User Reviews

Gilligan and the Skipper pull ashore an old crate full of magic tricks that the castaways practice in case the "headhunters" come back. However, Gilligan pulls one trick too many which ticks off the rest of the castaways. Overhearing their disappointment in him, Gilligan decides to disappear.

A good, solid episode that is straightforward in delivery, this one is less generous to all the castaways in terms of screen time with Mrs. Howell and the Professor only given a few lines. Still, Ginger (Tina Louise) gets to shine in a role that is well suited for her character.

Overall, the episode is funny in moments and the jokes are well set up, especially the final one involving the flash powder.

• It's somewhat interesting that upon discovering the whereabouts of Gilligan, that the Skipper didn't tell the others. Plus, it seems the Howells didn't tell Ginger "and the rest" either. This extends to the rather unlikely scenes of all three "groups" each providing a meal for Gilligan without telling the others as well.

• The "monster masks" at the bottom of the crate is one of those plot devices straight out of left field. But considering all the plot devices on this show...

• The final explosion is very well done and almost frightening in effect as it is loud and very sudden.

For better or worse, the characters on Gilligan's Island, being comedic, are stock and largely one-dimensional. Very rarely do any of the episodes give them any kind of depth. In this episode, though, we get a little bit of a different look into our lead. Well, okay, it may not be very deep, but Gilligan's heart and sensitivity do propel the plot. It's Magic may not be as funny as the typical offering, and the second half isn't as good as the first, but what it lacks in laughs it makes up for with some fine acting, some quiet moments, and a dash of character development. It's too bad there aren't more episodes like it.

The device of Gilligan reeling in something important from the lagoon is used for the first time in this episode. Our lead reels in a wooden crate with the name Raft across it. It turns out to just be a tease, though, as seaweed has partially obscured the full name-Raftini-and the crate holds a suit, a cape, and several props, making the Great Raftini a standard garden variety magician.

The Skipper dismisses the find as worthless, but the Professor believes the props can be used to frighten headhunters into thinking the castaways are gods.

Ginger gets a bit of a backstory in this one as we learn she broke into show business as a magician's assistant, and she is able to show Gilligan and the others the tricks of the trade. Her knowledge gives the other castaways the excuse to show the audience a few hit or miss gags. Gilligan becomes the worst perpetrator, getting Mr. Howell cuffed and giving the Skipper an ear full of egg. His worst mishap occurs when he tries to outdo Ginger with the old pull-the-tablecloth-off-the-table bit, and he predictably wrecks everyone's breakfast.

His mishap gets the plot rolling. He overhears the others criticizing him and gets his feelings bruised. He takes advantage of Ginger needing a volunteer from the audience to play along with her piece de resistance-the vanishing booth-vanishes on cue, and then stays vanished. Ginger is distraught and blames herself for his disappearance. But the Professor deduces from Gilligan's good-bye to her that he has gone missing on purpose, and the Skipper realizes that he overheard their complaints and caused him to leave. Everyone is guilt-ridden and vows to get him back.

Gilligan's hiding place is that same all-purpose cave used in every episode. The pace slows and the action grows repetitive as the other castaways, starting with the Skip, find the cave and beg Gilligan for forgiveness, but our lead declares himself a 'lone wolf' and tells them to shove off. Concerned about his well-being, they bring him three separate meals; handfuls of money; and a beloved teddy bear. Still no dice.

The castaways decide a party and giant cake will convince Gilligan they love him and want him home. But how to get the guest of honor to attend? Their solution is to scare him out of the cave with three masks found in Raftini's case that wouldn't scare a five-year-old on Halloween. It works, though, and frightened Gilligan races back to camp. He vows to save the women from the 'monsters,' and the final gag is predictable but still a blast.

COCONOTES:

The headhunters the Professor mentions are a possible reference to those in the Music Hath Charm episode.

Gilligan's counting bit by threes is cute, but he would end at 99, not 100.

Good episode for Tina Louise. Her Ginger in this one is warm and caring, a far cry from the sarcastic Eve Arden type she was in the early episodes. Her weeping over Gilligan's vanishing act is a nice moment for her.

Also her SS Minnow dress makes a welcome reappearance.

Gilligan can't spell 'is' correctly? Seriously?

His saving the girls from the monsters is a reference to St. Gilligan and the Dragon.

A depressed Gilligan will bring the island down and the castaways to their knees, because in spite of how annoyed they can get with him, they know he is the heart and soul of the island. In the opening, he fishes in a crate of magician props and in the enthusiasm of learning various tricks, causes the other castaways to miss a breakfast. Gilligan overhears them all say degrading things about him and decides to volunteer for a disappearing cabinet trick and literally does disappear, going off to another part of the island to be away from them so he doesn't cause any more trouble.

The episode is meant to show how people can get on each other's nerves even in a small group but when they think about their actions, make desperate attempts to apologize. The cave that Gilligan chooses to move into has a very tiny entrance, causing great claustrophobia when you see it but looking bigger inside from the light coming out.

You get to see the softer side of the various castaways as they realize how cruel they were and their attempts to bring Gilligan back. It's an easy plotline to resolve, but of course there are going to be repurcussions for what the others have said. Eventually, they are spoiling him, and that will certainly bring him out of hiding at some point. A sweet meeting episode with some good magic tricks and a nice moral lesson on how to get along.