"The Chain of Command," with a possible attack by savages imminent, ponders the question of who should take charge should the Skipper get killed. Gilligan regards himself as the natural choice, but the Skipper interviews each of the others first before reaching the same conclusion. Gilligan receives instructions on how to act like a skipper but his superior officer is hardly convinced. Once the Skipper disappears for real the castaways aren't eager to follow Gilligan's lead, the Professor called a certain insult by Mr. Howell: "that egghead wasn't born, he was hatched!" Mary Ann encourages Gilligan to talk tough and take command, but in the end the natives are restless. Janos Prohaska displays the same gorilla outfit later seen in "Forward March."
3 Reviews
Gilligan meets his Waterloo.
Ralphkram3 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
An underrated episode, Command is an improved version of President Gilligan. The plot may be slight and predictable, but it affords our lead another chance to show his leadership ability, which is much funnier than his first time at the helm.
The castaways find a native headdress down at the lagoon and are concerned about an imminent attack. The Skipper grows preoccupied that if he's captured, there is no one qualified to take his place. He spends part of the first act searching for his replacement. He puts off the most logical choice for as long as he can to pad the episode. Instead there are interviews with the Professor, the Howells, and, to Gilligan's dismay, even the girls (the girls!). The Professor is too slow and analytical to take action, his plan to erect a great wall will take years. The Howells have conceded defeat and are choosing the correct attire for a proper surrender. The girls lose focus and misuse bandages for hair ribbons.
So, out of options, the Skipper reluctantly turns to his first mate as successor. In a very funny scene that reminds viewers more of Abbott and Costello than Laurel and Hardy, his instructions on how to be the Skipper boil down to being loud and alternating between snarls, sneers, and scowls. But our lead doesn't have the command presence to pull it off. In a combat-preparedness drill in front of the troops, he is a complete wash-out. They abandon him; the Skipper wanders off disgusted; and he's left suffering from a lack of self-confidence.
Fate intervenes in the second half. Down at the lagoon, Gilligan finds an overturned cap, a note, and signs of a struggle. The real Skipper has disappeared and apparently been captured by those natives. Gilligan brings in the remaining men as reinforcements, but they can't agree on their next move. The Professor wants to analyze the tide to determine the Skip's whereabouts; while Mr. Howell is distracted by the Skip's poor handwriting. The squabble between academia and big business leads Gilligan to take matters into his own hands.
In a sweet scene reminiscent of their first year relationship, he turns to Mary Ann for counsel. She smartly slips a safety pin into his oversized cap to hold it in place and sends him out to rally the troops.
That pin is a real enabler. In front of a disbelieving audience, Gilligan transforms himself into a lean, mean version of the Skipper. At once he snaps them to attention and lays down the law, and they're ready to follow him into battle.
The newly empowered Gilligan is able to build a pretty effective trap to catch a savage. The trap succeeds in netting one, aided by a Ginger wiggle. Mr. Howell gives the headhunter a brief flogging, when it's revealed in a less than surprising twist that it isn't a headhunter at all.
COCONOTES:
Bob Denver makes a total commitment in becoming the new Skipper, from the puffed up posture to the hard, squinty eyes to the deep, authoritative voice. He really enjoys shedding the lovable bumbler role for a stretch, and it's enjoyable to see him turn into a Barney Fife martinet. His impatience during the Skipper's explanation near the episode's end is hysterical.
Since Mary Ann's character is based on Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, in her scene with Gilligan she is giving the Cowardly Lion some courage.
Also, how can Gilligan resist looking into her eyes? Sigh.
Jim Backus' expression when Gilligan glares at him is priceless. So is his "I'll beat it out of him."
Second time this season that Ginger wants to play spy. Tina really wanted to be a Bond girl, didn't she?
The castaways find a native headdress down at the lagoon and are concerned about an imminent attack. The Skipper grows preoccupied that if he's captured, there is no one qualified to take his place. He spends part of the first act searching for his replacement. He puts off the most logical choice for as long as he can to pad the episode. Instead there are interviews with the Professor, the Howells, and, to Gilligan's dismay, even the girls (the girls!). The Professor is too slow and analytical to take action, his plan to erect a great wall will take years. The Howells have conceded defeat and are choosing the correct attire for a proper surrender. The girls lose focus and misuse bandages for hair ribbons.
So, out of options, the Skipper reluctantly turns to his first mate as successor. In a very funny scene that reminds viewers more of Abbott and Costello than Laurel and Hardy, his instructions on how to be the Skipper boil down to being loud and alternating between snarls, sneers, and scowls. But our lead doesn't have the command presence to pull it off. In a combat-preparedness drill in front of the troops, he is a complete wash-out. They abandon him; the Skipper wanders off disgusted; and he's left suffering from a lack of self-confidence.
Fate intervenes in the second half. Down at the lagoon, Gilligan finds an overturned cap, a note, and signs of a struggle. The real Skipper has disappeared and apparently been captured by those natives. Gilligan brings in the remaining men as reinforcements, but they can't agree on their next move. The Professor wants to analyze the tide to determine the Skip's whereabouts; while Mr. Howell is distracted by the Skip's poor handwriting. The squabble between academia and big business leads Gilligan to take matters into his own hands.
In a sweet scene reminiscent of their first year relationship, he turns to Mary Ann for counsel. She smartly slips a safety pin into his oversized cap to hold it in place and sends him out to rally the troops.
That pin is a real enabler. In front of a disbelieving audience, Gilligan transforms himself into a lean, mean version of the Skipper. At once he snaps them to attention and lays down the law, and they're ready to follow him into battle.
