BEWITCHED: SEASON SIX
1969-1970
30 episodes
Bewitched enters a new era for season six as Dick Sargent takes over the role of Darrin. The show is never the same and I think many fans point to this season as the beginning of the end. I've always felt that way too so I was surprised when this season actually graded out higher for me than season five, where York was absent quite a bit but still played Darrin. Although Sargent is a step down in every way, the show seems a little more coherent this season with less frantic storytelling that was perhaps brought on by York's frequent absences in season five. There are a couple real fun episodes and a couple real stinkers but overall, this is a pretty "middle of the road" season for Bewitched despite the major change.
Starring
Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens (30 episodes)
Dick Sargent as Darrin Stephens (30 episodes)
Agnes Moorehead as Endora (17 episodes)
David White as Larry Tate (23 episodes)
Erin Murphy as Tabitha Stephens (17 episodes)
Alice Ghostley as Esmeralda (8 episodes)
Bernard Fox as Dr. Bombay (6 episodes)
Mabel Albertson as Phyllis Stephens (4 episodes)
Maurice Evans as Maurice (4 episodes)
Sandra Gould as Gladys Kravitz (3 episodes)
Elizabeth Montgomery as Serena (3 episodes)
Roy Roberts as Frank Stephens (3 episodes)
Kasey Rogers as Louise Tate (3 episodes)
George Tobias as Abner Kravitz (3 episodes)
Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur (2 episodes)
Worried that her expectant parents like boys more than girls, Tabitha switches places with Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk and goes into his story book to see the giant.
The Dick Sargent era kicks off with this fantastical episode. The episode itself is pretty clever with a strong guest performance by Bobo Lewis. It's not something that Bewitched had done yet to this point. It was nice to see them get away from the historical figures fantasy episodes and instead do a storybook episode although it's further proof of Bewitched's devolution from a romantic and sophisticated sitcom to a silly 60s one. The biggest problem though is Sargent. He has Darrin's agitation fine but he doesn't have the warmth or the humor that Dick York brought to this role. I will try not to mention my dislike for him too much over the next three seasons but this is very clearly the beginning of the end for Bewitched even though some episodes (including this one) are still strong.
RATING: 7.5/10
172. Samantha's Yoo Hoo Maid (9/25/69)
Endora convinces Samantha and Darrin to hire a new maid before the baby comes and they settle on an older witch named Esmeralda.
After Marion Lorne's death in Season 4, Bewitched finally tries to fill the massive hole she left with the addition of bumbling maid Esmeralda. They smartly decided to not recast the role of Aunt Clara, but despite Alice Ghostley's best attempts, Esmeralda is just not nearly as good a character. Her recurring gags of the embarrassed disappearing and sneezing just don't come across as funny to me. That being said, this is a good introduction to the Esmeralda character. If she was a better character as a whole, this would have been the perfect showcase.
RATING: 5.5/10
173. Samantha's Caesar Salad (10/2/69)
When Samantha asks her to make a caesar salad, Esmeralda accidentally makes Julius Caesar appear.
Another "historical figure comes to the present episode" only this time its with Esmeralda and Dick Sargent. Although these episodes all follow a very predictable story and have a ton of similarities, I do think this one is slightly funnier than others with the scene involving the counter culture protesters and police officers. But it falters towards the end with the resolution being pretty lame. It's also worth noting that the Esmeralda disappearing act just doesn't hold up well from a graphics standpoint compared to some other effects of the series.
RATING: 5/10
174. Samantha's Curious Cravings (10/9/69)
A very pregnant Samantha tries to figure out why food appears every time she has a craving for it.
This is a pretty funny episode, definitely the best Dick Sargent episode to date even with the presence of Dr. Bombay. There's a very daring (for the time) and funny joke about "the pill" early in the episode with strong guest star William Schallert as Dr. Anton. One thing I like about this episode is that Samantha doesn't really seem all that interested in finding a cure for the spell because she's enjoying getting all her cravings as she craves them. For the first time, Sargent has some funny moments later in the episode when Samantha says it's time to go to the hospital.
RATING: 8/10
175. ... And Something Makes Four (10/16/69)
Samantha gives birth to a son and Maurice puts a spell on him that makes every human fall in love with him the second they see him.
The second "birth" episode of Bewitched has the same mix of charm and humor as the first one back in season two. We've been getting an awful lot of Maurice lately after only a very rare appearance in the first several seasons, but this is a good showcase for him and a believable spell for his character. It's a little odd to see guest star Bobo Lewis in a different role just a few episodes after she memorably played the Giant's wife, but she's funny here too. This episode also gives a chance for Dick Sargent to show some genuine warmth, something that does not happen often with his Darrin.
RATING: 7.5/10
176. Naming Samantha's New Baby (10/23/69)
Darrin's parents arrive to visit the new baby at the same time Maurice finds out that they named the baby after Darrin's father.
