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King of the Hill: Jumpin' Crack Bass (1997)
Hank's All About That Bass ( Big Trouble ! )
To Quote Mr. Mackey from South Park : " Drugs Are Bad, Mmkay! "
Hank is having a tough week: His truck gets broken into by a thief, forcing him to drive a rental car and his technique of fishing isn't working. Due to a bad location and mistaken identity looking for a fish bait merchant, he accidentally buys drugs and ends up getting the fish in the lake he goes to addicted.
He himself gets addicted.....to fishing.
Hank gets caught and now must convince the local judge he uses the drugs as fish bait but now it also might not work.
The naive behavior in this episode gives a storm of laughs and Hank and Dale take the cake as they are brought into an abyss of stupidity and chaos. Hank is shown to display stages of addiction similar to drugs but in a form of fishing, its ironic sequences brings a dark humor among the plot as Hank doesn't realize what he is doing. Dale's small obsession with Hank's magical " Bait " and his careless attitude helps the plot as he is also caught into the web of lies. The episode also shows Hank that the law system he believes in has major flaws as he was once a victim to crime becomes a suspect to another, though the true victims in this episode is the aquatic ecosystem of Lake Arlen and the fragile nature that show once something dangerous is introduced into their environment, basically poor fishies.
James " Ragin' Cajun " Carville plays the character Judge Roland McFarlane with wit and simple small humor that is still delightful. Such a strange and random guest star, he does the character well which is quite a challenge to many animated shows, his disciplinary actions with creative sentencing wins Hank over but when Hank is brought onto the stand, he gives Hank the chance to prove himself like most fair judges would.
Though he was a better guest star on NBC's 30 Rock ( Season 2, Episode 8 " Secrets and Lies " )
The episode gives a Very Special Episode feels and makes their anti-drug stance very clear but also shows how a simple mistake could lead to more trouble than usual, showing a metaphor in Hank's worm theory as the minute he switches fish bait, he sinks into a path of bad water which leads him to being caught, but redeems himself by going back to worm bait and showing the judge the proof.
The Lesson is simple, Don't do drugs, recognize your fish bait and don't get addicted to fishing.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Hilloween (1997)
It's The Great Halloween Debate, Charlie Brown!
Halloween was once a debated holiday between hardcore christians and spirited fans of the holiday and in some regions, still is.
But the 90s has shown such examples of the Halloween debate, this one is an excellent example of why the debate is very useless.
Hank prepares Bobby for his last Halloween but it makes him the target of a religious and judgmental woman named Julie Harper ( Sally Field ) who believes the ways of Old Testament, Bobby is frightened by these pranks and actions, meanwhile Luanne, under the guidance of Ms. Harper, is manipulated into thinking Halloween is evil and convinces Bobby also, this leads to a standoff between Hank and Ms. Harper.
The episode is packed with humor and delightful dialogue, most of it from Bobby's obliviousness, Luanne being brainwashed by Sally Field's character and Hank's aggressive behavior against conservative believers plus Dale's small panic which leads him to believe he's being hunted.
The nonsensical ignorance involving the anti-Halloween stance shows how stupid many will go to stop a holiday recognized by many. Hank's pranks do go too far when he accidentally runs over Ms. Harper's cat but his love for Halloween is relatable to many, especially if they have a relative or friend who disagrees in a conservative nature. Luanne's nature does start to change by this episode as we have seen her as a strong and independent character last season we now see her as a semi-stereotypical dumb blonde as it emerges by this episode, her naïve nature is easily fooled by an elder who wishes to keep the peace in selfish ways. Bobby being torn by two sides is understandable as it happens in many episodes but in this one he is vulnerable as he learns this is his last Halloween trick or treating and he just wants to enjoy the holiday.
Sally Field does a wonderful portrayal as a church lady who believes she does good when in fact she does more harm, a Nurse Ratched-like character who believes in the Holy Book but ignores many phrases such as " Love Thy Neighbor " and " Judge Not ". Her antagonistic ways show fear-mongering and Karen attitude which is common and relatable to any viewer of the show and she steals the episode for her voice acting.
