Ep 6. Little Pitchers Have Big Fears

In Bewitched season 1 episode 6, titled "Little Pitchers Have Big Fears," Samantha tries to teach her nephew, Tabitha, not to use her powers in front of strangers. With Halloween approaching, Tabitha becomes scared of the things she sees on television and insists on sleeping with her parents. Despite Samantha's reassurances, Tabitha is convinced that witches are portrayed negatively in the media and that people will never accept her and her family for who they are. In an attempt to quell her fears, Samantha shows Tabitha how she uses her powers for good and even turns herself into a pumpkin to prove that witches can be fun and friendly. Meanwhile, Darrin's client, a no-nonsense CEO, is extremely superstitious and blames every mishap on witches. Darrin tries to set him straight but gets a little too much help from Samantha, leading to a hilarious mix-up.

The episode begins with Samantha and Darrin's dinner plans being canceled due to a friend's sudden illness. Samantha suggests they have a quiet night at home, but Darrin has work to do. He informs Samantha that his client, a Mr. Burns, is coming over to the house to sign a contract. Samantha is thrilled to finally meet one of Darrin's clients and offers to make him dinner. Darrin is hesitant but agrees, as long as Samantha promises not to use her powers in front of Mr. Burns.

Meanwhile, Tabitha is watching a scary movie on television and becomes frightened by the witches she sees on the screen. She goes to her parents' bedroom and insists on sleeping with them. Samantha comes to tuck her in and tries to explain that witches on TV aren't real, but Tabitha is convinced that witches are evil and that people will never accept her and her family because of their powers.

The next day, Samantha takes Tabitha to the park to show her that not everyone is scared of witches. However, Tabitha's fears are compounded when she sees kids in costumes and hears them chanting, "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!" Samantha explains that it's just a Halloween tradition and gives Tabitha a witch hat to wear so she can feel like she belongs.

Back at the house, Mr. Burns arrives and is immediately put off by the Halloween decorations. He is also extremely superstitious, blaming everything from a spilled salt shaker to a broken mirror on witches. Darrin tries to set him straight, but Mr. Burns is stubborn and refuses to budge. Samantha tries to hide her powers, but a mishap with the spaghetti sauce reveals a floating fork, causing Mr. Burns to panic.

Samantha and Darrin go to bed that night, relieved that Mr. Burns is gone. However, they are surprised to find Tabitha in their bed. She tells them that she had a bad dream and is too scared to go back to her room. Samantha decides to show Tabitha how she uses her powers for good and turns herself into a pumpkin. Tabitha is thrilled and decides to turn herself into a pumpkin as well.

The next morning, Darrin wakes up to find Samantha and Tabitha in pumpkin form and freaks out. Samantha changes back, but Tabitha is having too much fun as a pumpkin and refuses to change back. Darrin tries to reason with her, but Tabitha insists that witches can be fun and friendly.

In conclusion, "Little Pitchers Have Big Fears" is a heartwarming episode that tackles the theme of acceptance and intolerance. While Tabitha's fears may be unfounded, they show how even a child can be affected by negative portrayals of witches in the media. Samantha's lesson to Tabitha about using her powers for good is insightful and underscores the idea that witches aren't just fictional villains but can be everyday people who do good deeds. The episode's hilarious subplot with Mr. Burns adds an entertaining twist and highlights the absurdity of superstitions. Overall, "Little Pitchers Have Big Fears" is a funny and heartwarming Bewitched episode that teaches the importance of acceptance and using one's powers for good.