The world was a very different place the last time King of the Hill graced Fox’s screen to take viewers in one of the most unbiased tours of the rural United States one could possibly imagine, even back then. See, Mike Judge’s goal was never to ridicule Hank Hill’s conservatism but instead to let others see this ever changing world through his eyes as Hank constantly struggled to keep up and always do the right thing.
King of the Hill was almost the polar opposite of Beavis and Butt-Head (also up for another revival), and at the time managed to somewhat compete with The Simpsons, South Park, a Seth MacFarlane’s Family Guy and American Dad!, all of which relied on absolutely over-the-top characters, rather than then very bland Hill family. So how could the Hills make it all the way to 2022 and what would Arlen, Texas be like if it’s finally confirmed that King of the Hill is coming back?
It’s Time To Grow Up
While many could argue in favor of a reboot of sorts that puts the exact same Hill from the early 2000s in 2022, co-creator Greg Daniel has already stated that if the show ultimately comes back it would require a time jump that ages the characters at least enough so that the series setting changes dramatically. Bobby was only 13 when the King of the Hill ended, so adding anywhere between 7-12 to years would place as someone who’s in college or graduated a while ago, which already alters the dynamics of his relationship with his father.
For argument’s sake, a 25-year-old Bobby should make for a more interesting character as his problems become more relatable with a younger generation that faces increasing costs in living expenses and college debt, while also granting him more independence from his parents. At the same time, a more adult “boy ain't right” would give far better insight into how his interests developed over time for a teenager that always struggled to fit in with what his own father wanted out of his son.
An older Bobby would also be able to discuss whatever social issues are depicted in the show on more equal ground with his conservative but reasonable father, as well as the more colorful cast of neighbors that join his dad for drinks behind his childhood home. It’s easy to imagine Bobby growing as a liberal, especially given his personality as a teenager, and having both ends of the American political spectrum represented within the Hill family would keep things civil.
Although King of the Hill and Pokemon did coexist, by the time the show had released its last few episodes, Instagram was barely launching, the first iPad had just come out, and Twitch streamers like Amouranth didn't even exist. That reference alone is a reminder of how technology had increased the levels of extreme political polarization since then, and there’s no better scenario to portray that than the conflicting views inside a wholesome loving family.
Politics And Society In 2022
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Of course, King of the Hill existed beyond the limits of the Hill household and its vast cast of characters allows for many current issues to be depicted on it while letting each one’s unique point of view to gain fair exposition. For example, one of the show’s more cartoonish characters, Dale Gribble, could have fallen further down his personal rabbit hole of never-ending conspiracy theories and yet remain a likable neighbor.
The best King of the Hill episodes were never particularly shy to address controversial issues like racism, as seen in "Racist Dawg" and “Traffic Jam” but, for example, the show never quite adopted openly gay characters despite Hank’s persistent fear that his own son might be gay. LGBTQ rights, ethnic representation, a changing economic landscape, cancel culture, technological innovations, and even abortion (a hot topic in current-day Texas), are all issues that King of the Hill missed out on due to its untimely retirement, and each one of those could benefit from the series unique vision where its character’s world views often simply didn’t allow them to understand what was going on.
With supporting characters like Luanne’s daughter and baby Good Hank now entering their teen years, the show also has a diverse cross-generational cast that allows viewers to see what kind of parents some of them ended up being. Bobby, Connie, and Joseph could all offer different takes on all of these issues in contrast to what the older folks think, especially after living through a decade of changes they already seemed ill-equipped to confront back in the year 2000.
King of the Hill’s greatest asset was that it never dehumanized any of its characters, its entire cast were mostly well-intended people even when they didn’t see eye to eye. In a world that sees studios rehash old properties all the time, King of the Hill actually has something to bring to the table: a nuanced discussion about most of the issues that divide the world we live in today.