King of The Hill is about finding substance in your community. And that's actually something I want in TV.

Aug 08, 2025

The big release of the week is Netflix’s Wednesday. But that’s not what I want to talk about today (mostly because I really just did not care for what I saw of season one of the show).

What I want to talk about is the revival of animated show King of The Hill.

I never watched this show. I have probably seen the first episode of the show a handful of times in an effort to fall into a watch of the show, which originally ran for 13 seasons (starting in 1997), but I just never fell for its charms. I have friends who love the show, but it just never took.

Watching the first few episodes of the revival… it has me wanting to go back and watch the previous 250+ episodes.

What caught my interest in the revival was its concept, which has the characters from the original series returning back home after years away living in Saudi Arabia. King of The Hill was always an interesting animated show in that the characters never bent reality or did anything especially cartoonish - the show could well be live-action and hit many of the same beats.

Peggy Hill (Kathy Najimy, far left), Hank Hill (voiced by Mike Judge, center), Bill Dauterive (Stephen Root, third from right), Dale Gribble (voiced by Toby Huss, formerly by the late Johnny Hardwick, second from right) and Jeff Boomhauer (also voiced by Judge, right).

The premise for season 14 lets the show age-up its cast of animated characters, providing a new framework and an entirely different cultural world to explore. These are not characters who have been trapped in amber - they have been living full lives during the time we have been away from them.

The show, as it stands in 2025, is exactly the sort of show that has been appealing to me for a while now. These are warm characters who want to be well thought of in their community. The show is about shared connections, finding forgiveness/understanding, and generally trying to be better.

And while that sounds a bit-too 7th Heaven as series ideals, know that the show is funny, a bit dirty at times, and is charmingly earthy.

I was disappointed when I got to the 10th and final episode of the season, but I guess I can go back and watch those earlier 13 episodes of the show. I’m going to miss grown-up Bobby and his Japanese-German fusion restaurant.

King Of The Hill Struggled To Figure Out What To Do About Bobby's Voice In The Revival

Returning TV

King of The Hill (s14), Platonic (s02), Wednesday (s02)

New TV

Outlander: Blood of My Blood - Starz (US) | Stan (Aus)

Stars: Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, Hermione Corfield, Jeremy Irvine
A romantic saga that unfolds across time. From the battlefields of World War I to the rugged Highlands of 18th century Scotland, two fated couples must defy the forces that seek to tear them apart, intersecting in surprising and unforeseen ways.

Damascus - Tubi

Stars: Okieriete Onaodowan, Janet Hubert, Caleb Eberhardt, Shakira Ja’nai Paye, and Martin Lawrence
A 33-year-old man, on a mission of self-discovery and the burgeoning field of digital psychiatry that may be the key to defining his truest self.

Providence Falls - Hallmark Channel

Stars: Katie Stevens, Evan Roderick, Lachlan Quarmby, Paul McGillion
In 1844 Ireland, thief Liam falls for aristocrat Cora. When their love disrupts destiny, angels send him to present-day Oregon to ensure Cora marries another man. As her police partner, Liam struggles with his enduring feelings.

New Movies

Freaky Tales - HBO

Note: This does not appear to be playing on HBO Max outside the US
Stars: Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, Tom Hanks
It's a multi-part story following various characters, including an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, and more, all navigating the city's underbelly.

The Pickup - Prime Video

Stars: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer.
A routine cash pickup turns into a deadly pursuit when two mismatched armored truck drivers are ambushed by ruthless criminals with plans beyond the cash.

That’s the TV listings newsletter for this week.

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