For the first time since President Gilligan, the series dips its toe back into the political waters in this entry. The result is very entertaining, features a cool dream sequence, tamps down the slapstick, and even debates on the merits of democracy versus dictatorship.
El Presidente Rodriguez has been the victim of a revolution in his home nation of Equarico and is exiled, a la Napoleon, to the island. He bumps into Gilligan picking berries and takes him prisoner. Rodriguez identifies himself as Equarico's leader, but Gilligan believes he's no more a dictator than Gilligan is George Washington. El Presidente is more trusting, however, and refers to his prisoner as "George", thus promoting Gilligan from first mate to first president.
Rodriguez announces to the other castaways that he is their new ruler and will remain so as long as he is exiled. (Like all dictators he makes a vague reference to democratic elections sometime in the future.) The castaways, of course, object to living under a dictatorship and opt for civil disobedience. The Professor reasons Rodriguez would be powerless without his gun, and they have to get him to use his remaining shots.
We get a series of scenes where the castaways try different ways to get Rodriguez to use his bullets; the best has Ginger coaxing him in her usual steamy style, but he proves too wily. Mr. Howell's trap for him fails due to Gilligan's ineptitude, which sets up a fairly dramatic situation where our lead is to be executed.
His life is spared, of course, since El Presidente is out of ammo.
Rodriguez is once again out of power and prepares for his own execution. Of course the castaways do not believe in capital punishment any more than they believe in dictatorship, and Mrs. Howell invites Rodriguez to join their "happy little society". Naturally the dictator resists this idea and soon plots to take over the island once again, this time as part of a shadow government.
His scheme is to guilt Gilligan into assuming leadership. For the second time in two years he would be the president; Rodriguez would serve as his loyal VP to help 'guide' his presidency. Gilligan's fret over what to do leads into that dream sequence, one of the top three in the series.
In his iconic dream, Gilligan is a highly decorated dictator. He gives an address from his balcony to an adoring crowd that evokes Charlie Chaplin, then assembles his loyal cabinet. Mr. Howell is logically Minister of Finance; the Skip is Secretary of the Navy; and Ginger is top spy 36.
Every one of them insist the country is in terrible shape and on the verge of collapse. When Gilligan goes to the window to verify their accounts, he sees stock footage of disaster and ruin, from tent cities out of the Grapes of Wrath to a sinking ship to, inexplicably, cowboys and Indians mixing it up on the plains. It is fun and edgy at the same time.
He returns to find his entire cabinet has been eliminated by his two-timing vice president. Gilligan objects, but Rodriguez cheerfully demonstrates his puppetry skills in a nightmarish end.
Disturbed, Gilligan races out of his hut in pursuit of the real Rodriguez. He learns there has been a counter revolution by the dictator's loyalists and he is back in power. Predictably, Rodriguez's rescue is put on hold by another coup, a revolting end for the castaways.
COCONOTES:
Nehemiah Persoff is excellent as the Castro-inspired ruler. He exhibits great exasperation and confusion about the democratic lifestyle of the castaways, is fiercely proud, and exaggerates the ruthless traits of Latin American dictators with great comic timing.
Like the change in musical cue when Gilligan momentarily gets the jump on the dictator.
"You mean, become one of the masses?"
As with all spies, Ginger wears a leopard print bikini underneath her trench coat.
"Take a look! Not at me! At the state of the country!"
El Presidente Rodriguez has been the victim of a revolution in his home nation of Equarico and is exiled, a la Napoleon, to the island. He bumps into Gilligan picking berries and takes him prisoner. Rodriguez identifies himself as Equarico's leader, but Gilligan believes he's no more a dictator than Gilligan is George Washington. El Presidente is more trusting, however, and refers to his prisoner as "George", thus promoting Gilligan from first mate to first president.
Rodriguez announces to the other castaways that he is their new ruler and will remain so as long as he is exiled. (Like all dictators he makes a vague reference to democratic elections sometime in the future.) The castaways, of course, object to living under a dictatorship and opt for civil disobedience. The Professor reasons Rodriguez would be powerless without his gun, and they have to get him to use his remaining shots.
We get a series of scenes where the castaways try different ways to get Rodriguez to use his bullets; the best has Ginger coaxing him in her usual steamy style, but he proves too wily. Mr. Howell's trap for him fails due to Gilligan's ineptitude, which sets up a fairly dramatic situation where our lead is to be executed.
His life is spared, of course, since El Presidente is out of ammo.
Rodriguez is once again out of power and prepares for his own execution. Of course the castaways do not believe in capital punishment any more than they believe in dictatorship, and Mrs. Howell invites Rodriguez to join their "happy little society". Naturally the dictator resists this idea and soon plots to take over the island once again, this time as part of a shadow government.
His scheme is to guilt Gilligan into assuming leadership. For the second time in two years he would be the president; Rodriguez would serve as his loyal VP to help 'guide' his presidency. Gilligan's fret over what to do leads into that dream sequence, one of the top three in the series.
In his iconic dream, Gilligan is a highly decorated dictator. He gives an address from his balcony to an adoring crowd that evokes Charlie Chaplin, then assembles his loyal cabinet. Mr. Howell is logically Minister of Finance; the Skip is Secretary of the Navy; and Ginger is top spy 36.
Every one of them insist the country is in terrible shape and on the verge of collapse. When Gilligan goes to the window to verify their accounts, he sees stock footage of disaster and ruin, from tent cities out of the Grapes of Wrath to a sinking ship to, inexplicably, cowboys and Indians mixing it up on the plains. It is fun and edgy at the same time.
He returns to find his entire cabinet has been eliminated by his two-timing vice president. Gilligan objects, but Rodriguez cheerfully demonstrates his puppetry skills in a nightmarish end.
Disturbed, Gilligan races out of his hut in pursuit of the real Rodriguez. He learns there has been a counter revolution by the dictator's loyalists and he is back in power. Predictably, Rodriguez's rescue is put on hold by another coup, a revolting end for the castaways.
COCONOTES:
Nehemiah Persoff is excellent as the Castro-inspired ruler. He exhibits great exasperation and confusion about the democratic lifestyle of the castaways, is fiercely proud, and exaggerates the ruthless traits of Latin American dictators with great comic timing.
Like the change in musical cue when Gilligan momentarily gets the jump on the dictator.
"You mean, become one of the masses?"
As with all spies, Ginger wears a leopard print bikini underneath her trench coat.
"Take a look! Not at me! At the state of the country!"
