Was Darrin Stephens Incompetent? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-05-2010, 10:31 PM

Elizabeth Montgomery is an intelligent and incredibly beautiful woman. Plus she has magical powers that could grant your every wish. So, who does she choose as a mate? A neurotic moron who won’t let her do magic. He’s not even all that good at his job – Larry Tate is constantly threatening to have him fired. That is, until Samantha can save his incompetent ass once again.

http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com/20...usible-tv.html

dakert · 09-05-2010, 10:44 PM

With your (dead on) analysis the show should have been canceled after the first season.
I think there might be more to the show for it to last 8 years

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Elizabeth Montgomery is an intelligent and incredibly beautiful woman. Plus she has magical powers that could grant your every wish. So, who does she choose as a mate? A neurotic moron who won’t let her do magic. He’s not even all that good at his job – Larry Tate is constantly threatening to have him fired. That is, until Samantha can save his incompetent ass once again.

http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com/20...usible-tv.html

catlover79 · 09-06-2010, 02:27 AM

Well, I think the chemistry between EM an DY went a long way in making Sam and Darrin's love believable. Plus, I always perceived Larry as the dopey one, not the other way around. Darrin wasn't a "yes" man to the clients like Larry was. Darrin had strong opinions and wasn't afraid to let the clients know he didn't always agree with them. THAT'S why Larry would always fire him (and then re-hire him because he didn't have the people skills that Darrin did).

As far as his marriage with Samantha - she'd had warlock boyfriends before and none of them had ever worked out. Obviously, she was looking for something different. Darrin, despite his awkwardness and temper, was at heart a sweet and loving husband. He loved Samantha with all his heart and would do anything in his power for her. He was a good father and provider. What woman (mortal or witch) wouldn't respond to that?

novarrofan · 09-06-2010, 06:36 AM

Well said Catlover and I would never refer to Darrin as being a neurotic moron. In the pilot he is referred to by one of Sheila's dinner guests as "one of the brightestest young men on Madison Avenue" and time and time again Darrin saved Larry's bacon in deals with clients. In one episode where Larry was under a truth spell he admitted he would never be able to get by without Darrin's skills even though he often used to fire him in anger. The fact that Larry always turned up at Morning Glory Circle trying to get Darrin back with McMann and Tate says alot about how he was viewed by others. Unlike certain others opinions here the Dick York Darrin wasn't always mad at Samantha and I agree with you that he was a loving husband , many episodes showed him having great affection for Tabitha. he wasn't flashy like Sam's old warlock boyfriends and I think that's what appealed to Samantha.. It must also be remembered that most of the mishaps and chaotic situations Darrin found himself in in the office in front of clients that reflected badly on his work were due to a spell being cast on him by a member of Sam's family and would never have occured had he not married into a magical family.. Incompetent? No way!! The fact that Darrin hung in there through one embarrasing situation after another showed great strength of character in my belief as well as a real love for Samantha no matter what happened. Sam and Darrin (Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York) were one of the great if not greatest love stories of 1960's television.

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Well, I think the chemistry between EM an DY went a long way in making Sam and Darrin's love believable. Plus, I always perceived Larry as the dopey one, not the other way around. Darrin wasn't a "yes" man to the clients like Larry was. Darrin had strong opinions and wasn't afraid to let the clients know he didn't always agree with them. THAT'S why Larry would always fire him (and then re-hire him because he didn't have the people skills that Darrin did).

As far as his marriage with Samantha - she'd had warlock boyfriends before and none of them had ever worked out. Obviously, she was looking for something different. Darrin, despite his awkwardness and temper, was at heart a sweet and loving husband. He loved Samantha with all his heart and would do anything in his power for her. He was a good father and provider. What woman (mortal or witch) wouldn't respond to that?

DemandYourPickle · 09-06-2010, 11:00 AM

Incompetent?! Moron?!?! How could you say such a thing?! He is not!

Tap Dancer · 09-06-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Elizabeth Montgomery is an intelligent and incredibly beautiful woman. Plus she has magical powers that could grant your every wish. So, who does she choose as a mate? A neurotic moron who won’t let her do magic.

Actually, that would be Samantha - not Elizabeth.

catlover79 · 09-06-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tap Dancer

Actually, that would be Samantha - not Elizabeth.

That's right!!

catlover79 · 09-06-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novarrofan

The fact that Darrin hung in there through one embarrasing situation after another showed great strength of character in my belief as well as a real love for Samantha no matter what happened. Sam and Darrin (Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York) were one of the great if not greatest love stories of 1960's television.

I think they were one of the greatest love stories in all sitcom history, especially the 60s. In that time period, I think the only other couples that came close to them were Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore, as well as Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman of IDOJ.

