King of the Hill Reigns Supreme Again

Beloved animated patriarch navigates a bewildering modern world

The iconic Hank Hill is back, grumbling about boba tea, ridesharing, and all-gender bathrooms. After a 15-year hiatus, the propane-loving everyman and his wife, Peggy, have returned to Arlen, Texas, finding themselves in a world that’s dramatically changed. The first 10 episodes of the revived series dropped on Hulu Monday, aiming to recapture the magic that made the show a cultural touchstone.

Stepping into a New Era

Executive producer and showrunner Saladin K. Patterson emphasized the importance of pleasing the original fanbase. “That’s always key because you want that core fan base to validate what you’ve done because they’re like the gatekeepers in a way,” he explained. “So when they sign off and say, ‘OK, they didn’t mess it up, it’s still the same special show,’ I think other people who may be unfamiliar with it, or even on the fence, feel like, ‘OK, well, now we want to like it.'”

The show picks up with Hank and Peggy returning from Saudi Arabia, where Hank served as “assistant manager in charge of Arabian propane and Arabian propane accessories.” Their son, Bobby, now 21, is a chef specializing in “down home, German-Asian fusion cuisine.”

Longtime fans will be happy to find Hank reunited with his familiar circle: Boomhauer, Dale, and Bill. Dale has reportedly become even more paranoid, evolving into an “election-denier-denier,” while Bill appears to have embraced a more reclusive lifestyle, evidenced by his line, “I finished Netflix, Hank. Did you know that when you get to the end of Netflix, you get something called ‘a wellness check’?” The second episode also features a musical tribute to the late rocker Tom Petty, a known fan of the original series.

Pamela Adlon, the voice of Bobby, noted the delicate balance the writers struck. “The writers have found that balance between the vintage ‘King of the Hill’ that we adore and the new — and letting them coexist,” she said.

Modern Quirks and Timeless Characters

The revived series tackles modern life with its signature gentle satire. Hank expresses bewilderment at high-tech outdoor grills, exclaiming, “I shouldn’t have to call technical support to make a burger.” Patterson related this to his own experiences, admitting, “I do have a barbecue grill that is Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-enabled. I have three devices to run it, but I’m calling tech support because I have guests coming over and the meat needs to be done.” He also confirmed his wife did, in fact, “finish Netflix” during the pandemic.

Despite the evolving world, the core of the characters remains unchanged. “Hank’s still going to drink beer. Dale’s still going to be a conspiracy theorist. Bill’s still going to be a lovable sad sack,” Patterson asserted. “Those core character things had to be the same. I had a pastor who told me one time, ‘Grown folks don’t change.’”

Upcoming episodes will explore Hank’s potential retirement as a propane seller and garage tinkerer, and how his friends adapt to new phases of life. The relationship between an adult Bobby and his parents will also be a focal point, with Adlon noting, “He’s of age now and it’s really kind of cool because you see the similarities and all the attributes that he took from his parents that he wasn’t even aware of when he was a boy — or didn’t want to have anything to do with — and now he’s using them to keep his business going and move himself forward,” she said.

A Haven from Politics

While Hank Hill’s political leanings have been a frequent topic of discussion, his creators maintain he embodies a grounded, common-sense approach. The show aims for a politics-free zone, focusing instead on relatable cultural shifts and interpersonal dynamics.

“It’s so not a Republican or a Democratic show or an independent show. It’s all of that,” Adlon stated. “There’s space in the world for everybody. It’s hard for us all to find a safe space in a common area anymore and that’s what this show really is.”

Patterson added, “We want to tell relatable stories where people can see themselves in our characters or their family members in our characters.” He further explained the focus on societal changes over specific political issues, noting, “There are enough cultural things and relationship things that have shifted to where he can comment on that without us wading into tariffs and immigration policy and stuff like that.” This approach ensures the show remains relevant without alienating viewers by taking partisan stances. In the United States, there are currently over 127 million households with a television, highlighting the broad potential audience for such universally relatable storytelling.