I agree with the MAG pairing, but I wonder if MAG fans or those who are
neutral on the matter have an explanation for any or even all of the following
seeming inconsistencies. Episode numbers follow.
"If MaryAnn "likes"/loves Gilligan, then how do you explain":

1.Conspiring with Ginger to steal water while he's on sentry duty (14).

2.Saying Duke "fell for it" after her "faked" romance session with Gilligan (21).

3.Her interest in Duke and ignoring Gilligan (21).

4.Not telling anyone how Gilligan was the one who first tried to save her
from drowning (23).

5.Deciding not to go with him and the others as he makes his third wish
because the Professor won't join them (29).

6.Trying to find his hiding place and reading his diary when she finds it--even
though he had said it was private (31).

7.Saying he causes "nothing but trouble" (33).

8.Letting him go ahead with marrying the native girl (37).

9.Going crazy over the Mosquitoes (48).

10.Saying she has a boyfriend back home and having Gilligan mail her letters
to him (54).

11.Reacting negatively when he comes in as Charles Boyer to romance her
(54).

12.Letting Ginger sing "It Had to Be You" to him (58).

13.Conspiring with Ginger to get the hot water from him and also letting
Ginger "vamp" him to get it (59).

14.Always dancing with the Professor instead (60, 80, 82).

15.Being anxious to see "the two astronauts" (90).

16.Sneaking into the space capsule with Ginger and not being there to see him off the following morning (90).

17.Accepting that Gilligan has a "slave girl" (94).

18.Letting Ginger kiss him while she straps the jet pack on him (95).

Thanks so much for any input you can give!!!!

The answer is simple. There was no MAG pairing! Don't forget that dude Herbert (whom nobody ever heard of before) that she was going to marry in the "Rescue from Gilligan's Island" movie.

To answer each question:

1. Humans will get very desperate without water for awhile.

2. Maybe she didn't think buzzing was romantic.

3. She liked big blond guys.

4. Maybe she didn't want to embarrass him anymore than he already was. He tried to save her but *failed* and the Skipper wound up saving both of them.

5. She probably liked the Professor at least as much as she liked Gilligan. If Gilligan was the one who stayed behind, she'd probably insist on staying with him too.

6. I wondered about that too. Gilligan didn't seem too mad about it though.

7. Well, Mary Ann was only human after all. ;)

8. It was part of a plan to get off the island. He wasn't *really* going to to "marry" her, he was just going along with it until he got to the natives' island to see if there was any way off. I know it sounded pretty desperate, but they were desperate at that point!

9. If the Beatles or the Rolling Stones were on the island wouldn't it make sense that a red-blooded American female like Mary Ann would go crazy over them? Girls like rock stars. Girls also like surfer dudes (see Duke).

10. There were a couple things about that episode that upset me 1) Why would the guys get so mad at Horace for marrying another girl? Did they expect Horace to put his life on hold until if/when Mary Ann came back? How would he know if she was still alive or not? They'd been gone for over a year by then. They should have expected Mary Ann to have the maturity to be happy for the guy. 2) It was bad judgment on the Professor's part to tell Mary Ann the mushrooms were poisonous. How would scaring her like *that* be better than telling her Horace got married. And at the end when the Prof tells her "those mushrooms weren't poisonous" with a smile on his face, I would have punched him in the nose! "SO WHY DID YOU TELL ME THEY WERE!!!!!!!!!!!!" Also Bob's acting was not the best when he tried to be even a little dramatic: "Who told you?" "We all care for you Mary Ann". Very soap opera. Oh yeah, and the Skipper has the nerve to say *she* "Didn't have to scare us to death to prove it!" *She* scared *them*???

11. He was acting weirdly. They all were acting weirdly. Of course Mary Ann thought something weird was going on.

12. Ginger's a good singer. Ginger had been affectionate with Gilligan many times and Mary Ann never cared. The main reason why a MAG pairing would have been a bad idea was because it would mean no more Ginger vamping Gilligan. Do you think Ginger was that bad of a girl that she would go after Mary Ann's man? I don't think so. So that would be something I would miss.

13. They were both cuddling him weren't they? Maybe they thought two would be better than one!

14. They liked each other too. If you ever see my video of "Devil with the Blue Dress On" in YouTube, look at the Professor & Mary Ann. They was jammin'!