The newly empowered Gilligan is able to build a pretty effective trap to catch a savage. The trap succeeds in netting one, aided by a Ginger wiggle. Mr. Howell gives the headhunter a brief flogging, when it's revealed in a less than surprising twist that it isn't a headhunter at all.
COCONOTES:
Bob Denver makes a total commitment in becoming the new Skipper, from the puffed up posture to the hard, squinty eyes to the deep, authoritative voice. He really enjoys shedding the lovable bumbler role for a stretch, and it's enjoyable to see him turn into a Barney Fife martinet. His impatience during the Skipper's explanation near the episode's end is hysterical.
Since Mary Ann's character is based on Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, in her scene with Gilligan she is giving the Cowardly Lion some courage.
Also, how can Gilligan resist looking into her eyes? Sigh.
Jim Backus' expression when Gilligan glares at him is priceless. So is his "I'll beat it out of him."
Second time this season that Ginger wants to play spy. Tina really wanted to be a Bond girl, didn't she?
And Just Who Thought Gilligan Should Be in Charge?
kmcelhaney00522 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
After finding what appears to be the headdress from a fierce native tribe, the Skipper realizes that if something were to happen to him, there needs to be a new leader and Gilligan is the rather non-logical choice.
A plot that is more down-to-Earth than in recent episodes. Despite one glaring exception, this is actually a pretty good episode that addresses a pertinent question about the castaways which is who should be in charge in case something were to happen to the Skipper.
Highlights include Gilligan trying to keep the tree from falling on the Skipper, the Professor rambling on about the history of fortifications (he's actually pretty accurate), the Howells debating on the proper type of outfit to wear in a capture situation, Mrs. Howell "fanning" the Skipper and then Mr. Howell with money, Gilligan practicing on Mary Ann to be a Skipper (the "sucking in the gut" was a nice touch), Ginger convincing Gilligan that she should be a spy, Mr. Howell "beating" the truth out of who he thinks is a savage, and the final epilogue scene which is apparently Gilligan's punishment for being such a thick-headed leader.
I actually enjoyed this episode a lot, although I will have to point out that the entire plot is resolved based on a misplaced hat by Mrs. Howell...really? I would think that the Professor would have spotted that, but hey, this is Gilligan's Island after all. However, the main problem with the story is the fact that while everyone TALKS about how the savages could attack at any moment, no one actually ACTS like it could happen at any moment. That discombobulates the story which makes it less interesting that it could have been.
Tidbits & Trivia
A plot that is more down-to-Earth than in recent episodes. Despite one glaring exception, this is actually a pretty good episode that addresses a pertinent question about the castaways which is who should be in charge in case something were to happen to the Skipper.
Highlights include Gilligan trying to keep the tree from falling on the Skipper, the Professor rambling on about the history of fortifications (he's actually pretty accurate), the Howells debating on the proper type of outfit to wear in a capture situation, Mrs. Howell "fanning" the Skipper and then Mr. Howell with money, Gilligan practicing on Mary Ann to be a Skipper (the "sucking in the gut" was a nice touch), Ginger convincing Gilligan that she should be a spy, Mr. Howell "beating" the truth out of who he thinks is a savage, and the final epilogue scene which is apparently Gilligan's punishment for being such a thick-headed leader.
I actually enjoyed this episode a lot, although I will have to point out that the entire plot is resolved based on a misplaced hat by Mrs. Howell...really? I would think that the Professor would have spotted that, but hey, this is Gilligan's Island after all. However, the main problem with the story is the fact that while everyone TALKS about how the savages could attack at any moment, no one actually ACTS like it could happen at any moment. That discombobulates the story which makes it less interesting that it could have been.
Tidbits & Trivia
- We begin yet another episode at the lagoon. In fact, the episodes that begin during the day most often start at the lagoon.
- The tree that Gilligan chops down is next to a very large boulder formation that we have never seen at the lagoon before. In fact, the hut which was next to the lagoon in "The Sweepstakes" is now missing...maybe it was blown away by the typhoon in the previous episode, "Hi-Fi Gilligan"?
- You know, last season they did have an election in "President Gilligan" which seemed to settle the leadership issue...for that episode anyway.
- That is one elaborate model of a fort the Professor has built which must have taken hours considering he painted it as well. Of course, it also appears that Gilligan has fashioned a bow (a really bad one, but still...) and apparently several slingshots in just a few minutes as well.
- We get to hear yet another tale about Skinny Mulligan whose educational development seems to have endured several setbacks.
- The gorilla that kidnapped Mrs. Howell in the first season episode "Diamonds are an Ape's Best Friend" is back.
- During the Skipper's demonstration of the castaways picking up the appropriate items, Mrs. Howell does a few "salutes" along the way.
- Speaking of which, since the Papuan savages (really? Papua is thousands of miles away...oh well) probably don't understand English, then what is the point of assigning letters to names?
- You know, the Professor's approach at checking the tide is actually a smart one. Of course, if he did conclude that the Skipper was taken from the island, just what exactly are the castaways suppose to do about that?
- Mrs. Howell actually turns with Gilligan when he tells them "Left Face" (Natalie Schaffer is working double-time in this episode).
- The shot where Gilligan is holding onto the branch is from the earlier episode "Agonized Labor".
- So, did Gilligan pass his test of being a leader? Considering how everyone, including the Skipper reacted to his orders, I think the answer would be "yes". However, following Gilligan is not something any sane person would do.
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