Despite the hilarious moments, the episode shows it's useless to debate Halloween when it is just harmless fun ( only under responsible supervision) and that the old ways of witchcraft panic is long gone.
The Lesson is to not judge and to not put pressure on those who wish to decide a path, to ensure a fair path and just enjoy the Halloween spirit.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Arrow Head (1997)
Can You Dig It?
Hank's jealousy makes him do stupid things, especially when it ends up embarrassing his wife.
Hank discovers ancient indigenous artifacts in his lawn and grabs the attention of a local archeologist/professor at the local community college. The Professor becomes idolize by both Bobby and Peggy which doesn't both Hank at first but gradually ticks him off....but not as much as the damage done to his lawn due to it being marked an archeological dig site.
The episode seems somewhat empty but simple, it shows Hank can be the jealous type after seeing his wife being wowed by The Professor's knowledge and charm. Peggy's unwanted collaboration with The Professor seems to show more of her oblivious side until the final results show she was actually in denial. The only few moments we see Peggy's vulnerabilities with her education. Bobby feeling torn between both Peggy's opinion and Hank's envy makes the viewer feel sorry for him though it's not talked much after that.
The talent of legendary voice actor Maurice LaMarche shows as he plays Professor Lerner, his tone seems to be friendly but shows a shrewd attitude and snobbish behavior that only Hank picks up. LaMarche gives a wonderful performance like always to a character who is a wolf in a educated sheep's clothing. Most of the humor mostly comes from Hank's jealousy and his anger towards his lawn being butchered yet again but this time by college students with a permit.
The classic nostalgia settles in at one moment when Hank visits the community college, a reminisce of 90s culture involving Pauly Shore-like characters, stoners with petitions involving legalizing hemp and ska music.
The episode doesn't do much other than a hilarious ending in which Hank stands up for Peggy and pushes The Professor into the vacant lot of what use to be his lawn repeatedly.
The Lesson is jealousy brings the ugly in people, especially Hank but also that sometimes an intelligent person can be cruel to those who they look down upon, just don't use chicken bones as a solution.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Texas City Twister (1997)
A Twister! Auntie Peg! Uncle Hank!
To paraphrase Nancy Hicks-Gribble: Tornadoes are Hell on Earth.
Hank learns Luanne's parents' trailer isn't really totaled and that if he fixes the trailer, Luanne could move back in. Luanne however, doesn't want to go back and thinks her uncle doesn't care about her feelings, this leads to Luanne moving out and Peggy having an argument with him.
The two drive back to the trailer park so Luanne can move in but after they leave, a tornado warning is set in Arlen and heading towards the path of Peggy and Luanne. Hank and Bobby go through a dangerous trek to save Peggy and Luanne.
From start to finish, the episode is laugh out loud and lovable, especially the hilarious ending, Hank's attitude towards Luanne moving out shows a stubborn look upon his character but his last minute actions shows his acknowledgment of wrongdoing and bravery even in a most embarrassing situation he is put in. Peggy's support makes her character a great mother figure and Luanne's emotions involving the trailer are genuine to the focus of the episode being that she is a product of a dangerous marriage by two people with troublesome issues, her disappointment of Hank's obliviousness to her emotions puts Hank in his usual selfish mindset but a shocking part involving Hank getting into a large argument with Peggy leading to him telling her to go to Hell.
Dale and Boomhauer's adventure of being tornado hunters is valuable but short, it ensures a hilarious moment and gives big laughs. The big moment is the climatic ending in which Hank survives a tornado but is stripped to nothing and is put in a worse situation inside a worse situation, Hank's speech shows his regret but also shows he cares for Luanne but he also cares for Peggy and believes if those were his last words to her, he would never forgive himself.
The Lesson is chaotic and hilarious but also don't say something you'll regret later and that family shouldn't be pushed aside, especially in a tornado.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Plastic White Female (1997)
Dollhead Revisited
An Awkward by amazing season finale, a great finish to the beginning of the series, it just too hilarious in many ways.
Bobby is invited to a middle school party and is worried he'll mess up at Spin The Bottle, since he's at an age of embarrassment, he doesn't want to go.
