At the kids' school, an awkward boy named Nathaniel Bobelesky is bullied for his ineptitude at roller hockey. Sam takes pity on Nathaniel, reminding Wishbone of Esmeralda's compassion for Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.
Notably, this version predates the Disney film by just eight months.
One tie-in book was released — The Adventures of Wishbone #5: The Hunchdog of Notre Dame, a straight adaptation of the episode.
Tropes
- Adaptational Heroism: Quasimodo is framed for kidnapping Esmeralda rather than actually doing the deed.
- Adapted Out: This happens to most of the characters from The Hunchback of Notre Dame as Quasimodo, Esmeralda, and Frollo are the only named characters to be included in this version. There is a passing reference to "Esmeralda's boyfriend," meaning Phoebus, but he's neither shown nor named.
- As You Know: Frollo's first appearance has him helpfully explaining his identity to Quasimodo. He starts with the words, "You know who I am." It's framed as him angrily berating Quasimodo for leaving the cathedral.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: In his first scene as Quasimodo, Wishbone says that he needs to get out more. We then cut to the Feast of Fools, where he's being humiliated as the "Prince of Fools." Wishbone quips that this wasn't what he had in mind.
- Bowdlerize: The novel's religious themes are dropped entirely. In fact, there is no reference to religion whatsoever, which is pretty remarkable for a story centered on a cathedral.
- Green-Eyed Monster: When Sam starts hanging out with Nathaniel, Joe and David become jealous, thinking that they've lost her as a friend.
- Happily Ever Before: The Hunchback of Notre Dame adaptation ends with Quasimodo rescuing Esmeralda, cutting out all the tragic stuff that happens after that.
- Hot Gypsy Woman: Downplayed. Esmeralda is referred to in passing as a "gypsy girl," but her ethnicity is otherwise never brought up.
- Picked Last: At the start of the episode, Nathaniel ends up here as the kids pick players for their hockey teams. Not only that, Damont would rather play with one player short than pick Nathaniel.
- Tragic Keepsake: Sam has a little unicorn figurine, which was the last gift she received from her parents before they got a divorce. It's introduced just in time for Nathaniel to get to save it.
