When the King of the Hill revival was announced, many fans were cautiously optimistic. Reviving a once popular adult animated series has historically been a mixed bag, after all. However, to everyone’s surprise, last year’s King of the Hill season 14 was not only good, but arguably the best television revival series ever made. And the upcoming King of the Hill season 15 only solidifies that further.
Bringing the series into the modern day by aging up its characters was a bold and exciting creative decision that fueled the hype leading up to its return. Furthermore, that hook of catching up with this new era for the characters and story successfully carried much of season 14. But, for season 15, there was one big question. Can the show continue its forward momentum once the honeymoon excitement of the aged-up timeline wore off? The answer is, thankfully, yes.
As a whole, season 15 was a bit more uneven than last year, with a few episodes feeling like the revival’s first missteps. However, the good definitely outweighs the bad as far as that’s concerned. Even at its worst, the revival has continued to embody the spirit of the original series in every way possible, and in the best possible way.
Hank and Peggy steal the spotlight this season with several instant classic episodes that center on their relationship and the challenges that come with getting older. This is most notably in “Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes”, which centers around Peggy dealing with the struggles of menopause. Not only was this one of the best episodes of the season, but it might be one of the most heartwarming looks at the couple’s marriage in the entire series.
Likewise, if you’re a sucker for Hank centric stories where you see him begrudgingly grow to love something he hates, “Care of the Dog” and “Hank Encounters of the Nerd Kind” are sure to be season highlights. Even outside of the central Hill family, season 15 offers much more for the ensemble cast this season. This is especially true for Kahn and Minh, who felt woefully underutilized in season 14.
On the other hand, fans looking to see more Bobby and Connie may be a little disappointed. While the season opener, “Failure to Hard Launch” is devoted to the couple’s relationship developments from last season, the pair spend most of the remaining episodes relegated to minor B-plot stories without much meat. The only other exception is “Reality Bites,” where Bobby competes on a cooking show.
That’s not to say the young couple doesn’t have much screen time. They’re certainly present in almost every episode. However, their storyline just feels more stagnant and inconsequential this season, especially after being such an exciting focal point of season 14.
As mentioned, the season does unfortunately include some misses as well. Specifically, the episodes “The Best Little Marriage in Texas”, “No-Cuddle Offense”, and “Hank Ruffles Some Feathers.” The former two simply retread territory the series has thoroughly explored already in much better episodes. (Specifically, Nancy and Dale’s marriage and Bill getting carried away with a new hobby.) The latter suffers from half-baked and poorly executed social commentary being awkwardly wedged into an otherwise fun Boomhauer episode.
Though, to be fair, it’s worth clarifying they are not necessarily bad episodes by any means. They simply stand out as not quite the quality of the rest of the revival. They even include some of the best B-plots of the season, particularly Peggy dealing with a disgruntled former student turned food critic in “No-Cuddle Offense.”
However, the undisputed highlight of King of the Hill season 15 was the season finale, “Propane Recall.” In it, not only were we treated to a parade of returning characters, but it also included an extended flashback offering fans a look at a new era in the show’s timeline. Everything about this episode was an absolute delight, and makes you truly excited and hopeful for the future of the series. It also introduces the intriguing prospect of more flashback episodes moving forward. It’s safe to say we all need more of Bobby’s K-pop phase as soon as possible.
If season 14 was about introducing a new timeline and catching up with the characters, season 15 was about finding and establishing a new status quo for them to inhabit. Although the road to get there was not always perfect, the revival has arrived at an enticing world with which to tell hilarious and heartwarming stories for (hopefully) years to come. Whether it’s new dogs, new relationships, or new jobs, King of the Hill season 15 offers exciting possibilities for Hank, Peggy, Bobby, and the rest of Arlen, Texas.
King of the Hill season 15 ⭐ (4 of 5)
King of the Hill season 15 will arrive on Disney+ and Hulu on July 20.
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Source: Kiat Media
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