Season 1, Episode 2: Be it Ever So Mortgaged
The second episode of Bewitched, originally broadcast on 9-24-1964. See the TV.com episode summary.
There are two major, related developments in this second episode in the series.
1. Darrin springs the idea of buying a house on Samantha. He in fact has a particular house in mind, one he's already scouted out, in a new development: 1164 Morning Glory Circle. Samantha and Endora subsequently visit the property and play around with its appearance, adding some landscaping and temporarily furnishing the downstairs. Later Samantha and Darrin look at the house together, and they determine to buy it.
2. Viewers are introduced to Gladys and Abner Kravitz. When we meet her, Gladys (Gladys #1, played by Alice Pearce) is watching Samantha and Endora from her window. And in a pattern that will become familiar, she sees inexplicable things (the addition of landscaping to the property), complains about it to Abner, and he thinks she's nuts. We're in fact told that she's on medication, though we're not given specifics.
Abner, meanwhile, is sitting on his couch doing a crossword puzzle. His first line of the series, to Gladys, is: "Leave me alone. I'm retired." Later, after Gladys continues to "see things," he forces medicine on her with a funny line:
Gladys: "No more. It's making me nauseous."
Abner: "Better nauseous than crazy, Gladys. Open!"
The Kravitzes tie in very nicely with a third element of this episode, the increasing tension over the fact that Darrin and Endora have yet to meet. They're both anxious about it. Endora takes off before they can meet in the new house. And Darrin's nervousness is apparent. When Gladys knocks on the door, he assumes it's Endora, and goes off to meet her.
Really, Darrin's intentions toward Endora at this point are quite admirable. This is interesting because of what we know happens in their relationship. But when he opens the door to Gladys Kravitz--whom he thinks is Endora--he says, "Mother!" and kisses her and hugs her. Of course, Gladys screams and runs away. It's a pretty funny scene.
Some random comments:
- This episode, like the first, begins with a voice over.
- When Endora is in the kitchen with Samantha discussing cake decorating, she's reading "Harpies Bizarre" magazine. I wonder how many people caught that pre-DVD.
- Endora spies on Samantha and Darrin early in the show. Sam can see her but Darrin can't, and Endora makes funny faces behind his back. Sam acts unusually because of this. Darrin gets annoyed with her and complains, "I've had more passionate kisses from my father!" Later he complains, "You were friendlier on our first date!" Endora looks aghast at the prospect of Samantha having been naughty, and she mouths "Samantha!" Sam, in defense of her virtue, says to Darrin, "I was not!"
- The episode ends with Endora sitting on the roof of the Stephens's new house, giving her prediction for the fate of their marriage: "Believe me. It'll never work." It's interesting how Endora-centric these first two episodes have been.
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