This is a decent episode and yet another appearance by Maurice Evans. He only appeared in 10 episodes total, but most of them are in the span from the end of season five and beginning of season six. Despite a glaring miscue of seeing palm trees lining the Connecticut streets when the Stephens are driving, there are still some good things. It's fun to see Darrin's parents playing off of Maurice instead of Endora for a change. It's also a very real topic in a lot of families that is done with the witchcraft flair, that's better storytelling.
RATING: 7/10
177. To Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat (10/30/69)
When she thinks Darrin is supporting the stereotypical view of witches on Halloween, Endora turns Darrin into a witch.
After no Halloween episode in season five, Bewitched's favorite holiday is back this year. There are a couple problems with this episode though. First of all, Bewitched beautifully and thoroughly examined stereotypes with Halloween episodes in both the first and second season Halloween episodes. This feels like more of the same. Secondly, Dick Sargent just isn't up to the task of being a funny reactor to Endora's spells. Even when the plot line was lame, Dick York always sold it. Dick Sargent underplays these type of reactions and seems very uncomfortable when asked to do more of a character, which makes the whole episode feel rather underwhelming.
RATING: 5/10
178. A Bunny for Tabitha (11/6/69)
While entertaining kids at Tabitha's birthday party, Uncle Arthur accidentally turns Tabitha's rabbit into a Playboy bunny.
This is a pretty risque topic for a 1960s family sitcom with it centered on a Playboy bunny (or to be more specific, a real rabbit turned into one). Of the many "animals turned into people" episodes of Bewitched throughout its run, this is one of the better ones thanks to some strong performances. Bernie Kopell is memorable as the client and there's a funny bit with Dick Wilson in his usual drunken state. The bunny herself, guest star Carol Wayne, is pretty funny too. This episode sort of feels like two different ones put together: Uncle Arthur at the birthday party and then the story with the bunny. It's a pretty plot heavy episode.
RATING: 8/10
179. Samantha's Secret Spell (11/13/69)
When Endora threatens to turn Darrin into a mouse, Samantha goes through elaborate steps to provide an antidote for Darrin.
This is an interesting episode and a partial remake of the also interesting season two episode "We're in for a Bad Spell." This is also the first episode to delve into some serious witchcraft stuff in awhile. But the problem is it's much more incoherent than the season two episode. It has so many elements that are strong at the beginning including another good turn by Bernie Kopell. But then it just never quite figures it all out and the resolution both in the Endora/Darrin storyline and the Larry Tate storyline feel underwhelming.
RATING: 5/10
180. Daddy Comes for a Visit Part 1 (11/20/69)
Maurice gives Darrin a watch that gives him powers and encourages him to use it to spy on a client.
The beginning of a two part episode and yet another Maurice episode. This episode takes awhile to get going, which makes me wonder if it really needed to be two parts. I think it could have been a tighter and more interesting story if it had been condensed to one episode. Despite many episodes in the last stretch, I do always enjoy Maurice as a character and he seems to be getting more into the role, no doubt because he played it so much in a short period of time. It's nice to see the Maurice stories branching out to not include Endora.
RATING: 6.5/10
181. Darrin the Warlock Part 2 (11/27/69)
Darrin takes great joy in his new warlock powers given to him by Maurice until he starts to realize he likes what he has with Samantha.
This feels like a definite successor to season one's iconic "A is for Aardvark" but the problem with Bewitched doing similar stories is it only highlights how inferior Dick Sargent is compared to Dick York. With Sargent underplaying everything, there is no pop to this episode. Sargent doesn't even seem at all like a man compelled by his new found power so that makes his transition back to wanting the simpler life not interesting at all. There are just no levels with his portrayal of Darrin and it's especially problematic in a Darrin-centric story.
RATING: 5/10
182. Samantha's Double Mother Trouble (12/4/69)
Esmeralda accidentally summons Mother Goose for Tabitha at a time when Phyllis arrives to stay with the Stephens after a fight with Frank.
Not exactly a historical figure episode, but this one sort of has the same type of plot and isn't helped by a lackluster Mother Goose played by Jane Connell. I'm also not a fan of when Samantha uses witchcraft to change what people say as a way to resolve the problem in the episode. I always think that's a pretty lazy way of storytelling because it seems like they couldn't think of a more creative way to resolve the plot. One saving grace in this episode is a pretty fun sight gag when Mabel Albertson arrives as Phyllis in a makeover.
RATING: 4/10
183. You're So Agreeable (12/11/69)
Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes him agreeable to everything suggested to him.
This is the first "Darrin spell" episode of the Dick Sargent era and it's severely lacking for a couple reasons. Most significant is that Sargent just isn't capable of showing levels of emotion so nothing is funny. The agreeing lines are funny and Dick York would have delivered them very well but Sargent just isn't up to the task. Additionally, the completely unnecessary scene of Samantha putting "Darrin Stephens" in the mind of rival advertisers goes on way, way too long.
RATING: 3.5/10
184. Santa Comes to Visit and Stays (12/18/69)
An Esmeralda sneeze leads to Santa getting stuck at the Stephens' house just days before Christmas.
