The series, of course, centers around striking and
benevolent witch Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery), and her mortal husband Darrin
(Dick York, above left), a talented but somewhat stodgy and conservative advertising
executive obsessed with all outward appearances of normalcy. That the couple
met and fell in love in the first place is a bit of a dubious stretch, but
within the clearly established parameters of the show their differences and
petty frictions do certainly make for some entertaining scenarios. Abetting all
this madcap turmoil is Samantha’s meddling, independent-minded mother, Endora
(Agnes Moorehead), who can’t believe her daughter would ever subjugate herself
to Darrin. Compulsive practical joker Uncle Arthur (Paul Lynde, above right) also pops up
throughout to stir up trouble and have some fun.

While the series was already a ratings bonanza, the 33
episodes here comprise one of its two breakout seasons, critically-speaking; Montgomery
and Moorehead were both coming off of Emmy nominations for their work, and the series picked up another five Emmy nods, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series. The season kicks off with the famous “Long Live the Queen” episode, in which Samantha is appointed the successor of a departing witch matriarch. In “My, What Big Ears You Have,” featured on the cover, Endora accuses Darrin of seeing another woman when he tries to buy Samantha a surprise gift. Other fun episodic moments
of note include “Birdies, Bogies and Baxter,” in which Darrin becomes a great golfer but almost loses his job, and “The No-Harm Charm,” in which Uncle Arthur convinces Darrin that a lucky bauble will protect him. Certainly a number of episodes (“No Zip in My Zap,” “Snob in the Grass,” “To Twitch or Not to Twitch”) till the same well-trodden ground of Samantha’s romantic jealousy and Darrin’s oscillating unease with his wife’s powers, but the pleasant personalities and chemistry of Montgomery and York help pull the show along.

Like previous releases, Bewitched:
The Complete Fourth Season is presented in 1.33:1 full screen, over four
discs housed in two slimline plastic cases in turn housed in an attractive
cardboard slipcase. Also as with the first three compilations, the original
credit sequence touting the show’s sponsors has been replaced with the generic,
syndicated opening. Spanish and Portuguese audio tracks are included along with optional subtitles in those languages. There are unfortunately no DVD extras in the way of audio
commentaries, interviews of reminiscence or the like. Even some bit of
backslapping, quasi-critical contextual overview would have been welcome. Instead,
you unfortunately get only trailers for other Sony classic television releases. B (Show)
D+ (Disc)