Hank is worried about Bobby not being interested in girls yet and believes his son just needs a push in the right direction by forcing him to go. Meanwhile Luanne is studying for her beauty school finals and is handed a mannequin head that will determine if Luanne can pass or fail the semester. Bobby sees the head and believes it is the solution to his problem, everything seems to go right until Peggy catches him.
Comedy gold is poured into this episode, Bobby's obsession with the head and him try to prevent himself from being put in an embarrassing moment gives laughter to every scene. Hank's tough parenting seems cruel and is harsh to Bobby but his reactions and thoughtless actions involving the head steal the show, his haircut scenario however gives only little support until the end where is becomes a cathartic message of support to Luanne.
Luanne desperate to pass the test gives small amounts of laughter until the third act in which the doll head becomes Chekov's gun to the story. All three storylines involving the head tie together in a well written episode full of awkward moments and funny dialogue. Jennifer Coolidge's character Miss Kremzer gives an antagonistic performance to the show, even later as a recurring character until Luanne drops out.
Despite some small problems like Luanne failing to save or even track where her doll head is bother the plot and Hank's overreacting towards the subject is annoying but Peggy's reactions are priceless especially when she struggles to let go of Bobby and resorts to the possibility of moving to Europe to support him.
Bobby's difficulty with not being weird ends him making him weird but yet relatable to anyone who grew up the shy awkward teenager.
The Lesson is to not overreact and second guess things, as the family has tried in this episode which lead to the inevitability of Bobby having an awkward moment in front of his peers at the party.
Definitely Yup.
King of the Hill: King of the Ant Hill (1997)
Empire of The Dale
Hank loves his lawn, an unusual yet entertaining episode about lawn care. An strange accomplishment thanks to Mike Judge.
Cinco De Mayo approaches as Hank wishes to show off his well maintained lawn at the block party. Dale offers his usual spray for his lawn but when Hank learns his lawn has brown spots, he thinks it might be Dale's chemicals and cuts Dale off from his lawn.
Dale feels vengeful and decides to poison the lawn with fire ants which butchers Hank's lawn. Hilarity ensues in this episode. The sneakiness of Dale, Hank's desperate attempts to save his lawn and Bobby becoming brainwashed by the ant queen takes the cake.
The episode shows one of Hank's obsessions: Lawn Care, the famous Raleigh St. Augustine has been talked about as much as propane on the show, Hank's lawnmower is one of the staples of the show and seeing him is dismay about his lawn is outrageous.
Dale's sabotage is wonderful in the episode as he makes it a large task to get revenge on Hank for firing him as an exterminator and Bobby's subplot is weird but good for a small laugh. Peggy was ok in this episode as her oblivious nature makes her clueless about the things she says, she does help deliver Hank the truth and is supportive to his lawn care lifestyle.
Despite Dale's anger against Hank, this does show he really cares for Hank and his family as much as he cares for his family, Dale's sacrifice of being stung by the entire fire ant army proves he's a good friend and that Hank's judgement did hurt their friendship.
The Lesson is...friendship always wins?.....remember to check for fire ants?.....Cinco De Mayo is a product of cultural appropriation?
The Lesson is slightly unclear but it's an enjoyable episode with amazing scenes and non-stop comedy from Dale himself.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Keeping Up with Our Joneses (1997)
The Long Weekday
Hank at his worse yet again, unfortunately he's dragged his family into it this time. Yet it's an enjoyable episode.
Hank catches Bobby smoking and decides to teach him a lesson in the worse parenting: making him smoke an entire carton of cigarettes until he's sick,
this lesson fails and the whole family ends up with a crippling nicotine addiction.
Many anti-smoking episodes have phone in on the subject too much, this episode is guilty as well but does it with unusually grand humor even in its darkest scenes such as the restaurant scene and Hank smoking with Enrique.
Hank's negligence and old fashioned ways show his help does more harm than good, his hypocrisy gives many scenes hilarious results though it shows major faults to any argument that the character is a wonderful father, little is to said about Peggy in this episode though you are shocked by her reactions in a desperate situations and you feel bad that her husband dragged her into his smoking problem.