15. Again she was a red-blooded female. ;)

16. She would rather catch up on all the sleep she missed the night before.

17. Seriously, I never once saw an instance of Mary Ann being jealous when Gilligan was with another girl, be it Ginger, Killani, Fat Native Girl (we never do learn her name), or King Kiliwani (he was gay, I swear. He could not possibly have been fooled into thinking Gilligan was a girl.) Personally, I really think the writers missed a chance with Gilligan/Killani. If after saving Killani, let's say Gilligan falls in love with her, then there are all kinds of storyline possibilities that could ensue. If Killani leaves after the episode, then the next episode things would be back to normal, but at least for a moment we would have seen a side of Gilligan we hadn't seen before. (Assuming Bob was up to the acting challenge that is.) And even if he wasn't I would still have liked to see him try. And Killani (played by Midori) was gorgeous. Absolutely stunning. She made Ginger & Mary Ann look like a couple of dogs.

18. I'm sure if Ginger wanted Gilligan, Mary Ann would be perfectly happy to let her have him. As for this particular kiss, well Ginger was taller and could reach Gilligan's mouth better than Mary Ann could. Of course the Skipper and Professor couldn't mind their own business and just *had* to interrupt the moment!

So in conclusion, I really don't think Sherwood Schwartz envisioned a MAG pairing. It's something the fans made up because it seems to make sense. Gilligan's just a nice boy, Mary Ann's just a nice girl, why not pair them together? They could have beautiful raven haired kids. :) When I was younger I wanted MAG together so much, beyond that I wanted Bob Denver & Dawn Wells to be married and have kids in real life. :lol:

The answer is even simpler. Originally, it was planned that Mary Ann would have a crush on Gilligan and she even has a few lines and close ups around that in the very earliest episodes. The idea quickly evaporated, though.

The answer is even simpler. Originally, it was planned that Mary Ann would have a crush on Gilligan and she even has a few lines and close ups around that in the very earliest episodes. The idea quickly evaporated, though.

Yes, that explains it.

Most people are so quick to drink the MaryAnn koolaid!!

I agree with the MAG pairing, but I wonder if MAG fans or those who are
neutral on the matter have an explanation for any or even all of the following
seeming inconsistencies. Episode numbers follow.

I'm rather of the opinion that Mary Ann starts off with a teenagerish crush on Gilligan, which gradually changes into a more sisterly affection. I'm not ruling out a MAG relationship post-series, and I find MAG much easier to believe than MAP, but due to Sherwood's needing to cool the romance, there isn't nearly as much MAG in seasons 2 and 3 than in one.

Okay: if Mary Ann "likes" Gilligan, how do we explain:

1.Conspiring with Ginger to steal water while he's on sentry duty (14).[/QUOTE]

Desperation? Lack of water can make people pretty desperate indeed. And perhaps the girls thought no one would notice a glove full.

2.Saying Duke "fell for it" after her "faked" romance session with Gilligan (21).

The whole faked romance scene isn't too romantic, is it? They should have just gone hunting butterflies, as they were always asking one another to do!

3.Her interest in Duke and ignoring Gilligan (21).)

This is what makes me think that what Mary Ann feels for Gilligan is a crush, rather than the real thing, though it would have been interesting to see her reaction had Gilligan fawned all over the gorgeous siren Kalani as Mary Ann fawned over Duke.

It is interesting that of all the island men, it's Gilligan who is terribly jealous of Duke's affect on the girls. The Professor is so oblivious to the whole situation that Gilligan actually has to explain it to him.

4.Not telling anyone how Gilligan was the one who first tried to save her
from drowning (23)

This is an easy one. Mary Ann was so terrified that she blanked the whole incident out of her mind. We know that she was panicking so badly she nearly drowned Gilligan.

5.Deciding not to go with him and the others as he makes his third wish
because the Professor won't join them (29).)

The same sentiment that makes the castaways leave the safety of the cave for Gilligan and the typhoon: all for one and one for all.

