MovieChat Forums > Bewitched (1964) Discussion > Oedipus Hex

Oedipus Hex

posted 8 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
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I always enjoy this episode when I see it, and recognize it as part of that super VARIED
season three, which was the show's most creative year in my opinion.

Here, we have Endora suggesting that "Mortal men" are not driven and lazy, and, to "Prove"
her point, she casts the spell on the bottomless bowl of popcorn. Even though it's part of
the Endora-casts-a-spell on Darrin theme, this offering is a unique one, with so many great guest
actors and actresses. I also love the detail. In other words, the popcorn has the "lazy"
spell, but Endora hangs around to ZAP the men into CHOOSING to eat it. I love the
expressions on her face as she floats above the men, laughing her behind off.

I also love Larry here. David White was soooo good with his exasperated "What???" I also
love the befuddled look on his face when he says to the secretary, "His milkman just
chewed me out."

If only they could've come up with some scripts like this in season eight!

[–] [email protected] (6248) 8 years ago

Yes, a very funny episode! I recently bought seasons three and four and I hadn't gotten around to watching this one again. So I watched it yesterday.

Ned Glass as the milkman! One of the funniest character actors from back then. I'll always remember him from The Dick van Dyke Show as Buddy Sorrell's barber. Rob thought he was going bald and Buddy sent him to his barber who had a "sure fire cure" for baldness.

Was Endora trying to prove that mortal men are lazy? I always thought she was trying to prove to Samantha how annoying it would be to have Darrin home a lot more.

Sam was the one who said she'd like him to work less so she could see more of him. Endora seemed to think it would be a bad idea and he'd just get on her nerves.

Of course if Endora DID think mortal men were lazy, she was just contradicting her own criticism of mortals. There were a number of times when she was critical of humans for being greedy and chasing after money. She liked to point out to Sam how Darrin was neglecting her when he spent long hours at the office, especially when he had meeting with female clients and beautiful models for ad campaigns!

Endora was in no position to criticize anyway considering the men in their family didn't exactly toil away at jobs. Maurice always seemed to be on his way to a play, a concert or the opera. And Uncle Arthur lived to play practical jokes.

But I am just criticizing Endora's behavior here, not the episode. It was a rather unique offering. And the guys managed to disprove her point anyway, even with the bowl of hexed popcorn. They were having a fun, relaxing day and they still managed to raise money for the playground equipment.