The third Christmas episode of the series has an artsy and very sweet opening shot of Samantha at the tree with baby Adam. The rest of the episode is pretty solid too with a very fun premise that is executed decently. The side Larry Tate storyline mixes in well too and is a decent Christmas premise in and of itself. One thing I noticed is the Santas got progressively less believable over time. Season one's Santa was perhaps the best Santa casting in any sitcom. Season four was decent but this one doesn't seem to have as much of the Santa spirit as the others.
RATING: 7/10
185. Samantha's Better Halves (1/1/70)
Darrin and Samantha recall the time where Endora split Darrin in two so he could dote on pregnant Samantha and also attend an important business meeting in Japan.
I remember when the color episodes of Bewitched joined the Nick at Nite lineup in 1998, they had a "Dueling Darrins" marathon. Not surprisingly, Dick York won and if I recall it was with something like 65-70% of the vote. An episode like this makes me wonder how Sargent managed to even get any votes at all. This was the first episode Sargent filmed, although it aired later, and it's odd they chose to do a basic remake of York's greatest triumph (season two's classic "Divided He Falls"). Where York can be goofy, manic, pent-up, sweet, charming, and raging all in one episode, Sargent has two basic emotions: bored and annoyed. He can't really play any other way and when he tries, he fails spectacularly. The York remakes, like this one, are where it is most apparent.
RATING: 1.5/10
186. Samantha's Lost Weekend (1/8/70)
Samantha accidentally drinks milk with a spell in it by Esmeralda intended for Tabitha that makes her want to eat everything in sight.
This is pretty much a one joke episode that isn't all that funny. I think for as great as Elizabeth Montgomery is at so many things in this show, she doesn't do all that well in episodes where Samantha is under a spell. She is a good straight woman and reactor and she can play cooky as Serena, but her Samantha is not good at these types of bits. A saving grace of this episode is two nice scenes with George Tobias, who is criminally underused in the later seasons of the show but always provides some funny moments.
RATING: 5/10
187. The Phrase is Familiar (1/15/70)
Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes him act in cliches and then physically act out the cliches.
This is a funny premise that is done with so-so execution. It doesn't work too well when Darrin is just speaking in cliches but the acting out of the cliches is actually a funny idea. The only problem is (surprise, surprise) Dick Sargent isn't really up to the task of committing to the bit with the only really funny moment he pulls off being the bowing out of the restaurant. The plot with Tabitha's tutor almost seems like an entirely different episode and premise that could have been an episode all by itself.
RATING: 6/10
188. Samantha's Secret is Discovered (1/22/70)
Phyllis sees Samantha and Endora using witchcraft and thinks she's going crazy.
This is one of the best constructed episodes of the season. There's a lot that happens and it doesn't quite go where you would expect it to go. At one point, it seems like it's an episode reminiscent of "I Confess" and then it veers more into the "going crazy" plot. This episode is a great showcase for Mabel Albertson and she does a great job throughout the episode, but especially at the retirement home near the end of the episode. It also has an interesting and less obvious solution to the episode. This is a plot where they could have dug too deep and not been able to get out of it but that fortunately doesn't happen here. This is Roy Roberts' final appearance as Frank Stephens. Robert F. Simon returns for the rest of Frank's episodes.
RATING: 8.5/10
189. Tabitha's Very Own Samantha (1/29/70)
When Tabitha is jealous of the new baby, she conjures up her own personal Samantha who does nothing but dote on her.
This is a clever and funny episode and the second strong one in a row, which is no small feat in season six. It takes a pretty standard sitcom plot - an older child being jealous of a new baby. But it puts a Bewitched spin on it by actually having the child create their own parent as a means of solving the problem. The dreamed up Samantha is pretty funny too with her non-stop adoration of Tabitha and a very funny scene with Gladys at the amusement park. It's a more unique story than if Tabitha had just used Serena or something like that.
RATING: 9/10
190. Super Arthur (2/5/70)
A sick Uncle Arthur shows up and causes more trouble for Samantha after she gives him a pill.
After a couple winning episodes, this one is a real stinker. In theory, it seems like it's trying to be a showcase for Paul Lynde but his shtick as Uncle Arthur has worn thin for me at this point and even Lynde's effort level seems lower than earlier appearances. The "Super Arthur" part where Arthur is flying through the neighborhood is pretty cringe-inducing and then it gets work when it flimsily tries to tie it to Darrin's ad campaign. All in all, a poorly written and poorly executed episode.
RATING: 1.5/10
191. What Makes Darrin Run? (2/12/70)
Worried that Darrin is going nowhere in life, Endora puts a spell on him that makes him overly ambitious.
Although this feels like the zillionth time that Endora is dissatisfied with Darrin thanks to a flimsy opening and therefore puts a spell on him, this is a decent episode. Dick Sargent does a decent job here as a wildly ambitious and sometimes conniving side of Darrin. Perhaps it's more the type of role that Sargent can play compared to regular Darrin. It makes me think he would be better as a guest star, but I digress. We get to see a rare glimpse of McMann, played by Leon Ames this time. We also see Kasey Rogers for the first time this season with a new hairstyle as they finally stopped worrying about making her look like Irene Vernon.
