Hank and Peggy Hill’s return to Arlen, Texas isn’t going effectively. After a decade working in Saudi Arabia (for AramCo, a propane provider — what else?), the now-retired “King of the Hill” couple doesn’t acknowledge America anymore. The shops within the airport are unfamiliar. (“What, are we nonetheless in Amsterdam?,” Hank says.) The bogs are “all-gender.” (“Are all of us gender?,” Hank says. “I imagine I’m female-presenting,” Peggy says. “Nicely, I don’t need to be presenting my maleness to any sort of lady that walks in on me.”) Worst of all, there are billboards promoting Kansas Metropolis-style barbecue — in Texas! (The mere sight of which forces Hank to tug over.)
Such startling modifications are greater than sufficient to get these once-proud Individuals dreaming of the mock-America constructed for them abroad. AramCo’s residential housing zone was a folksy inexperienced oasis within the huge brown desert — a manufactured suburb so picturesque it could as effectively have been shipped over from Pleasantville. And possibly it was! AramCo may actually afford it, simply as they’ll afford to supply Hank a 30 p.c elevate to come back again and work on a brand new propane challenge.
It’s a tempting provide given the Hills’ tradition shock, and one they almost take. However then, outdoors Arlen’s Mega-Lo-Mart, they stumble throughout a Woman Scout troop. At first, Hank and Peggy’s rising mistrust in all the pieces they as soon as trusted will get the higher of them. Does every field of cookies value $50 now? Have all of the tasty sugars been changed with wholesome alternate options? Is the Metaverse concerned in a roundabout way? No, no, and no, the younger scouts report, cheerily reassuring their potential clients. There’s a gluten-free choice, certain, and people bins value an additional greenback, however in any other case all of your favorites are nonetheless right here — even Hank’s Samoas, which at the moment are referred to as Caramel Delites. “It’s extra respectful to folks from Samoa,” one scout explains.
“That’s an excellent change,” Hank says, smiling. “Yeah,” the little woman says. “It’s good to be good.” “It certain is,” Peggy says, holding her husband’s hand, savoring the second the Hills rediscovered their hope for his or her homeland within the parking zone of a giant field retailer.
From there, it’s clear the Hills aren’t going anyplace. Certain, there was little likelihood they might earlier than, because the aforementioned occasions happen within the first episode of Hulu‘s 10-part revival season. However the message — that group and kindness can overcome superficial alterations to each day life — issues greater than these sensible issues, and co-creators Mike Decide and Greg Daniels, together with new showrunner Saladin Ok. Patterson, be certain that they follow it all through “King of the Hill‘s” rewarding return.
Season 14 isn’t only a revival for the sake of a revival; it’s a reminder that occasions change, however values don’t; that compassion, decency, and customary sense nonetheless have a spot in America, as long as we make room for them, and that adhering to these ideas yields a significantly better life than clinging to outdated concepts of what America and Individuals are alleged to be. Why not keep and rise up for what’s actual, for what actually issues, than flee to a faux reminiscence of a rose-colored yesteryear?
And in case you couldn’t already inform from my chosen excerpts, Season 14 can be very, very humorous.
“King of the Hill’s” mixture of sly, dry humor, sociopolitical commentary, and foolish slapstick stays intact, and Season 14 finds a pleasant rhythm from episode to episode. Given the varied modifications — the characters are all aged up 10 years, the season is barely 10 episodes somewhat than the broadcast-standard 24, and there’s loads of forged turnover, most noticeably in Luanne’s obvious absence (voiced by the late Brittany Murphy) — a sustainable steadiness was removed from assured. However Decide, Daniels, and Patterson craft sturdy episodic arcs that construct to a subtly stronger entire, which you will not even discover amid all of the chuckling.
After the opening episode (recounted above), Hank (voiced by Decide) and Peggy (Kathy Najimy) battle to regulate to the idle tempo of retired life. Their empty nest doesn’t assist, particularly with Bobby (Emmywinner Pamela Adlon) working in Dallas at his personal restaurant — a “Japanese BBQ … with methods from the German custom of the Texas Hill nation” (that’s paid for by Ted Wassonasong, a not-so-silent companion).
Fortunately, mother and father and little one discover common causes to go to or check-in. Bobby and Hank battle and bond over varied generational divisions, like whether or not beer ought to style like fruit and if, possibly, charcoal could be a helpful cooking software generally. Even when the core household is stored aside, their respective plot traces are considerate and enjoyable.
A late-season spotlight focuses on Bobby and his childhood crush, Connie (Lauren Tom), as they attempt to outline their revived grownup relationship past how they felt (and who they have been) as youngsters. It’s a mature, layered method to the characters and their evolving dynamic, which takes multiple stunning flip, however there’s nonetheless room for foolish gags and a satisfying aspect story about Boomhauer (additionally voiced by Decide) beginning a brand new pig-hunting enterprise referred to as Boar No Extra.
Animation permits the sitcom extra leeway that live-action revivals to select up when and the way it desires to, however in an period of far too many reboots, restarts, and redos, it’s the hassle and goal that makes “King of the Hill” fourteenth season so darn fulfilling. Most of your favourite Texans are again (in addition to a number of beneficial visitor stars), and so they’re doing what they do finest, which incorporates reminding us easy methods to bridge divides — generational, regional, political, and private — with out preaching or speaking all the way down to anybody.
“King of the Hill’s” tender core was rooted in its funding in neighbors, new and previous. When Hank takes on the manosphere or Bobby tries to know moral non-monogamy, they nonetheless method every new oddity with curiosity, not contempt. They discuss to the particular person presenting every new factor somewhat than discuss on the new factor itself. They need to stay in a group of individuals, not some manufactured duplicate of a time passed by.
As naive as that will sound in a world the place so many self-evident rights and wrongs are being routinely, dishonestly evaluated and reevaluated, the collection elevates easy truths in methods which can be downright inspirational. Would a bit of woman saying, “It’s good to be good” sound so disruptive 15 years in the past? Possibly, possibly not, however “King of the Hill” is aware of easy methods to sustain with the occasions.
Grade: B+
“King of the Hill” premieres Monday, August 4 on Hulu. All 10 episodes might be launched directly.