IIt was 15 years since we last enjoyed Hank and Peggy Hill. Barack Obama had just entered the White House, Hank was a younger man with an exciting adventure in front of him and everything was at least explained, if not quite well with the world. But now? The 14th season of this revived, beloved animation sitcom is just around the corner and feels anachronistic and yet strange in time. It is like a connection with a group of old friends and to recognize that the context in which you now see that you have now changed beyond all recognition.
The life of the hills that are easily played against Cartoon Convention have moved on. In contrast to the timeless Simpsons, everyone is visibly older. In the between years, the propanity industry Hank and Peggy led to Saudi Arabia. As we join again, they are home on the plane. Hank has been in the toilet for hours because Peggy, as it is appropriate to inform the other passengers, “now has the urethra of a seven -year -old”. When you land in Texas, Hank kisses the ground. But will he recognize the place?
As you drive in your neighborhood, Hank has a realization. Her residential complex in Saudi Arabia was “more Texan than Texas”. The United States has exported an idealized version of its past, especially for the ex-Pats, even if the country has changed beyond any recognition. King of the Hill has always done subtle political news and wrapped pointed observations in the gentleness of the comedy.
Hank is quickly back on the familiar territory and stands in front of his house on the fence and shares a beer with his old friends. Bill was bad. Boomhauer is still mummy, but now has a similar to be a similar child. He greets Hank with a somewhat surprising hug. As a man who still expresses his love for his son by offering to check the oil in his car, Hank finds it uncomfortable. But as always, writing brings a remarkable amount of nuances to these simply but carefully constructed characters. Even in retirement, Hank works through a few things.
However, Dale is a different barrel of beer. He has learned nothing; Instead, the world came to him. In the past, Dale's preference for conspiracy theories made him the back of the jokes. However, he no longer seems to be a harmless eccentric. To mention unnecessarily that he refers to “The Pandumbic”. However, Hank is old school and old media; He only had access to Fox News and CNN in Saudi Arabia – although he has to apologize for seeing CNN.
Hank is a Republican – during the original run of the show, his reaction to learning that he drove through Bill Clinton's hometown to lock up his car doors. However, this gives the new iteration of the show real sharpness. A lot has changed in the United States and not everything to Hank's satisfaction, one of these things being public discourse.
At some point Hank, Peggy and Dale go on a museum tour that deals with George W. Bush, where they are offered the chance to play a cabinet meeting. However, it degenerates into wild fiction when the participants start scolding “Obama's Kenyan handler”. Dale is not an outlier-now is a thinker wheel. Mike Judge and Greg Dani's writing perspective is obvious here: Hank longs for an old, moderate America that could not always agree, but could at least accept common reference conditions in which they could argue.
However, there is a friendliness towards King of the Hill, which, in addition to the occasional unrest of the show, finds the same expression. There is charm and progress in its apparently changing environment. The son of the hill, Bobby, was once a chubby, geeky distraction. Fortunately, he received an upgrade that feels generous, eccentric and deserved at the same time. He is a chef in a Japanese restaurant and the family battles of Hank and Bobby are now led through the deputies of Essen and drink. Hank and Bobby take part in a brewing competition. “It's just a friendly competition between father and son,” says Hank. “Where the father kicks his son's ass.” Father and son receive a necessary lesson in humility.
These stock exchanges remain ease and lightness. As with most long -term relationships, the old rhythms almost immediately return to the hills and for the spectators. The king of the hill often drives towards sank and saccharin. It is not a show that will ever hold back on the hugs and learning. But that feels completely deliberately; At the moment, a show that prioritizes modesty, tolerance and gentle revelation is more welcome than ever.