Although all eight seasons of “Bewitched” initially aired before I was born, the classic supernatural sitcom was one of my favorite TV shows growing up. Thanks to reruns on cable channel Nick at Nite, I spent plenty of time watching the series about charismatic witch Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) and her suburban life with her straight-arrow human husband, Darrin.
I enjoyed episodes from the earlier, better seasons featuring Dick York as Darrin, and I even appreciated episodes from the later, weaker seasons when Dick Sargent replaced the ailing York. I watched Samantha and Darrin’s daughter Tabitha (Erin Murphy) grow from an infant to a toddler with her own magical powers. And I loved every moment of Agnes Moorehead’s snarky portrayal of Samantha’s meddling mother, Endora.
Nick at Nite is no longer a home for the same kind of vintage TV, but now that all eight seasons of “Bewitched” are streaming on Hulu, it’s easy for anyone to experience the wonders of this beguiling comedy just as I did.
‘Bewitched’ is forward-thinking and funny
Right from its 1964 premiere, “Bewitched” presented a progressive view of marriage and family, within the confines of a traditional sitcom. Samantha is essentially all-powerful, and it’s implied that she may be hundreds of years old, so she certainly doesn’t need the support or guidance of a mid-level advertising executive like Darrin. She actively chooses to be with him every day, in defiance of the traditions of her community — not to mention the strenuous disapproval of her mother.
Darrin, in turn, plays the role of the authoritative husband, ostensibly forbidding Samantha from using her formidable powers. Yet there are no consequences for Samantha’s near-constant breaking of this edict, because, of course, he has no ability to enforce it. That could have made him bitter and resentful, but the Stephens’ relationship is far healthier than most sitcom marriages, even decades later.
There’s a sense, especially in the early seasons, that Samantha and Darrin retain the fire of their initial courtship, while also working together as a household team. Sure, Darrin gets flustered when Samantha casts a magic spell to make life easier, but his anger is usually performative.
It’s impossible to deny that Samantha is gorgeous and alluring, and her ability to bend the laws of space and time is part of that allure. She couldn’t possibly be subjugated by the patriarchy, because all she needs to do is twitch her nose and make her potential oppressors disappear.
That’s not to say that “Bewitched” is some feminist treatise, though. It’s mostly a silly sitcom in which magic goes awry, leading to ridiculous situations that are always resolved in 25 minutes. At least until the show starts repeating itself in its final seasons, the humor is a refreshing mix of clever and goofy, with creative uses for magic that put the characters in absurd scenarios, allowing them to reveal inner thoughts and feelings. Plus, there’s plenty of physical comedy, at which both Montgomery and York excel.
‘Bewitched’ builds a world of offbeat magical characters
As entertaining as Samantha and Darrin are, “Bewitched” wouldn’t work without Endora, who literally pops in whenever she pleases, to deliver snide commentary about Samantha’s marriage and the husband whose name she always mangles. Moorehead is a classic Hollywood star who made her screen debut in “Citizen Kane,” and she brings her full talent and experience to Endora, whose every utterance is dripping with sarcastic contempt.
Endora is just as much a progressive woman as Samantha, unencumbered by obligations to any men — including Samantha’s father — and baffled by the constraints that her daughter wants to live by. She uses her magic freely and enthusiastically, living a life of hedonistic pleasure without any regrets.
Even her frustration with Darrin is playful, giving her a sense of purpose and a way to exercise her creativity. If she actually succeeded in getting rid of him, she might feel a bit lost.
Samantha’s extended magical family grows over the course of the series, including various one-off cousins, aunts and uncles, as well as recurring characters like Uncle Arthur (Paul Lynde) and Samantha’s doppelganger cousin Serena (also Montgomery). The more relatives the show introduces, the more it paints a weird, multifaceted portrait of a magical world existing just beyond the Stephens’ unassuming home.
‘Bewitched’ is one of the all-time great sitcoms
All of the sly social commentary and oddball world-building is great, but what makes “Bewitched” stand the test of time is its pitch-perfect delivery of the sitcom basics. It’s easy to drop into any of the show’s 250-plus episodes and immediately understand the characters and their relationships, and to laugh at the latest crazy situation they’ve gotten into. The core ensemble works perfectly in sync, which is partly why the show loses its way without York.
The writing is sharp and inventive, and the jokes are just as funny now as they were 60 years ago. It’s easy to cringe at the regressive portrayal of families in some vintage sitcoms, but “Bewitched” has aged remarkably well, while still offering a fascinating snapshot of the changing times in the 1960s. Samantha is also just as dazzling now as she was then.
What drew me to “Bewitched” as a wide-eyed kid still draws me in as a jaded adult, and now it has a chance to draw in a whole new set of viewers.
All eight seasons of “Bewitched” are now streaming on Hulu.
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