The series returns to the supernatural and native spirits in this swift-paced and entertaining episode. It's close to being a classic; only some silly second act padding and a lapse in logic keep it from sticking the landing. The episode contains some very good laughs, a zany and likable performance from our lead, and one of the better and funnier endings of the season.
Gilligan is busily digging a bait trap in the cold open when his shovel strikes something-altogether now-valuable. This time it's a little gem. The Skipper recognizes it as the Eye of the Idol. According to native superstition, whoever possesses the gem is entitled to three wishes. Gilligan buys in, but the Professor dismisses it as a worthless cat's eye, and he and the Skip have another one of their science-vs-superstition debates. Our lead brings the squabble to an end when he holds the Idol aloft and wishes for vanilla ice cream. Mary Ann soon dashes over from the lagoon with a gallon of vanilla that just washed ashore, and the fun is underway.
The rest of the castaways believe that our lead possesses the power of the Eye and is the bearer of two more wishes. To add tension, the wishes have to made before sundown, otherwise Gilligan blows his chance. There is the obligatory scene of Mr. Howell copping the Idol from Gilligan, and he and Mrs. Howell try to figure out how it works. To show just where his head is, he wishes for millions of dollars on top of the millions he already owns rather than escaping the island, and hilariously whiffs on all three tries.
He angrily returns the gem to Gilligan and labels him and the Skipper frauds and the Idol a dud. The Skip explains that only the original finder of the gem is able to make any wishes. Mr. Howell scoffs, so our lead innocently shows him by making his second wish, and a gallon of chocolate ice cream appears mysteriously in the lagoon.
Now our lead is down to his final wish with a lot of episode left to go. So writer David Harmon stretches out the making of that wish in none-too-clever ways. Gilligan clumsily misplaces the idol when he discovers a hole in his shoe. The castaways break into pairs to cover the places Gilligan has recently been. There is a mildly funny scene with the Howells at the oyster bed which ends embarrassingly with Mrs. Howell covered in a mountain of oyster shells, and the low point of the episode follows where the Professor acts like a mole.
Sigh.
Anyway, Ginger finds the idol, which Gilligan nearly loses again, and everyone scampers back to the beach. But now the skeptical Professor refuses to participate. Starting with Mary Ann, one-by-one the other castaways splinter off from Gilligan and the Skip to stay behind with him. With sundown fast approaching, the sailors plead with him to reconsider. Eventually, he relents when they promise not to engage in any future silliness, a promise he should know is impossible for them to keep.
Gilligan is finally able to make his third and final wish, which he hilariously bungles, and we get an appropriately funny fade out.
COCONOTES:
It's never revealed just what the castaways think they can catch with the bait trap.
Bob Denver's English accent when he wears the gem as a monocle is chuckle-worthy.
The Skip wants Gilligan to use his second wish on something they could all enjoy. He must've forgot he just had a gallon of vanilla ice cream.
Major plot hole: As has been noted, why does Gilligan have to save his third wish for the rescue? Why doesn't he use the second wish for that and then have the third as a back-up?
Gilligan is busily digging a bait trap in the cold open when his shovel strikes something-altogether now-valuable. This time it's a little gem. The Skipper recognizes it as the Eye of the Idol. According to native superstition, whoever possesses the gem is entitled to three wishes. Gilligan buys in, but the Professor dismisses it as a worthless cat's eye, and he and the Skip have another one of their science-vs-superstition debates. Our lead brings the squabble to an end when he holds the Idol aloft and wishes for vanilla ice cream. Mary Ann soon dashes over from the lagoon with a gallon of vanilla that just washed ashore, and the fun is underway.
The rest of the castaways believe that our lead possesses the power of the Eye and is the bearer of two more wishes. To add tension, the wishes have to made before sundown, otherwise Gilligan blows his chance. There is the obligatory scene of Mr. Howell copping the Idol from Gilligan, and he and Mrs. Howell try to figure out how it works. To show just where his head is, he wishes for millions of dollars on top of the millions he already owns rather than escaping the island, and hilariously whiffs on all three tries.
He angrily returns the gem to Gilligan and labels him and the Skipper frauds and the Idol a dud. The Skip explains that only the original finder of the gem is able to make any wishes. Mr. Howell scoffs, so our lead innocently shows him by making his second wish, and a gallon of chocolate ice cream appears mysteriously in the lagoon.
Now our lead is down to his final wish with a lot of episode left to go. So writer David Harmon stretches out the making of that wish in none-too-clever ways. Gilligan clumsily misplaces the idol when he discovers a hole in his shoe. The castaways break into pairs to cover the places Gilligan has recently been. There is a mildly funny scene with the Howells at the oyster bed which ends embarrassingly with Mrs. Howell covered in a mountain of oyster shells, and the low point of the episode follows where the Professor acts like a mole.
Sigh.
Anyway, Ginger finds the idol, which Gilligan nearly loses again, and everyone scampers back to the beach. But now the skeptical Professor refuses to participate. Starting with Mary Ann, one-by-one the other castaways splinter off from Gilligan and the Skip to stay behind with him. With sundown fast approaching, the sailors plead with him to reconsider. Eventually, he relents when they promise not to engage in any future silliness, a promise he should know is impossible for them to keep.
Gilligan is finally able to make his third and final wish, which he hilariously bungles, and we get an appropriately funny fade out.
COCONOTES:
It's never revealed just what the castaways think they can catch with the bait trap.
Bob Denver's English accent when he wears the gem as a monocle is chuckle-worthy.
The Skip wants Gilligan to use his second wish on something they could all enjoy. He must've forgot he just had a gallon of vanilla ice cream.
Major plot hole: As has been noted, why does Gilligan have to save his third wish for the rescue? Why doesn't he use the second wish for that and then have the third as a back-up?