This show is about a female protagonist who has a unique power that often makes her husband feel insecure, and yet she tries to manage it in such a way that it benefits the society around her. It's very clear that this show is a reference to women's liberation, but there is more to this show than just attacks against the feminist establishment.In order to truly understand this show, you need to put it in its historical context. American society was certainly more conservative during this time period, especially when it came to social issues. However, this was also before the revival of evangelical Christianity led by The Moral Majority and the accompanying moral panic about Satanic ritual abuse.The main characters are a pair of middle-class white Americans who live during a time when society starts to question long-held beliefs regarding race and gender. The wife's interest in the occult certainly would have raised eyebrows, but it also would not have been viewed as a dire threat. The premise of this series is to encourage middle-class Americans to push the boundaries set by society and start trying new things.

In the early 60s, ABC had few sitcom hits. Then in 1964, Bewitched made its debut and became a hit gimmick show. The key to the show's success was the premise of Darren and Samantha trying to live a normal suburban life much to the chagrin of her witching relatives, especially her mother Endora. Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York had outstanding chemistry and Agnes Moorehead played the role of the meddling mother-in-law so well. There was also David White as Darren's boss Larry Tate and frequently adding to the chaos were Alice Pearce and Sandra Gould as Gladys Kravitz, who shouted to her husband "ABNER!" when she saw something suspicious next door. There were a number of talent people who played Samantha's relatives, including Marion Lorne as Aunt Clara and veteran Shakespearean actor Maurice Evans as Samantha's father. But the funniest of her relatives was Uncle Arthur, played by Paul Lynde. There was one episode I remember when he gave a magic show at Tabitha's birthday party and conjured up a Playboy bunny instead of a real bunny. But in 1969, Dick York left the show and was quietly replaced by Dick Sargent. Sargent, to me, wasn't as good as York and it showed in a sharp ratings decline. Also, the show was starting to get old and tired and even some of the later episodes were remakes of earlier ones. Some later episodes i remember were the ones that were filmed in Salem, MA and Europe. It brought some life to a tired sitcom but after eight seasons, it's last up against All in the Family, Bewitched was zapped from the airwaves and into syndication after ABC reran the show in both daytime and Saturday morning. Bewitched was a great show for several years until it started losing its magic.

Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) is a beautiful, blonde young lady who "bumps" into attractive, ad-man Darrin (Dick York) in a revolving door. Later, she runs into him again and again, so they decide to have lunch together. Pretty soon, they are in love and, in short order, get married. But, on her wedding night, Samantha gets a visit from her mother, Endora (Agnes Moorehead). It seems Mother is unhappy that Sam has married a mortal gentleman! What? That's right, Sam, like her mama, is a witch who can cast spells by wiggling her nose. Since Mum is likely to spill the beans anyway, Samantha has no choice but to tell Darrin. He doesn't believe her! Not until she moves a few objects around in the hotel room, with her spells, that is. Horrified, he nonetheless is too much in love to deal with the truth on their honeymoon. But, later he makes Sam promise that she will not use her witchcraft in their daily lives. She swears it will be so. But, with Darrin's ex-girlfriend showing off at a dinner party, a gentleman client of Darrin's making unwanted advances at Sam, and a nosy neighbor, Mrs. Kravitz, stirring up trouble, Sam has to resort to tricks now and again. Will the marriage stay on track? You bet! What luck, when I found the first 8 episodes of this beloved series on a 4-disc set, which also included 8 episodes of I Dream of Jeannie, Gidget, and the Partridge Family. All for 8 BUCKS! That purchase was almost magic itself. The two stars, Montgomery and York, are good-looking comic actors and Moorehead is priceless as the interfering mother in law. The couple portraying the neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Kravitz, are also quite wonderful, for Mrs. K sees Sam in action and Mr. K never does, causing him to constantly making faces of exasperation. The production, of course, looks like a typical show of early television while some of the situations and ideas will seem old-fashioned, too. But, in general, families today will still enjoy watching this spell-binding and comical show from over 40 years ago. Relics, children of the sixties like me, will also be tickled by a trip down memory lane.

It's so hard to believe that Dick Sargent was the first choice to play Darrin because Dick York was so perfect! Dick York's "Darrin" was a loving and faithful husband. But he was far from perfect! He was neurotic, hot headed, eager to cut corners and forever putting his foot in his mouth. Endora was such a witch! But that never stopped Darrin, a mere mortal, from giving her his piece of mind, and paying dearly for his arrogance. Dick Sargent was OK. But unlike Dick York, he was not about to let his "Darrin" endure the humiliation that Dick York's "Darrin" had to endure. And this pretty much ruined the show. Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur was simply too funny for words. He could leave me in stitches just by giving the time of day. Then there was Bernard Fox as Doctor Bombay.Elizabeth Montgomery was the perfect Samantha. In spite of her being extremely beautiful, she could also portray the plain housewife effortlessly.It was the perfect show for the time, with all its silliness. Such a show would never make it today. But in 1964 (the year of the monster, the same year that THE MUNSTERS and THE ADAMS FAMILY premiered) it fit quite well and lives on as a delightful piece of classic television.Rest in peace, Dick York, Elizabeth Montgomery, Paul Lynde, Agnes Moorehead and Dick Sargent.