I think it was a smart move to start the show with the wedding/honeymoon. We get to see the marriage right from the beginning and the adjustments they have to make. To me, the selling point was not watching them get together, but STAYING together despite interfering in-laws (both the witchly and mortal), Larry Tate, and Gladys Kravitz's constant snooping. Who doubts that Samantha and Darrin were deeply in love? See the pics:

Jude The Obscure · 09-06-2010, 02:06 PM

Darrin was a success before Samantha...in fact many of Darrin's job problems came as a result of Endora's interference, which then usually resulted in Darrin and Sam figuring out a way to win the client. And Larry, if anyone, was the incompetent--how many times he gave to Darrin the hard to please clients and also took the bows for when Darrin (and sometimes with Sam's help) actually saved the day?

catlover79 · 09-06-2010, 02:07 PM

^ My point exactly!!!

Yooch · 09-06-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Well, I think the chemistry between EM an DY went a long way in making Sam and Darrin's love believable. Plus, I always perceived Larry as the dopey one, not the other way around. Darrin wasn't a "yes" man to the clients like Larry was. Darrin had strong opinions and wasn't afraid to let the clients know he didn't always agree with them. THAT'S why Larry would always fire him (and then re-hire him because he didn't have the people skills that Darrin did).

As far as his marriage with Samantha - she'd had warlock boyfriends before and none of them had ever worked out. Obviously, she was looking for something different. Darrin, despite his awkwardness and temper, was at heart a sweet and loving husband. He loved Samantha with all his heart and would do anything in his power for her. He was a good father and provider. What woman (mortal or witch) wouldn't respond to that?

Think you hit the nail on the head, Monika

DemandYourPickle · 09-06-2010, 11:52 PM

Catlover79, the pictures are beautiful!

DemandYourPickle · 09-07-2010, 12:49 AM

Besides, he only "yells" at her about her magic is because he loves her and cares about her. If he didn't care, he'd make her zap up everything without a second thought. Haven't you ever seen "I Confess"? or "A Is For Aardvark"? It's no fun if you just zap up a drink for your husband, or make your wife zap up a pretty dress that you didn't surprise her with, without even saying, "I love you"! They want to enjoy their love...not..."zap" it. (I'm not good with words...

) But that's how it is with them...

catlover79 · 09-07-2010, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DemandYourPickle

Catlover79, the pictures are beautiful!

Thank you - I found them on random image searches.

catlover79 · 09-07-2010, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooch

Think you hit the nail on the head, Monika

Thank you, Gene!!

09-05-2010, 10:31 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was Darrin Stephens Incompetent? Elizabeth Montgomery is an intelligent and incredibly beautiful woman. Plus she has magical powers that could grant your every wish. So, who does she choose as a mate? A neurotic moron who won’t let her do magic. He’s not even all that good at his job – Larry Tate is constantly threatening to have him fired. That is, until Samantha can save his incompetent ass once again. http://my-retrospace.blogspot.com/20...usible-tv.html Attached Images
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09-06-2010, 02:27 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Well, I think the chemistry between EM an DY went a long way in making Sam and Darrin's love believable. Plus, I always perceived Larry as the dopey one, not the other way around. Darrin wasn't a "yes" man to the clients like Larry was. Darrin had strong opinions and wasn't afraid to let the clients know he didn't always agree with them. THAT'S why Larry would always fire him (and then re-hire him because he didn't have the people skills that Darrin did). As far as his marriage with Samantha - she'd had warlock boyfriends before and none of them had ever worked out. Obviously, she was looking for something different. Darrin, despite his awkwardness and temper, was at heart a sweet and loving husband. He loved Samantha with all his heart and would do anything in his power for her. He was a good father and provider. What woman (mortal or witch) wouldn't respond to that?
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09-06-2010, 11:00 AM	#5
DemandYourPickle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2010 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 184	Incompetent?! Moron?!?! How could you say such a thing?! He is not!

09-06-2010, 02:06 PM	#9
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Darrin was a success before Samantha...in fact many of Darrin's job problems came as a result of Endora's interference, which then usually resulted in Darrin and Sam figuring out a way to win the client. And Larry, if anyone, was the incompetent--how many times he gave to Darrin the hard to please clients and also took the bows for when Darrin (and sometimes with Sam's help) actually saved the day?

09-06-2010, 02:07 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ My point exactly!!!

09-06-2010, 11:52 PM	#12
DemandYourPickle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2010 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 184	Catlover79, the pictures are beautiful!

09-07-2010, 12:49 AM	#13
DemandYourPickle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2010 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 184	Besides, he only "yells" at her about her magic is because he loves her and cares about her. If he didn't care, he'd make her zap up everything without a second thought. Haven't you ever seen "I Confess"? or "A Is For Aardvark"? It's no fun if you just zap up a drink for your husband, or make your wife zap up a pretty dress that you didn't surprise her with, without even saying, "I love you"! They want to enjoy their love...not..."zap" it. (I'm not good with words... ) But that's how it is with them...