King of the Hill‘s Bobby Was Never Meant to Grow Up

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In a surprising twist, the 14th season of the long-running show “King of the Hill” is quite enjoyable, now available in its entirety on Hulu. This 10-episode extension by creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels revisits the Hill family, nearly a decade after the series ended in 2009. The traditional patriarch Hank and his confident wife Peggy have returned from Saudi Arabia where Hank worked for Aramco, finding peace in a company-adjacent suburb. Now back in their hometown of Arlen, Texas, they are preparing to retire. Despite the radical shifts in American culture, life on their old block remains much the same. The men continue to drink beer together, Boomhauer’s speech remains puzzling, Needle Bill has become even more pitiful, the Souphanousinphones continue to tease their neighbors, and Dale Gribble, now in a golden age of conspiracy theories, finds himself in tinfoil-hat heaven – though he remains unfazed by his wife Nancy spending time with handsome healer John Redcorn.

In the revamped 2025 version of “King of the Hill”, hilarious situations unfold as Hank, our long-standing straight man, grapples with understanding the many changes in the U.S. since his last stay, including gender-neutral restrooms and the influence of certain controversial influencers. The new showrunner, Saladin K. Patterson (creator of the 2021 “Wonder Years” reboot), along with Judge and Daniels, skillfully depict the contrast between Hank’s Bush-era “compassionate conservativism” and today’s divisive right-wing rhetoric. For instance, when some Girl Scouts explain the change in a cookie’s name to avoid causing offense, Hank responds with a simple, “It’s nice to be nice.”
The creators also leverage Hank and Peggy’s restlessness in retirement, pushing them into fresh experiences. However, there’s one significant issue with how “King of the Hill” has been modernized for 2025: Bobby. Originally a central character in a series focused on his father, Bobby has now evolved into an adult version of himself that the creators never intended.

In the world of adult animation, we can determine the elapsed time because Bobby Hill, initially a 10-year-old character, is now 21 after the series’ initial 12-year run. Instead of attending college, he has embarked on his culinary journey and co-owns a Dallas restaurant that combines traditional Japanese barbecue with flavors and techniques derived from the German traditions of Texas Hill Country. A diner remarks about this unique fusion, “The last time Germans and Japanese collaborated, I wasn’t impressed, but this is delicious!” Bobby has nicknamed it the “Axis of Flavor.” Sharing an apartment with his childhood friend, Joe Gribbles’ son, who strongly suggests a biological connection to John Redcorn, Bobby also encounters his first love, Connie Souphanousinphone, on a local university campus, triggering the customary romantic tension.

On the campus in question, we find Bobby engaging in an exit from a dormitory, having spent the night with a female college student who made it clear that their encounter was a one-time deal and sent him on his way. The scene leading up to this moment involves Peggy being woken up by her ringing phone; it turns out to be Bobby accidentally dialing her number during an intimate conversation, filled with heavy breathing and moans. While I’m happy for Bobby’s romantic success, I prefer not to listen to his amorous activities – I’ll pass on that part, thank you.

I’m not suggesting the reason for my disagreement is due to being prudish or overly sentimental about the old “King of the Hill.” In truth, the original show revolved around Hank, an ultimate everyman, grappling with understanding his peculiar son, and vice versa. The phrase “That boy ain’t right” was a recurring one in the series—dating back to the first episode where Bobby used the threat of Child Protective Services to make his father express affection. Not academically gifted or athletic like his dad, Bobby was more characterized by his old-soul wisdom (he had humor reminiscent of vaudeville) and his malleable nature as a middle-schooler. In this sense, despite his oddities, he embodied the prototype for adult animation’s pre-Tina Belcher, pre-“Big Mouth” preteen: a chaotic blend of curiosities, talents, delusions, and hormones gradually forming into a distinct identity.

Over the span of 13 seasons, many unforgettable storylines involving Bobby were featured, and these often made up the most significant moments in the show. One standout episode showcases a clothing store owner noticing Bobby’s confident strut in stretchy outfits and inviting him to participate in a fashion show. However, his plus-size modeling career is abruptly halted due to Hank’s secondhand embarrassment. A popular GIF and meme originated from an episode in Season 4 titled “Won’t You Pimai Neighbor?” where Bobby, cross-legged in his room with incense smoke wafting towards the ceiling, is identified as a potential lama by visiting Buddhist monks. Lastly, one of the most iconic episodes featuring Bobby is “Bobby Goes Nuts,” where Hank enrolls him in boxing classes at the YMCA. When that class is full, Bobby cleverly talks his way into a women’s self-defense course. Unfortunately for Hank, Bobby begins to defend himself by kicking his tormentors in the groin while shouting “I don’t know you! That’s my purse!

Similar to many adolescents, Bobby is a sponge, eagerly seeking love and easily swayed by any influence that might assist him in understanding his identity. In another Season 4 episode, feeling left out of Hank’s bond with Lady Bird, the Hills’ elderly dog, he forms a friendship with the raccoon that has been feasting on their trash. If it weren’t so amusing, this episode would be quite poignant. While some might argue that taking a cartoon character too seriously is unnecessary, what makes many of us love Bobby isn’t only his talent for being a miniature entertainer who says the most unexpected things, but because his quest for belonging encapsulates something universal about youth. A person who’s still discovering himself has the potential to become anything. For him, the possibilities are limitless.

Experiencing Bobby as an adult is like catching a unique twist, similar to that future-set Simpsons episode where Lisa becomes President. Despite the loss of several original voice actors, Judge, Daniels, and Paterson kept Bobby’s unique, androgynous voice consistent, voiced by Pamela Adlon in both versions. Their decision to make his parents go through a transformation is a clever twist that significantly enhances Season 14. However, the mature, successful Bobby of today bears little resemblance to our beloved, indecisive Bobby Hill from before. Hence, while this King of the Hill offers numerous delights, it’s not quite the same show we once knew.

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2025-08-04 15:06