King of the Hill Is a Healing Experience

King of the Hill Season 15, the second season of the show’s new era, does something rare: It genuinely makes a person feel better when they watch it. The revival, streaming now on Hulu, has evolved with the changing times since its original 13 season run on Fox. This means frequently pushing patriarch Hank Hill (Mike Judge) and loving wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy) outside their comfort zones, thanks to the quirks of the modern world. However, as the new episodes progress, their struggle reveals what’s possible when empathy is put front and center.The season finale features a bit of a change for Hank, and also dives into a key part of the revival’s backstory, explaining how he and Peggy did end up leaving Arlen for Saudi Arabia several years ago. This is the point where the show establishes that Hank and Peggy were only gone for five years (Bobby being 16 when Hank got his new job, and 21 when the series resumes). Five years doesn’t feel like quite enough time for Hank and Peggy to be as confused by modern America as they are upon their initial return, but this is not a show that rewards nitpicking. As a Reddit user points out, “Bobby celebrated 8 Christmases and 4 Thanksgivings between...