While the Talbots take Wishbone to the vet, Wanda is supposed to let in an upholsterer who is coming to take away a chair. However, Wanda mistakenly directs the upholsterer to Wishbone's beloved big red chair. Wishbone imagines himself in The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson.
This is the third and final episode based on a Robert Louis Stevenson novel, following "Mixed Breeds," which adapted The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and "Salty Dog," which adapted Treasure Island.
Tropes
- Afraid of Doctors: Played with. Originally, this is Wishbone's only reason for not wanting to go to the vet, but after he finds out that his chair has been taken, his new priority is getting it back. Of course, the humans don't realize this and think that he's just trying to avoid the vet like normal.Wishbone: Joe, I really have a reason for not wanting to be here this time, I promise.
- Bowdlerize: In the original novel, Richard Shelton is referred to almost exclusively as "Dick." This nickname is never used in the episode, presumably due to the word's modern slang meaning.
- Call-Back: The upholsterer turns out to be the owner of Bruno, the Dobermann who was Wishbone's nemesis in "Hercules Unleashed." When he sees his big red chair in the back of the upholsterer's truck, Wishbone perceives it as Bruno stealing his chair.
- Censorship by Spelling: Attempted by Ellen, who says "V-E-T" to refer to the vet, but it naturally doesn't work on a dog as literate as Wishbone.Wishbone: Ooh, I just hate going to the V-E-T. I'll bet I get an S-H-O-T.
- Comically Missing the Point: While trying to figure out which chair the upholsterer is supposed to take, Wanda bumps into a chair that's obviously been set out for him. However, Wanda pushes that chair aside, obliviously commenting on what a terrible place that was for it.
- Compressed Adaptation: Most notably, Lord Foxham's attempt to rescue Joanna is changed from a failure to a success, allowing them to skip straight from there to the ending.
- Denial of Animality:Wishbone as Richard: You, there! Have no fear, I will do all I can to help thee!
Joanna: Good boy. Thank you.
Wishbone as Richard: Why call me "boy" as if I were a dog? You are not the elder of us. - Double Take:Wishbone as Richard: Ah, it's just you and me, and that peasant over there. Uh... wait a minute... that's no peasant!
- Dramatic Thunder: There's a thunderstorm going on when Joanna helps Richard to escape from the Moat House.
- Key Under the Doormat: Before they leave for the vet, Ellen explains to Wanda that there's a house key under the mat.
- Mister Muffykins: This episode features a yappy little Chihuahua, which Wishbone mistakenly believes to be a giant mutant rat.
- Shout-Out: To Superman:Wishbone: I'M SUPERBONE, DOG OF STEEL! Well, I'd love to say and chat, Doc, but Superbone is off to fight for truth, justice, and his big red chair!
- Standard Snippet: Wishbone's arrival at the vet is accompanied by Fryderyk Chopin's "The Funeral March."
- Sugar Causes Hyperactivity: Seeing the hyperactive Chihuahua, Wishbone asks, "Hey, too much sugar in your diet?"
- This Is My Chair: Wishbone is normally possessive of his big red chair, but it especially comes to the fore in this episode:Wishbone: From now on, this chair is off limits to all big mean Dobermanns and little bug-eyed mutant rats. And cats. And anything else on four legs that's not me doesn't go on this chair ever.
