User Reviews

We start with Gilligan and the Skipper landing a box full of coconuts wrapped in newspaper, a story on one of which reveals that a passenger on the SS Minnow is suspected of murder.

Highlights include the Professor proudly showing off his new coconut splitter, the girls happily cooking up some poison, the Skipper and Gilligan fumbling around in the Howells hut, Gilligan and the Skipper suspecting each other in the night, Mr. Howell complaining about the hut not being properly cleaned, the scene with everyone agreeing not to be suspicious (nicely done), everyone save for Gilligan and the Skipper confessing that they knew and hated Randolph Blake, the Skipper shooting his own photo right between the eyes, the overly-dramatic way the camera pans down to the feet of each potential "killer" right before its revealed that they don't kill Blake and the epilogue scene with a nifty visual gag involving the Skipper.

Overall, this is an above average, but still rather middling episode since there are several flaws in logic (mentioned below) and the middle part is stretched to fill time as the "shock" of seeing the Professor and his guillotine is repeated again and again. However, enough of the castaways have some nice moments which makes it an okay, but hardy memorable episode.

Tidbits & Trivia

• The opening shot of the lagoon with Gilligan fishing and the Skipper building a raft is straight from "Mine Hero" two episodes earlier. You'll note that the raft the Skipper was working on is nowhere in sight after the first shot.

• One confusing element of the story is that the Skipper and Gilligan didn't know the murder victim, yet according to the newspaper article they are suspects as well.

• Nice Perry Mason mention as it was also a CBS show at the time, although for long time Perry fans like myself, the butler "rarely" did it despite Gilligan's belief otherwise.

• Once again proving that one episode has little to do with the other, in "Mine Hero" the Professor was desperately searching for metal which is scarce on the island, yet the guillotine blade in this episode is loaded with metal. Perhaps he shaped some from the exploded mine?

• You can see the splits in the coconuts before the Professor drops the blade.

• So, the Skipper thinks the Howells may not actually be rich? Assuming he never heard of them before, then he must have forgotten the radio report of their fabulous wealth in "Two on a Raft" that described them as billionaires.

• It is implied strongly by the Professor that the SS Minnow left on a night cruise, yet we all know it was broad daylight and probably in the morning.

• The Skipper shooting his own photograph between the eyes is a nice touch, but the photo itself appears to be part of the publicity stills for Gilligan's Island.

• When Gilligan leans into the cash register after the Howells leave, a "No Sale" sign pops up.

• Mary Ann sports a dramatically different hairstyle than normal, an interesting touch.

• Funny that the Skipper was so convinced that the killing was an accident and yet seems so surprised when that turns out to be the case.

Not guilty is an entry that should've have been better than it is, for it has one of the more memorable premises of the series. The very notion that one of these sweet, innocent souls is a cold-blooded murderer is so bizarre and loony that writing over-the-top humor should be a slam dunk. Yet, rather than being as zany as, say, Castaway Pictures Presents, the episode instead is thoughtful and contains only scattered laughs. It's still entertaining, though, as there is enough intrigue and suspense to offset the lack of humor.

Gilligan is down by the lagoon when-great surprise-he discovers something important. He reels in a crate courtesy of the Coast Food Company and is disappointed when it turns out to contain a bunch of coconuts. But they're wrapped in old Honolulu newspapers, so at least he and the Skipper have reading material. By shocking coincidence, the first article the Skip scans just happens to mention the castaways. All seven of them are suspects in the Randolph Blake murder case.

Our leads spend much of the first act playing amateur detectives to solve the whodunit. Gilligan believes the most innocent looking person is usually the killer, so they're off to see the Professor.

The episode relies on the old sitcom standby of misunderstanding to move the plot, as the other castaways are acting suspiciously when visited by the sleuths. The Professor is uncharacteristically enthusiastic about his latest invention: a coconut guillotine. The girls are boiling poison to exterminate pests. And the Howells are...well, they are sleeping suspiciously. Except for the part with the Howells, this section is amusing and increases the tension between our leads and the others. To further the plot and involve everyone, the Skipper carelessly drops the article in their hut.

It's not long before our leads suspect each other. In an inspired bit, as they lie awake in their hammocks, we hear them narrate their thoughts, and, as they grow more feverish, the funnier they become. The lifelong buddies get so wrapped up in their fear of each other they go running off into the night.

By morning, the pair agree to bury the hatchet and return to just suspecting the others. The others, meantime, discover the article and share their panic. The girls rush to the Professor and are freaked by his guillotine. Once they show him the article, he reverts to his usual sensible self and advises them to not lose faith and trust each other. His speech leads to the cleverest scene in the episode as the others agree to be more trusting as they come out of various hiding places in the hut.

They hold a table meeting where it's humorously revealed that five of the castaways knew Blake and had motive to kill him. An avid watcher of Perry Mason, Gilligan suggests they should re-enact the crime like they do on the show to finger the guilty party.

The reenactment takes up the rest of the second act. Predictably, the castaways recreate the murder scene of Blake's store in great detail, down to a working coconut cash register. Also predictably, our lead is tapped to play the murder victim. One by one, each of the suspects parades in and out of the store in melodramatic fashion to rattle him. The episode should've reached its comedic heights here, but the reenactment is too long, moves too slowly, and fails to deliver consistent yuks. Though it does have flourish and some good exit lines, it's never as memorable as the beauty contest or the film screening, and ends with a predictable gag that breaks the case (and nearly Gilligan) wide open.

COCONOTES:

Gilligan really thinks the Professor is the most innocent looking person? He's overlooking himself and Mary Ann.

The close up of Mrs. Howell in the 'bear-lion' scene is awkward, to say the least.

The Skipper believing Gilligan could be a master criminal is chuckle-worthy.

First on screen kiss between Tina Louise and Bob Denver.

"You'll pay for this. I shall never date you again!"