This episode is not one of my own favorites, although I love the "suspicion" scenes--the girls and the soup, the Professor and his guillotine...all hilarious.

Why does the Skipper assume the Howells are completely innocent at first?

It is kind of a scary situation--I found it very hard to feel I could go along with the Professor's not losing faith plan.

It is extremely farfetched that they would all know Randolph Blake--they all came from different places.

It's not one of my favourites either, though what I find even more far-fetched than the many connections with Blake is the idea that Gilligan, who in "Diogenes, Won't You Please Go Home," believes so innocently and fervently in the goodness of his fellow castaways, is here the leader of the witch-hunt.

Gilligan got to be Perry Mason; I'm going to be the district attorney for a moment. I always felt that of all the castaways' confessions, Mary Ann's was the most incriminating. The others were all angry with Blake because of personal affronts, while Mary Ann was angry because Blake had hurt someone she loved: a pretty powerful incentive for violence, even by a non-violent person. The murder was not premeditated, since the murderer seized a weapon found on the scene, and Mary Ann was the only one who entered the store not expecting to see Blake. Also, the others had already had their revenge: Howell fired Blake, the Professor had cancelled his magazine subscription (LOL!) and Ginger had broken up with him. Mary Ann had no other plan for retribution. Her last words to Blake were, "You don't deserve to live. Nothing you can do will make me change my mind. I hate you!" And you know, if Mary Ann had done it, she would probably have gotten off on temporary insanity.

Whatever happened to the Professor's spear gun? That looked like a pretty handy weapon to have around!

Actually, this is one of my favorites! It's funny... the things you remember... but I'm pretty sure that this is the first episode of "Gilligan's" I ever saw. So, maybe that's why it holds a place in my heart. :)
Of course, it is far-fetched... But I think the episode makes a good point: before the shipwreck, they didn't know each other. The possibilities are endless. And, it's very sweet that they don't want to believe that one of the seven is capable of murder.

I love the incriminating situations of each castaway! The Professor especially; he's so enthusiastic! And, the reasons that each of the castaways are angry at Blake are SOOOO typical. A scientific paper? An engagement scandal? Money? :)

I'm not sure who I'd choose out of the seven as the killer (in this situation). I suppose, I would also say MaryAnn. Though, it would be an interesting character study... what would each castaway be willing to murder for?

Those are great points you brought up, Cal and Mrs. GH. Yes, Maryann's story does sound the most incriminating, since she seems the most overwrought and cuts herself off like that. As for the other points you brought up, I think time could possibly be a factor in both of them.

As for the conflict between Episode 31 and this episode: Time has gone by--we don't know the exact intended order of the episodes (or do we?) but it is about one year later. More has been seen about each of the castaways although, to be fair, they are less the "strangers" they were before and have also grown closer. Knowing people over time can certainly work both ways. It seems as if the pages Maryann reads aloud from the Gilligan's diary were written even much earlier than the events transpiring in "Diogenes." They seem to reveal his earliest impressions of the other castaways.

I was particularly surprised, though, that Gilligan would suspect Maryann due to how he seems to feel about her. What do you think of that?

Gilligan is also very afraid and there is the "evidence" from the newspaper. It is an excellent point, though, that he goes from belief in their essential goodness to such suspicion--it would be curious to see what his beliefs about them are between "Diogenes" and "Not Guilty." Does he retain this original view? Again, it may be the power of fear for Gilligan.

As for the guilty party, was that store thing really the scene of the crime? How did they know that. Certainly, all 5 weren't there on the same day. In this case, we can't only go by their last words to Blake in that scene. Perhaps, for example, between Howell's visit and Ginger's, Howell found out more about how badly his business had been ruined, perhaps his anger increased. Realistically, though, I think the suspected castaways' reactions in the Blake scene are the typical kinds of things they do--Maryann cries and runs out, Ginger's sense of the valuable dating commodity she is would lead her to withdraw her availability--she's not going to "lose it" over one guy, etc.

WOnderful episode. You thought that the Desperate Housewives had dirty laundry? You thought Gossip Girl had all the gossip? That in Gilligna's era Peyton Place had all the dirt? Perry Mason the most daffling crime? Wrong..Gilligan's Island in 1965 with "Not Guilty".

The end, which has GIlligan fainting is among the best, likewise Gilligan saying that the seven didn't all know each other pre-shipwreck, & the castaways hiding then coming out except the Professor who asks them to trust one another and him and then to come out. Also the "Cards on the table" bit..that was funny.