Do you suppose the reason it was called "Gilligan's Island" is because, though they never mention it, the real reason they ended up there was because of a mistake caused by Gilligan during the storm? I suppose it's possible, but there's little ill-will towards him. Most of the castaways actually seem at least secretly sort of fond of him, though frustrated at times. Of course, they all seemed pretty well-adjusted to the idea of being stuck on the island for a long time. In fact, the only time they really plotted escape was when a fairly obvious possibility presented itself directly to them, otherwise they were content with their new home in the world. It may also have been that, perhaps, Gilligan is inherently forgiveable, being essentially pure, untainted, bumbling good intentions. Perhaps Gilligan was the first one to come off the ruined boat or wash up on shore, perhaps he'd always dreamed of being an explorer and having a place named after him, and so the other castaways humored him, more concerned with the other matters of survival, comfort, coconuts, and a return to civilization. These are only the most obvious of possibilities, though. The god of the cannibals from the nearby islands is, in nearly every respect, a complete identical copy of Gilligan. Was the boat and its crew drawn to the island, the irresistable pull of spiritual energies drawing the god of the island back to his home? Were the inevitable failures of escape simply due to the fact that they would never have left Gilligan behind? If they had let Gilligan stay, would the island have let them leave? Or was it more sinister than that? Possibly, Gilligan was the island god and aware of this fact, but lonely. Not necessarily cruel, just simple. The castaways never did without or with too little, at least never for long. An idiot god longing for companionship, signing up as first mate on a touring ship until at long last the most appealing assembly of new friends came together.

Just something to think about.

Another note? Why did the castaways never mention the name of the island? Did they ever name it themselves? The name "Gilligan's Island" may have been for the omniscient viewers only.