RATING: 7/10
192. Serena Stops the Show (2/19/70)
Serena attempts to get the popular group Boyce and Hart to appear at the Cosmos Cotillion.
Hands down the campiest episode of the entire Bewitched series and one of the few direct nods to the era. It's just so delightfully silly with the iconic scene of Elizabeth Montgomery as Serena performing the surprisingly catchy "Blow You a Kiss in the Wind" in the Stephens' living room in the most psychedelic moment of the entire series. I don't think this is a classic Bewitched in the way early season episodes are, but what I like about it is both the show and Montgomery commit to the absurdity of this episode in a way that Bewitched and its leading lady don't always do. There seems to be a wholehearted embrace of the camp and that makes it fun to watch. This is also the first time that Serena is credited as the fictional "Pandora Spocks" in the credits.
RATING: 8.5/10
193. Just a Kid Again (2/26/70)
Tabitha talks to a worker at a department store who says he wants to be a kid again so Tabitha makes that wish a reality.
This is a partial remake of season two's "Junior Executive" but it feels more distant because it's not Darrin being turned into a kid, just a general department store worker. It's a pretty flimsy setup to the episode and then there's the whole problem of an extended Dr. Bombay scene. But the episode is not entirely a loss. Guest star Richard Powell does a solid job as the manager turned kid and he helps the flow of the episode to keep going in a good way.
RATING: 6.5/10
194. The Generation Zap (3/5/70)
At Endora's request, Serena puts a spell on the daughter of a client that makes her fall in love with Darrin.
This could have been a very interesting episode and it started that way. The actual Dusty was very interesting as a skeptical and eager young woman interested in the advertising business. That would have been an interesting dynamic to watch. Instead, it went to a much more predictable place: a spell gets put on her that makes her fall madly in love with Darrin. We've seen episodes like that before, there was nothing interesting anymore.
RATING: 4.5/10
195. Okay, Who's the Wise Witch? (3/12/70)
Samantha and Darrin get locked inside their own house and can't figure out who put the spell on the house or how to break the spell.
At the beginning of the episode, Endora comments what an original spell this is and I would agree. It's a pretty creative idea and a play off of the often successful sitcom plot of trapping all the characters in one place together. It pays off throughout the episode as the attempt to solve the spell is genuinely interesting and there is a creative resolving of the episode too (involving Dr. Bombay surprisingly!). The only thing I didn't like was the tie-in to the ad campaign. Bewitched seemed to involve that in its resolutions too much in later years.
RATING: 8.5/10
196. A Chance on Love (3/19/70)
Serena fills in for Samantha and ends up meeting and falling for a client of Darrin's, which causes problems when he meets the real Samantha.
This is the third Serena episode in five episodes which is a little much. But that being said, it's a pretty decent episode. My problem is the setup. It does not seem in character that Samantha would trust Serena in public when the better option would be to keep Serena covering for Samantha at home. I wish the plot had unfolded thanks to a better and more believable setup but once it gets into the plot, it's not bad thanks in part to another strong guest performance from Jack Cassidy (although not as memorable as his season five appearance in "Samantha Goes South for a Spell").
RATING: 6/10
197. If the Shoe Pinches (3/26/70)
Endora sends a leprechaun to torment the Stephens and he creates shoes that put Darrin under a spell.
This is the second leprechaun themed episode of Bewitched after season two's "The Leprechaun." This one isn't as good but to its credit, it is a much different story. There's a solid leprechaun performance from guest star Henry Gibson and the plot is pretty funny and clever. The biggest problem is that Dick Sargent is just so terrible when his Darrin is under a spell. As if he isn't smarmy enough when he's playing Darrin straight, he's extra smarmy when his character is under a spell. He's just not a character actor in the least and it makes these spell scenes and episodes just not go where they should be able to go.
RATING: 5.5/10
198. Mona Sammy (4/2/70)
Endora whips up a painting that was painted by da Vinci but looks just like Samantha. She then tells the Tates the painting was done by Darrin and Louise wants her own painting done.
This is a fun episode even if the resolution is a little weak. It's a clever set up though there's no mention of da Vinci's visit to the Stephens house in season four. That being said, the scene at the Tates house with Darrin painting Louise and Samantha and Larry playing cards is particularly enjoyable as is the sight gag that reveals the bad Louise painting. I probably would have scored this a little bit higher if it wasn't for the super lame resolve of the episode where Samantha and Darrin say he can't keep painting due to an allergy to paint.
RATING: 7/10
199. Turn on the Old Charm (4/9/70)
When Darrin is fed up with Endora, Samantha gives him an old amulet from Maurice that forces Endora to be kind to Darrin whenever she is around him.
