Wishbone manages to get into the kids' school, where he chases down a loose lab rat named Mort. As he does so, Wishbone imagines himself as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.
This is the second of two episodes to be based on a novel by Alexandre Dumas. It follows "The Count's Account," which adapted The Count of Monte Cristo.
Incidentally, this is not the first time D'Artagnan has been a dog.
One tie-in book was released — The Adventures of Wishbone #8: Muttketeer!, a straight adaptation of the episode.
Tropes
- Adaptational Heroism: As in most Three Musketeers adaptations, the Musketeers are more heroic than in the source material. The closest the episode comes to including any of their hedonism is a brief mention of Aramis having a romantic affair despite being in training for the priesthood.
- Adaptational Villainy: Also like most Three Musketeers adaptations, Cardinal Richelieu is presented as simply a hissable baddie. Literally! Wishbone's narration introduces him as, "eeevil Cardinal Richelieu. Booo!"
- Adaptation Explanation Extrication: Of course, D'Artagnan pulling a Bed Trick was never going to be included in a kids' adaptation of The Three Musketeers, but its exclusion does leave us with Milady not seeming to have much motive for wanting to take revenge against him. In this version, she just seems to be absurdly angry at him for turning down a job offer.
- Adaptational Late Appearance: In the original novel, D'Artagnan encountered Milady on the way to Paris before he even met the Musketeers. The Wishbone version starts off with D'Artagnan having already reached Paris, with Milady's introduction occurring much later.
- Adapted Out: Constance, Rochefort, and Queen Anne are not included in this adaptation.
- Animal Goes to School: Wishbone wants to go to school after Joe, Sam, and David go back in to see Mr. Delgado's new CD-ROM, but the janitor tells him that dogs aren't allowed in school. When Wishbone sees Mort lurking in the school, he has to go inside to stop him.
- The Cavalry Arrives Late: Lampshaded, when Wishbone catches Mort, and the janitor shows up afterwards.Wishbone: And here comes the cavalry, late as usual.
- Demoted to Extra: The Duke of Buckingham is reduced to a brief in-passing mention, in which Richelieu refers to him as an enemy of France who needs to be assassinated. Whether he actually is assassinated after that is something the episode never mentions.
- Don't Try This at Home: In the behind-the-scenes segment, it's explained that Wishbone's mustache as d'Artagnan was created with an all-natural vegetable dye, which is followed by a warning against using human makeup on your pets at home.
- Femme Fatale: Milady, as the episode makes as clear as it can within the confines of a kids' show starring a dog.Milady: Why do you waste your time with those rough Musketeers? You could live in the lap of luxury, my lap to be precise.
- Good Colors, Evil Colors: The Musketeers (good guys) wear blue uniforms while the Cardinal's Guards (bad guys) wear red uniforms.
- The Good King: Wishbone's narration says that Louis XIII is this trope. Louis never shows up in person during the course of the episode, so we just have to take Wishbone's word for it.
- Good News, Bad News:Wishbone as D'Artagnan: Well, I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that I've just met Cardinal Richelieu and Milady.
Athos: And?
Wishbone as D'Artagnan: And the bad news is that they hate me. - Ill-Timed Sneeze: While the Three Musketeers are spying on Richelieu and Milady, Aramis gets the urge to sneeze, which eventually gives them away.
- Might Makes Right: Milady cites this as a reason for supporting Richelieu:Wishbone as D'Artagnan: I swore a duty to the King.
Milady: The King is weak! Stick with the strong. - No Animals Allowed: As mentioned in previous episodes, dogs are not allowed in the kids' school. Wishbone is indignant when he first sees Mort.Wishbone: What, a rat?! They let a rat inside the school but not a dog?! Well, that's just fine. What is the world coming to?
- Pacified Adaptation: For an adaptation of a swashbuckling novel, the Wishbone version of The Three Musketeers is remarkably light on action. We only see one Sword Fight, and it's a bit slapstick.
- Stock Footage: A shot of Wishbone running down a school staircase is recycled from "The Pawloined Paper."
- We Can Rule Together: Richelieu and Milady both offer Wishbone's D'Artagnan the chance to join them, but he turns them down out of loyalty to his friends and the King.
- Xylophones for Walking Bones: When Wishbone addresses a skeleton in the science lab, a xylophone sound effect plays.
