Easily the darkest GI episode, The Hunter is a refreshing change of pace from the goofy, standard fare of the series. The adult tone gives a glimpse into what the show could've been if it had been aimed at an older, more mature audience. The humor may be subdued, but the drama and suspense more than make up for it.
Gilligan is listening to incidental music in the open as a copter lands behind him in the lagoon. Jonathan Kincaid and his man-servant Ramoo have arrived to get in a little hunting, but Gilligan informs them the island has no game to hunt. To kick off the plot, he does tell them there are six other castaways living there, and Kincaid realizes he has a more challenging target.
It's a quick build-up to the hunt. Kincaid quizzes the castaways on their physical fitness, and there are a lot of cheap one-liners. The Skipper rags on Gilligan's speed and agility, unwittingly putting his little buddy in harm's way.
Certainly, the darkest, most tense scene in the entire series follows. The castaways throw Kincaid a party to celebrate their imminent departure. (Don't jinx it, castaways...too late)! He casually drops his bombshell on the disbelieving group, and they uneasily realize he is not kidding. There is a nice mix of tension and humor as the hunter puts down those castaways who didn't make the cut. There is a bit of comic relief as Gilligan reacts to the news he is Kincaid's prey, then the tone darkens and the music grows ominous as the hunter puts the kibosh on the Professor's plan to radio for help.
Kincaid's hunt has high stakes; if Gilligan can survive for the next twenty-four hours, he and the castaways will be returned to civilization. For the most part, the desperate castaways are complicit in the plan. They do try out their typical bribery and seduction attempts. Kincaid, though, has no interest in the Howell's money, and he neatly turns the tables on glamorous Ginger and her pineapple juice sedative. With those diversions out of the way, it's on to the hunt.
The hunt itself is fun in fits and starts. Even though Kincaid is shooting to kill, the hunt never gets too serious, and is stocked with a lot of the usual goofy shtick whenever he gets close to his target. There is even a fairly dramatic moment where Gilligan outsmarts him at a trough.
The rest of the castaways are sidelined in that same all-purpose cave used as a prison this time, guarded by Ramoo. A diversion by Mrs. Howell frees the Skip and Professor to play a supporting role in the hunt. Their assistance is a dumb gag that reminds us of the dumb gag way back in the pilot, which sacrifices his speed and agility and nearly backfires. The hunt wraps up predictably with no surprises, and the castaways shoot another rescue attempt in the foot.
COCONOTES:
Gilligan saying there is no game on the island contradicts the Where There's a Will episode where they hunt a wild boar.
Rory Calhoun does a superb job as the big game hunter. He is an oily, handsome, rugged, and lethally serious villain, definitely the best in the series.
It's odd to see Harold Sakata as the turbaned Ramoo. He gives an equally solid performance, of course, but you keep expecting him to strike Gilligan with a hat.
"My malaria must be coming back."
"You've gone soft, Ramoo." "Yes, too bad."
The report of Kincaid's breakdown in the epilogue and the men's reaction to it is a fitting capper.
Gilligan is listening to incidental music in the open as a copter lands behind him in the lagoon. Jonathan Kincaid and his man-servant Ramoo have arrived to get in a little hunting, but Gilligan informs them the island has no game to hunt. To kick off the plot, he does tell them there are six other castaways living there, and Kincaid realizes he has a more challenging target.
It's a quick build-up to the hunt. Kincaid quizzes the castaways on their physical fitness, and there are a lot of cheap one-liners. The Skipper rags on Gilligan's speed and agility, unwittingly putting his little buddy in harm's way.
Certainly, the darkest, most tense scene in the entire series follows. The castaways throw Kincaid a party to celebrate their imminent departure. (Don't jinx it, castaways...too late)! He casually drops his bombshell on the disbelieving group, and they uneasily realize he is not kidding. There is a nice mix of tension and humor as the hunter puts down those castaways who didn't make the cut. There is a bit of comic relief as Gilligan reacts to the news he is Kincaid's prey, then the tone darkens and the music grows ominous as the hunter puts the kibosh on the Professor's plan to radio for help.
Kincaid's hunt has high stakes; if Gilligan can survive for the next twenty-four hours, he and the castaways will be returned to civilization. For the most part, the desperate castaways are complicit in the plan. They do try out their typical bribery and seduction attempts. Kincaid, though, has no interest in the Howell's money, and he neatly turns the tables on glamorous Ginger and her pineapple juice sedative. With those diversions out of the way, it's on to the hunt.
The hunt itself is fun in fits and starts. Even though Kincaid is shooting to kill, the hunt never gets too serious, and is stocked with a lot of the usual goofy shtick whenever he gets close to his target. There is even a fairly dramatic moment where Gilligan outsmarts him at a trough.
The rest of the castaways are sidelined in that same all-purpose cave used as a prison this time, guarded by Ramoo. A diversion by Mrs. Howell frees the Skip and Professor to play a supporting role in the hunt. Their assistance is a dumb gag that reminds us of the dumb gag way back in the pilot, which sacrifices his speed and agility and nearly backfires. The hunt wraps up predictably with no surprises, and the castaways shoot another rescue attempt in the foot.
COCONOTES:
Gilligan saying there is no game on the island contradicts the Where There's a Will episode where they hunt a wild boar.
Rory Calhoun does a superb job as the big game hunter. He is an oily, handsome, rugged, and lethally serious villain, definitely the best in the series.
It's odd to see Harold Sakata as the turbaned Ramoo. He gives an equally solid performance, of course, but you keep expecting him to strike Gilligan with a hat.
"My malaria must be coming back."
"You've gone soft, Ramoo." "Yes, too bad."
The report of Kincaid's breakdown in the epilogue and the men's reaction to it is a fitting capper.
