King Of The Hill: Season 5
Ever since The Simpsons began animation hasn’t just been for kids. Nowadays we have Futurama, Family Guy, and American Dad to laugh ironically at whilst simultaneously re-living the childhood thrills that cartoons can bring.
Ever since The Simpsons began animation hasn’t just been for kids. Nowadays we have Futurama, Family Guy, and American Dad to laugh ironically at whilst simultaneously re-living the childhood thrills that cartoons can bring. Digital technology means that episodes of South Park and the like can be rolled out at a stupidly high rate, so you’ll never be left wanting for some new episodes of whichever animation takes your fancy. Everyone has a favourite too, although I’ve yet to meet someone whose top animation is King of the Hill. In fact, many claim it to be ‘boring’.
Although I despise this word and everything it stands for, I have to say that to a certain extent I used to concur. If KOTH came on on a Sunday afternoon I would watch it, but I’d be sitting there waiting to ‘get it’. Surely I had missed something. A program can’t keep going for as long as KOTH unless there is something of substance in there, surely?!
Alas, the penny never dropped, that is until I watched series five on DVD in it’s entirety within a week. For those who aren’t familiar with the show, it revolves around Hank Hill, his wife Peggy, his son Bobby, and various other Texans they know and encounter in their everyday life; and by everyday life, I mean middle American, really quite dull life. Much like yours or mine in England but with a beginning, middle, and end. Although the simplicity of the Hill’s life of non-events equates to something of a deterrent, this is actually the beauty of the show. Join the Hills as they vote, get rid of their old truck, go to the fair, and go to work. This is a pleasant pie of American reality, cut into convenient pieces for our viewing pleasure.
This series sees Bobby is a bit older and a whole lot wiser than in previous series’, and is the source of some genuinely funny observations and comments. Whether he be dishing out relationship advice or figuring out ways to pass himself off as a college student he’s a pretty funny guy; a far cry from the slightly nervous and less confident younger Bobby from previous series’. Seeing Bobby grow up and mature is a luxury not offered by other animations; Bart Simpson has been 10 years old since the show started.
King of the Hill has some truly memorable and enjoyable characters; from the reserved and well-wishing Hank to the crafty, calculating Dale who switches from pal to military-minded problem-solver in the blink of a sunglassed eye. Bobby’s pal Joseph becomes an awkward teenager I ‘I Don’t Want to Wait’, and cuts a figure that anyone who has ever been or known a teenage boy going through puberty will recognize immediately. You feel sorry for him before remembering it’s a cartoon, but you don’t feel silly because it is so well written. Other animated series’ allow you to laugh at their characters, but not many can induce other emotions such as empathy in the way this series of KOTH does.
The laughs are more subtle than other animations, resulting in a much more relaxed viewing experience than Family Guy or South Park. In ‘The Perils of Polling’ Hank tries to persuade Luanne to vote for George W. Bush, but later discovers that Bush has a limp handshake. This shatters Hank’s image of his hero and he decides not to vote, leaving Luanne to make him see the error of his ways. It’s all done in a very knowing way, and it is most pleasing to see that Bush-voting Texans are not shown in the negatively stereotypical way that films such as Borat have in recent times.
As it is an animation, you wouldn’t expect KOTH to have phenomenal sound, but it certainly adds to the understated charm of the series. The theme tune is a classic, one that you won’t want to skip past when watching several episodes in a row, and the in-episode music fits perfectly with the sunny Texan setting. The sound comes in 2.0 Surround which is all that’s required really. The picture quality is fine; it’s hard to drop points for an animated series that never tries to be stunning in terms of picture.
There are no extras, which is slightly disappointing but justifies the relatively low retail price. This show really is surprisingly good if you give it a chance. Any fan of animated series’ should give it a try, particularly as series five has some superb storylines to enjoy.
This page has been read:
2121
times