Analyzing Bewitched - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

folbartman · 11-25-2013, 02:41 PM

I am enjoying the show as an adult as I have purchased the complete series. I have noticed once you start watching a show back to back (rotate my dvd series often) you get more out of it rather than spanning a series over a couple years or getting a rerun on TV every now and then. There's a lot going on I never noticed before. I find every character fascinating and noticed quite a bit.......

Samantha - She puts up with Darrin and his insensitivity too much... but as I see it their love conquers all their marital problems (Mortal vs Witch).

Darrin - His attitude is kind of annoying and is one of my least favorite characters. I find myself yelling shut up...... your gonna create more problems. I also find that he becomes a victim when witchcraft isn't even involved, blaming his problems on witchcraft. When it turns out in the end, Samantha has to help him because of his horrible behavior. He is hyprocritcal when it comes to witch craft. In the beginning he strictly forbid it, but now it seems it's okay for Sam to do witchcraft if he thinks its acceptable...... causes some tension in their marriage. Generalizing the womans role in the house, he is uncomfortable knowing he is probably one of the few men that can't control their wife. (unacceptable for that time period). Womens lib just getting started.

Larry - Money Hungry...... I can't count how many times he has fired Darrin, very selfish, all about me character.

Endora - I actually think she is a great character. She isn't that mean..... She creates problems for Samantha and Darrin hoping to have her daughter leave the mortal lifestyle she chose to live and come back to what 'Endora' thinks is best for her daughter. Endora get's back at Darrin because he flaps his mouth too much at her (one for which I think he deserves). Look at her relationship with Tabitha.... she is a great loving person underneath the rough exterior.

Mrs. Kravitz - Because of the years being a snoop and a busy body.... no one will believe her crazy stories about the Stephens. When will she learn that never will she be able to prove Samantha is a witch. What's funny about watching the show from beginning to end...... She does know that Samantha is a witch... proving it is hard for her to do... Poor Mrs. Kravitz. She has some angry thing towards Samantha, not Darrin.

Mrs. Stephens - Darrins Mom, she has the Mrs. Kravitz syndrome but to a lesser extent and truly believes she is hallucinating (I'm getting my headache again.... lol). She is a very untrusting person in regards to her relationship with Samantha, but she never cared for Samantha and her family from the beginning. It's all about her son. (selfish character).

Mr. Stephens - He eyeballs Endora on every visit and thinks his own wife is hallucinating...... more of a peace keeper between Darrin and Samantha and her family.

Aunt Clara - Truly a sweet, senile, elderly person. Goofs and mishaps are probably because of her age. She always supports Samantha and Darrin with their mixed marriage and you see a close bond between these two.

I never did see the true colors of Darrin and Larry until watching the show.... but it's funny to see how mean they become and they are always the victim on the show regardless if witchcraft is involved. I could have said a lot more about the characters but have learned so much by watching it back to back....... I am only up to the beginning of Season 6. I see recurring themes and always wonder.... how will they get out of this mess.... but they always do.

My favorite characters are Endora, Aunt Clara, and of course Samantha.

MichaelKeith · 11-26-2013, 01:09 PM

Bewitched was a well-written show. It had several key themes running through it as you suggested. I liked the whole show (at least the first five seasons). Even seasons 6 and 7 were pretty good to me, but by the last season(8), they were simply redoing episodes from the first couple of seasons. To me, the should have cancelled the show either after season 5 or after season 7.

missy's pop pop · 11-27-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

Bewitched was a well-written show. It had several key themes running through it as you suggested. I liked the whole show (at least the first five seasons). Even seasons 6 and 7 were pretty good to me, but by the last season(8), they were simply redoing episodes from the first couple of seasons. To me, the should have cancelled the show either after season 5 or after season 7.

The remarkable thing is that ABC wanted to continue "Bewitched" after the 1971-72 season for a ninth year (1972-73), despite low ratings. The common story is that Elizabeth Montgomery wanted to move on to other projects (and perhaps prove that she could do other things besides wiggling her nose). Much has been made about few of the '71-'72 episodes having the sparkle, as it were, of the earlier years.

I have read that supposedly Elizabeth began having an affair with one of the series' other directors (she of course was married to William Asher for years), and that led to the breakup of their marriage, and the end of the series. Interesting, too, that at the end of the last two seasons, the credits read "An Ashmont Production" (like "A Desilu Production')....

charlenez · 01-10-2014, 12:27 AM

Bewitched was a symbolic show about being gay and in the closet, or something else that you wanted hide from society for fear of being misjudged (like having a learning disability or a mental illness).

