PLOT: Reunites audiences with Hank, Peggy, Bobby, and the residents of Arlen, Texas, as they navigate retirement, entrepreneurship, modern technology, and an ever-changing world.
REVIEW: Last year saw the return of one of the most beloved animated TV shows of all time with King of the Hill, and I know I was absolutely ecstatic. Even better, the show absolutely kicked ass and felt like one of the best revivals we’ve ever gotten. Now, we’re getting yet another season, and it feels like the catch-up is gone, and we just get to experience great stories involving these characters. But how exactly do these new stories turn out?
So many long-running cartoons have faced the issue of repeating the same plot points. It’s why shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy have felt like the same thing for decades. King of the Hill has figured out the solution by increasing the characters’ ages. This gives every story new life, and everyone has more to do. It has made me pine for other shows to do the same, as this is clearly the solution. It makes each new episode a discovery versus a chore.
The performances are all great, with the main cast clearly being fully back in the swing of things. Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Lauren Tom, and Stephen Root have done a fantastic job of aging up their characters. Change can always feel weird, but I’ve fully gotten used to the older voices, and it’s no longer a problem. Bobby felt more front and center in 14, but this feels like a more balanced ensemble this time. Side characters are given more to do, and the storylines flow well together. While the short run of only 10 episodes left me wanting more, it means there isn’t any filler, making every episode feel important to a degree. Though this is still a comedy cartoon, so it’s not like there’s anything too major happening.
I’m happy to report that Dale Gribble is back to his regular self, with Toby Huss taking over fully for Johnny Hardwicke. There was an awkward transition last season, but he’s more in line with the conspiracy-loving nut we’ve seen through the years. It was particularly great to see Dale dealing with AI Scams and privacy in today’s world. His paranoia makes him more prepared than most, and it’s such a fun payoff. Unfortunately, Ronny Chieng’s Kahn still sounds off, though he has gotten better. It’s hard not to miss the old voice when it was so distinct and perfect for the character. And Kenneth Choi’s Ted Wassanasong sounds like a completely different character. It was very nice to hear Jonathan Joss’ John Redcorn one last time, and the character ends up getting a poetic sendoff.
From Peggy having a tough run-in with a former student to Kahn and Bill living together, there are so many great plot points in this. One of my favorites comes with the Hills fostering an elderly dog named Caesar. Last season, it felt weird to not have Ladybird around, and so it’s nice to have that dynamic back, as Hank’s treatment of his own dog is such a cornerstone of the series. Though Caesar does just go to the background after his initial episode. I can’t wait to watch these over and over again.
I’ve always loved how King of the Hill takes a more serialized approach to its storylines. Sure, it’s episodic in that every episode can easily be picked up by a casual viewer. But there are advancements from episode to episode, where we actually see growth in both the characters and their dynamics with each other. They advance the “Nancy is cheating on Dale” plotline in a way that feels like a callback to the switch to the episodic format, post-season 6. It’s a very simple way of telling longtime viewers that their attention to detail will be rewarded, rather than ignored, as in the latter half of the show.
At this point, King of the Hill is the gold standard for how to bring back a TV show. It has both recaptured the spirit of the original while also adapting to the modern era. While it has got plenty of laughs, it’s always been the emotional beats that have helped the show stand out. It really felt like Season 14 was helping to re-establish these characters and these dynamics after all this time. This season, however, it feels like the writers are just able to do their thing without the added baggage. And it results in one of the best seasons of the show and presents a blueprint for how to bring back a show with a fresh perspective, while still progressing forward and avoiding basic trappings of a revival.
King of the Hill: Season 15 is now streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus.
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