Jencyclopedia

A parole officer wants his parolee to be rehabilitated by removing the scar on her face.
A woman wants to find out the origins of a painting of a woman who looks just like her.

When I saw this episode last year, I thought it was meh. I also thought it was weird that the painter was an actual person in real life, but the painting wasn’t real.

Julie: [Tattoo] said to tell you that he’s having just a little trouble with the Cinderella fantasy that you assigned him to handle.

Wasn’t there already a Cinderella fantasy excuse this season? Something about the pumpkin and the prince being smashed? (Yes, it was 5×5 “Mr. Nobody/La Liberatora”.)

Roarke: Indeed. What kind of trouble?

I wonder if Ricardo Montalban ever got annoyed by how often they made him say “indeed”. This seemed like a really unnecessary “indeed”.

Roarke: The horses ran away, hm? When you see Tattoo, will you please tell him that one of his “horses” may be found on the lawn in front of my office?

I’ve always called the building that contains Roarke’s office “the main house”. I think they referred to it as such in 1×2 “Return to Fantasy Island”. I can’t remember if they’ve ever referred to this building in any other way though. I went back to check 2×8 “Return”, because I thought Tattoo implied that his room was in this house, which he does. They also refer to it as “the main house” in that episode as well. So in conclusion, I don’t like Roarke calling it “my office” here.

Following up on something I noticed in 5×15 “The Case Against Mr. Roarke” — Julie’s vest buttons are the same as Roarke’s vest buttons; only Tattoo has different buttons.

Roarke: She’s here to solve a riddle.
Julie: A riddle-riddle, or one of your house specialties?

Roarke doesn’t really do riddles, does he? I feel like this is a funny line, but I don’t actually get it.

I thought Roarke was gonna do a mind meld on her here.

I’m not sure where this is. It kind of looks like the little “commercial” district of Fantasy Island, like where the red and white striped lighthouse is/was, but I can’t find matching buildings in any of my screenshots. It also kind of reminds me of the dock in 7×8 “Random Choices”, but I can’t find any definitive matching buildings there either.

Oh, what is this boring payphone? Whatever happened to cute Fantasy Island phone, like in 3×23 “Eagleman”?

Roarke: The lotion in this bottle is derived from a very rare plant, which grows only on Fantasy Island.

We’ve got references to rare plants two episodes in a row.

I don’t think they’ve used the Deeds home on Columbia Ranch before. Apparently, it’s Tahiti.

lol, what’s the Fantasy Island bench doing in 1890s Tahiti?

There they are! The matching heart chairs! …they’re uglier than I remembered.

Roarke: Isn’t it about time to admit to yourself that you have been and are in love with Laura Jensen?
Ron Martin: What are you saying? That I’ve done this, had this fantasy, just to…
[Roarke nods.]
Roarke: Even parole officers are human, Mr. Martin.

Ugggh, nooo. I don’t know if people in 1982 realized how problematic it would be for a parole officer and a parolee to have a relationship. Nowadays, I don’t think you could do that on TV without people getting upset.

It would be nice if the new series sets right what once went wrong in the original series. Like they could have a fantasy like this one, but in the end, they acknowledge that no, you can’t have a relationship with her… but hey, here’s someone who looks just like her who just happens to be on the same plane as you.

• Julie’s outfit: pants
• Where’s Tattoo?
  • Roarke: Have you seen Tattoo?
    Julie: Oh, I’m glad you reminded me. Uh, he said to tell you that he’s having just a little trouble with the Cinderella fantasy that you assigned him to handle.
    Roarke: Indeed. What kind of trouble?
    Julie: Uh, well, when the carriage turned back into a pumpkin…
    Roarke: Yeess…?
    Julie: He said the horses ran away, and he can’t find ’em.
    Roarke: The horses ran away, hm? When you see Tattoo, will you please tell him that one of his “horses” may be found on the lawn in front of my office?
    [There’s a mouse.]
• Recurring phrases:
  • Roarke: Indeed. What kind of trouble?
  • Celeste Valon: Paul has to finish the portrait, or it will never exist. That’s it, isn’t it?
    Roarke: Indeed.
  • Ron Martin: That is love, isn’t it?
    Roarke: Indeed.
  • Roarke: It’s over, Miss Valon. Your fantasy has ended.
• Drivers:
  • To the dock: Wally
  • Celeste Valon’s departure: Wally
  • Ron Martin and Laura Jensen’s departure: That Guy
• Guests:
  • Miss Laura Jensen, recently paroled from prisoner; and Mr. Ron Martin, her parole officer
  • Miss Celeste Valon, assistant curator at the Metropolitan Art Gallery
• Ominous Roarke:
  • Roarke: What Miss Valon doesn’t know is that, uh… when she finds the answer, she will pass through a door… through which there may be no retreat.
• Roarke’s drink: same old
• Ominous shot of Roarke drinking: he narrows his eyes a bit, but it’s not very ominous
• Last chance:
  • Roarke: Now that you have seen the portrait itself, are you still determined to go through with your fantasy?
• Warnings:
  • Roarke: But first, there is something you should know about the lady in the portrait. She was Paul Gauguin’s model and mistress. Her father disapproved of Mr. Gauguin, and she was engaged to a very jealous young officer whom she didn’t love.
• Destiny:
  • Roarke: Not only will you encounter personal danger, but there may also come a time in your fantasy when you will be faced with a most difficult decision.
    Celeste Valon: Decision?
    Roarke: One that very well could alter… destiny.
    Celeste Valon: You make it sound so… ominous.
• Time travel: Celeste Valon travels back to Tahiti in the 1890s.
• Cancelling the fantasy:
  • Laura Jensen: I don’t believe in Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy, or miracles.
    Roarke: Are you saying you wish to withdraw from Mr. Martin’s fantasy?
• Magic object:
  • Roarke: The lotion in this bottle is derived from a very rare plant, which grows only on Fantasy Island.
    Laura Jensen: And that’s gonna take away my scars?
• Locations:
  • House of Mirrors
  • Governor’s Headquarters Tahiti
  • Officer’s Quarters
• Roarke in disguise: As a servant in Celeste’s fantasy.
• Disappearing act:
  • Celeste Valon: It was all so wonderful at first, but now… Mr. Roarke?
• Angels:
  • Marty Downs: Sweet dreams, angel.
• An observer from his own time:
  • Roarke: Would it be enough to see what happened? What you meant to him?
    Celeste Valon: Oh yes, please.
    Roarke: Very well. But please remember this: neither Paul nor anyone else will be able to see us or know we are there. Do you understand?
• Leaving in love: Laura Jensen and Ron Martin
• Age gap:
  • Erin Gray: 32 / Monte Markham: 46 = 14 years
  • Joanna Pettet: 39 / Robert Goulet: 48 = 9 years
  • Joanna Pettet: 39 / Christopher Stone: 41 = 3 years