Bewitched was also symbolic about intermarriage.

biffbronson · 01-10-2014, 05:45 AM

Do you really believe that the creators of Bewitched had gays in mind at all when they conceived of the series? I don't think so at all. Mixed-marriages though I'll go along with, as in religious/ethnic/racial -- but to place GLBT into the Bewitched equation is not correct, in my opinion. Not gay-bashing at all, just looking at it objectively.

McGillicuddy · 01-10-2014, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

Bewitched was a well-written show. It had several key themes running through it as you suggested. I liked the whole show (at least the first five seasons). Even seasons 6 and 7 were pretty good to me, but by the last season(8), they were simply redoing episodes from the first couple of seasons. To me, the should have cancelled the show either after season 5 or after season 7.

I love the Salem, Massachusetts story arc in season 7. Wish that could have lasted longer.

11-25-2013, 02:41 PM	#1
folbartman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 16, 2003 Posts: 193	Analyzing Bewitched I am enjoying the show as an adult as I have purchased the complete series. I have noticed once you start watching a show back to back (rotate my dvd series often) you get more out of it rather than spanning a series over a couple years or getting a rerun on TV every now and then. There's a lot going on I never noticed before. I find every character fascinating and noticed quite a bit....... Samantha - She puts up with Darrin and his insensitivity too much... but as I see it their love conquers all their marital problems (Mortal vs Witch). Darrin - His attitude is kind of annoying and is one of my least favorite characters. I find myself yelling shut up...... your gonna create more problems. I also find that he becomes a victim when witchcraft isn't even involved, blaming his problems on witchcraft. When it turns out in the end, Samantha has to help him because of his horrible behavior. He is hyprocritcal when it comes to witch craft. In the beginning he strictly forbid it, but now it seems it's okay for Sam to do witchcraft if he thinks its acceptable...... causes some tension in their marriage. Generalizing the womans role in the house, he is uncomfortable knowing he is probably one of the few men that can't control their wife. (unacceptable for that time period). Womens lib just getting started. Larry - Money Hungry...... I can't count how many times he has fired Darrin, very selfish, all about me character. Endora - I actually think she is a great character. She isn't that mean..... She creates problems for Samantha and Darrin hoping to have her daughter leave the mortal lifestyle she chose to live and come back to what 'Endora' thinks is best for her daughter. Endora get's back at Darrin because he flaps his mouth too much at her (one for which I think he deserves). Look at her relationship with Tabitha.... she is a great loving person underneath the rough exterior. Mrs. Kravitz - Because of the years being a snoop and a busy body.... no one will believe her crazy stories about the Stephens. When will she learn that never will she be able to prove Samantha is a witch. What's funny about watching the show from beginning to end...... She does know that Samantha is a witch... proving it is hard for her to do... Poor Mrs. Kravitz. She has some angry thing towards Samantha, not Darrin. Mrs. Stephens - Darrins Mom, she has the Mrs. Kravitz syndrome but to a lesser extent and truly believes she is hallucinating (I'm getting my headache again.... lol). She is a very untrusting person in regards to her relationship with Samantha, but she never cared for Samantha and her family from the beginning. It's all about her son. (selfish character). Mr. Stephens - He eyeballs Endora on every visit and thinks his own wife is hallucinating...... more of a peace keeper between Darrin and Samantha and her family. Aunt Clara - Truly a sweet, senile, elderly person. Goofs and mishaps are probably because of her age. She always supports Samantha and Darrin with their mixed marriage and you see a close bond between these two. I never did see the true colors of Darrin and Larry until watching the show.... but it's funny to see how mean they become and they are always the victim on the show regardless if witchcraft is involved. I could have said a lot more about the characters but have learned so much by watching it back to back....... I am only up to the beginning of Season 6. I see recurring themes and always wonder.... how will they get out of this mess.... but they always do. My favorite characters are Endora, Aunt Clara, and of course Samantha.
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01-10-2014, 12:27 AM	#4
charlenez Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 09, 2014 Location: Toronto Posts: 19	ANYLIZING BEWITCHED Bewitched was a symbolic show about being gay and in the closet, or something else that you wanted hide from society for fear of being misjudged (like having a learning disability or a mental illness). Bewitched was also symbolic about intermarriage.

01-10-2014, 05:45 AM	#5
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,512	Do you really believe that the creators of Bewitched had gays in mind at all when they conceived of the series? I don't think so at all. Mixed-marriages though I'll go along with, as in religious/ethnic/racial -- but to place GLBT into the Bewitched equation is not correct, in my opinion. Not gay-bashing at all, just looking at it objectively.
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11-26-2013, 01:09 PM	#2
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Bewitched was a well-written show. It had several key themes running through it as you suggested. I liked the whole show (at least the first five seasons). Even seasons 6 and 7 were pretty good to me, but by the last season(8), they were simply redoing episodes from the first couple of seasons. To me, the should have cancelled the show either after season 5 or after season 7.