Luanne's subplot is not helpful, it's small and her anger against the family dog Ladybird is unnecessary even if it was expensive makeup, though her solution in Act 3 helps save the family and curb their addiction validates her in this episode due to trauma she faced in the past involving her parents' crumbling marriage.
The episode is endless in laughs, it shows how a simple thing like smoking could crumble a family, though it just an over exaggeration due to the years of the 90s were ashtrays in restaurants existed and magazines still had cigarette ads in them. The topic is not be debated here but shows a homage to Very Special Episodes and After School Specials of the 80s or 90s.
Boomhauer's PSA is both unusual and yet works, Boomhauer's status of a Fonzie-type character gives a nonsensical dialogue to not smoke using his car's filter as an example, creative but is distracting from his rambling involving both Morton Downey and Robert Downey Jr. And their behavior before wooing a woman away from the screen. The only PSA without Hank ( not including the end credits of Sleigh of Hank ) but yet it works.
The Lesson is not to smoke but what not to do when talking to your children about smoking, don't be like Hank and Peggy, be responsible and quitting smoking is not the same reaction as a drug addiction, especially since there is mild withdrawals in nicotine addiction. Remember this was the 90s, everything over exaggerated on such topics.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Peggy the Boggle Champ (1997)
Finding The Right Letters For This Review..
Like many challenging board games, Boggle has its own tournament for avid players. Something that doesn't need acknowledgment but it's an okay fun fact; However, the fact is stretched pretty wide with this episode.
A Peggy episode is sometimes popular in fan favor but this is probably one of the forgotten ones. Peggy decides to join a Boggle Championship Tournament due to her amazing skill at the game, Hank at first doesn't want to go but realizes a Lawnmower Expo will be nearby and this gives him an excuse to go but Peggy thinks of Hank as support and names him her coach; Meanwhile, Bobby and Luanne are left home alone and accidentally causes a small spill that they overreact to which leads to more messes.
Peggy's plot shows her classic Never Say Never attitude while also showing her vulnerable when she loses to another expert who bullies and talks down upon her for her lower class southern upbringing.
Laurie Metcalf's guest starring role as a superficial upper class Boggle champion Cissy Cobb does show some promise. Her constant bullying and rivalry with Peggy shows her acting is much more different than her role on Roseanne. Just like Scream 2, she shows she can play a villian and dwell into the character to the point where you forget it's Metcalf, something King of The Hill has accomplished with many of its guest stars later on.
Peggy's emotions are relatable to anyone who has felt an embarrassment in a public setting while competing for an event. Hank's moments on the show seem more mildly selfish and some short few funny moments such as Dale photographing Liberace's rhinestone lawnmower, Boomhauer's virtual reality lawn care and Hank feeling emasculated due to being named Mr. Peggy Hill. Hank's advice to Peggy is both harsh but humorous and his support for Peggy at the end helps the conclusion of the episode.
Bobby and Luanne's subplot rarely gets any laughs over than the shocked look on their faces when something goes wrong, their over worrying involving small knicks and stains gets to them at the end but feels both confusing and trying to hard to make a joke out of it.
The episode though is well forgotten and only Peggy's love for Boggle is a reminder for fans of the show, it's not underrated, just disappointing and okay to watch every once in a while.
The Lesson is to try and support those who wish to try ( just not at the last minute like Hank did ), nevermind the taunts and sneers and just try....unless you own a Boggle Playing Chicken.
Nope.
King of the Hill: Shins of the Father (1997)
Cotton Hill: Patriotism and Toxic Masculinity
Cotton is a terrible character yet we love his eccentric behavior because he is unpredictable and has no censorship. Yet he also works in this episode.
Bobby invites his Grandpa Cotton, a shinless veteran and his younger step-grandmother, Didi, whom went to school with Hank, Bobby starts to adopt some rude and unacceptable sexist behavior from Cotton, though Hank enables it due to Cotton's war history and his sacrifices to help America. This goes awry quickly.
Hank's enabling is annoying and does irritate anyone who has a spouse who defends a family member's controversial comments or actions. Peggy's jokes against Cotton are quite funny and the beginning of the episode just shows where the humor grows later on. Bobby's new behavior though shows he is impressionable since he looks up to Cotton, it also shows how a small mishap could lead to a large domino fall.
