Dave Nemetz Reviews King Of The Hill: Yup, Hulu's Revival Has Aged A Bit, But Still Delivers Texas-Sized Laughs
Like Hank Hill, I'm naturally skeptical of anything new. So I was a bit worried when Hulu announced they're bringing back the animated comedy King of the Hill for new episodes — only because the original Fox run was so impeccable, and I'd hate for anything to taint that. Then I got more worried when I learned the new King of the Hill would be set years later, with a grown-up Bobby Hill (!). Is nothing sacred? (Please hear that in Bobby Hill's voice, and giggle along with me.)
But I shouldn't have worried: Hulu's new King of the Hill — premiering Monday, Aug. 4; I've seen the first four episodes — has the same warm, down-home appeal of the original, with the voice cast effortlessly slipping back into their old roles. Really, setting aside Bobby's adulthood and a few wrinkles on Peggy's face, most of the new King of the Hill could've aired back in 1998, and it would've fit in seamlessly. The nods to the absurdity of modern life, though, are golden, giving Hank and his pals plenty of new things to complain about. (Can you believe the world of conspiracy theories actually caught up to Dale Gribble?)
The joy of King of the Hill — which enjoyed a healthy 13-season run on Fox that ended in 2009 — lies in how grounded it is. Yes, it's an animated series, but it never took off into fantasy land with rocket ships and superpowers. Instead, co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels always kept it rooted in small-town America, spinning a humble family sitcom in the fictional Texas town of Arlen. King of the Hill was never as laugh-out-loud funny as The Simpsons — except maybe when Bobby learned the self-defense technique of "That's my purse!" — but it was comfortingly low-key, with plenty of warm chuckles along the way. And Hulu's revival nobly carries on that tradition, maintaining that low-key vibe while bringing Hank and company into the 2020s... whether they like it or not.
As the revival kicks off, the stubbornly traditional Hank (Judge) and his wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy) are just returning to Arlen after spending several years in Saudi Arabia, where Hank worked as — of course — a propane consultant. They return home to find their hometown mostly unchanged... although Hank's friend Bill (Stephen Root) did freak out a bit during COVID and became a paranoid recluse, bearded and bed-ridden. Hank and Peggy's son Bobby (Pamela Adlon) has grown up, though, and is now a chef at his own restaurant, cooking up Japanese-style robata. Just don't ask if he's using propane.
It does take a minute to get used to seeing and hearing a grown-up Bobby — I was not prepared to consider Bobby Hill as a sexual being — but Adlon's squeaky voice, though a bit lower here, is once again a joy, and just like he did in the original series, Bobby steals the show. The rest of the gang is pretty much how we remember them, thankfully: Peggy is still chipper and confident. Bill is still lonely and pathetic. Dale is still slinging wild conspiracy theories (and COVID has given him lots of ammunition). Boomhauer is still mumbling unintelligibly. Plus, Hank gets to be annoyed by all kinds of modern innovations, from Uber drivers to Zoom calls to barbecue grills equipped with Wi-Fi, for some reason.
There are a few differences longtime fans will notice: Hank's airheaded niece Luanne, voiced by the late Brittany Murphy, isn't in the revival — and that's for the best, really, since Murphy was irreplaceable. (Johnny Hardwick, who originally voiced Dale, passed away in 2023, and Toby Huss takes over for him midway through the season.) Aside from a few cosmetic differences, though, Hulu's new episodes slip right into the show we know and love. The premiere has to spend time setting things up and reintroducing everyone, but the episodes after that just feel like vintage King of the Hill. It's a lot like the Alamo beer that Hank and his friends sip in the alley: nothing too flashy, but always reliable — and, in its own way, kind of timeless.
THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: Hulu's King of the Hill revival brings back the comfortingly low-key vibe of the original, along with a few smart updates.