Ep 22. Big Man on Little Stick

In Gilligan's Island season 1 episode 22, titled "Big Man on Little Stick," the stranded crew encounters a new character, a Japanese sailor named Ko-Ko, who has been swept ashore on a raft. Ko-Ko is initially hostile towards the group, but they eventually manage to befriend him thanks to Gillian's inadvertently making a peace offering of his hat, which is embroidered with the Japanese flag.

The crew soon discovers that Ko-Ko is not just any sailor - he is the champion of "bo-taoshi," a traditional Japanese sport that involves trying to knock down a large pole while being attacked by the opposing team. Ko-Ko teaches the game to the castaways, and they all become enthusiastic players. However, when the captain of a U.S. naval ship passing by is informed of their game, he assumes that they are practicing for a Japanese invasion and sends his men to investigate.

The ensuing chaos sees the crew accidentally starting a small fire, trapping themselves in a cave, and eventually coming up with a plan to set things right by staging a fake game with Ko-Ko pretending to lose to them. In the end, the captain is satisfied that they are not a threat and departs, and the castaways continue to play their newly learned game.

Throughout the episode, there are subplots involving romantic tensions between the characters - Gilligan and Mary Ann, the professor and Ginger, and the Skipper and Mrs. Howell. These threads are woven throughout the main plot, adding humor and depth to the episode.

Overall, "Big Man on Little Stick" offers a fun romp through a lesser-known aspect of Japanese culture, while also exploring the dynamics of the castaway community and the relationships between the characters. It's a lighthearted and entertaining episode that makes for enjoyable viewing.