Jencyclopedia

A woman wants to become invisible to find out if her fiance is faithful.
A man is in love with a trapeze artist.

Tattoo: Velda Ferrini, of the world famous trapeze act?

Is this an ’80s thing? Were trapeze artists household names in the ’80s?

Tattoo: Here on Fantasy Island, we make happy endings.
Roarke: Happy endings? Uh, no, not exactly, Tattoo. We merely provide the stuff that happy endings are made of, and from that, each guest must fashion his or her own destiny.

Tattoo has been working here for over three years, so it seems weird for Roarke to be like “actually, that’s not what we do here” now. But also, Roarke is being pretty pedantic.

Roarke: Miss Winkler isn’t sure she can trust Mr. Palumbo with his beautiful new partner. She would love to be able to observe his every move unnoticed.

Ah! I remember this episode.

Roarke: Her fantasy, therefore, is to become… invisible.
Tattoo: Invisible?!
Me: “Can we do that, boss?!”
Tattoo: Boss, can you really do that?

This show.

Tell show us more about the flaps patio.

Roarke: Now, if you’ll step into this room, Mr. Pringle, your adventure will begin.

It seems unnecessary for this guy to have to go into the magic room; he’s not going back in time or going to a specific location. He just (apparently) ~needs~ to learn to be an aerialist to get a chick to fall in love with him. All he needs is the magic object, not the whole room.

I don’t like that this episode has George Maharis in one story, and the guy who looks like George Maharis in the other story; I’m going to be so confused.

Roarke: Oh, I am sorry, Miss Winkler. I forgot to mention that, uh, the potion does not affect clothing, no. To be completely invisible, you must, uh, remove all garments.

[Harriet Winkler has drank the invisibility potion and removed all her clothing (because the potion doesn’t work on clothes). It’s cold, and she sneezes. Roarke gives her a handkerchief. Tattoo looks confused. He confronts Roarke after Harriet has left.]
Tattoo: Boss… the handkerchief! You gave it right to her! How did you know where she was?
[Roarke has a completely straight face.]

Tattoo: Oh no… boss… you can see her?
[Roarke has a completely straight face.]

Tattoo: Can you?
[Roarke has a completely straight face.]

Tattoo: Boss!

[Roarke leaves.]

I told y’all Roarke was just as perverted as Tattoo.

Tattoo: Boss, the contracts call for an ensemble act.

He digs girls!

Why are there two signs outside this bungalow?

Oh, I guess it was because the scene required two bungalows to be right next to each other. That’s new.

Oh my god. These wires are even more obvious than they were in The Monkees.

Some guy in the audience is wearing the same shirt Denny was wearing earlier.

That’s an interesting overhead shot of Columbia Ranch. I think that’s the Hazel house on the left, and the pool on the right.

Oh my god, is that Tama in street clothes?! Waaaah!

Oh my god, this episode.

I don’t know how anyone was able to act with a straight face while wearing those outfits.

I feel like they could have had a lot more shenanigans with the invisibility stuff, but they didn’t use it that much.

Ope, looks like I spoke too soon; Sonny Bono is now making out with the air and falling into the lagoon.

[Roarke and Tattoo say goodbye to Ned Pringle and his new fiancée.]
Tattoo: Another happy ending.
Roarke: Indeed, Tattoo. A man never knows what he can achieve until he reaches for a star.

[Roarke and Tattoo say goodbye to Harriet Winkler and her new boyfriend.]
Morty Green: Let’s say the best thing that ever happened to me was going to the hot springs lagoon.
Roarke: Ah, as you have remarked Tattoo, another happy ending.
Tattoo: You’re right, boss. A man never know what he can achieve… in hot lagoon.

• Guests:
  • Mr. Ned Pringle, a popcorn vendor with the circus
  • Miss Harriet Winkler
• Tattoo has no faith:
  • Roarke: Her fantasy, therefore, is to become… invisible.
    Tattoo: Invisible?! Boss, can you really do that?
• Roarke’s drink: same old clearish yellow. This is probably a really recognizable and obvious drink, like whiskey or wine, but I know nothing about drinks.
• Ominous shot of Roarke: no — he gives Tattoo a look like Tattoo’s just said something dumb, and then he takes a drink
• Locations:
  • Fantasy Island Playhouse
  • Fantasy Island Beauty Salon
• Recurring phrases:
  • Ned Pringle: Come on, Mr. Roarke. To be an aerialist, you practically have to start in the cradle.
    Roarke: You forget, this is Fantasy Island, Mr. Pringle.
  • Tattoo: Another happy ending.
    Roarke: Indeed, Tattoo.
• Magic door:
  • Roarke: Now, if you’ll step into this room, Mr. Pringle, your adventure will begin.
• Magic object:
  • Roarke: Will you, uh, take this pouch, please? Dust some into the palms of your hands.
    Ned Pringle: It looks like the kind of powder trapeze performers use to help their grip.
    Roarke: This is a very special powder, Mr. Pringle.
  • Roarke: There is a fluid in this, uh, vial, Miss Winkler, which, when sipped, will render you completely invisible for short periods of time.
• Hypnosis:
  • [Debatable, but:]
    Roarke: If you have enough faith… and courage… Mr. Pringle… anything… is possible.
• Magic fog: Ned Pringle climbs up a trapeze ladder, the magic room fills with fog, and then suddenly, he’s out in the Columbia Ranch park on a trapeze thing.
• Can’t help you:
  • Harriet Winkler: Please, Mr Roarke. Let Danny play the Fantasy Island Playhouse as a solo act.
    Tattoo: Boss, the contracts call for an ensemble act.
    Roarke: That’s right, Tattoo. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do for you, Miss Winkler. I’m terribly sorry.
• Meddling Roarke:
  • Roarke: Of course, um, Mr. Morty Green might be able to arrange a last minute substitution for the uh, Dynamite Dolls, otherwise…
    Tattoo: Boss, isn’t that Trish, Denny’s ex-wife, and Mr. Green?
• Surprise guest: Trish, Denny Palumbo’s ex-wife
• A legal matter:
  • Mario Ferrini: Here on the island, we do not have to conform to the United States regulations, so the Flying Ferrinis will work without a safety net.
• Roarke in disguise: As a trapeze artist.
• Cancelling the fantasy:
  • Ned Pringle: You’ve got to get me out of this, Mr. Roarke.
    Roarke: Well, I’m afraid that’s out of the question; your fantasy must run to its natural conclusion.
• Disappearing act:
  • Roarke: Good luck, Mr. Pringle.
    [Roarke flies away and then disappears.]
    Ned Pringle: Mr. Roarke!
• Leaving with an extra guest:
  • Ned Pringle with new fiancée Velda Ferrini
  • Harriet Winkler with new boyfriend Morty Green