The Hunchback of Nowhere

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The Hunchback of Nowhere is a fan-favourite episode of the Cartoon Network original cartoon Courage the Cowardly Dog.^{[citation needed]} In addition to being well-known for its moving and touching feel, this episode deviates from most other episodes of the show in that it features a gentle and friendly monster character, rather than an outright scary or harmful invading one. It can also be seen as a very loose retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It is part of episode 8 of Courage the Cowardly Dog's 1st season, and originally aired January 28, 2000.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

A hunchback can find no place to stay during a thunderstorm for his ugly appearance, and is forced to sneak into the Bagge hay shack. Courage discovers him there playing bells, and he joins him. After a series of acrobatics, the two quickly make friends. The Hunchback notes the poor way Courage is treated by Eustace. The next day, Courage allows the Hunchback to have breakfast with them. Eustace is shocked to find him there, but the Hunchback is defended by Muriel. The Hunchback, with Courage's help, manages to outwit Eustace in an exchange of insults. That night, the Hunchback and Courage perform together on the top of the hay shack. Eustace is horrified to find the Hunchback wearing his raincoat. He goes up to get rid of him, but when he starts tormenting Courage, the Hunchback sticks up for him, showing Eustace a mask of himself. Eustace is terrified by his own appearance, and falls off the roof. The Hunchback decides its time for him to go and leaves, bading a fond farewell to his two new friends, Courage and Muriel.

[edit] Trivia

Fourth episode in which Courage befriends the monster.
This is the first time Eustace has said Courage's name.
First and only appearance of the Hunchback.
The hunchback is presumably a caricature or parody of Quasimodo, in terms of his physical appearance and gentle nature (a sly wink to this fact is that the depiction of the Hunchback and Courage ringing bells together in the barn. In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo is, of course, the bell-ringer).
The hunchback's voice is reminiscent to that of actor Ed Wynn of Mary Poppins fame, which has been imitated by countless cartoon voice actors.

[edit] Quotes

Eustace: You know how you spell ugly? U...you, you, you you, you!!

The Hunchback: (Reading Courage's notes) And you sir are extremely...bald!
Eustace': (fuming) Oh yeah? Well you look like something the cows spit up!
The Hunchback: And you sir are extremely...bald.
Eustace: (furious) Yeah? Well the only thing uglier than this (showing the Hunchback a mirror) is this! (shows the Hunchback another mirror)
The Hunchback: Are you bald? Yes!
Eustace: (makes enraged sounds)
Muriel: Eustace, have you no sense of hospitality? Eustace: Nope!
Muriel: Well then, you take take your breakfast and eat it in the henhouse!
Eustace: (Prepares to go. Turns back)But...he called me bald!
Muriel: Eustace, you are bald.