King of the Hill is widely acknowledged as one of the most popular and ingeniously crafted animated shows on prime-time television, and with good reason. Its mature yet witty portrayal of Texas’s everyday life and complex themes distinguishes it from other adult animated shows, which often rely heavily on crude humor and sexual innuendos every couple of minutes or so. It exemplifies how adult animation can prioritize the depth and maturity of storytelling and character development over excessive profanity and sex jokes, proving that animation extends beyond the realm of “children’s cartoons”. Even fifteen years after it concluded with a four-episode syndication run, the series maintains a strong presence in mainstream media discussions on prime-time animation.
Given the recent trend of reviving classic shows for streaming, such as Gumball, it’s unsurprising that King of the Hill is slated for its own comeback. However, considering the current landscape, the latest season raises questions about how the show’s perspectives can be relevant in today’s time. Well, to be honest, I’m not exactly the kind of person who can answer that question, as my experience with King of the Hill was limited to a few clips. Despite hearing great things about the series, I never found the right opportunity to check it out myself, at least until the revival came out. This revival serves as my proper introduction to King of the Hill, prompting the question about whether it provides a suitable entry point for new viewers.
In its fourteenth season, King of the Hill explores how Hank Hill would respond to the modern traditions of the 2020s, given his generational background. This theme was introduced in the first episode, where Hank and Peggy return to Arlen, Texas, from Saudi Arabia to find significant changes in their old hometown. That includes their son, Bobby, who now runs an authentic Japanese restaurant while confronting personal challenges in his adult life, such as reuniting with his childhood friend, Connie. The family also encounters contemporary lifestyle practices that challenge their traditional ways, including cultural appropriation, authenticity, and even the brewing of beer. The show handled these themes with its characteristic honesty, humor, and relatability without trying to be anything else. For long-time fans of the series, it feels as if their favorite characters never left—aside from Hank and Peggy’s prior move to Saudi Arabia. For newcomers like myself, it offers a laidback and appropriately mature reflection on family, tradition, and adapting to modern changes, emphasizing how we consider “adult animation”.
The season incorporates elements common in recent streaming shows, revivals, or otherwise, such as a 10-episode format and character absences due to actors’ passing, like Brittany Murphy’s Luanne Platter. It also employs some of the slice-of-life formulas seen in other sitcoms. Such examples were its fifth episode, “New Ref in Town”, where Hank becomes a soccer referee due to his admiration for the sport back in Saudi Arabia, and “Any Given Hill-Day”, which features Peggy’s outdoor bookshop overrun by bed bugs. The episodes I mentioned may have been more restrained in their approach to the genre’s formula and topics. However, the other episodes delivered a compelling blend of slice-of-life comedy and heartfelt storytelling that addresses contemporary challenges with maturity and honesty.
Addressing complex themes such as ethical non-monogamy, cultural appropriation, and toxic masculinity, King of the Hillcould’ve followed the trend of recent adult animation shows that prioritize crude humor over storytelling, especially in today’s time. Thankfully, the new season remained faithful to the roots of previous seasons in terms of presentation, characters, and structure, while also keeping specific topics relevant to today’s society. While it did deliver some adult humor we’d expect, it’s showcased in a way that reflects more on the authentic, mundane aspects of everyday life and character growth. Its ninth episode, “No Hank Left Behind”, delves into toxic masculinity through a “Man-Made” boot camp where volunteers expressed their disapproval over women’s misunderstood expectations. This episode carefully balanced the adult comedy involving toxic masculinity in today’s dating world and misogyny with a heartfelt message about chivalry. At the same time, it also offered an endearing development of the relationship between Hank and his withdrawn half-brother, Good Hank.
As a first-time viewer of King of the Hill, I found myself pleasantly surprised by what I had missed. Its fourteenth season may not contain every standout episode in its 10-episode format, given its sitcom formula, but it did help me understand why the series was so beloved when it first aired on television. This is another revival of an iconic piece of animation history that grasps the passion and humanity of its previous seasons and balances it with today’s societal traditions without straying too far into excessive crudeness. Although the absence of specific characters and cast changes may leave a void in some fans’ hearts, the mundanely charismatic essence shown in King of the Hill, coupled with its art design and talented voice cast, lingers long enough to appease their concerns. With the show already renewed for a fifteenth season, we can assume that Hank’s return to America is no longer a one-and-done deal.