Every episode of Bewitched in these later seasons seems to follow such a formula and it makes even the funnier episodes pale in comparison to the more organic storytelling that was happening in the early seasons. There's always some kind of spell and a client who ties into the spell either thematically or directly and there's always a flimsy resolve to make the client or Larry happy again. This episode is no different from the typical formula but it does have a couple good moments thanks to the bickering spell Endora puts on Samantha and Darrin as well as Endora's temporary kindness to Darrin,
RATING: 6.5/10
200. Make Love, Not Hate (4/16/70)
Samantha enlists Dr. Bombay to make a love potion for a man who he thinks could be a match for Esmeralda but the potion spills into part of a dinner for a client.
This is a pretty fun mad cap dinner party episode to close out the season. It isn't the first crazy dinner party episode (season one's "It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog" and Part 1 of season five's "Serena Strikes Again" come to mind). But this one actually seems a little more coherent and a little less silly. The different reactions to the love potion, most notably by ever reliable guest star Charles Lane, make for a fun and fast-paced episode. Even Dr. Bombay is tolerable here in small doses and the show was smart to not make Dick Sargent one of the actors who had to act love-sick.
RATING: 8/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON SIX:
6.1/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Tabitha's Very Own Samantha" (#189) - 9/10
2. "Samantha's Secret is Discovered" (#188) - 8.5/10
3. "Serena Stops the Show" (#192) - 8.5/10
4. "Okay, Who's the Wise Witch?" (#195) - 8.5/10
5. "Samantha's Curious Cravings" (#174) - 8/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Super Arthur" (#190) - 1.5/10
2. "Samantha's Better Halves" (#185) - 1.5/10
3. "You're So Agreeable" (#183) - 3.5/10
4. "Samantha's Double Mother Trouble" (#182) - 4/10
5. "The Generation Zap" (#194) - 4.5/10
When Samantha asks her to make a caesar salad, Esmeralda accidentally makes Julius Caesar appear.
Another "historical figure comes to the present episode" only this time its with Esmeralda and Dick Sargent. Although these episodes all follow a very predictable story and have a ton of similarities, I do think this one is slightly funnier than others with the scene involving the counter culture protesters and police officers. But it falters towards the end with the resolution being pretty lame. It's also worth noting that the Esmeralda disappearing act just doesn't hold up well from a graphics standpoint compared to some other effects of the series.
RATING: 5/10
174. Samantha's Curious Cravings (10/9/69)
A very pregnant Samantha tries to figure out why food appears every time she has a craving for it.
This is a pretty funny episode, definitely the best Dick Sargent episode to date even with the presence of Dr. Bombay. There's a very daring (for the time) and funny joke about "the pill" early in the episode with strong guest star William Schallert as Dr. Anton. One thing I like about this episode is that Samantha doesn't really seem all that interested in finding a cure for the spell because she's enjoying getting all her cravings as she craves them. For the first time, Sargent has some funny moments later in the episode when Samantha says it's time to go to the hospital.
RATING: 8/10
Samantha gives birth to a son and Maurice puts a spell on him that makes every human fall in love with him the second they see him.
The second "birth" episode of Bewitched has the same mix of charm and humor as the first one back in season two. We've been getting an awful lot of Maurice lately after only a very rare appearance in the first several seasons, but this is a good showcase for him and a believable spell for his character. It's a little odd to see guest star Bobo Lewis in a different role just a few episodes after she memorably played the Giant's wife, but she's funny here too. This episode also gives a chance for Dick Sargent to show some genuine warmth, something that does not happen often with his Darrin.
RATING: 7.5/10
176. Naming Samantha's New Baby (10/23/69)
Darrin's parents arrive to visit the new baby at the same time Maurice finds out that they named the baby after Darrin's father.
This is a decent episode and yet another appearance by Maurice Evans. He only appeared in 10 episodes total, but most of them are in the span from the end of season five and beginning of season six. Despite a glaring miscue of seeing palm trees lining the Connecticut streets when the Stephens are driving, there are still some good things. It's fun to see Darrin's parents playing off of Maurice instead of Endora for a change. It's also a very real topic in a lot of families that is done with the witchcraft flair, that's better storytelling.
RATING: 7/10
177. To Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat (10/30/69)
When she thinks Darrin is supporting the stereotypical view of witches on Halloween, Endora turns Darrin into a witch.
After no Halloween episode in season five, Bewitched's favorite holiday is back this year. There are a couple problems with this episode though. First of all, Bewitched beautifully and thoroughly examined stereotypes with Halloween episodes in both the first and second season Halloween episodes. This feels like more of the same. Secondly, Dick Sargent just isn't up to the task of being a funny reactor to Endora's spells. Even when the plot line was lame, Dick York always sold it. Dick Sargent underplays these type of reactions and seems very uncomfortable when asked to do more of a character, which makes the whole episode feel rather underwhelming.
RATING: 5/10
While entertaining kids at Tabitha's birthday party, Uncle Arthur accidentally turns Tabitha's rabbit into a Playboy bunny.