6.Trying to find his hiding place and reading his diary when she finds it--even
though he had said it was private (31)

This act does reveal a tremendous fondness for Gilligan on Mary Ann's part. Mary Ann really wanted to vindicate Gilligan, and the diary was the best way to do it. I love her smile of triumph as she reads brief selections and watches the others eat crow. When she puts the diary on the table and says, "You can all read it if you like," it's almost a challenge. She knows darn well that there is nothing in that diary Gilligan needs to be ashamed of, and that the others are too ashamed to touch it.

7.Saying he causes "nothing but trouble" (33)

This one is so poignant. Her voice and body language say it all. She's leaning on her chin, facing away from the others, and her voice is very soft. She's not even angry, even though it was her work Gilligan spoiled. She's sad. She wants to defend him, but she hasn't got the courage. Too bad she hadn't memorized any passages from that diary. That would have stopped them in their tracks.

8.Letting him go ahead with marrying the native girl (37[QUOTE=lm]
I'm not sure how geniune the castaways were about this marriage, though both the Skipper and Gilligan did seem very afraid of being long term grooms. It seemed mostly to be a ploy to get them to an island where ships might call.


[QUOTE=lm]9.Going crazy over the Mosquitoes (48).[QUOTE=lm]

More teenagerish silliness. And they are rock stars: there's a certain glamour.

[QUOTE=lm]10.Saying she has a boyfriend back home and having Gilligan mail her letters
to him (54).
11.Reacting negatively when he comes in as Charles Boyer to romance her
(54).)[QUOTE=lm]

Not much evidence for romance on Mary Ann's part here, is there? Interestingly, however, Gilligan is the only one of the three bachelors who doesn't announce that he has no romantic interest in Mary Ann. Indeed, he seems concerned he's going to be left out of the wooing. "What about me? Who's going to teach me?"

[QUOTE=lm]12.Letting Ginger sing "It Had to Be You" to him (58)[QUOTE=lm]

Mary Ann knows by now that Ginger isn't after Gilligan. She knows Ginger's just cheering him up. Rather a risque scene though, given that he's on a bed...:eek:

[QUOTE=lm]13.Conspiring with Ginger to get the hot water from him and also letting
Ginger "vamp" him to get it (59)[QUOTE=lm]

Mary Ann was vamping him too! I wish Gilligan had called their bluff. Can't you see him lying there with a big grin on his face. "So...girls...how much do you want that water?"


[QUOTE=lm]14.Always dancing with the Professor instead (60, 80, 82)[QUOTE=lm]

What's worse is when she stands Gilligan up for that creep, Wiley the kidnapper. The women all deserve to have their heads examined in that one.

[QUOTE=lm]15.Being anxious to see "the two astronauts" (90).QUOTE=lm]

This is odd, considering Mary Ann's never even seen either one of them. The glamour factor again?

[QUOTE=lm]16.Sneaking into the space capsule with Ginger and not being there to see him off the following morning (90).[QUOTE=lm]

I get the feeling she and Ginger had been into the fermented berry tea.

[QUOTE=lm]17.Accepting that Gilligan has a "slave girl" (94)[QUOTE=lm]

She didn't accept it; she wanted Kalani for a maid! But I think she and Ugundi had very different ideas as to just what kind of slave Kalani was to Gilligan.

[QUOTE=lm]18.Letting Ginger kiss him while she straps the jet pack on him (95).)[QUOTE=lm]

I hate this scene. I can't believe that Mary Ann, or Ginger, or Mr. Howell would willingly put Gilligan's life in so much jeopardy when there was no imminent need. Even the Professor had vetoed the flight as too dangerous. Only a few episodes before they all declared how they would willingly die to save Gilligan. This is a classic example of sacrificing character for a laugh - lazy, sloppy writing.

Thanks so much for any input you can give!!!!


Say, there's one more. Mary Ann acts like an absolute witch to Gilligan in the beginning of "Ship Ahoax," while it's Ginger who behaves decently to him. One hopes Mary Ann apologized for that uncharacteristic outburst - and it was extremely uncharacteristic.

How about a, "If Mary Ann doesn't like Gilligan, how come..." That might be fun too!

I tend to agree with callensensei in that Mary Ann started out with romantic feelings towards Gilligan in S1, but they gradually changed to a more sisterly and even at times motherly feeling. She probably figured out that he was not romantically inclined yet, or at her maturity level. (Incidentally, I have the exact same theory regarding Shaggy/Velma in "Scooby-Doo", but I won't go there!) I do think that Gilligan has some romantic feelings for Mary Ann all through the series, but doesn't yet know how to handle them or what to do about them. If he were able to express them in a more mature way, I think Mary Ann would very likely reciprocate.


