The opening credits of Hulu’s King of the Hill revival have made it official: this is a TV comeback that fans actually need.
The streamer revealed the King of the Hill Season 14 credits on Friday, May 30, giving the audience a wealth of information about the return of the classic animated series. And even in those few brief minutes, there are all kinds of possibilities for great stories surrounding the Hill family and their friends. It’s obvious already that the King of the Hill revival won’t go the way of Hulu’s underwhelming seasons of Futurama.
Most notably, there’s the reveal that Hank, Peggy, and Bobby Hill move out of their house in Arlen, Texas — something that seems unfathomable, given how much they love both their home and community. There was a whole Season 8 episode, “After the Mold Rush,” which detailed Hank’s pride in his house. That alone is a story point that has real emotional stakes for the characters and generates excitement for fans. It’s not just a gimmick to justify bringing the show back; it’s a change that actually has relevance to what made King of the Hill great in the first place.
The synopsis for Season 14 reveals that Hank has spent “years working a propane job in Saudi Arabia,” and that in turn is a jumping-off point to other stories. Viewers know that Hank struggles to adapt to other cultures and ways of thinking, most notably in the two-parter “Returning Japanese,” so how much will the reboot explore the time he spent living and working in another country? What was it like for him to be the outsider, instead of the block captain who was sort of the den father for the entire Rainey Street community? And how much did Strickland Propane fall apart without him as assistant manager?
The new King of the Hill credits also give insight into how the Hills’ friends evolved in their absence. Naturally, Bill Dauterive is inconsolable. But past that, viewers see Dale Gribble putting up political posters; is he helping his wife, Nancy, run for mayor, or hilariously, did he decide to run himself? Either answer is a step forward for both of them, since both have been shown to be dangerously ambitious. Then there is a shot of Boomhauer leaving the alley with a woman and her young son; is that just a bit for the credits, or is that a fresh plot point for him? Plus, who’s the guy that moved into the Hills’ home after they left and became enough of a friend to drink with the group in the alley? There’s even a glimpse of Didi with Hank’s half-brother G.H., which proves that Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and their writers haven’t forgotten about the ancillary characters in the world either.
But beyond the attention to detail and the ideas for fun episodes, what truly makes the King of the Hill revival so exciting is that all of this fits perfectly into the meaning and themes of the original show. The series continues to be a cult hit because it was a show about family, community, and adapting to modern culture. Hank and Peggy returning home to Arlen is a prime example of their staying down to earth and how much they still love the people that everyone cares about. The time jump means that the core theme of Hank trying to adjust to how the world has changed remains at the heart of the show. And especially given current events, it’s heartwarming to have a series that’s about good neighbors and friends (the brief glimpse of Connie and Joseph saying goodbye to Bobby before the Hills move is so bittersweet).
In essence, Hulu’s version of King of the Hill has turned Hank Hill into the new Kahn Souphanousinphone. When Kahn was introduced in Season 1’s “Westie Side Story,” that created one of the show’s best and most underrated relationships, as Hank and Kahn went from polar opposites to becoming friends. Kahn’s individual arc was also a wonderful story about the immigrant experience, the challenges of racial stereotyping, and living up to cultural expectations. While it’s not clear if or how much Kahn will be part of the revival (due to the debate around actor Toby Huss voicing a Laotian character), putting Hank somewhat in Kahn’s position feels like a natural, poignant way to revisit the show.
Not only is Hank in Kahn’s shoes, moving to Saudi Arabia, but he’s basically still that way, coming back to an Arlen that has changed to at least some extent. His loved ones are all still there, but he has to reintegrate into the neighborhood. Presumably, the gang stayed in touch, yet that’s different from physically being there and seeing everything through one’s own eyes. Viewers can now see what Hank learned from Kahn. Judge, Daniels, and company are still able to keep the same themes and ideas that made the original show great, while making Season 14 fresh because they’re utilizing them from the other side. Of course, it’s going to be hilarious, but what made King of the Hill timeless was its emotional heart underneath, and these new opening credits are proof that it very much still exists. This is a reboot that isn’t just going to be fun; it’s going to be just as interesting and meaningful as its beloved predecessor.
King of the Hill Season 14 premieres Aug. 4 on Hulu.