This is a pretty risque topic for a 1960s family sitcom with it centered on a Playboy bunny (or to be more specific, a real rabbit turned into one). Of the many "animals turned into people" episodes of Bewitched throughout its run, this is one of the better ones thanks to some strong performances. Bernie Kopell is memorable as the client and there's a funny bit with Dick Wilson in his usual drunken state. The bunny herself, guest star Carol Wayne, is pretty funny too. This episode sort of feels like two different ones put together: Uncle Arthur at the birthday party and then the story with the bunny. It's a pretty plot heavy episode.
RATING: 8/10
179. Samantha's Secret Spell (11/13/69)
When Endora threatens to turn Darrin into a mouse, Samantha goes through elaborate steps to provide an antidote for Darrin.
This is an interesting episode and a partial remake of the also interesting season two episode "We're in for a Bad Spell." This is also the first episode to delve into some serious witchcraft stuff in awhile. But the problem is it's much more incoherent than the season two episode. It has so many elements that are strong at the beginning including another good turn by Bernie Kopell. But then it just never quite figures it all out and the resolution both in the Endora/Darrin storyline and the Larry Tate storyline feel underwhelming.
RATING: 5/10
180. Daddy Comes for a Visit Part 1 (11/20/69)
Maurice gives Darrin a watch that gives him powers and encourages him to use it to spy on a client.
The beginning of a two part episode and yet another Maurice episode. This episode takes awhile to get going, which makes me wonder if it really needed to be two parts. I think it could have been a tighter and more interesting story if it had been condensed to one episode. Despite many episodes in the last stretch, I do always enjoy Maurice as a character and he seems to be getting more into the role, no doubt because he played it so much in a short period of time. It's nice to see the Maurice stories branching out to not include Endora.
RATING: 6.5/10
181. Darrin the Warlock Part 2 (11/27/69)
Darrin takes great joy in his new warlock powers given to him by Maurice until he starts to realize he likes what he has with Samantha.
This feels like a definite successor to season one's iconic "A is for Aardvark" but the problem with Bewitched doing similar stories is it only highlights how inferior Dick Sargent is compared to Dick York. With Sargent underplaying everything, there is no pop to this episode. Sargent doesn't even seem at all like a man compelled by his new found power so that makes his transition back to wanting the simpler life not interesting at all. There are just no levels with his portrayal of Darrin and it's especially problematic in a Darrin-centric story.
RATING: 5/10
Esmeralda accidentally summons Mother Goose for Tabitha at a time when Phyllis arrives to stay with the Stephens after a fight with Frank.
Not exactly a historical figure episode, but this one sort of has the same type of plot and isn't helped by a lackluster Mother Goose played by Jane Connell. I'm also not a fan of when Samantha uses witchcraft to change what people say as a way to resolve the problem in the episode. I always think that's a pretty lazy way of storytelling because it seems like they couldn't think of a more creative way to resolve the plot. One saving grace in this episode is a pretty fun sight gag when Mabel Albertson arrives as Phyllis in a makeover.
RATING: 4/10
183. You're So Agreeable (12/11/69)
Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes him agreeable to everything suggested to him.
This is the first "Darrin spell" episode of the Dick Sargent era and it's severely lacking for a couple reasons. Most significant is that Sargent just isn't capable of showing levels of emotion so nothing is funny. The agreeing lines are funny and Dick York would have delivered them very well but Sargent just isn't up to the task. Additionally, the completely unnecessary scene of Samantha putting "Darrin Stephens" in the mind of rival advertisers goes on way, way too long.
RATING: 3.5/10
184. Santa Comes to Visit and Stays (12/18/69)
An Esmeralda sneeze leads to Santa getting stuck at the Stephens' house just days before Christmas.
The third Christmas episode of the series has an artsy and very sweet opening shot of Samantha at the tree with baby Adam. The rest of the episode is pretty solid too with a very fun premise that is executed decently. The side Larry Tate storyline mixes in well too and is a decent Christmas premise in and of itself. One thing I noticed is the Santas got progressively less believable over time. Season one's Santa was perhaps the best Santa casting in any sitcom. Season four was decent but this one doesn't seem to have as much of the Santa spirit as the others.
RATING: 7/10
185. Samantha's Better Halves (1/1/70)
Darrin and Samantha recall the time where Endora split Darrin in two so he could dote on pregnant Samantha and also attend an important business meeting in Japan.
I remember when the color episodes of Bewitched joined the Nick at Nite lineup in 1998, they had a "Dueling Darrins" marathon. Not surprisingly, Dick York won and if I recall it was with something like 65-70% of the vote. An episode like this makes me wonder how Sargent managed to even get any votes at all. This was the first episode Sargent filmed, although it aired later, and it's odd they chose to do a basic remake of York's greatest triumph (season two's classic "Divided He Falls"). Where York can be goofy, manic, pent-up, sweet, charming, and raging all in one episode, Sargent has two basic emotions: bored and annoyed. He can't really play any other way and when he tries, he fails spectacularly. The York remakes, like this one, are where it is most apparent.
RATING: 1.5/10
Samantha accidentally drinks milk with a spell in it by Esmeralda intended for Tabitha that makes her want to eat everything in sight.