Cotton, despite his behavior and dangerous actions, takes on the episode in an antihero-like status. The worse that Cotton does, he actually becomes a character of reckless chaos and unnecessary pugilism which makes the show's calm humor seem both out of place but yet in pure sync. The uttering of his " Fifty Men " catchphrase than has split fans into thinking it's been played out or it is underrated, its however makes the character seem more patriotic in a crazed way.
Didi, on the other hand, is bland and emotionless as a character, though later on this does work and her character is later seen to be slightly three dimensional than the other appearances.
Cotton's actions are flamboyant and wild but shows how he can easily manipulate Hank by using war guilt or pretending to be stranded. His behavior is insane but works for his character and has become a big part of what Cotton is. Hank's moment of standing up to his father shows that he is tired of his father's controlling and prejudice behavior that has influenced Bobby to the resort of a food fight and has been mocking Peggy's lifestyle to point of him referring her as Hank's Wife.
The Lesson is thrown all over the place but it's solution is plainly to see that Cotton's actions are not worthy and while Cotton's mind set is stuck in a different time, the scene of the Hotel Arlen shows he is a sinking stone Bob Dylan sings about. Hank's lecture does show he respects his wife though this line later is contradicted by the final shot of waitresses at a 50s diner in a Texan setting.
Despite the fans seeing Cotton this way, his strange and cruel demeanor becomes a cult hit to many diehard fans.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Westie Side Story (1997)
Aged Terribly But Gives Us A Great Recurring Character
Not a good start to introduce an Asian character but gives us a welcome to its best.
Hank and the gang learns their new neighbors are Laotian, The Souphanousinphones. Hank welcomes the neighbors despite the cultural shock but is annoyed by the patriarch Kahn, whose stubborn middle class Orange County values mock Hank's southern living and reduces him to the idea of a hillbilly. Hank has a feud with Kahn which makes the neighborhood think Hank is prejudiced so he decides the bury the hatchet and try to coexist but then situations start to go out of control.
Hank's open welcome is at the kind of usual respect we are use to but we learn the Hills are oblivious to their terrible and closed minded assumptions except Bobby who befriends Connie, the only simple coexistence that is solved by just saying hello and talking. The whole episode almost becomes a homage to messages gone wrong a la Three's Company/ I Love Lucy but feels more of The Twilight Zone's The Monsters Due On Maple Street towards the end. Kahn's obnoxiousness is introduced but later becomes the staple of his character ( almost borderline to Flanderization ) his sense of being more successful doesn't bother Hank but his insults and criticism of the Texan lifestyle gets to him.
The elephant in the room is Act 3, The group's assumptions and misunderstanding lead to a witch-hunt that shows Hank is prejudice in some ways but that the main joke is based on it, it is messed up and the solution of the situation is seems to leave some questioning the value of the episode, it just hasn't aged well.
Peggy's subplot of her rivalry with Kahn's wife Minh gives a different perspective, Peggy mocking Hank's feud with Kahn but yet gaining one with Minh gives some positive humor due to Minh's simple solution to Peggy's recipes with one ingredient. Rather than assume the worst like Hank, Peggy asks for Minh's advice shows light but necessary after the episode the viewer has watched. Bobby and Connie's subplot hilarious and works with the plot later on as it combines into the main story even as the final act sours the plot.
The Lesson is very wrong and is using outdated humor though it shows Hank, even though he is unknowingly close minded and assumes the worst to Kahn in the beginning, he can coexist with him a few subjects based on parenthood advice, though it is shocking how badly the introduction to Kahn has aged, Kahn would grow on to be King of The Hill's best characters.
Sorta Yup.
King of the Hill: Hank's Unmentionable Problem (1997)
Trapped In The Bathroom
While tackling dietary problems of the average Texan man, this episode seems to go nowhere but yet is valued in its humor.
Hank can't go which bothers Peggy as she worries it could be serious, this leads to Hank making sacrifices he usually wouldn't go for and decisions that make Hank feel inferior. While sounding sorta sad, the episode covers this up in tremendous laughter of hilarious sequences, overreaction for Peggy's paranoia induces the awkward situations that Hank faces.
