Just recently, it was announced that King of the Hill is making a comeback thanks to a Hulu revival, so we decided it’s time to take a look at the best episodes in the show’s 13-season run. There are too many to choose from, but we managed to narrow it down to 12 of the best ones. These contain some of the most memorable lines fans love to quote—or tearjerking scenes. Let’s start running down the eleven best King of the Hill episodes you need to rewatch before the Hulu reboot.
The Pilot Episode (S1 E1)
The pilot episode is a timeless classic. It sets up every expectation you could have for the Hill family and neighbors. The plot revolves around a California social worker that believes Hank is abusing Bobby and attempts to get him taken away by child services. As you can imagine, Hank is having none of it. To make matters worse, Bobby gets a black eye during a baseball game, which, of course, the social worker doesn’t believe.
Square Peg (S1 E2)
This episode is a classic alone, thanks to Bobby’s response to Peggy’s question about sex. The “I’m a little worried about being a slut” line is gold coming from Bobby, who clearly is not a “slut.” Beyond that, we also get to see Dale and his horrible prank-calling skills, along with Peggy having to teach sexual education to high schoolers.
This episode also does a great job of showing how talking to your kid about sexual intercourse can be awkward, but at the end of the day, it’s a natural facet of life and should be treated as such. A lot of King of the Hill episodes have this, where they’re clearly treating a topic absurdly, but by the end, they come around and deal with it in a very healthy and progressive manner.
Shins of Our Father (S1 E8)
“Shins of Our Father” is the first episode that sees Hank’s dad, Cotton, in a non-flashback way. After arriving at Bobby’s party and giving him a 20-guage shotgun, Cotton’s car won’t start, and he ends up staying at Hank’s—much to Peggy’s dismay. Cotton ends up teaching Bobby all of his sexist ways and even tries to get him a prostitute. This episode is a riot that shows just how absurd Cotton is and how impressionable Bobby is.
Keeping Up With Our Joneses (S1 E10)
It seems like threatening children with having to smoke a whole carton of cigarettes is a very common trope, and “Keeping Up With Our Joneses” plays heavily off of it. After catching Bobby and Joseph smoking, Hank makes Bobby smoke a whole carton while Dale makes Joseph read “educational” material from Big Tobacco. Bobby, of course, gets addicted, along with Hank and Peggy, who quit years prior. Watching them try and rationalize smoking behind each other’s back is great, especially when they’re down to one last cigarette and begin fighting for it.
How to Fire a Rifle Without Really Trying (S2 E1)
The first episode of the second season sets up a running joke about how Bobby is an excellent shot. There’s even a great callback to it in season 3, episode 20 when Dale asks the police to let Bobby take the shot because “he’ll put me down clean,” and Bobby quickly grabs the rifle, ready to kill his dad’s best friend.
Jumpin’ Crack Bass (S2 E5)
Nothing is funnier than Hank misinterpreting very obvious situations, thanks to his naivety and good-natured being. After failing to catch any fish using traditional worms, Hank decides to use lures like the rest of his friends. With the bait shop closing down due to Megalomart, the owner sends Hank to his own supplier—after blowing up his shop for insurance fraud. Hank mistakes a drug dealer for the supplier and begins using crack cocaine as fishing bait. Hilarity ensues, especially when the police get involved and the guys have to explain themselves.
High Anxiety (S4 E14)
Hank Hill is already quite the character, so when he unknowingly smokes marijuana and finds himself in the midst of a murder, he gets even better. Hank is the prime suspect and a victim of framing, but instead believes he actually did commit the murder in a “marijuana-induced blackout.” Watching Hank get high, freak out, and then attempt to clear his name is about as entertaining as it gets when it comes to the best King of the Hill episodes.
Bobby Goes Nuts (S6 E1)
Name a more iconic line than, “That’s my purse! I don’t know you!” After getting beaten up by a bully, Hank decides to enroll Bobby in a boxing course at the local YMCA. All of the boxing classes are full, so rather than wait, Bobby decides to enroll in a women’s self-defense course that primarily consists of groin-kicking. Bobby begins using his new-found tactics on bullies, and his parents are proud that he’s standing up for himself—until they get called into the principal’s office and find out how.
I’m With Cupid (S6 E6)
After breaking up with Connie, Bobby finds some solace with Bill as they spend an evening together reminiscing about their relationships. Of course, this isn’t healthy for either of them, and Bobby concedes that he will never find love again. Hank asks Boomhauer to try and teach Bobby how to get women, which, unfortunately for Bobby, is basically a shotgun method of asking every girl in sight out until you get one. Watching Boomhauer try to pick up women makes this episode gold alone.
My Own Private Rodeo (S6 E18)
A Dale-centric episode, “My Own Private Rodeo,” attempts to reunite Dale with his estranged father as Dale and his wife, Nancy, plan on renewing their wedding vows. Dale and his father, Bug, became estranged after he forcibly kissed Nancy on their wedding day. What Dale doesn’t know is that his father was a closeted gay man and was kissing Nancy as a distraction of sorts. This episode is made even better when Dale starts believing his father is a government agent after referring to his lover as his “partner.”
Death Picks Cotton (S12 E5)
Arguably the saddest King of the Hill episode, “Death Picks Cotton,” is exactly what the title sounds like. Cotton is probably the most aggravating yet funny character on the show, so we can’t help but feel a slight sadness after he severely burns himself on a grill at a Japanese restaurant after trying to fight one of the staff. As he’s dying in the hospital, he still remains as indignant and rude as ever, even as Hank tries to tell him that he loves him. While the world won’t exactly miss someone like Cotton, viewers will definitely miss his antics.