This is pretty much a one joke episode that isn't all that funny. I think for as great as Elizabeth Montgomery is at so many things in this show, she doesn't do all that well in episodes where Samantha is under a spell. She is a good straight woman and reactor and she can play cooky as Serena, but her Samantha is not good at these types of bits. A saving grace of this episode is two nice scenes with George Tobias, who is criminally underused in the later seasons of the show but always provides some funny moments.
RATING: 5/10
187. The Phrase is Familiar (1/15/70)
Endora puts a spell on Darrin that makes him act in cliches and then physically act out the cliches.
This is a funny premise that is done with so-so execution. It doesn't work too well when Darrin is just speaking in cliches but the acting out of the cliches is actually a funny idea. The only problem is (surprise, surprise) Dick Sargent isn't really up to the task of committing to the bit with the only really funny moment he pulls off being the bowing out of the restaurant. The plot with Tabitha's tutor almost seems like an entirely different episode and premise that could have been an episode all by itself.
RATING: 6/10
188. Samantha's Secret is Discovered (1/22/70)
Phyllis sees Samantha and Endora using witchcraft and thinks she's going crazy.
This is one of the best constructed episodes of the season. There's a lot that happens and it doesn't quite go where you would expect it to go. At one point, it seems like it's an episode reminiscent of "I Confess" and then it veers more into the "going crazy" plot. This episode is a great showcase for Mabel Albertson and she does a great job throughout the episode, but especially at the retirement home near the end of the episode. It also has an interesting and less obvious solution to the episode. This is a plot where they could have dug too deep and not been able to get out of it but that fortunately doesn't happen here. This is Roy Roberts' final appearance as Frank Stephens. Robert F. Simon returns for the rest of Frank's episodes.
RATING: 8.5/10
When Tabitha is jealous of the new baby, she conjures up her own personal Samantha who does nothing but dote on her.
This is a clever and funny episode and the second strong one in a row, which is no small feat in season six. It takes a pretty standard sitcom plot - an older child being jealous of a new baby. But it puts a Bewitched spin on it by actually having the child create their own parent as a means of solving the problem. The dreamed up Samantha is pretty funny too with her non-stop adoration of Tabitha and a very funny scene with Gladys at the amusement park. It's a more unique story than if Tabitha had just used Serena or something like that.
RATING: 9/10
190. Super Arthur (2/5/70)
A sick Uncle Arthur shows up and causes more trouble for Samantha after she gives him a pill.
After a couple winning episodes, this one is a real stinker. In theory, it seems like it's trying to be a showcase for Paul Lynde but his shtick as Uncle Arthur has worn thin for me at this point and even Lynde's effort level seems lower than earlier appearances. The "Super Arthur" part where Arthur is flying through the neighborhood is pretty cringe-inducing and then it gets work when it flimsily tries to tie it to Darrin's ad campaign. All in all, a poorly written and poorly executed episode.
RATING: 1.5/10
191. What Makes Darrin Run? (2/12/70)
Worried that Darrin is going nowhere in life, Endora puts a spell on him that makes him overly ambitious.
Although this feels like the zillionth time that Endora is dissatisfied with Darrin thanks to a flimsy opening and therefore puts a spell on him, this is a decent episode. Dick Sargent does a decent job here as a wildly ambitious and sometimes conniving side of Darrin. Perhaps it's more the type of role that Sargent can play compared to regular Darrin. It makes me think he would be better as a guest star, but I digress. We get to see a rare glimpse of McMann, played by Leon Ames this time. We also see Kasey Rogers for the first time this season with a new hairstyle as they finally stopped worrying about making her look like Irene Vernon.
RATING: 7/10
Serena attempts to get the popular group Boyce and Hart to appear at the Cosmos Cotillion.
Hands down the campiest episode of the entire Bewitched series and one of the few direct nods to the era. It's just so delightfully silly with the iconic scene of Elizabeth Montgomery as Serena performing the surprisingly catchy "Blow You a Kiss in the Wind" in the Stephens' living room in the most psychedelic moment of the entire series. I don't think this is a classic Bewitched in the way early season episodes are, but what I like about it is both the show and Montgomery commit to the absurdity of this episode in a way that Bewitched and its leading lady don't always do. There seems to be a wholehearted embrace of the camp and that makes it fun to watch. This is also the first time that Serena is credited as the fictional "Pandora Spocks" in the credits.
RATING: 8.5/10
193. Just a Kid Again (2/26/70)
Tabitha talks to a worker at a department store who says he wants to be a kid again so Tabitha makes that wish a reality.
This is a partial remake of season two's "Junior Executive" but it feels more distant because it's not Darrin being turned into a kid, just a general department store worker. It's a pretty flimsy setup to the episode and then there's the whole problem of an extended Dr. Bombay scene. But the episode is not entirely a loss. Guest star Richard Powell does a solid job as the manager turned kid and he helps the flow of the episode to keep going in a good way.
RATING: 6.5/10
194. The Generation Zap (3/5/70)
At Endora's request, Serena puts a spell on the daughter of a client that makes her fall in love with Darrin.
