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By now, if you’re a fan of King of the Hill, you’ve watched the reboot (streaming on Hulu) and know it is amazing! I watched each episode as fast as I could consume them because they were so good that I could not help myself. I didn’t realize how much I missed King of the Hill (currently #13 on NerdNet’s Top 100 Shows to Watch Right Now).
The reboot might be better than the original series, as I never watched the original with such fervor. The characters have all grown and changed, but no one is out of character. There are a lot more caring and heart-to-heart moments than I remember in the original seasons, and in the center of some of my favorite of these moments is Hank Hill (voiced by Mike Judge).
When I think of Hank Hill, I think of him saying, “That boy ain’t right” about his own son almost constantly. While it was good for comedy, it wasn’t great of Hank to be so unsupportive and dismissive of his son. However, the reboot finds Hank wisen and more supportive of his son, and overall a much better guy. Hank is woke without fully grasping what being woke entails, which is the best and most earnest type of being woke.
Hank doesn’t understand everything that has changed in the world, but he is much more open to the changes and doing the right thing. This is refreshing, as so often we see old men stuck in their ways, in television and our personal lives, but Hank is able to recognize his mistakes and change course. If only everyone had such introspection, the world would be a better place.
Hank is a strong (and sensitive) male character by showing us what that means. While there were several moments in the reboot, I’ll stick to just 3 times Hank Hill showed us he is a good guy without telling us he is a good guy.
Spoilers Ahead
1. Mr. Hill displays cultural respect with girl scout cookies.
The first episode shows the elder Hills returning home after a long stint in Saudi Arabia, and struggling to adjust to their old life, which has changed a lot over the years they’ve been gone. After much confusion, we get to see Hank have a small moment of cultural sensitivity, at a store where Girl Scouts are selling cookies outside. Hank asks for the Samoas, but a Scout tells Hank they are now called Caramel Delights. I held my breath. I thought he was about to say something terrible, but instead Hank says “That’s a good change. It’s more respectful.”
2. Hank apologizes to Bobby after being petty in a micro brew competition.
Of course, Hank still thinks the Alamo beer he’s been drinking in the alley with his buddies is the best beer there is, and doesn’t quite take to the new micro brews that Bobby (voiced by Pamela Adlon) introduces him to. Once a micro brew competition is introduced, the Hill men become divided when Hank doesn’t want to make beer that has extra flavors. Bobby and Hank split up and both entered the same home brew competition. In a dramatic fashion, Hank realizes at the competition that instead of spending time apart brewing their own beer, this was precious time he could have with his son. Hank apologizes and pulls out of the competition, which sets the stage for Bobby to follow his lead. It was a bit cheesy, but was heartfelt, and felt especially momentous as the phrase, “That boy ain’t right” slowly faded from my memory.
3. Hank disses the self-proclaimed alpha male squad
GH (AKA Good Hank), Hank’s younger brother, wants to go to a seminar that claims to support brotherhood and build confidence. Hank thinks this seminar sounds great, especially since he is trying to connect with his younger brother, and decides to take GH. Once the seminar starts, Hank becomes confused as the leader talks about being an alpha male and how women are at the root of all their problems. Hank immediately stands up to this self-proclaimed alpha male, stands up for women, and asks the other men to think about how they can solve their own problems instead of blaming them on women. Hank eventually wins the crowd over, and makes this my favorite Hank moment.
The new season of King of the Hill is a solid watch. Besides Hank being an open-minded guy and tackling several issues, we get to see how some of the crew deal with veganism, divorce, living in a post-pandemic world, ethical non-monogamy, and soccer.
But don’t watch it by yourself. Maybe invite an old man to watch it with you. Maybe someone close to you could learn something from Hank Hill.
NerdScore
9.0/10
King of the Hill — Season 14 (2025) Review
The rebooted season finds fresh heart and humor in Arlen, balancing modern quirks with classic Hank Hill sincerity—proof there’s still propane in the tank.
Hank, Peggy, and the Arlen crew return with a timely, warmly acerbic take on family, community, and common sense in a world that keeps moving the goalposts.
IMDb
7.6/10
Metacritic
82/100
Rotten Tomatoes
98%