The doctor scene gives most of the humor as if it was made for a comedy skit, most of it based on the embarrassment of Hank and his problem, while some jokes are weak such as the Tofu deli, the embarrassing topic itself is treated in both a humorous way and a serious way due to a spouse's suspicions of health problems, Hank's depression of not being himself is one of the only few times you can see Hank at his lowest but is also one of the only times you feel mildly sympathetic for the character.
While exploring health concerns and alternative therapies to helping Hank, Hank's biggest moment is when he stands up for himself, giving a overly masculine speech that in way makes sense due to Hank's message of being yourself and being comfortable with your everyday life makes him proud of the life he has, though it seems selfish. Peggy acknowledges his discomfort of his diet and alternative methods has made him less of himself and she will have to have faith no matter bad or good, this moment helps Hank fix his problem.
The Lesson is hazy but yet just a simple be yourself, despite the lightly rude tone in the situation and it's solution, though Hank's PSA seems more Hank than the usual Hank, it's rememberable and would later be used more in a better tone.
Yup.
King of the Hill: Luanne's Saga (1997)
Not Without My Den
Hank's role as a uncle is slightly cruel but this is just the beginning of his problematic ideas just to cut the middleman.
Luanne is a nuisance to Hank and his den, a " man cave " now covered in makeup, hairspray and fashionable clothes, her emotions bother him and he is waiting for her to move out, Peggy, being a mother figure to Luanne and her only reliable family member to care for her, stands by her.
Luanne however does plan to move out only if her boyfriend Buckley, a motorcycle riding, empty minded and selfish employee of Megalo Mart, asks her to move in with him but only leads in heartbreak, Hank rushes to meddle in the healing process just to calm Luanne but this also ends up awry.
Hank's selfish demeanor is sometimes laughable but mostly upsetting, Luanne's sadness is at first annoying but by the reaction of Hank, gives her character more sympathy, and Peggy's helping does show her character to be empathetic than she usually has in other episodes especially the pilot.
Some moments such as Bill dancing with Peggy does give character to the episode and Dale's awkward compliment is a laugh out loud moment but the ending shows a conclusion that is suppose to seem happy but is overshadowed by the thought of Hank's antics earlier in the episode.
The Lesson is basically Hank giving back the den to Luanne only by cleaning it, Hank does feel sorry for his actions but fails to see the implications he tried just to get his room back, many viewers will just shrug off the idea but will later see the ridiculous pattern Hank's advice and help that has caused trouble.
Sorta Yup.
King of the Hill: Hank's Got the Willies (1997)
Propane Salesman's Son
An Improvement of the last episode, outlandish but yet underrated and wonderful guest stars.
Hank thinks Bobby, without a respectable role model in his life, will end up on the wrong path and tries to steer him straight, Hank's boasting of his role model Willie Nelson gets sort of annoying but shows Hank's usual dedication to such topics like propane and the later idolatry of Buck Strickland.
Bobby's antics would usually seem nonsensical and useless but shows that Bobby does respect Hank in a way, Peggy's jealousy of Hank's legendary guitar seems strange but still works due to the ridiculous moments it brings, though Luanne's subplot about a hair braiding test is only good for a chuckle.
Willie Nelson and Dennis Hopper's acting is both delightful and enjoyable, referencing Nelson's troubles with the IRS and Hopper's typecasting due to his villainous roles in funny ways and its caricatures of other famous celebrities such as Boomhauer's mumbling conversation with Bob Dylan is entertaining.
The Lesson solves two birds with one guitar ( sorry for butchering the saying ) Hank learns Bobby idolizes his father gives Hank a chance to redeem himself in front of Peggy, a heartwarming moment that goes into a rockabilly rendition that is reminiscent of Buddy Holly and a delightful episode that shows a highlight of the series' future greatness.
Yup.
King of the Hill: The Order of the Straight Arrow (1997)
Weymetanye-Only a few good moments-Weymetanye
This may be a bit complicated.
Despite the introduction of John Redcorn, Peggy's struggles with shoe shopping, another flashback involving Cotton Hill's cruel behavior and a simple plotline, the episode seems rushed at the end.
