A Speculative Article on The Dark "Truth" of Gilligan's Island

[TMC]

https://deepinthekeep.com/2020/06/05...ligans-island/

With these words began the tragic tale of the SS Minnow and its ill fated passengers; Mary Ann, the Professor, Ginger, Thurston Howell III and his wife Lovey, the Skipper, and, of course, Gilligan. Seven strangers who headed out for what was to be a three-hour boat tour but what turned into a harrowing encounter with a furious storm, leaving them shipwrecked on “an uncharted desert isle.

I am not going to discuss the history or backstory of Gilligan’s Island (which ran from 1964 to 1967, with the 1963 pilot airing in 1992). Instead, as I stay at home, and watch these episodes for the first time in decades, I cannot help but wonder, what is really going on here? So much of this show just doesn’t make sense. Yes, I could accept its outlandish plots as a product of early 1960s writing, but I find satisfaction in examining a seemingly carefree show with a cynical eye to uncover its darker “true” meaning, and in the case of Gilligan’s Island, the darkness runs deep as the sea.

I would to confirm, first of all, they’re not trapped in hell or purgatory. Nothing the castaways experience amounts to suffering or stagnation, except for the fact they cannot escape the island. If they were suspended in some otherworldly dimension, I would suggest heaven. After all, their desert isle does provide them with a steady supply of food and water. Their clothes never wear out. They never need medical attention. They live comfortably in humble shelters, and most important of all, they have come together from different backgrounds and found happiness and friendship.

So that’s it. They all died in the storm and they’re in heaven. End of analysis.

Except it’s not.

The sticking point for me is Gilligan. Everything we experience on the island is through his eyes. He is focal point of every episode. Either a situation is his fault or he plays a significant role in its resolution. It is important to note that Gilligan is responsible for the Minnow’s wreck. During the storm, he tossed the ship’s anchor overboard, but without the rope attached. This act of complete incompetence by the first mate caused the Minnow to be dragged along with the storm and subsequently wrecked. It was all his fault.

This is the key to Gilligan’s Island. This is why everyone is happy and healthy and capable of forgiving Gilligan for every transgression, including the one which caused them to be there. Because they are not there. They never were. The SS Minnow did set sail with seven passengers. It did encounter a storm. It was wrecked. But, everyone perished. Everyone, except for one person.

Gilligan does not live on a desert isle. He lives in a small room with a screened window overlooking a manicured lawn. He spends his days tended to by doctors and nurses, and never once, since he was brought here in 1963, has he been aware of any of this. How can he? To acknowledge reality is to accept his gravest failure caused six deaths, including the man who trusted him the most. Yet, an event this powerful cannot be completely willed away, so to protect itself, his mind created an alternate reality to move beyond it, to a dawn which found Gilligan and the others are stranded but alive.

This is why the stories are from Gilligan’s perspective and fairly simplistic or downright silly (a wayward gorilla horny for Mrs Howell?), and why the Professor’s inventions seem birthed from a child’s imagination. I will not even touch upon the lack of sexual attraction between anyone, with the Howells possibly excluded.

When we watch the castaways engaging in their twenty-two minute long antics, we are viewing the fantasy world of a broken soul, striving to make peace with himself, knowing there is no redemption, no second chance, no forgiveness. There is only escape, to here on Gilligan’s Island.

[GentlemanJim]

That is an interesting theory. There is actually a lot that makes sense about it.

At times I've even wondered if this world was somehow a warped delusion of my mind, and that I was being 'punished' for some unforgivable sin. Sort of a recognition that there have been a half dozen or so vector points in my life where I might have actually died, and ever since I've been sentenced to dwell in a parallel universe comprising my own heII. But, those who are paid to have an informed opinion on such matters would likely dismiss my concern as "megalomania".

The only criticism I would offer to the story you present is that there was too much interaction between the other characters that did not include Gilligan, for that to be the intent of the show.

[CosmicCharlie]

Over thinking it or what ?

The show premise is factual reality is suspended, why would the author even write what he did ? I'm not buying this article. Seems someone needed an article to submit and just threw it together with a bit of Psychology 101 bouncing here and there.

Many errors in the article as well -

Gilligan & the Skipper were not strangers.

The ocean off Hawaii is many 1000's of feet deep and throwing an anchor at sea anytime, be it during a storm is useless unless you got 500' - 2000' + or more of line, which a boat that size does not.

Can you name a few more inaccuracies ?

[TMC]

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

That is an interesting theory. There is actually a lot that makes sense about it.

At times I've even wondered if this world was somehow a warped delusion of my mind, and that I was being 'punished' for some unforgivable sin. Sort of a recognition that there have been a half dozen or so vector points in my life where I might have actually died, and ever since I've been sentenced to dwell in a parallel universe comprising my own heII. But, those who are paid to have an informed opinion on such matters would likely dismiss my concern as "megalomania".

The only criticism I would offer to the story you present is that there was too much interaction between the other characters that did not include Gilligan, for that to be the intent of the show.

