Apart from a number of main modifications, together with the age of one beloved character and the occasional reflection of the tradition battles dealing with the nation in the present day, the reboot of “King of the Hill” picks up not far in any respect from the place the Fox hit left us in 2009. The Mike Decide comedy was written off by some as being a parody of Southern archetypes, however anybody who watched quite a lot of episodes of the animated hit knew there was extra below the floor of this sharp household sitcom than met the eye. The Hill household are like so much of beloved sitcom clans in that they’re, like so many individuals watching, simply attempting to do their finest in a world that usually makes {that a} battle. Whether or not it’s Hank’s stubbornness, Peggy’s overconfidence, or Bobby’s awkwardness, it’s simple to narrate to the Hills, and that sense of connection has been misplaced a bit in an period of high-concept TV when the basic mannequin of the household sitcom has gone away. After a barely rocky premiere, the 2025 model of “King of the Hill” shortly finds its footing once more, and a pair of the episodes in the mid-section of this 10-episode season rank amongst the finest half-hour comedy chapters of the yr, anyplace. Lengthy stay the King.

Whereas “King of the Hill” technically left the airwaves 16 years in the past, not as a lot time as handed in the world of the present. It’s been a number of years since Hank (Decide) and Peggy Hill (Kathy Najimy) moved to Saudi Arabia (which Peggy splendidly pronounces “Noticed-die” as a substitute of “Noticed-dee”) for a propane-related mission, however Hank has now determined to retire, sending them again to Arlen, TX, and to a USA that’s a bit completely different than after they left. The season premiere leans a little bit too onerous on how a lot America has modified for the comparatively conservative Hank Hill, and I nervous that an excessive amount of comedy this season would hinge on Tim Allen-esque grumbling about “vegan youngsters today” and different “woke” speaking factors, however the writers settle into one thing much less topical and extra natural fairly shortly, whereas by no means dropping the sense that Hank is a bit of a dinosaur. To be trustworthy, that was true twenty years in the past, however the appeal of Hank is in how a lot he tries to evolve for the folks he cares about, particularly Patty and Bobby, and that’s nonetheless the beating coronary heart of the present. He could grumble and sigh, however he’s keen to develop too.

Somebody who has undoubtedly grown is Bobby Hill (Pamela Adlon), who’s now a younger grownup, operating his personal restaurant, an Asian-German fusion place known as Robota Chane, which he runs with Chane Wassonasong (Hong Lee). Younger grownup Bobby takes some getting used to, particularly as he tries to woo Connie Souphanousinphone (Lauren Tom) in a extra grownup method than he did again at school, discovering, for instance, that Connie is an open relationship. A sexually lively, business-owning Bobby shall be a shock for “King of the Hill” followers, however I got here to like the change, partly as a result of of how a lot of the unique character one can nonetheless see on this one. We’re so used to animated characters from Bart Simpson to Stewie Griffin by no means ageing, that it’s refreshing to see a danger like this that works. It helps, of course, to have an ideal comedian expertise in Adlon who updates Bobby in her personal particular approach.

The remainder of the alley gang is again too, kind of. One of the season’s funniest bits revolves round what Hank’s departure did to the emotionally fragile and nonetheless hysterical Invoice (Stephen Root), however Boomhauer (Decide) is principally the identical character, and Dale (Johnny Hardwick for half the season after which Toby Huss as a result of of Hardwick’s passing) feels extra paranoid than ever. Dale may have grow to be a voice for the conspiracy nuts of the 2020s, and there’s a sense that the Alex Jones period has solely empowered his lunacy, however, once more, the writers don’t lean an excessive amount of into generational or social humor, utilizing it as seasoning as a substitute of the entire meal.

The richest veins of humor come from Decide’s twists on household sitcom fundamentals. The sixth episode facilities Root’s phenomenal Invoice in an episode about a number of vital lies that Mr. Dauterive advised in Hank’s absence and the eighth episode is a magnificence about Connie’s mother and father holding an enormous secret.

From Hank & Bobby getting into a home-brewing contest to Hank attempting to cover from his guys that he’s now a soccer fan, the plotting on this season of “King of the Hill” is richly, persistently humorous. Welcome again, Hill household. Don’t go away anytime quickly.

Complete season screened for assessment. It drops in its entirety on August 4^th, 2025 on Hulu.