Bewitched follows the unorthodox lives of Darrin (Dick York) and Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) Stephens. Samantha is no ordinary housewife, as she's a witch. Her relatives pop in and out of their home, causing humorous or catastrophic situations depending on the day.
Darrin often has to cover up his wife's witchcraft in front of clients and his boss Larry, and always manages to do so despite the odds. Endora (Agnes Moorehead) was usually the relative causing the most havoc, casting spells on Darrin without notice and against Sam's wishes. That said, here are the 10 worst things Endora did to Darrin.
Granted Darrin Three Wishes
On the surface, this seems like a nice thing for Endora to do, but it's really a way for her to test Darrin without his knowledge. Endora spends her time convincing Sam that Darrin's wished to avoid a business trip to Honolulu so he could look after a client, who happens to be a beautiful model. It gets worse when he accompanies her to Boston and then gets stuck during a freak snowstorm, and when she answers the phone in his hotel room as Sam calls.
Yet, Darrin had given his room to her and slept at the airport, innocent all along, though Sam comes close to leaving him until he proves to her his three wishes were never used. Endora had Sam convinced that Darrin wasn't faithful, and Darrin came close to losing his wife because of it. Too close a call there.
Gives Darrin A Perfect Memory
Darrin begins ing a little of everything in perfect detail, much to the consternation of those around him including Sam and his boss, to Endora's amusement. Endora had initially taunted Darrin by declaring mortals could not handle a perfect memory, and puts that theory to the test by granting Darrin an impeccable one without him knowing it.
Darrin's memory is a little too perfect as he begins correcting everyone else, and brings up an old fight between him and Sam. It's only when Sam figures out Endora's placed a spell on Darrin that the perfect memory is no more, but at least he's no longer acting like an annoying know-it-all in front of his boss, clients and wife.
Cursed Darrin To Be A Werewolf
Angry that Darrin won't allow Samantha to accompany her to a traditional Halloween ceremony, Endora gets petty and turns herself into a little girl and renders Darrin a werewolf, just when he's supposed to be entertaining a new potential client, no less!
Endora doesn't exactly have the best timing, and the fact that she takes out her pettiness just in time to threaten Darrin's job isn't her best moment. At least Darrin got a genuine Halloween experience out of it.
Rarely Called Darrin By His Real Name
Endora detests Darrin for being a mortal and for taking her daughter away. She calls him "Dawson, Dum-Dum, Durwood, Dumbo, Darwin" instead. Rarely does she ever call him by his actual name. She'll even refer to him as "what's-his-name."
The fact that she never acknowledged him was disrespectful, but that's just her style. At least she was honest about the contempt she held for him. And Darrin returned the feeling. Endora never calling Darrin by his real name was a recurring point of comedy on her part, but when you really consider it, it's actually a very thoughtless thing to do.
Summons An Old Boyfriend
Endora summons Sam's old boyfriend Rollo (Ron Randell), hoping to split up Sam and Darrin. Now, that's both cruel and petty, given that Sam is happily married and has a daughter.
Plus, there's a reason Sam broke up with Rollo. One of the best things about this episode is that Endora accidentally consumes a love potion meant for Samantha that Rollo cooked up, so she gets karma in the best way. Sam and Darrin were meant to be together, and despite everything, Endora never really does get that.
Labor Pains
While Samantha is pregnant with their first child, Darrin initially waits on her hand and foot. That is, until Larry gives him advice and a book that say otherwise, encouraging him to let Samantha be more active. Darrin switches gears and orders her around instead, so Endora decides to cast a spell on Darrin so he knows exactly what Samantha's going through in her pregnancy.
Though a little brutal to make a point, perhaps this act of Endora's was called for, and it stands out because instead of trying to break up their marriage, Endora casts the spell to get Darrin to sympathize with his wife.
Threatened The Relationship Of Darrin's Parents
Endora happens to be around on a few different occasions while Darrin's parents are also visiting. The first time she meets them, she amps up her charms and captures the attention of Darrin's father, much to Darrin's mother's horror. Darrin's mother feels threatened and acts out as a result, never really liking Endora given she feels Endora keeps trying to steal her husband.
Now, it's okay to have a nice relationship with the in-laws, but too close is too close. Any more and Endora might have severely wrecked the marriage of Darrin's parents, which is pretty cruel on top of her usual shenanigans towards Darrin.
Gave Darrin Big Ears
Endora tests Samantha's confidence in Darrin by placing a spell on him in which his ears will grow each time he tells a lie. Unfortunately for Darrin, it's to his detriment as he's trying to surprise Sam with a brand-new rocking chair. He's implicating himself for the wrong reasons, one of the lies coming right off the bat as his ears grow mere moments after Endora's placed the spell on him.
When Endora is proven wrong, she takes the spell off, but Darrin tricks Sam into thinking Endora hasn't quite taken the spell off, which Sam doesn't find the least bit funny. Abnormal ears seems a touch much to prove a point, but at least Darrin found a way to laugh about it.
Tried To Turn Him Into A Warlock
Darrin doesn't like witchcraft. He doesn't condone it and prefers to earn and do things for himself, and wants his wife and children to follow suit. Serena, Sam's lookalike cousin (also played by Montgomery) and Endora decide to change Darrin into a warlock anyway by going back in time and slipping a potion to his ancestor, Darrin the Bold.
Sam figures out what her relatives are up to and goes back to undo it, but not before Darrin experiences his first stages of "wishcraft." Poor guy can never escape witchcraft, much as he wants to, so it's a good thing he loves Samantha as much as he does and vice versa.
Switched Sam With Serena
After Darrin breaks up Sam's meeting with her subjects (as she's the Queen), Endora schemes to get rid of Darrin once and for all, and enlists Serena to help her conduct her bidding. While Sam's off volunteering and unaware, Serena hangs around the house wreaking havoc, acting as though she's miffed at Darrin and starts using witchcraft freely, leaving Darrin to wonder if she's lost her mind.
When he figures out it's Serena, Sam arrives just in time to get a pie in the face from Darrin, who mistakes her for Serena. Darrin gets a pie in the face from Sam, Endora gets a pie to the face from Darrin, and Sam gives Serena some pie to the face as well, making for a humorous end to what is one of Endora's most devious acts to break up Sam and Darrin.