Another theory that I've read is that Gilligan was actually a malevolent trickster who attempted to destroy the castaways' hopes of rescue in an attempt to drive them into insanity.

S = Season

E = Episode

[Level 1] is an example of evidence strength on a scale of 1 to 3 with 1 being stretching it, 2 being possible, and 3 being very strong evidence.

• S1E1- "Two on a Raft" - The ending of the episode possibly hints at Gilligan's true nature when he pranks his friends by scaring them as a tribal attacker, despite being aware of the dangers of their current situation [Level 2]
  
• S1E18 - "X Marks the Spot" - The professor attempts to create a mirror as a light reflector for passing planes that check the areas below before sending down the missile. Despite knowing the situation and clearly seeing the mirror, Gilligan still swings himself through the mirror and shatters the mirror, as well as the castaways' hopes of rescue [Level 2]
  
• S1E22 - "Diamonds Are an Ape's Best Friend" - This one is kind of a stretch but throughout the show, Gilligan manages to make friends with gorrillas. In this episode however, the gorilla steals Mrs. Howells diamond brooch and later kidnaps her, so whats preventing Gilligan from goading the spending doing all this? Remember, Gilligan has a knack for making friends with them [Level 1]
  
• S1E26 - "Music Haths Charms" - Gilligan for whatever reason decides to play the drums in the jungle. Problem is is that A) most sailors have slight knowledge about tropical tribes and what sets them off (I.e tribal drums) and B) Gilligan is seen doing this out of no particular reason, so maybe he was hoping for a tribal attack. Also later, Gilligan "accidentally" forgets to put batteries in the flashlight, despite possibly knowing with it was going to be used for (to scare off the intruding tribe) [Level 1]
  
• S2E4 - "Smile, You're on Mars Camera" - Gilligan finds the glass piece for the probe and in his "happiness", he claps while holding the glass and then "accidentally" throws the glass behind him, breaking it. Possibly an attempt to keep the probe deactivated so they don't get rescued [Level 2]
  
• S2E14 - "Mine Hero" - Gilligan makes very weak attempts at telling his captain that he fished out a mine, bands on it WHILE ITS TICKING and purposefully kicks Skipper's shins when he tries to block the kick. This possibly shows Gilligan's ill-intented attempts at making the crew unable to disable the mine, allowing to blow up his friends for his own amusement [Level 1]
  
• S2E21 - "Gilligan's Living Doll" - A robot lands on the island and near the end of the episode, the professor uses recordings to have the message sent out to people on the mainland when the robot reaches the island. Problem is is that the recordings get all scrambled when a rabbit's foot is seen lodged in the robot that is the cause of the scrambling. Here's the thing: how did it get there? Gilligan spends a small amount of time trying to find his rabbits foot and he finds it, but there's no window of opportunity for it to somehow get it inside the robot UNLESS Gilligan purposefully put it there to jam the recordings, remember, Gilligan was there when the professor announced the plan meaning Gilligan could've easily snuck the rabbits foot and jam it into the robot to shut down any rescue attempts [Level 3]
  
• S3E15 - "Gilligan Goes Gung Ho" - As an appointed deputy for the Skipper, Gilligan takes sadistic pleasure in taunting and locking up his friends and even claps at their futile attempts for him to let them out, despite them being...FRIENDS!! [Level 3]
  
• S3E23 - "High Man on a Totem Pole" - After the professor succeeds in convincing Gilligan he's not a headhunter, Gilligan throws the ax out the window, despite clearly seeing the Skipper right there in the window [Level 1]
  
• S3E25 - "The Secret of Gilligan's Island" - After is discovered that Gilligan is using a missing piece of a tablet that could help get them off the island, he "accidentally" drops the piece, despite clearly knowing its purpose [Level 2]

[stevea]

One thing that is odd, is the theme lyric, "the mate was a mighty sailin' man." In the real world which this is admittedly not, Gilligan would probably be no skipper's mate. Maybe the lyric should have been, the mate was a bumblin' sailing man.

Inaccuracies? They really manage too well. The clothes look too perfect as time goes on. The huts are always in perfect shape--and we rarely have a storm. Food never or rarely seems to be an issue. That radio would have died with all the use. And how are the men shaving? Did we bring razors on a three hour tour?

But, really, that's all easy to ignore, and is overthinking. If you want a half hour of a fun show, this is for you. On MeTV, just try to tolerate the horrible colorized season 1.

[Babalu]

Woe to those who take a meant to be dopey TV show too seriously.

This is why ignorant celebrities think they can tell you how to live, what to think, and whom to vote for.

[DEH55]

The person who wrote that is giving Sherwood Schwartz too much credit. lol He just liked to make silly, mindless TV shows where you wouldn't need common sense to enjoy them. Gilligan's Island is airing right now and there are plot holes you can drive a truck through. It's just candy for your brain.

[Torgo]

Another dumb fan theory.

[stevea]

Or that Newhart was all a Bob Hartley dream (or nightmare).

[JediJones]

And the St. Elsewhere "snow globe" ending.

http://www.stelsewhereweb.com/2013/0...now-globe.html