The third season of GI is known for leaning into its dream sequences quite a bit. This is another episode that would be ordinary with little action without Gilligan's entertaining dream. Just like the other offerings with dream sequences in them, the solid spy spoof lifts the entire episode and gives it its most memorable, iconic moment.
Once again, in the cold open, the trope is used of Gilligan reeling in something important from the lagoon. This time, he and the Skipper uncover an attaché case that is property of the US Government. The sailors are eager to unlock its secrets, but the Professor is a bit more cautious. He's also contradictory: he gets everyone's hearts racing by telling them the case will bring US agents to the island for its recovery and they'll be rescued; then in the next breath tells them to forget all about the case because it's top secret.
Of course, all he does is stoke their curiosity. They take turns trying to wrangle the case from the Professor's hut. Their bits range from the ridiculous (Mr. Howell's cat burglar outfit) to the sublime (Ginger's weekly seduction attempt). After he foils their attempts, he holds another meeting to reiterate the importance of guarding the case. It's an unnecessary meeting, just an excuse for him to accidentally open the case and spy its contents.
In a bid to raise the stakes, Gilligan cuffs himself to the case. This action is followed by a lot of crazy talk about sinister agents coming immediately to take out our lead, which, of course, comes to nothing. Better are the good visual gags and physical humor in the attempts to pry him from the case; the best bit is the Skipper and the Professor trying to yank it off him at the tree.
As in Up at Bat, Gilligan's obsession over what may happen leads into the dream sequence. He dreams he is the super suave Good Guy Secret Agent 014, sort of a cross between Bond and Maxwell Smart. The Professor is his deadpan, goateed Chief. The other castaways are part of the organization opposed to the Good Guys, the cleverly named Evil Organization, and they're all after his briefcase. Their leader is bald, sinister Mr. Howell, who pops up in the most interesting places to offer his team encouragement to eliminate 014.
At first our lead is too clever for his pursuers. He dispatches of the double-dealing girls, invalidating Mary Ann and then giving wife Ginger the big kiss-off. The goofiest role far and away goes to the Skipper, who disguises himself as 014's mother, and is done in by his own soup. But he soon runs into the Howells. Mrs. Howell's bit role as a secretary is largely extraneous, but Mr. Howell shines as he tries to deliver the knockout blow to 014.
Alas, his dream ends, he uncuffs himself in the tidiest way, and we're left with another last minute, weak, unsatisfying anticlimax.
COCONOTES:
In a rarity, both Gilligan and the Skip are fishing together in the cold open.
Mr. Howell brought a cat burglar outfit on a three hour tour. Yes, he did.
That hiding bit at the table is chuckle-worthy.
Minor plot hole: Gilligan and the others are stressed that he's going to be killed by g men. With no evident tracking device, how would they know the case is on a tiny uncharted island that a fleet of Navy ships haven't been able to locate?
Love the Professor's delivery of "Heavens to Betsy!"
Mary Ann's sultry double agent is obviously inspired by Get Smart's Agent 99.
Mr. Howell's Mr. Evil is clearly modeled on Bond's Blofeld. Love how he drowns before he finishes the motto.
The Skip's disguise is reminiscent of Jonathan Winter's Maude Frickert.
"Besides, my real mother is a woman!"
Once again, in the cold open, the trope is used of Gilligan reeling in something important from the lagoon. This time, he and the Skipper uncover an attaché case that is property of the US Government. The sailors are eager to unlock its secrets, but the Professor is a bit more cautious. He's also contradictory: he gets everyone's hearts racing by telling them the case will bring US agents to the island for its recovery and they'll be rescued; then in the next breath tells them to forget all about the case because it's top secret.
Of course, all he does is stoke their curiosity. They take turns trying to wrangle the case from the Professor's hut. Their bits range from the ridiculous (Mr. Howell's cat burglar outfit) to the sublime (Ginger's weekly seduction attempt). After he foils their attempts, he holds another meeting to reiterate the importance of guarding the case. It's an unnecessary meeting, just an excuse for him to accidentally open the case and spy its contents.
In a bid to raise the stakes, Gilligan cuffs himself to the case. This action is followed by a lot of crazy talk about sinister agents coming immediately to take out our lead, which, of course, comes to nothing. Better are the good visual gags and physical humor in the attempts to pry him from the case; the best bit is the Skipper and the Professor trying to yank it off him at the tree.
As in Up at Bat, Gilligan's obsession over what may happen leads into the dream sequence. He dreams he is the super suave Good Guy Secret Agent 014, sort of a cross between Bond and Maxwell Smart. The Professor is his deadpan, goateed Chief. The other castaways are part of the organization opposed to the Good Guys, the cleverly named Evil Organization, and they're all after his briefcase. Their leader is bald, sinister Mr. Howell, who pops up in the most interesting places to offer his team encouragement to eliminate 014.
At first our lead is too clever for his pursuers. He dispatches of the double-dealing girls, invalidating Mary Ann and then giving wife Ginger the big kiss-off. The goofiest role far and away goes to the Skipper, who disguises himself as 014's mother, and is done in by his own soup. But he soon runs into the Howells. Mrs. Howell's bit role as a secretary is largely extraneous, but Mr. Howell shines as he tries to deliver the knockout blow to 014.
Alas, his dream ends, he uncuffs himself in the tidiest way, and we're left with another last minute, weak, unsatisfying anticlimax.
COCONOTES:
In a rarity, both Gilligan and the Skip are fishing together in the cold open.
Mr. Howell brought a cat burglar outfit on a three hour tour. Yes, he did.
That hiding bit at the table is chuckle-worthy.
Minor plot hole: Gilligan and the others are stressed that he's going to be killed by g men. With no evident tracking device, how would they know the case is on a tiny uncharted island that a fleet of Navy ships haven't been able to locate?
Love the Professor's delivery of "Heavens to Betsy!"
Mary Ann's sultry double agent is obviously inspired by Get Smart's Agent 99.
Mr. Howell's Mr. Evil is clearly modeled on Bond's Blofeld. Love how he drowns before he finishes the motto.
The Skip's disguise is reminiscent of Jonathan Winter's Maude Frickert.
"Besides, my real mother is a woman!"
