Everyone's favorite 60s sitcom is riddled with problematic elements. From everyone's obsession with wearing furs (an animal rights activist's fashion nightmare) to the show's failure to address any real world issues besides husbands' eternal conflict with mothers-in-law (Civil Rights Movement, anyone??), "Bewitched" is easy to criticize. While there are some redeeming features (see: Samantha and Darrin being one of the first TV couples to share a bed, several central dynamic female characters, etc.) it's always important to be critical of any and all media that we consume - even the classics.
One of the most cringeworthy components of the show is how controlling Darrin is of Samantha's witchcraft, even from the very beginning of their marriage. As soon as Sam tells Darrin about her true identity, he becomes faint and upset. A few days later, the couple reconciles under the condition that Samantha will suppress her natural self and, in Darrin's words: "learn to be a suburban housewife."
An extreme example of Darrin's intolerance is his behavior in Season One Episode Three, "It Shouldn't Happen To A Dog." Samantha and Darrin host a dinner party in order for Darrin to secure an account for his advertising agency. The client, Mr. Barker, after a few too many drinks, very nearly assaults Samantha when she is alone in the gazebo. Sam defends herself by twitching her nose, turning Mr. Barker into a dog to match his animalistic behavior. When Darrin finds out about the debacle he is furious - but not with Mr. Barker. Darrin yells at Samantha, claiming that Samantha's violation of Mr. Barker (turning him into a dog) is worse that Mr. Barker's attempted assault. "Barker practically attacked me, but that doesn't seem to matter as long as you get him to sign with your agency," Samantha says, growing irritated at Darrin's insolence.
Darrin tells her that she must be exaggerating (denying the experience of women and declaring them hysterical all in one fell swoop) and that "maybe Barker had a few too many, but any common, ordinary housewife would know how to handle it." He then completes the 'Common Misogynist's Guide to Victim Blaming' by insinuating that it was the way Samantha was dressed that provoked the attack. Sam asks Darrin why he is so busy defending Mr. Barker and not her, and he says, decisively, "Well, you're just a wife, he's a livelihood."
This is only the third episode of the series.
The entire show consists mainly of this pattern. Sam slips up and does some 'hocus pocus,' Darrin gets irrationally angry, Sam has to undo whatever she's done and apologize. The couple always makes up even though Darrin never stops trying to suppress Samantha's talents.
The premise of the show revolves around a man trying to control a woman's actions. The pattern continues with Darrin's treatment of both Samantha's mother, Endora, her cousin, Serena, and her Aunt Clara. Whenever Samantha's family is around Darrin (I should point out that Darin's intolerance only extends to Sam's female family members; Darrin never tries to control Samantha's father), they are forced to suppress their true capabilities because Darrin is uncomfortable with women being more powerful than he is. His version of masculinity cannot handle that his wife is perfectly capable of living prosperously (and in my opinion, more prosperously) without him.
I'm not saying that "Bewitched" is now ruined for everyone and that I hate the show and everything in it. I love "Bewitched," and it will forever be one of my favorite TV shows. However, I must point out that Darrin's treatment of Samantha really always irked me. Whenever Sam packed her bags and changed into her witch robes to fly away with Endora and leave Darrin forever, there was always the little feminist inside of me saying, "Do it!"
