King of the Hillis back with its first new season in 15 years, and it hasn’t missed a beat. The series has returned to a drastically changed world, but Mike Judge and Greg Daniels have deftly recaptured the feel of the original series. What setKing of the Hillapart from shows likeThe SimpsonsandSouth Parkwas that it never felt cartoonish or far-fetched. There was never an episode where the Hills went to space or Hank rode a skateboard into a gorge. It was grounded and naturalistic, and the reboot maintains that.
After spending a few years in Saudi Arabia as Aramco’s vice president of Arabic propane and Arabic propane accessories,Hank returns to a very different America than the one he left. He suddenly finds himself in a world of vegans, microaggressions, cultural appropriation, and gluten-free Girl Scout cookies. Throughout the season, Hank struggles to adjust to retired life. He instantly becomes bored with all the free time and feels useless without any work to do, so he dabbles in a variety of hobbies and part-time gigs to find a new purpose.
With new animation technologies and audiences with a shorter attention span, it might’ve been tempting toupdate the aesthetic ofKing of the Hillfor the modern television landscape. Thankfully, the producers have stuck to their guns with the same minimalist, pastel-colored animation style (albeit with sharper lines and more advanced shading). This classic lookcaptures the essence of Americana, like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life.
The Voice Actors Slip Effortlessly Back Into Their Roles
There Are Some Great New Additions To The Cast, Too
From Stephen Root as an even sadder, lonelier Bill to Lauren Tom as an older, more open-minded Connie, all the voice actors slip effortlessly back into their roles.Judge nails his slow, deadpan deliveries as Hank(and the unintelligible motormouth nonsense that comes out of Boomhauer’s mouth), Kathy Najimy nails Peggy’s suburban soccer-mom energy, and Pamela Adlon nails Bobby’s sweet naïveté as he deals with cultural backlash, work-life balance, and unrequited love. There are some great new additions, too: Keith David’s unmistakable voice as the new neighbor, Brian Robertson, and Anthony “Critic” Campos as Bobby’s sous chef, Emilio.
King of the Hillseason 14 is streaming on Hulu.
No one could replacethe late, great Johnny Hardwickas Dale Gribble, but Toby Huss is a solid replacement. Hardwick recorded a handful of episodes for the revival before he sadly passed away (episode 7 is dedicated to his memory), and Huss took over after that. It’s a surprisingly smooth transition; both actors lean into Dale’s paranoid delusions and constant humiliations. I wasn’t sure how this character would play in 2025, since government conspiracies have become a much more serious issue in today’s climate, butDale and his ridiculous theories are still just as hilarious as ever.
King Of The Hill Season 14’s Time Jump Makes The Storytelling Feel Fresh
21-Year-Old Bobby Completely Changes The Dynamic
The time jump was a wise move to make the revival feel fresh. It’s not just another season ofKing of the Hill;this is the next chapter in the characters’ lives. At first, it’s a little jarring to seeBobby all grown up— he’s a successful restaurateur with an active dating life — but he’s still the same old Bobby, just slightly more mature and accomplished. The only problem is that Bobby lives in Dallas, so his storylines often keep him separate from the rest of the cast. It sometimes feels like watching two shows at once, but they’re both great.
King of the Hill season 14 is the rare reboot that lives up to the original series, justifies its existence, and feels exciting and new.
Just like with the original series,the best episodes ofKing of the Hill’s new season are the ones where Hank and Bobby bond with each other, like when they compete in a homebrewing contest or when they attend the Dallas Cowboys fantasy camp. The only problem is that they’re about 100 miles apart, so those episodes are few and far between. Most sitcom revivals feel stale and unnecessary, butKing of the Hillseason 14 is the rare reboot that lives up to the original series, justifies its existence, and feels exciting and new.
King of the Hill Season 14
Cast
King of the Hill is an animated series centered around Hank Hill, a propane salesman in Texas. The show explores Hank’s life with his confident wife Peggy, son Bobby, and niece Luanne, as they navigate challenges to Hank’s conservative values involving family and his beer-drinking neighbors.
