"V for Vitamins" opens with the Skipper feeling weaker than ever, an examination by the Professor revealing that the lack of citrus fruits on the island means that all the castaways suffer from a complete absence of Vitamin C, ultimately proving fatal. Gilligan finds a single orange in the jungle and wants to share it with everybody, but it shrinks into nothing under the sun's merciless rays. The Professor points out that the seeds can grow into orange trees, so everyone pitches in to plant them. While guarding the seeds from freezing, Gilligan dreams he's the title character in Jack and the Beanstalk, Mrs. Howell his trusting mother, Mr. Howell as W.C. Fields (given name Lester J. Frothingham III), the Skipper as the orange miser giant, Mary Ann the pretty servant girl, Ginger and the Professor dungeon captives (the little Gilligan is played by Bob Denver's own son Patrick, unbilled).
3 Reviews
Gilligan gets a dose of good plot.
Ralphkram24 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The series' sophomore slump is snapped by this solid, memorable, near classic entry. There are several iconic scenes and lines; humor that actually lands; and an above average plot with crazy high stakes. But the whole enterprise is lifted by one of the better dream sequences in the series.
After he gets a hair cut from his glamourous barber, the Skipper, much like Samson, discovers he has lost his strength and can't move a log his little buddy can handle. The Professor runs some tests and diagnoses his patient as suffering from a vitamin deficiency. Not only that, but he and the other castaways will fatally weaken without a healthy supply of citrus fruits. The crop of oranges on the island-never referenced before in the series-has picked this time to dry up; the castaways are down to their last one, and Gilligan is the lucky owner.
There are the typical, though fun, ways the others try to separate Gilligan from his orange. Mr. Howell weekly bribery attempt fails, and he is somehow immune to Ginger's kiss. Our lead does ultimately share the fruit, but his noble gesture is lost on his greedy pals. They waste time arguing over who most deserves it and it shrinks in the hot sun.
As usual, Gilligan inadvertently inspires the Professor's plan to save them: they'll plant the orange's seeds. The planting scene gets a little draggy, and our lead asks the Skip a simple question that undermines their effort.
Equally illogical is Gilligan being picked to guard the seeds. He stays true to his track record of serving as a subpar sentry and falls asleep during his vigil, despite the Professor's dire warning. His ineptitude does, however, lead in to a memorable dream sequence.
The sequence is arguably the third best of the series. Following the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale, it perfectly fits into the fantasy-driven emphasis of the second season. Gilligan is Jack, of course, largely playing himself in his familiar rugby shirt. Mrs. Howell has a small part as his strict and long-suffering mother who sends him out into the jungle to buy a bushel of oranges. He is sidetracked by a con artist played by Mr. Howell who sells him a packet of worthless seeds. Just like in the fairy tale, the seeds instantly grow into a magical beanstalk. Our lead climbs it into a cloud bank and finds a giant castle.
The most memorable characters inhabit the castle. There is Mary Ann, the giant's alluring maid; the goose that laid the golden...oranges, and the giant himself, the Skip. There is greedy goose stealing, a playful, adolescent chase, and the iconic rescue of Ginger's old hag and the Professor's cackling old man, definitely the highlight of the episode.
Gilligan's capture by the giant ends his nightmare, but then he wakes to the reality that his hope for survival has gone out with the tiki torches. But the Professor swoops in with a solution that once again shows the castaways have a food supply to rival Sam's Club.
COCONOTES:
The Skipper's barber back home is named Sam.
Major plot hole: the Professor's solution to their immediate crisis is to plant seeds that, to answer Gilligan's question, will take three to four years to grow.
Mr. Howell gamely tries and fails at a WC Fields accent.
Mary Ann's sexy French maid outfit rivals anything Ginger has ever put on. Ooh, Lucky Pierre!
First and only on screen kiss between Dawn Wells and Russell Johnson.
"Well, don't believe everything ya hear, girlie!"
After he gets a hair cut from his glamourous barber, the Skipper, much like Samson, discovers he has lost his strength and can't move a log his little buddy can handle. The Professor runs some tests and diagnoses his patient as suffering from a vitamin deficiency. Not only that, but he and the other castaways will fatally weaken without a healthy supply of citrus fruits. The crop of oranges on the island-never referenced before in the series-has picked this time to dry up; the castaways are down to their last one, and Gilligan is the lucky owner.
There are the typical, though fun, ways the others try to separate Gilligan from his orange. Mr. Howell weekly bribery attempt fails, and he is somehow immune to Ginger's kiss. Our lead does ultimately share the fruit, but his noble gesture is lost on his greedy pals. They waste time arguing over who most deserves it and it shrinks in the hot sun.
