While helping out Wanda at an arts and crafts fair, Joe meets sleazy salesman Dr. Montana, who is selling a VR helmet called a Wish-O-Matic. Joe is tempted by the device, and Dr. Montana is willing to give him one... for a price. Wishbone is reminded of Faust as told by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Tropes
- Adaptational Heroism: Wishbone's Faust doesn't get Gretchen pregnant out of wedlock, kill her brother, or intentionally wish for Baucis and Philemon to be removed from their home.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Wishbone as Faust says this almost word for word after accidentally summoning Mephisto. In fact, this becomes a running theme throughout the Faust adaptation.Wishbone as Faust: Every time I like anybody, something bad happens.
Mephisto: But you always get your wish.
Wishbone as Faust: What good is getting your wish when somebody else gets hurt? - Big "NO!": Mephisto, when Care takes Faust to heaven.
- Bowdlerize: It is not explained why Gretchen ended up dying in a dungeon. In the original play, Faust got her pregnant out of wedlock, and she was sentenced to death for committing infanticide.
- Compressed Adaptation: Faust: First Part of the Tragedy is covered in broad strokes. The adaptation then skips straight to the ending of Faust: Second Part of the Tragedy, picking up at the point where Baucis and Philemon are introduced.
- Deal with the Devil: It is a Faust adaptation, after all. This is paralleled in the real-world story by Dr. Montana offering to give Joe a Wish-O-Matic in exchange for Wishbone.
- Fluffy Cloud Heaven: This is the version of heaven seen at the end of the Faust adaptation. It also has a fire hydrant.
- Mephistopheles: He's called "Mephisto" by his friends, but... since he's the nastiest person in the universe... he hasn't many friends. Muh-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
- No Animals Allowed: Dogs are not allowed at the crafts fair, but the guard decides to allow it if Joe keeps Wishbone on a leash. Chaos ensues anyway.
- Playing with Fire: Mephisto has fire powers, and fire effects are used whenever he causes something to appear or disappear.
- Satan: The episode conflates Mephisto and the Devil, although the former is usually portrayed as a minion of the latter. This is in line with the Goethe version, which is the one the episode is adapting.
- Shout-Out:Wishbone: Maybe I'm wrong, but this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
- Snake Oil Salesman: Wanda mentions this trope by name, describing Dr. Montana as a modern version.
- Speak of the Devil:Wishbone as Faust: I'd make a deal with the Devil himself if it would change my life.
[Mephisto appears in a burst of flame]
Mephisto: You wanted to make a deal with me? - Stock Footage: The shots of Wishbone going in and out of the bushes are recycled from "The Slobbery Hound."
- Thing-O-Matic: Dr. Montana's VR helmet is called a Wish-O-Matic.
- Voice of the Legion: Mephisto talks this way, as does Care.