This could have been a very interesting episode and it started that way. The actual Dusty was very interesting as a skeptical and eager young woman interested in the advertising business. That would have been an interesting dynamic to watch. Instead, it went to a much more predictable place: a spell gets put on her that makes her fall madly in love with Darrin. We've seen episodes like that before, there was nothing interesting anymore.
RATING: 4.5/10
195. Okay, Who's the Wise Witch? (3/12/70)
Samantha and Darrin get locked inside their own house and can't figure out who put the spell on the house or how to break the spell.
At the beginning of the episode, Endora comments what an original spell this is and I would agree. It's a pretty creative idea and a play off of the often successful sitcom plot of trapping all the characters in one place together. It pays off throughout the episode as the attempt to solve the spell is genuinely interesting and there is a creative resolving of the episode too (involving Dr. Bombay surprisingly!). The only thing I didn't like was the tie-in to the ad campaign. Bewitched seemed to involve that in its resolutions too much in later years.
RATING: 8.5/10
Serena fills in for Samantha and ends up meeting and falling for a client of Darrin's, which causes problems when he meets the real Samantha.
This is the third Serena episode in five episodes which is a little much. But that being said, it's a pretty decent episode. My problem is the setup. It does not seem in character that Samantha would trust Serena in public when the better option would be to keep Serena covering for Samantha at home. I wish the plot had unfolded thanks to a better and more believable setup but once it gets into the plot, it's not bad thanks in part to another strong guest performance from Jack Cassidy (although not as memorable as his season five appearance in "Samantha Goes South for a Spell").
RATING: 6/10
197. If the Shoe Pinches (3/26/70)
Endora sends a leprechaun to torment the Stephens and he creates shoes that put Darrin under a spell.
This is the second leprechaun themed episode of Bewitched after season two's "The Leprechaun." This one isn't as good but to its credit, it is a much different story. There's a solid leprechaun performance from guest star Henry Gibson and the plot is pretty funny and clever. The biggest problem is that Dick Sargent is just so terrible when his Darrin is under a spell. As if he isn't smarmy enough when he's playing Darrin straight, he's extra smarmy when his character is under a spell. He's just not a character actor in the least and it makes these spell scenes and episodes just not go where they should be able to go.
RATING: 5.5/10
198. Mona Sammy (4/2/70)
Endora whips up a painting that was painted by da Vinci but looks just like Samantha. She then tells the Tates the painting was done by Darrin and Louise wants her own painting done.
This is a fun episode even if the resolution is a little weak. It's a clever set up though there's no mention of da Vinci's visit to the Stephens house in season four. That being said, the scene at the Tates house with Darrin painting Louise and Samantha and Larry playing cards is particularly enjoyable as is the sight gag that reveals the bad Louise painting. I probably would have scored this a little bit higher if it wasn't for the super lame resolve of the episode where Samantha and Darrin say he can't keep painting due to an allergy to paint.
RATING: 7/10
199. Turn on the Old Charm (4/9/70)
When Darrin is fed up with Endora, Samantha gives him an old amulet from Maurice that forces Endora to be kind to Darrin whenever she is around him.
Every episode of Bewitched in these later seasons seems to follow such a formula and it makes even the funnier episodes pale in comparison to the more organic storytelling that was happening in the early seasons. There's always some kind of spell and a client who ties into the spell either thematically or directly and there's always a flimsy resolve to make the client or Larry happy again. This episode is no different from the typical formula but it does have a couple good moments thanks to the bickering spell Endora puts on Samantha and Darrin as well as Endora's temporary kindness to Darrin,
RATING: 6.5/10
Samantha enlists Dr. Bombay to make a love potion for a man who he thinks could be a match for Esmeralda but the potion spills into part of a dinner for a client.
This is a pretty fun mad cap dinner party episode to close out the season. It isn't the first crazy dinner party episode (season one's "It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog" and Part 1 of season five's "Serena Strikes Again" come to mind). But this one actually seems a little more coherent and a little less silly. The different reactions to the love potion, most notably by ever reliable guest star Charles Lane, make for a fun and fast-paced episode. Even Dr. Bombay is tolerable here in small doses and the show was smart to not make Dick Sargent one of the actors who had to act love-sick.
RATING: 8/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON SIX:
6.1/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Tabitha's Very Own Samantha" (#189) - 9/10
2. "Samantha's Secret is Discovered" (#188) - 8.5/10
3. "Serena Stops the Show" (#192) - 8.5/10
4. "Okay, Who's the Wise Witch?" (#195) - 8.5/10
5. "Samantha's Curious Cravings" (#174) - 8/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Super Arthur" (#190) - 1.5/10
2. "Samantha's Better Halves" (#185) - 1.5/10
3. "You're So Agreeable" (#183) - 3.5/10
4. "Samantha's Double Mother Trouble" (#182) - 4/10
5. "The Generation Zap" (#194) - 4.5/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week!
Next Thursday: A look at Season 7 of Bewitched!
Samantha's Better Halves is better than Divided He Falls. Dick York did overacting in Divided He Falls.
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