Hank and the gang decides to take his son and his friends to an Order of The Straight Arrow meeting in which Hank's questionable parenting is first shown. Hank plays cruel pranks and tricks that leads to Bobby almost committing a federal crime by knocking out an endangered crane, Peggy's trek to a shoe store for women with plus sized feet seems interesting but yet strange, falling short of a joke and sometimes unnecessary even for a cartoon.
Bobby's devotion to making his father appreciate him during the trip is sometimes funny but also painful for anyone with parental issues, his obsession of the fictional creature the snipe and Weymetane ( something Hank quickly culture appropriates just for the trip from John Redcorn ) becomes funny at first but then annoying.
Dale's antics however steal the episode, from his mooning, his strange but hilarious lines, descriptions of the imaginary creature to scare the scouts and overt cowardice bring life into some of the episode but the hippie stereotypes irritate the plot.
The Lesson gives some doubt and is very problematic but shows Hank that he did go too far just for a simple camping trip that was supposed to enjoy with his son and his friends and that as a father, he doesn't have to be like Cotton, something of common sense.
Nope.
King of the Hill: Square Peg (1997)
Flowers For Peggy
While the pilot was just a introduction to Arlen's golden characters, the second episode shows a territory that is similar in the line of controversial topics that many 90s shows used: the topic of sex.
Hank and Peggy learn Bobby is going to be taught sex ed in school and try to do something about it but learn that their past with the topic was both extremely problematic and traumatic.
The episode shows the controversy of the topic but also the complicated past of both Hank and Peggy involving such topic. Hank's traumatic repression and the poor parenting of Cotton Hill gives chilling yet hilariously awkward moments, Peggy's struggles as being a substitute teacher for the sex ed class, her confrontation of her past shame gives the character endurance and a positive reaction than the last episode and Bobby's curiosity and obliviousness is relatable but sometimes overly awkward.
Although the tree subplot seems to fade into nothing and Dale's attempts to stop Peggy from teaching fall short from laughter, the episode seems watchable.
The Lesson shows that information that is needed is more important than not confronting the elephant in the room, that a person can evolve in order to help others and that while such topics can be controversial, its best to be discussed rather than being given a book of utter nonsense.
Yep.
King of the Hill: Pilot (1997)
Welcome To Arlen: The Introduction of Hank Hill
After Beavis and Butthead, Many back then would be wary of Mike Judge's newest creation.
Would it be dangerous? Would it be Controversial?
Would it be the next South Park? King of The Hill is a tamer creation from Mike Judge, rather than the usual violence and foul language that Beavis and Butthead had ( not to badmouth the show ) we get an everyday man who makes Propane obsession, lawn care and conservative yet questionable values interesting.
The pilot shows a simple group of characters: Hank, Army Barber and lonely divorced neighbor Bill Dauterive, Conspiracy Theorist and local exterminator Dale Gribble and mysterious mumbling ladies man Boomhauer enjoying beer but beginning seems to lack dialogue, something that would evolve later on. The plot lies heavily on Hank, Peggy Hill, a substitute spanish teacher who highly boast herself on her simple achievements and Bobby Hill, a relatable youth who Hank shakes his head at most of his activities but still loves him and Luanne Platter, a unique character with a sad, troubling background who lives with her aunt and uncle due to her parents' troubling marriage leads to one of them incarcerated.
The episode shows a trial run of the everyday life of the Hills, despite some boring dialogue and the annoyance of Bobby's teasing at Hank almost ruining his introduction, the episode shows the beginning of series full of laughs, ups and downs and interesting storylines that would define Fox's Animation Domination lineup. Its use of the simple Texan background is less Beavis and more Office Space. The character of Hank shows a conservative but entertaining propane salesman who is patriotic and Andy Griffin-esque but sometimes oblivious. The wit is dry and animation blotchy and not such a rememberable first episode of an animated series but it was a start to something wonderful.
The lesson of the episode does show that Hank is caring despite his strict behavior and reaction to stressful situations, rumors in a small ( town or city ) can spread and misinformation and poor judgment can cause trouble.
Yup.