Hank, Peggy, Bobby, and the rest of Arlen’s residents are back in a way that feels fresh, but also like we never left. The King has indeed returned.
The road to more King of the Hill episodes has been long and winding. After years of rumors/speculation, and even a couple false starts, the series is ready to roll out its fourteenth season. Honestly, referring to it as just the next season of the show, despite the 15 year gap between them, is probably more accurate than describing its return as a “revival.” It feels like just another season of the show. Even with the time jump and general changes, it’s very much a continuation of the show we all know and love.
I have a long/well-noted history of loving the iconic animated series. I’ve even argued (on a few occasions) that the original episode is a shining example of the perfect pilot episode for a series—seriously go back and watch it. As such, I’ve long wanted the show to make a return and it was nearly impossible for me to hold back my excitement or keep my expectations in check…Especially as I finished a full series rewatch earlier this year.
It’s a terrible way to go into just about any show/movie. For one with so much nostalgia behind it, it’s often a recipe for disappointment. Thankfully, despite a couple bobbles and being too short, King of the Hill‘s return on Hulu is everything I’d wanted.
Progressing the Story
I’m not going to summarize/recap each individual episode. The basics are relatively simple, however. Having spent a few years working in for Aramco in Saudi Arabia, Hank and Peggy return to Arlen to live out their golden years of retirement. Bobby, who lives with Joseph, is the head chef (and partial owner) of a Dallas restaurant.
Throughout the season, we see Hank and Peggy deal with the reality of retirement while they reconnect with old friends. Bobby, meanwhile must navigate the perils of running his own business while still trying to enjoy his 20s. All the characters are at different points in their life, but it’s fun to see how they’ve retained the core of what made them relatable originally, while still showing growth in their attitudes and lives.
One of the things I’ve always loved about King of the Hill is how it’s story/world has always moved forward. Unlike other animated series (both of its time and now), its characters are not perpetually stuck in time; much like a live-action sitcom. They grow older, experience normal life changes, some even died. As time progressed, so did they, and it made for something unique.
While it wasn’t serialized in the normal sense with a large overarching story, it maintained a general continuity. This allowed for a deeper connection to the characters, a sense of growth (beyond the physical), all of which makes the jokes/running gags land harder.
Season 14 takes the same approach, not only in moving the general timeline further down, but from episode-to-episode. There are a couple story arcs that pop up regularly (which I won’t spoil), but again, that’s more about general continuity than telling a bigger story. This aspect goes a long way towards making the show feel like we remember.
Admittedly, when I found out this new season was only going to be 10 episodes (an all too familiar number in the world of streaming TV), I was concerned they’d shift things over to be more serialized. Thankfully, the show-runners know exactly what makes King of the Hill work and don’t change the formula. Considering how well it manages to seamlessly incorporate modern aesthetics/ideas into the story with characters we met almost 30 years ago, I’d say that’s a solid indicator of how great the formula works.
More Than Nostalgia
The show is at its best when it isn’t concerned with reminding you about it’s history, or filling in the gaps between seasons. These moments are, thankfully, not very prevalent and mostly only pop up in the first episode (more on that in a bit). On the whole, it doesn’t rely on a whole bunch of nostalgia-based inside jokes, or bits that are purely self-referential to older seasons—something other revivals have struggled with.
Instead, it keeps the jokes moving forward. Sure, it continues some of the running gags that were always a part of the show, but the humor is designed to work for everyone. This new season isn’t just for older/long-time fans of the series, but meant for newcomers as well. A person could just as easily watch this season as their entry point to the show in general, and it’d still be hilarious.
The show handles this deftly by balancing out the older characters with the younger ones. The time split between seeing what Hank and Peggy are up to and what Bobby is doing with his work/friends, is mostly even. This allows the series to introduce a whole bunch of new stuff and modern elements (e.g. jokes about hooking up and AI), while using the familiar characters to keep it all grounded within the world we know.
It’s a testament to how well the new characters (or these new versions of familiar ones) fit in so well that I was more than half-way through the season before I stopped and thought, “wait, we haven’t seen [so-and-so] yet.” The episodes do a great job of engaging you within their own stories and the characters at this point in their lives. As such, I didn’t find myself overly concerned with things from the past.
I love the approach. There are things I would love to know more about, but I appreciate how the show holds back until/unless it’s necessary to the story. It doesn’t bog down episodes with exposition simply to sate fan curiosity; instead it maintains focus on what our favorite characters are doing now in their lives. We all know revivals that have fallen into the trap of focusing too much on the time in between; using nostalgia to drive things rather than a newer story. King of the Hill manages to sidestep it deftly for the most part.