As usual, Gilligan inadvertently inspires the Professor's plan to save them: they'll plant the orange's seeds. The planting scene gets a little draggy, and our lead asks the Skip a simple question that undermines their effort.
Equally illogical is Gilligan being picked to guard the seeds. He stays true to his track record of serving as a subpar sentry and falls asleep during his vigil, despite the Professor's dire warning. His ineptitude does, however, lead in to a memorable dream sequence.
The sequence is arguably the third best of the series. Following the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale, it perfectly fits into the fantasy-driven emphasis of the second season. Gilligan is Jack, of course, largely playing himself in his familiar rugby shirt. Mrs. Howell has a small part as his strict and long-suffering mother who sends him out into the jungle to buy a bushel of oranges. He is sidetracked by a con artist played by Mr. Howell who sells him a packet of worthless seeds. Just like in the fairy tale, the seeds instantly grow into a magical beanstalk. Our lead climbs it into a cloud bank and finds a giant castle.
The most memorable characters inhabit the castle. There is Mary Ann, the giant's alluring maid; the goose that laid the golden...oranges, and the giant himself, the Skip. There is greedy goose stealing, a playful, adolescent chase, and the iconic rescue of Ginger's old hag and the Professor's cackling old man, definitely the highlight of the episode.
Gilligan's capture by the giant ends his nightmare, but then he wakes to the reality that his hope for survival has gone out with the tiki torches. But the Professor swoops in with a solution that once again shows the castaways have a food supply to rival Sam's Club.
COCONOTES:
The Skipper's barber back home is named Sam.
Major plot hole: the Professor's solution to their immediate crisis is to plant seeds that, to answer Gilligan's question, will take three to four years to grow.
Mr. Howell gamely tries and fails at a WC Fields accent.
Mary Ann's sexy French maid outfit rivals anything Ginger has ever put on. Ooh, Lucky Pierre!
First and only on screen kiss between Dawn Wells and Russell Johnson.
"Well, don't believe everything ya hear, girlie!"
DON'T MISS THIS ONE. IT'S GREAT
tcchelsey3 September 2023
This was the only episode written by veteran Barney Slater, who cranked out tons of western tv shows, also known for LOST IN SPACE. He did a super job.
This is affectionately known to all of us devout fans as the JACK AND THE BEANSTALK episode where the professor concludes the ailing Skipper has a vitamin deficiency --and needs orange juice!
In fact, the lack of Vitamin C could prove fatal to each and every one of the castaways. OMG.
This is another family episode where everyone goes nuts at about the same time, the goal here is to plant orange seeds ASAP so they can grow orange trees! The big question... Would they live long enough to see the trees? Don't ask and certainly don't tell, right?
Comes the CLASSIC dream sequence as Gilligan dreams he is Jack and in front of his nose is one gigantic beanstalk! All the crew become hilarious fairy tale characters, such as the Skipper playing the BIG, BIG angry giant who gives Gilligan a run for his money. The large and tiny set pieces in the giant's castle are also a standout.
Fun awards go to Mr. Howell, decked out in a striped suit looking like a 40s gangsta', playing a WC Fields type and Mrs. Howell playing Gilligans' mother??
To note, in the chase scene, miniature Gilligan is played by his then six year old son, Patrick. Like father, like son. Patrick later became a visual and tech person in several popular movies.
Well directed (as always) by Jack Arnold, later director for the BRADY BUNCH and so many movies and tv shows. This is a camp classic on steroids.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 30 remastered dvd box set.
This is affectionately known to all of us devout fans as the JACK AND THE BEANSTALK episode where the professor concludes the ailing Skipper has a vitamin deficiency --and needs orange juice!
In fact, the lack of Vitamin C could prove fatal to each and every one of the castaways. OMG.
This is another family episode where everyone goes nuts at about the same time, the goal here is to plant orange seeds ASAP so they can grow orange trees! The big question... Would they live long enough to see the trees? Don't ask and certainly don't tell, right?
Comes the CLASSIC dream sequence as Gilligan dreams he is Jack and in front of his nose is one gigantic beanstalk! All the crew become hilarious fairy tale characters, such as the Skipper playing the BIG, BIG angry giant who gives Gilligan a run for his money. The large and tiny set pieces in the giant's castle are also a standout.
Fun awards go to Mr. Howell, decked out in a striped suit looking like a 40s gangsta', playing a WC Fields type and Mrs. Howell playing Gilligans' mother??
To note, in the chase scene, miniature Gilligan is played by his then six year old son, Patrick. Like father, like son. Patrick later became a visual and tech person in several popular movies.
Well directed (as always) by Jack Arnold, later director for the BRADY BUNCH and so many movies and tv shows. This is a camp classic on steroids.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 30 remastered dvd box set.
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