I have read in books that EM's performance level was low, but I don't necessarily see it. While her hair is longer, straighter, and blonder, and her skirts shorter and clothes hipper, I don't see a dramatic shift in her performance. Am I missing something.
I really like the European shows, and Serena's Richcraft is a series high for me. I also think TV or Not TV is GREAT! Also like the Hansel and Gretel show. Samantha's Earthbound has always been a favorite of mine too. I have to say I really dig the 8th season, with all its new sound effects, clothing and hair styles, and a dozen or so really really good shows.
Most of the rewrites are bit of clunkers for me. I wonder if the decision to blatantly rewrite episodes had to do with color rebroadcasts. ABC was already in the habit of only running the color episodes weekdays and on Saturdays, so I wonder if they thought the B&W may never get shown again? Of course, that doesn't explain the George Washington shows.
I guess most, including me, might complain of repetition, but that is an issue throughout the whole series. Bewitched, more than any show I have ever watched or seen, had a bad habit of repeated jokes, sometimes line for line, as well as comedy bits.
Who knows why? And obviously, the show did rely on more of a "spell of the week" concept as it aged, but I still think some of Season 8's episodes are classic. I was glad the Kravitz were not used too, as they had overused that welcome since season 4.
My only complaint about season 8, since it was the last, was the show missed a good opportunity to wrap up some oft-used story lines. It would have been nice to see Darren and Sam come to a head over the harsh way he spoke about her relatives. I mean, what if Sam talked so severely and rudely to his relatives. It seems that Darren's bad attitude was the instigator for a lot of Endora's mischief. And, Samantha, really, tell your freaking family to use the doorbell or ELSE. LOL. Really unfair for Darren to have to deal with those continual privacy issues. Could have made some interesting episodes. Personally,
I kind of figured that Darren and Sam would get divorced in the long term! There. I SAID IT!
Wow, Greg, that's a shocker! Hmmm, they did seem at each other's throats, didn't they?
WHICH IS WHY I'm going to say I really don't like Season 8. It makes me sad--all the bickering and grumpiness. That's just not Samantha to me. What made the show special was her sweetness, and the foundation of the whole series was that unbeatable love Darrin and Samantha had for each other. Of course, people (and witches!) change over time, and she couldn't keep that naivete and innocence forever. But the level of crabbiness in Season 8 continues to disappoint me. And the constant rewrites of old episodes is just depressing.
The only thing I liked about Season 8 was watching the kids grow up. Really enjoyed that.
Not gonna lie, kinda wanted Sam and Darrin divorced by this point too. Their affection for each other seemed long gone, and Samantha appeared tired of her life. I don't know if Liz was bored by the constant rewrites and unoriginal episodes, or if it was an acting choice to make Sam herself growing bored of mortals?
I don't have a problem with this season, rather I enjoy making up my own head canons for why certain things took place. I enjoyed Samantha standing up for herself and being casual about magic. I loved seeing the kids grow. So, in my mind, Samantha waited for the kids to get older and then left.
No, it's not a fairy tale ending but I don't think it was ever meant to be that way and nooooow I am going into a subject I could ramble on about.