Heart and Humor
I wanna make sure I’m clear about how HILARIOUS this new season is. Seriously, some of the episodes (particularly two on the back half of the season) are some of the hardest I’ve laughed during this show…ever. From new takes on long-running gags, to all new jokes, season 14 is firing on all cylinders with the humor.
Rest in Peace: I can’t help but mention the passing of Jonathan Joss. He’d already recorded the lines for John Redcorn before his murder, so it’s not something the show has to deal with in this season. Regardless, it’s a terrible tragedy.
As a Native American myself, I’ve posted a number of articles talking about our representation in media over the decades. The truth is, back in the 90s, there really wasn’t much at ALL. At least not in the authentic way. John Redcorn offered that. Yes, the character himself has some flaws, but seeing a Native American portrayed as being the “cool guy” was mind-blowing to me as a child. We’d never seen that before. More so, his heritage was frequently part of major comedic moments without being the butt of those jokes.
Joss embodied the role of John Redcorn and his loss is deeply felt.
There’s a Jerry Jones/Dallas Cowboys joke that still randomly pops into my head and makes me laugh. Like everything else in this new season, all of the humor manages to still feel very much in line with the show we remembered, even as it introduces those new aspects. Like, there’s a couple instances where bigger curse words are used (bleeped out), which is new for the series. It’s used sparingly, however, and the characters who do are perfect choices for them, which makes it all the funnier when it goes down.
Beyond the humor, however, I’m more glad this new season maintains the heartwarming elements of the show/characters as well. The best comedy shows know how to balance out the humor with genuinely touching moments, and King of the Hill has always managed that. From Luanne dealing with Buckley’s death, to Bill helping Boomhauer out of his depression after a heartbreak, or when Peggy found solace/community with people in the trans community…the series is riddled with moments that can uplift you or bring a tear to your eye. Season 14 continues this tradition with numerous moments that manage to pull at the heartstrings.
Specifically for the character of Hank, he can be viewed as a standoffish/set-in-his-ways. But there’s no denying he loves his family deeply. He’s always willing to look at things differently and, even though it’s not enthusiastic, he’ll embrace new things in order to keep his loved ones happy/healthy.
It’s a key part of his character, and one often overlooked (or forgotten) as the years have passed. Thankfully, it’s on full display in the new season. Without diving too deep into spoilers, there’s even a very touching moment in which Hank eats charcoal grilled food to show solidarity with Bobby in his devotion to the culturally authentic cuisine he makes.
Minor Quibbles
On the whole, the new King of the Hill season is fantastic. That said, there are a couple small things I feel are worth noting here. Namely, the first episode is a little rough. I’m not going to lie, I was a smidge concerned about the revival after watching the first episode. Everything I’ve praised the series for not doing in this review, the first episode does.
It’s almost entirely about setting things up and explaining what’s been happening during that 15 year gap. On top of giving a lot of general exposition to deal with all at once, it tries too hard to remind people about the older jokes. But this is the only episode where it’s an issue. After that, it’s smooth sailing and back to everything that makes King of the Hill great.
I almost hesitate to bring up this next bit, but it’s hard not to: Dale’s new voice. The original voice actor (who also served as a writer on the series), Johnny Hardwick, passed away in 2023. While he recorded a few episodes, Toby Huss (who previously voice Kahn Souphanousinphone) stepped in to finish things up.
I’m always in favor of recasting characters when the need arises, and I’ll take this over any kind of AI/voice clone business. That said, something about it feels off. It sounds more like someone trying to be Dale Gribble, rather than being Dale himself. It’s all the more noticeable because the other characters with new voices (e.g. Kahn) don’t have this same issue. It’s clear they have a new voice actor, but still feel like the character themselves.
Overall, Dale’s new voice is far from a deal-breaker. As the episodes continued, it bothered me less and less, but there’s no denying the initial jarring nature of things.
Other than those things, however, the only real issue I have with Season 14 is it feels too short. I know 10-ish episodes is the standard these days for streaming series, but considering we used to get 20 or so episodes a season, it feels like we’re only getting part of a season instead. It’s a selfish complaint really, as the episodes we get are pretty damn amazing. I just simply need more.
You may have noticed I haven’t mentioned anything about the animation. That’s because I actually like it. The shift in style is something fans have noted from the trailers, and it is a bit jarring initially. Within a few minutes, however, you just stop noticing it. It’s a non-issue and the character designs still shine through.
All in all, Greg Daniels and Mike Judge have knocked this return out of the park. As a long-time King of the Hill fan, I was blown away despite my already lofty expectations. The story structure of the show itself allows it to seamlessly shift gears into the new era without abandoning the elements which made it great. New characters and storylines keep things fresh and hilarious for newcomers, while still feeling like the show diehard fans know and love.
The biggest issue now is waiting—hopefully—for Season 15.
All 10 episodes of King of the Hill hits Hulu on August 4, 2025.