2.Saying Duke "fell for it" after her "faked" romance session with Gilligan (21).

Well, that was the objective-- to make him "fall for it." If the staged romantic scene had shifted into something genuine, I don't think she would have said that.


3.Her interest in Duke and ignoring Gilligan (21).

It isn't as if Gilligan had been giving her much encouragement! Anyway, I don't think either she or Ginger were serious about Duke. They were just enjoying the view. It was probably nice for them to receive some male admiration, too, after months of the Professor and Gilligan's cluelessness.

7.Saying he causes "nothing but trouble" (33).

None of the castaways came off well in that scene, but no one is perfect. We all have moments where we become frustrated with someone - even someone we care about - and say something we feel bad about later. Even the Skipper, who undoubtedly loved Gilligan, sometimes lost his temper and said things he shouldn't have. For Mary Ann to have done the same doesn't mean she doesn't like Gilligan.

11.Reacting negatively when he comes in as Charles Boyer to romance her (54).

I'd be pretty weirded out if one of my guy friends suddenly started making overblown romantic overtures in a French accent! (Okay, it would depend on the guy friend. That would normal for some of them!)

13.Conspiring with Ginger to get the hot water from him and also letting Ginger "vamp" him to get it (59).
Maybe she thought it would be fun to get in on one of Ginger's plots? After all, we learn from "The Postman Cometh" and "The Second Ginger Grant" that Mary Ann idolizes Ginger in some respects. Maybe she just wanted to have a go at vamping Gilligan herself? As to why she doesn't mind Ginger vamping Gilligan in general-- she knows that it doesn't mean anything. When it comes to Gilligan, Ginger's harmless enough. Still, one could formulate theories as to Mary Ann's occasional catty remarks about Ginger's attire and general nature with men (especially during the mind-reading episode). Maybe it's disapproval of all that vamping coming to the surface?

14.Always dancing with the Professor instead (60, 80, 82).
Maybe because Gilligan is too shy to ask her? Funny that he is eager to dance with Ginger in at least one episode-- he may feel more comfortable with her because he doesn't have romantic feelings for her, or because they've kissed so much, what's a little dancing? It could even work on the flip side-- the Professor asks Mary Ann to dance because he's too shy to ask Ginger.

15.Being anxious to see "the two astronauts" (90). Why not? I'd be excited to see some new men, too, after all that time on the island! Even if Mary Ann had feelings for Gilligan, that wouldn't mean she wouldn't ever want to look at another handsome man, or find anyone else attractive.

17.Accepting that Gilligan has a "slave girl" (94). Here's an interesting theory to play with-- maybe she wanted Kalani to come be her maid in order to get her away from Gilligan!

[3.Her interest in Duke and ignoring Gilligan (21).

I always thought Mary Ann's interest in Duke was more an infatuation than anything else. Coming from a rural Kansas town she didn't have contact with any tall, handsome, muscleman, cool talking surfer dudes. When Duke says, "Stop dreaming the Duke has arrived!" in Mary Ann's case that might be an understatement. Even the boys in Mary Ann's dreams probably can't measure up to Duke physically.

Throughout the episode Mary Ann seems to be looking at Ginger for clues on how to act. Ginger leads the flirting and Mary Ann seems to follow along just happy to be there.

Of course it's odd she would go to Duke after Ginger warns he's a wolf, but that could just be her being naïve and also wanting to beat Ginger who she's envious of.

It was fun then for her to admire Duke and spend time at his side, but in the long run she seems to be drawn more to a sweetie like Gilligan who also was fit and athletic, but in a wiry kinda way.

I believe it was in a Baywatch episode titled "Just sit right Back" where Maryann confessed her true feelings for Gilligan. I think she said something to the affect that she has always loved him. I know that Bob and Dawn were very close friends, but I don't think it ever went any further than that in their real lives.

A cynic might say Mary Ann only professed interest in Gilligan in Season One because she wanted something from him. And that ceased after she got mentioned by name in the theme song.