There is nothing wrong with reboots in theory. However, a lot of them share the opinion that their best years are behind them and ideals one generation held no longer apply to a modern sensibility. It’s a lot of pretentious fluff to apply to any animated show, but it especially makes one wonder what Mike Judge wanted to say by bringing back King of the Hill after 15 years. It was always the quaint alternative to other Animation Domination heavyweights, serving as the wholesome alternative to the towering giants of shock humor. Even if the show could get “topical,” it was never about having the most buzz-worthy arcs imaginable. It was about maintaining a simple life, which makes its placement alongside other flashier Hulu reboots like Futurama and Animaniacs especially odd.
If there is one hook that should lure audiences in, it’s the question of how Texas has changed since 2010. It is a long enough time that a whole new mindset has become the norm. Even the sense of conservatism has changed, with many more willing to embrace the conspiracy theories of neighbor Dale than the sensible head of protagonist Hank. For a show that never felt like it was digitally inclined, it would be interesting to see what it had to say about a society that moves so fast that ideas don’t have time to take root before something crazier comes along. Basically, where the original run focused on sincerity in response to a growing age of sarcasm, the new series would attempt to find authenticity in a world that feels more artificial and disconnected.
The good news is that King of the Hill in 2025 ranks as one of the most sensible comebacks in TV history. The setup may come as a surprise to some, but it helps to reestablish the fish out of water approach. In short, Hank and his wife Peggy moved overseas to work for a propane company that catered to an American sensibility. They lived in a commune that imitated the small-town experience. While it hasn’t been discussed significantly in the show’s first 10 episodes, it allows for the return to feel stranger, even if it makes Hank come across as Rip Van Winkle. He can’t walk through the airport without being shocked by how much it feels like a mall.
If there’s any downside to the marketing, it’s an emphasis on Hank’s tendency to be confused by his environment. In an age where people’s judgmental nature leads them to ostracize, it would be easy to assume that Hank becomes a figure who hates the change. It’s more baffling than it was even during the turn of the century when cyberpunk aesthetic clashed with his Americana outlook. He is out of touch. The world he grew up in no longer exists. His son works as a chef at a fusion restaurant. There’s nothing but empty nest syndrome to return home to.
At the end of the first episode, Hank and Peggy return to Megalo Mart for the first time. Having had minor gripes about Arlen’s new design, Judge designs the moment as a reminder that change is inevitable and not always bad. With Texas’ larger reputation as a hostile state, it’s fascinating to see the show emphasize the homeliness and compassion. As Hank looks at Girl Scout Cookies, he discovers that certain boxes have different names. While it’s also a meta commentary on the reboot, it’s a chance for Hank to raise a larger question about whether things should return to the way they were. A nostalgic view would suggest that, yes, Hank wants that reliance. However, he buys a box while telling Peggy, “It’s nice to be nice.” For everything that could go wrong in the world, Judge still notices the value of people expressing their own humanity.
The worst that can be said is that the reboot is mostly interested in updating how every character sees the world. Bobby spends the latter half of the season reuniting with Connie. Neighbor Kahn reveals that he’s living out of the garage because he’s secretly divorced. Nancy is selling real estate with John, while Dale is still his conspiracy-loving self. If anyone has a curious evolution throughout the short window, it’s Bill. Having fallen prey to Covid-19, he became a shut-in who gained a morbid amount of weight and has, somehow, managed to lose most of it and return to a somewhat functional social life. Every character still has minor accomplishments as their defining trait. The show never pretends to be righteous and instead respects the characters’ willingness to age gracefully and follow their own pursuits.
For Hank, that is the most essential conflict. Whereas he could distract himself with work at Strickland Propane, he is now retired and has days with nothing to fill the void. While Peggy has taken to watching reality shows that she may or may not like, Hank wants to prove he’s still resourceful. As a result, he makes beer. He does handiwork through app services. He even goes against former principles and decides to become a soccer coach. There are constant examples of Hank evolving as a human and noticing ways that his personal discomforts aren’t a reason to ignore the world.
He may not always get to do what he loves, but every now and then he gets to visit The George W. Bush Library and recount the great leadership of a well-known Texan. The trip may fall apart when they’re offered the chance to stage a war room reenactment, but it serves as a greater study on how easy it is to spread misinformation. Dale is no less obsessed with his paranoid outlook. The only difference is that he knows enough people who will vote for him and give him power. As the war room scene suggests, he’s even persuasive at making the most nonsensical lies convincing.
Another reason the reboot works is how Bobby has evolved as a character. Now an adult, he must face conflicts that his father once did. This comes in an odd mix of situations, including running a restaurant that might suffer health code violations. He also, at one point, butts heads with his father over the “essence” of beer, believing that a good story makes a difference. It’s a nice evolution from other silly stories of the original run, including growing flowers and dancing with dogs. Not only that, but it inspires the competitive nature to give way to something more honest. It comes at the expense of them winning and thus being the “bigger man,” but it also shows how petty their fighting is.
If there is one episode that resonates with where the show can progress, it’s the one in which Hank must spend time with his brother, teenager Good Hank (long story). They have nothing in common, and yet Hank must find some way to resonate with a kid who has become obsessed with what can be called “the male loneliness epidemic.” He watches videos by a person who seems loosely based on Andrew Tate, who encourages men to blame women for their problems. The fun is that Hank agrees with the need for men to feel strong and confident, which leads him to sign up for a seminar. The only downside is that he disagrees with everyone else.
Good Hank is one of the few signs of what a new Arlen would look like. He is misguided because he’s very in touch with online culture. He believes the rhetoric and finds himself struggling to be a man’s man. He’s not macho, nor can he keep up with the exercise regimen. There is a recognition of bullying on display. Even if Hank continually faces the controversies of the world, this feels like the most evident of a show in discussion with a new reality. His ability to break down the Andrew Tate rhetoric in a way that’s productive and inspires change shows his desire to return the world to something good. If only there were more like him.
More than any plot line, the thing that has been welcomed about King of the Hill is the sense of community everyone carries. It’s watching Bobby and Connie sit on a patio and make up stories about their neighbors. This is a show that understands that small moments are what make life more meaningful. It’s also one of the few shows where the characters have aged with the times (kind of, but you get it) and thus are allowed to find something new to appreciate in the world around them. It may have a few too many callbacks to what the show was, but there is still a sense that no matter how chaotic the world will be, King of the Hill will always emphasize the joy of small conversations in an alley or at kitchen tables. There is an acceptance that life may not be as exciting as it was, but it doesn’t mean it sucks now.
The only real issues come with the inevitabilities of a reboot. Many cast members have passed since the show was last on the air. As a result, certain characters are less prominent. At the same time, certain vocal performances aren’t as flawless as they used to be. It’s not enough to ruin the show’s integrity, but those wondering why Dale sounds closer to scratchy and high-pitched may be put off. Even then, the love for the material is there, and any flub is easy to overlook, mostly because the stories are still that good. They may have yet to make an episode on par with the original’s best, but it’s far from the show’s later seasons' worst.
For those who loved the reboot, there is some good news. King of the Hill will be back on Hulu for another season. One can imagine that this means they will expand the potential stories and give an even fuller world. With that said, what does an Arlen look like now that Hank and crew are more acquainted with their new environment? What other shenanigans will they get into now that the establishing plots are over with? The answers are hard to guess, but of every old character that has stopped by for a quick chat, few have been as welcomed as Hank Hill. His boy may not be right, but there’s still a lot to love.
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