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(More customer reviews)I believe the one thing above all else that really made the classic series "Bewitched", so special was the near perfect chemistry between actress Elizabeth Montgomery and actor Dick York as the beautiful housewife witch Samantha and her often harried but always loving husband Darrin. This well thought out teaming of two performers who were so compatible together and who actually seemed to be like a real husband and wife on screen certainly helped to carry "Bewitched", to the incredible success it enjoyed right from Episode One. By the beginning of Season Five, which is now happily being released onto DVD, the classic comedy series had really hit its full stride. With its ratings still high and with the show still collecting an annual batch of Emmy nominations the future for "Bewitched", looked very bright indeed. Season Five despite being very entertaining, as every true fan will know unfortunately has a dark side to it in that Dick York's ongoing back problems meant that he began to miss episodes as the show progressed through its fourth year and on into the fifth. About half way through Season Five with Dick York's health problems growing worse with him often unable to perform, the character of Darrin was repeatedly written out of many of the stories thus loosing that famed "Sam and Darrin", basis to the whole story. His characters absense was usually explained away by having Darrin "away on business", during the episode. Unfortunately York's health crisis didn't improve and he was forced to leave the series all together before the end of the season. It wasn't certain whether he would return for Season Six at that time which explains why an earlier filmed episode "Samantha and Darrin in Mexico City", was held back and shown as the last episode of Season Five.
Despite the tragedies going on behind the scenes during this season on "Bewitched", for the most part it's a terrific season with some wonderful episodes, a few of which even tackle some quite serious social issues that are timely even today. Ironically enough in the light of Dick York's declining health some of the earlier episodes in Season Five such as "Samantha's Wedding Present", and especially the classic "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" in my belief contain some of his greatest and very funniest work and give no indication of the terrible agony he was usually in with his back at this late stage of his involvement with "Bewitched".
Season Five of "Bewitched", holds some real favourites for me and a few of what I feel are the standout episodes are listed below.
"Samantha's Wedding Present", which introduces a more tanned and blonde Elizabeth Montgomery in a story borrowing heavily from the Sci Fi classic "The Incredible Shrinking Man", wherby Endora shrinks Darrin down to miniature size which causes him some harrowing experiences when he encounters the Kravitz's over sized new dog and is captured by an Irish drunk who thinks Darrin is a Leprechaun who he'll only release when he grants him three wishes.
"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall", a great favourite of mine with an absolutely hilarious performance by Dick York when Endora zaps a vanity spell on him making him the most egocentric and vain person imaginable. The sight of Dick York swishing around and camping it up in a Gold Lame Suit, hippy beads and Elvis-like sideburns will have you laughing out loud.
"Samantha's Super Maid", a great performance by Mabel Albertson as the interfering Mrs Stephens Snr. who forces Samantha to hire a new maid much to her and Darrin's opposition considering the witchcraft happening in the house all the time. Endora and Samantha join forces to undo Mrs Stephen's plans to "give Samantha more time away from home duties to socialise with the people who can help boost Darrin up the ladder of success".
"Going Ape", An episode Dick York missed but a very funny story of Tabitha changing an ape into a man who Larry feels has great potential for McMann and Tate's latest ad campaign. Desite his initial reluctance to allow Tabitha to change him back the Man/Ape gets bored with all the attention and with Samantha's help literally "goes ape", in the television studio causing complete mayhem and forcing Larry to fire him.
"Tabitha's Weekend", Another episode without Dick York but a great family domestic story when Phyllis attempts to have Tabitha stay for the weekend much to Samantha's opposition. Phyllis' plans however go astray when Endora and Samantha both also turn up causing all sorts of domestic tensions especially between long time rivals Endora and Phyllis. The resulting mayhem causes Phyllis to develop one of her famous "sick headaches".
"The Battle of Burning Oak", a wonderful story and another great favourite of mine where Endora turns Darrin into a terrible snob who aspires to join the exclusive Burning Oak Country Club. However when Samantha learns of the type of discrimination and "screening" used to gain membership, at the club she sets out to teach the snobs a very humbling lesson in tolerance and acceptance of others regardless of creed, colour, or status, with hilarious results. Samantha's catty lunch with the snobby "ladies", at the club is a comic highlight.
"Daddy Does His Thing", not really a great episode but significant to all "Bewitched", buffs in that this was the final episode Dick York actually filmed before collapsing with a massive seizure. Quite heart breaking to watch as you can clearly see for the first time how terribly ill Dick York was during its filming.
"Samantha and Darrin in Mexico City", an earlier episode held back to finish the season off with a Dick York appearance. Complications arise for Darrin when Endora casts a spell that makes him disappear everytime he attempts to speak Spanish to a potential client group while in Mexico City. Samantha saves the day with a few spells of her own that allows Darrin to deliver a long dinner speech in both English and Spanish.
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Bewitched - The Complete Fifth Season (1964)
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