What Occurred To Every Predominant Character Since We Final Noticed Them

The next incorporates spoilers for the primary episode of the “King of the Hill” revival, which is now streaming on Hulu.

Mike Decide’s household sitcom “King of the Hill” was a near-perfect slice of animated Americana that confirmed audiences a candy and foolish aspect of Texas that felt like residence, even when you’d by no means been there. It is sadly been greater than 15 years since we final bought to spend time with the Hill household and their neighbors on Rainey Road, however the brand new Hulu revival goals to provide followers that very same comforting feeling another time (with a number of recent updates). As an alternative of simply making an attempt to proceed the place issues left off, the present is actually choosing up in real-time, with pre-teen son Bobby Hill (Pamela Adlon) now in his early 20s. Equally, Hank (Decide) and Peggy (Kathy Najimy) have been away for a number of years saving up a nest egg for retirement, however now they’re transferring again to Arlen. It is the proper set-up as a result of it permits the sequence’ viewers to get reintroduced to the entire fabulous of us on this little fictional Texas city proper together with Hank and Peggy, who clearly really feel a bit misplaced of their former residence. 

So, what’s new with the Hills, the fellows from the alley, and the remainder of their neighbors? Let’s check out what’s occurred to every of the primary characters on “King of the Hill” since final we noticed them.

After their son Bobby graduated highschool, Hank took a job in Saudi Arabia, working because the assistant supervisor in control of Arabian propane and Arabian propane equipment for an organization referred to as Aramco. The job was fairly well-paid and allowed Hank so as to add a bit extra to his retirement fund, which suggests now that he is again, he is formally retired. Peggy, who previously labored as an alternative instructor, can be retired, leaving them each with an entire lot of time and never a lot to do with it. “King of the Hill” followers who would possibly fear that Hank or Peggy may have modified an excessive amount of within the years they have been gone should not, as a result of they’re each nonetheless very a lot their cussed previous selves. Hank can barely deal with the concept of gender impartial restrooms (not as a result of he is bigoted, however as a result of he is confused), whereas Peggy brags that she’s been advised all of her life that she’s a 5, which she assumes is an effective factor. (It is not.)

Regardless of studying a little bit of (poorly spoken) Arabic and getting a pleasant nest egg, Hank and Peggy are nonetheless nearly precisely the identical. Their home is identical too, having been cared for by their new neighbor Brian Robertson (Keith David). The remainder of Arlen, nonetheless, has undoubtedly achieved some rising.

Whereas his dad and mom have been in Saudi Arabia, Bobby has actually made one thing of himself as the top chef of his personal restaurant, a spot referred to as Robata Chane. Bobby describes the restaurant as “a standard Japanese barbecue with a fusion of flavors and methods from the German traditions of the Texas hill nation,” and since “Robata” is a form of Japanese barbecue, that makes plenty of sense. His enterprise associate, Chane Wassanasong (Ki Hong Lee), put his title on the place however would not appear to do a lot apart from get funding by way of his father, Ted Wassanasong (Kenneth Choi).

Followers of the unique sequence would possibly keep in mind Chane as a possible love curiosity for Bobby’s ex-girlfriend Connie (Lauren Tom). Whereas Bobby runs the restaurant, doing every thing from cooking to sweeping the flooring and locking up, Chane is out partying and attending school. He is even the president of a fraternity! Will probably be fascinating to see how their dynamic performs out, nevertheless it’s nice to see Bobby actually thriving and doing what he loves.

The Hill’s most entertaining neighbor, Dale Gribble, remains to be as much as a lot of his previous shenanigans. He ran to develop into the mayor of Arlen through the COVID-19 pandemic and gained on an anti-mask agenda, although he was explicitly towards all masks, together with these for tear fuel and baseball catchers. That sounds fairly typical of conspiracy theorist and exterminator Dale Gribble, however what’s wild is that sufficient individuals really voted for him to win … if solely by a teeny tiny margin. (There have been 11 candidates, and Dale had essentially the most votes with a measly 9 %.)

After all, in complete Dale style, he “realized” the entire scenario was “a rip-off” and challenged the outcomes of his personal election after 36 hours, mainly eradicating himself as Arlen’s mayor. These are some huge adjustments forwards and backwards in Arlen, nevertheless it’s all nonetheless pure Dale Gribble.

Gribble’s unique voice actor, Johnny Hardwick, recorded six episodes of the revival earlier than he died in 2023. Filling in for the remaining is “King of the Hill” common Toby Huss, who supplied the voices for Cotton Hill (Hank’s deceased father) and Kahn Souphanousinphone, Connie’s father. (Kahn has since been recast, with comic Ronny Chieng taking up the function.) 

Nancy Gribble (Ashley Gardner), Dan’s spouse, now co-hosts an actual property actuality sequence referred to as “Promoting Arlen” along with her enterprise associate (and longtime not-so-secret lover) John Redcorn (the late Jonathan Joss), and since the entire thing was Dale’s concept, it looks like he is nonetheless utterly oblivious to their affair. (Even the feedback on the primary episode of their present query if Redcorn is “tapping that,” so complete strangers have figured it out earlier than him, which is form of magical.) Nancy and John’s son, Joseph (newly voiced by Tai Leclaire, a comic from the Mohawk nation of Kahnawà:ke), is Bobby’s roommate and is outwardly “doing nice,” although he would not seem a lot within the first episode. We do see a clip of him driving horses with John Redcorn within the revival’s trailer, nonetheless, and he has no concept John is his actual father, so there may be some emotional moments coming for these two.

Everybody’s favourite scorching mess from Chateau D’Haute Rive, Louisiana, is taking his depressive tendencies to new lows. Poor Invoice Dauterive (Stephen Root), Hank’s good friend and neighbor, stopped leaving the home after he retired from the Military and the Hills moved away. He tells Hank that every thing will be ordered and delivered, so he has no actual want to go away his residence, however that adjustments on the finish of the primary episode when Hank does a little bit of grilling outdoors and Invoice smells it. Hopefully, the Hills returning will assist Invoice get again on his ft.

Hank’s laid-back women man neighbor Boomhauer (additionally voiced by Decide) appears to have really settled down for as soon as. He is even taking good care of his girlfriend’s son, Luke Jr., who can’t perceive a phrase Boomhauer says. In actual fact, little Luke Jr. and Boomhauer form of confuse each other normally, nevertheless it’s nice to see Boomhauer making an attempt to be a one-woman man and even assist increase a child. He additionally provides Hank a hug upon his return, which is a bit too “emotional” for Hank, nevertheless it’s nice to see him being his genuine, marble-mouthed self. 

Whereas we do not get to see Connie’s dad and mom, Kahn or Minh (additionally voiced by Lauren Tom), within the first episode, we do get an opportunity to see Connie, Bobby’s long-time girlfriend from center college. Bobby runs into Connie after spending the evening with a hook-up at Southern Methodist College, the place she was additionally spending time with “a good friend.”

Bobby and Connie apparently misplaced contact someday after highschool, although she appears to be doing very well. She’s attending the College of Texas on the Dallas campus and is within the Johnson Faculty of Engineering, which sounds fairly spectacular. She guarantees to go to Bobby’s restaurant and asks about Joseph, so will probably be nice to see these previous mates spend extra time collectively once more, even when the years have pushed them aside.

The whole lot of season 14 of “King of the Hill” is now streaming on Hulu.