User Reviews

"Slave Girl," as played by Midori, is Kalani, a pretty Matoba girl saved from drowning by Gilligan, her native customs demanding that she remain his slave for life. The other castaways offer bids for her services but she refuses to serve anyone else but Gilligan. Kalani insists on doing all of Gilligan's chores until he finally asks the Professor what can be done. The answer is not a healthy one, a duel to the death, basically Gilligan's! Mr. Howell makes an offer he can't refuse, the staged result putting Kalani in the victor's employ, only for a new challenger appearing in fellow Matoba warrior Ugundi (Michael Forest), who seeks to claim Kalani for himself. A chance remark gives the Professor the idea to put Gilligan into a cataleptic state that will simulate death, which works so well that Ugundi insists on a Matoba funeral, which requires the corpse to be set aflame! A former member of the Roger Corman stock company, Michael Forest would be best remembered as the god Apollo in STAR TREK's "Who Mourns for Adonais?"

Slave Girl is another third season episode where its best quality is suspense. Gilligan is either in danger or under the threat of danger in nearly every scene. The plot is basic issue, and the humor is mainly stock. But the episode has enough suspenseful moments to nudge it above average.

Our slave girl of the title makes her dramatic appearance in the open. She flips her outrigger canoe in the lagoon. Unlike in How to Be a Hero, Gilligan is able to save her from drowning and brings her to shore single-handedly. The girl's name is Kilani and she is a member of the Marobi tribe. In the custom of her people, Gilligan, having saved her life, is now her master and she his slave.

What we have then is GI's answer to I Dream of Jeannie. In a quick montage, Master Gilligan gets frustrated by Kilani shadowing him and doing his chores. Mr. Howell and Ginger, who memorably teamed up as a villainous duo in the first year, both want Kilani to work for them, but she is only interested in serving her master.

At wit's end, Gilligan takes his frustrations to the Professor. He learns the only way he can free himself of his predicament is to be killed in mortal combat. Mr. Howell is happy to oblige so he can be Kilani's master. The set-up to their fencing duel is funnier than the event itself. The billionaire dispatches our lead in record time; unfortunately, his claim to the slave girl lasts only a few seconds.

That's because writer Micheal Fessier borrows a plot point from Gilligan's Mother in Law and inserts a native rival for our lead. The mighty warrior Ugandi challenges Mr. Howell to a duel, but he's given a pass when Gilligan won't stay down. The castaways vote to stand-in for Gilligan, but he is too noble to let anyone do his fighting for him.

He makes an off-hand remark which inspires the Professor to dupe the Marobi into thinking he has expired. Our lead is injected with a sleeping serum that puts him in a cataleptic trance. The ruse works, but, to increase the tension even more, the Marobi elect to honor him by burning his body.

In a snap, the natives build a coffin and begin the burial ceremony. The castaways try to bring some comedy back into the episode by stalling the cremation. The only stand-out scene is Ginger's sexy veil dance. Unfortunately, to keep it family friendly, Ugandi stops the dance before she runs out of veils.

So the suspense returns as our lead gets lit and the musical cues get dramatically cool. The serum just happens to pick this moment to wear off, and Gilligan realizes he is the barbequee at a barbeque. The episode concludes in much the same way as High Man on a Totem Pole did, and Gilligan is no longer the master of Kilani. (He's still the master of his domain, though).

COCONOTES:

Guess the censors didn't want Gilligan to administer CPR on Kilani. He revives her with some weird calisthenics.

Really sloppy editing in the cold open. The same clip is shown twice of our hero pointing back at the lagoon when Kilani is at his feet.

Once again, how fortunate it is that Mr. Howell brought along an outfit with him that fits Gilligan. Naturally, when you're on a three hour tour, you bring along fencing gear. Never know when a duel may break out.

Actor Michael Forest, who plays Ugandi, played Apollo in both Star Trek, the Original Series, and in Star Trek: Continued in 2013.

Nice special effects in Gilligan's near cremation.

Possibly an idea taken from I DREAM OF JEANNIE, which gets Gilligan in a lotta goofy trouble. He happens to save a native girl, called Kalani, from drowning. According to her native Matoba custom, the good deed makes her his slave for life! Just the kind of dumb luck Gilligan would have, right? Kalani is played by beautiful Midori, a popular character actress at the time.

One question. Where the heck did she come from? It's amazing how even island natives? --appear from nowhere, especially when you consider all the time the castaways have been stuck on the island in the first place.

Humble Gilligan doesn't feel too comfortable with his new "assistant", and you know what else is coming... Enter gigantic, hulking Ugundi (played by 6 foot 3 Michael Forrest) who wants pretty Kalani all to himself! There is a solution, according to the professor. Make believe Gilligan dies, which can really fool Ugundi, except Matoba custom dictates the body must be burned.

Now what?

This is outrageous, and with some great costumes, especially Mr. Howell who suddenly has a very creative wardrobe. Without too much surprise, Mr. Howell would want Kalani to be his maid! Midori, who actually was born in Monterey, California, generally played Asian roles in many classic films and cop shows. She was a very good actress, unfortunately cast in smaller roles through her career. Big guy Michael Forrest, who had a long list of credits, began his career in Roger Corman cult films.

Well directed by Wilbur D'Arcy, who was the assistant director for the series for its entire run. He was a walking encyclopedia on GILLIGANS ISLAND. D'Arcy later became famous as series director for BONANZA.

Midori would next appear is the famous 60s disaster film, KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA. Watch for it. SEASON 3 EPISODE 26 remastered color.