I, Samantha, Take This Mortal, Darrin

by Adam-Michael James

Mortal ad man Darrin Stephens has finally been bumped up to partner at his agency, so devoted wife — and witch — Samantha throws him a funky party, inviting familiar and long-forgotten faces. But when one careless display of witchcraft from someone Samantha never expected forces her to tell her guests she's a witch, she gets swept into a high-stakes fight for her very way of life and finds out in no uncertain terms who her friends truly are. "Bewitched" expert Adam-Michael James brings the supernatural sitcom full circle in "I, Samantha,TakeThis Mortal, Darrin" — a series finale concept he originated in "The Bewitched Continuum", his ultimate linear guide to the series. Smoothly needle-dropping into 1972, this two-part "episode" puts favorite "Bewitched" characters in the spotlight once again, creates backstories for the Stephenses, and builds on the show's messages of equality and acceptance while giving casual and hardcore fans alike all the witchy goodness and closure they deserve.

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2018

Reviews

[Jean-François Tremblay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as I hoped, unfortunately.

It's a fitting finale to the series, I suppose, but the writing is too optimist, too naive, and too awkward at times. The characters don't address each other as real people, or even as they would do on the show (and I've seen every single episode).

The settings are well recreated (the house, mainly), and I felt I was there with the whole gang. So, that's a plus. Also, it's funny and the themes are in line with the values of the show.

But there were too many callbacks to previous episodes, and that's the main problem of this book: the callbacks never cease!! It's there throughout the entire book. The characters are seemingly unable to stop referencing past events in their lives, and it makes the dialogue clunky and unnatural. I have seen the entire show, I know what happened, stop reminding me every single event!

The characters don't talk like they do on the real show and that's a shame, because the author has obviously an immense knowledge of Bewitched and his passion for it shows throughout this easy-to-read book. I just didn't really enjoyed it, at least not as much as I wanted to.

It's still an interesting experiment, and something other Bewitched fans might enjoy more than I did. I just wished the dialogues were written better and felt more natural.

[Juan Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on the tv show Bewitched and why self respecting Gay man did not want to be Endora, well as many know the show ended after the eight season not from being canceled but my turmoil in the stars private life. Something that was made worse because the director was the stars husband. So because of the cancelation, we never get many answers to questions in regards to the children there powers why Samantha’s family messs with them. The solution was the creation of I Samantha written by Adam Michael James, who answers those very things. This is such a lovely and well written story I want to read. More by this author

[Sherri Rabinowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thoughtful closing to a wonderful series. The author who has been a guest on my show and is truly an expert on Bewitched and describes the universe of Samantha and Darrin beautifully. He has created a wonderful two part ending of the series. He brings back a lot of favorites and delightfully explains anything that the fans might have had questions on through the years of the show. I have loved Bewitched since I was a tiny little girl and I still love it, it's a definite must for any Bewitched fan.

[Elizabeth Braden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam-Michael James has written an excellent book about what could have been an excellent series finale for the show Bewitched. I liked the way that he brought back characters from the beginning and early start of the show along with the more recent characters. This would have made an excellent series finale. I loved the way that Adam-Michael James chose his words and I could see the images in his writing. I would highly recommend this book to any and all Bewitched fans! It is an excellent addition to your Bewitched collection. Outstanding book, excellent author and well-written book.

[Hannah Hormell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so so so much fun to see elements from all eight seasons of Bewitched come together for the closure we never got with the show. I did so many happy squeals over all the Endora moments, and had to make myself slow down so I didn't finish the book all at once and then be disappointed with how quickly I finished it.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

For old-time fans of the show, for those of us who grew up with it and loved it and remember how TV shows used to just end instead of having a finale. It answers the essential question all BEWITCHED fans ask at some point--what would happen if Samantha just came out to the neighbors as a witch? The answer is satisfying for all fans, and the Mrs. Kravitz scene is particularly satisfying as such.