also a funny and rare current events moment when Endora talks about picketing a new movie (presumably Rosemary's Baby, released around the time this episode was filmed).
RATING: 9.5/10
165. Samantha's Power Failure (3/20/69)
Samantha, Uncle Arthur, and Serena all lose their powers when they stand by Samantha against the witches council's ultimatum for her to end her marriage.
As a kid, I really liked this episode because it was slapstick and silly, but watching it in more recent years including this viewing, I am less impressed. First of all, it's a blatant ripoff of the iconic "Job Switching" episode of I Love Lucy right down to the conveyor belt speeding up and the same "Big Dipper" joke. There is a valiant attempt by Paul Lynde and Elizabeth Montgomery to make it funny, but it just doesn't come close for comedic timing. I think if it wasn't compared to that, it would play better but everyone knows that Lucy scene and I'm sure they did in 1969 too. In addition to that obvious issue, it also is a little bit of a scattered episode that doesn't seem to fully resolve itself.
RATING: 5/10
166. Samantha Twitches for UNICEF (3/27/69)
Samantha is tasked with getting a reluctant donor to donate to UNICEF and uses witchcraft to make it happen.
This episode starts out funny with a good guest appearance by Sara Seegar in the opening scenes, but it quickly veers off course in a way that is totally out of character for Samantha. We know that Samantha proclaims often that she prefers to not use witchcraft and many times we see it as a last resort. Here we see Samantha basically trolling this donor with her witchcraft in ways that are just dumb and not funny. So it doesn't have the humor and it's not in character at all. That's a problem.
RATING: 3/10
Maurice visits and turn Darrin into a jackass after an argument.
This was the episode that Dick York collapsed on set during filming and ultimately marks his final filmed episode as producers determined he was not well enough to continue. Because of that on-set issue, they had to change the script midway through filming and it shows. It seems like a thrown together episode, especially the ending where it doesn't actually resolve because they're awkwardly forced to use earlier footage of York. The one redeeming feature is more great iciness between Endora and Maurice, an underused but fascinating element of Bewitched.
RATING: 3/10
168. Samantha's Good News (4/10/69)
Maurice shows up to visit Samantha with a young woman who makes Endora jealous and threatens their marriage.
Despite some icky elements with two older men both courting a much younger woman, this is the best Maurice/Endora episode in the series because it really does explore their relationship and what basically amounts to an "open" marriage. This was a pretty complex and sophisticated story element to a 1960s family show and they are decidedly coy about it though this episode is a little more direct about it than others. It's unfortunate though that Samantha's news about her pregnancy had to be delivered to Darrin over the phone with Dick York unable to appear.
RATING: 7.5/10
169. Samantha's Shopping Spree (4/17/69)
Samantha, Endora, Tabitha, and cousin Henry go shopping together and Henry turns an employee into a mannequin.
This is an odd episode due in part to the heavy presence of guest star Steve Franken as Cousin Henry. They treat him like a character we've known forever when in fact this is his first and only appearance on the show. It does seem a little bit like they wanted Uncle Arthur for this episode and Paul Lynde wasn't able to do it. Franken as well as fellow guest star Jonathan Daly were both decent so that helps matters a little bit, but there is another clear sign that this has become just a silly 60s sitcom and that sign is when Endora goes to visit Henry camping out on the moon. This episode also seems like a who's who of 1960s sitcom guest stars.
RATING: 4.5/10
Samantha and Darrin go to Mexico City for a client and Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes him disappear every time he speaks Spanish.
The end of an era of Bewitched: the final episode with Dick York (though it was filmed several months before the last few episodes were). Despite being a milestone in the series history, the episode is nothing special. Similar to the UNICEF episode, this one bothers me with how quickly Samantha just resorts to witchcraft to get her away, it just seems out of character. The trip to Mexico City and the disappearing act are mildly funny but nothing that hasn't been seen on Bewitched before. It's too bad the show couldn't send Dick York off on a better note. At his best, he was hilariously manic and/or sweetly tender. He also had an undeniable chemistry with Montgomery and the show is never the same after he leaves.
RATING: 6.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON FIVE:
5.6/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Battle of Burning Oak" (#164) - 9.5/10
2. "Samantha Goes South for a Spell" (#142) - 9/10
3. "Samantha's Wedding Present" (#141) - 8.5/10
4. "I Don't Want to Be a Toad, I Want to Be a Butterfly" (#151) - 8/10
5. "One Touch of Midas" (#157) - 8/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Samantha the Bard" (#158) - 1/10
2. "Going Ape" (#162) - 2/10
3. "Darrin, Gone and Forgotten" (#144) - 2/10
4. "Daddy Does His Thing" (#167) - 3/10
5. "Samantha Twitches for UNICEF" (#166) - 3/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week!
Next Thursday: A look at Season 6 of Bewitched!
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