After 36 seasons, is there something to say about The Simpsons that hasn’t been mentioned earlier than? Presumably, and doubly so if Pig Latin is concerned. In any case, the all-time nice animated sitcom provoked plenty of the identical shocked and confused reactions with its newest season finale, “Estranger Issues,” a flash-forward installment that killed off Marge Simpson. (Dun-dun-dunnnn!)
The episode, which was a so-so endeavor specializing in Lisa and Bart’s bond as siblings, sparked the standard on-line array of real shock, hyperbolic shock, hyperbolic trolling, and abject dismissal, amongst different reactions. Which actually simply gave me cause to be all of the extra excited (and barely determined) for King of the Hill’s revival to lastly hit the 2025 TV schedule.
Marge’s Loss of life, Whereas Touching, In the end Does not Imply Something Longterm
The Simpsons’ adherence to strict continuity is as malleable and fluid because the sludge lining Lake Springfield, with character demises being among the many few narrative-shifting adjustments, with Bleeding Gums Murphy being the strongest instance. (One other could be barfly Larry Dalrymple dying inside Moe’s, one of many extra shocking TV deaths in 2024.) However keep in mind once we all thought Dr. Marvin Monroe was useless, just for him to point out up years later saying he’d been extraordinarily sick?
At this level, everyone knows that The Simpsons’ flash-forwards are even much less canonically centered than regular episodic occasions, and aren’t meant to replicate “actual” life any greater than all of the present’s so-called future predictions are. That’s completely effective, since that’s what viewers have been signing up for since 1989, to not point out animated sequence being years away from embracing actually serialized storytelling.
Typically, although, we have to see adjustments in locations the place it by no means appeared potential earlier than, to make experiences really feel extra significant. Nobody desires to play baseball simply to keep up the very same degree of ability for years on finish. Nobody desires to eat the identical meal day in and time out with out altering up the recipe. In the identical vein, I don’t need to watch a beloved character get faux-killed off to discover a narrative that gained’t ever truly occur, all for the sake of an emotion or two. It isn’t like Bart and Lisa will keep in mind their rift in a means that informs their present lives.
I would like precise trigger and impact to be at play to knock the mud off of my very own feelings, which feeds into why I’m so significantly excited for King of the Hill’s return.
King Of The Hill’s Revival Displays A Altering World
I doubt anybody would have batted an eye fixed if King of the Hill returned for its 14th season by adhering solely to the established order in place when it ended its Fox run in 2009-2010. Because the previous adage goes, “If it ain’t broke sufficient {that a} streaming service ordered up two new seasons of episodes, do not repair it.” However Mike Choose and Greg Daniels fortunately did not need to simply repeat themselves, and opted for an evolution of kinds.
When new King of the Hill begins streaming (with a Hulu subscription), followers will see Hank and Peggy Hill equally refamiliarizing themselves with their former environment in Arlen, Texas, after having spend the previous seven years in Saudi Arabia for Hank’s job. Bobby is 21 years previous now, and is a burgeoning chef with completely splotchy facial hair. The neighborhood crew now has a brand new member who was befriended in Hank’s absence. There are drones now!
Not that I really care how any of those characters use newer applied sciences — okay, I do need to know every thing Dale thinks about A.I. conspiracies — however it’s the promise of seeing a completely new period for one thing so acquainted. Additionally the promise of understanding that every one the variations and new particulars will nonetheless be there when the following episode begins, with none narrative components being anthologically retconned.
The Simpsons is and can all the time be amongst my very favourite reveals of all time, and I am going to by no means cease watching it with glee. However for now, with apologies to Milhouse, every thing’s developing King of the Hill in my thoughts.
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King of the Hill‘s return for Season 14 is about for August 4, 2025.