A is for Aardvark

Season 1, Episode 17, Aired
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Episode Summary

Darrin sprains his ankle and is confined to bed with his foot in a cast. Wearying of running up and down stairs on errands for Darrin, Samantha suggests he use her power of witchcraft during the emergency. Endora warns Samantha that she is making a mistake. After his initial wishes are granted, Darrin, as Endora had predicted, becomes drunk with power. After showering Samantha with gifts, Darrin not only decides to use his power to get a larger home, but also tells Larry Tate, his boss, that he is retiring so that he and Samantha can take a trip around the world. Samantha's initial plan to stop Darrin by showering him with new luxuries fails. Then Darrin gives Samantha flowers and a wristwatch he has purchased with his own money. From Samantha's happy reaction, Darrin realizes these gifts mean more to her than all the others. Samantha happily agrees to his request that she take back his powers of witchcraft.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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  • When Darrin is confined to bed with a sprained ankle, poor Samantha is exhausted from running up and down the stairs to take care of him, so she decides that she must use witchcraft to make her life easier.moreless

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Lady_Lancaster, Feb 26, 2011 Report Abuse
    Darrin proves to be a difficult and demanding patient when he sprains his ankle and must stay in bed. Before long, he has run Samantha ragged with all of his demands and, after 27 trips up and down the stairs, she has had enough! In her exhaustion, she casts a spell which makes the house comply with Darrin's wishes, including making his lunch and taking him pencils to do crossword puzzles. However, Endora (Agnes Moorehead) warns her daughter that all of the 'witchy' power will go to his head and she is soon proved right when Darrin uses witchcraft to buy himself and Samantha expensive gifts and pland wildly exotic overseas trips for them.

    When Darrin tells his boss, Larry Tate, (David White) that he is going to be taking early retirement, Samantha realises that enough is enough and that Darrin must be stopped. At first, she bestows a mountain of extra luxuries on him, but when that doesn't work and she finds herself out of options, she is delighted and relieved when he gives her some simple gifts which he has purchased with his own money.moreless

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  • Samantha realizes the danger of giving Darrin too much power too soon when she automates the house after he sprains his ankle.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By alison528, May 01, 2010 Report Abuse
    Of all of the "Bewitched" episodes, this tops the list of all of my favorites. There are many reasons that it does. First, the chemistry between Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery is the most heartfelt in this episode. Most of the others went for straight comedy, which is fine, but this had more heart than many of the other episodes would. This was also a testiment as to how much Samantha really loved Darrin and how much she was willing to sacrifice for him. In turn, I love the gift he gives her, proving how much he is devoted to her. Both actors really deliver solid performances, and for once, the character of Endora is not too overused her when she correctly assesses the danger of having too much power at one's fingertips. I also loved the real tears that Montgomery cries; that scene always makes me cry when I see it. In the rest of the series, sadly, Montgomery only cries as the result of magic. The black and white film stock used also should be commended. It delivers a crisp, clean picture which contributes to the atmosphere and the emotional content in the episode just perfectly. A tour-de-force all the way around!moreless

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  • Darrin breaks his ankle going outside to lock a door.When he runs Sam ragged,she has the house cooperate with him.Soon he decides that witchcraft is okay,becomes materialistic.Sam goes along to discourage him,and he soon snaps out of it.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By drwoowoocl, Aug 25, 2006 Report Abuse
    This is,without a doubt the best episode of Bewitched in its entire run.The emotions expressed are real,and it is probaly Elizabeth Montgomerys finest moment.One theme that runs throughout the entire run of this series is Sams determination to adapt to mortal life,by her own choice.And that choice is never shown any clearer than here.When Darrin in running her ragged,she has the house cooperate with him.Its really more for him than for her,though it does help her out.She still continues to do her housework the mortal way.This episode also shows how human Darrin really is.Endora is right when she warns Sam about giving Darrin a taste of the proverbial apple,because she is a lot more insightful than she gets credit for.What Endora doesnt seem to understand though,is how much Darrin loves Sam,and vice versa.And in the end,it is that love which saves the day.Elizabeth Montgomery cries real tears and it is incredibly moving.Ida Lupino directed this episode,and she manages to do a brillant job setting the tone with the music,and the staging.Ive always wondered why Lupino never directed any other episodes in this series.This episode is quite definative of the black and white shows.I dont know if it wouldve had the same impact in color.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • If Samantha can turn back time to correct a situation, why doesn't she do it more often when in a tough jam? Making Samantha this powerful for one episode is a plotting error that makes other plots less believable. Only a few episodes ago, Samantha can only do small things with her magic. Edit
    • Humans cannot perform or learn witchcraft. That's frequently mentioned, particularly in "The Joker is a Card". However, in this episode, Samantha casts a spell such that the house, and all that is in it, cooperates with Darrin and his wishes. This way he is able to do magic without destroying the consistency. Edit

  • Notes

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    • This episode was filmed on November 18, 1964. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • (Darrin just sent down a paper flier and got a pencil, flying by magic, back) Samantha: Darrin, before you get angry. Please be fair. You sailed something down to me, right? It was only fair, that I sail a little something back up to you. Darrin: (argues) What I did was not only extremely clever and humorous, it was aerodynamically sound. What you did, was witchcraft. Edit
    • (Samantha just made it possible that all the items in the house cooperate with Darrin, she encourages him to give it a try) Darrin : (with a strong voice) Banana... come! ...Darrin. Samantha: You don't have to sound like Tarzan. Darrin: Well I never talked to a banana before. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • A Is For Aardvark very possibly refers to the first entry in the old grade school readers used to teach students the alphabet. Edit

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