King of the Hill: Season 3 Episodes (Ranked)
All I have to say is… Finally! Well, I have more to say, but thank goodness this is finally done. I have been in a cycle of working on this sporadically, then putting it off for nearly 16 months, but you don’t have to wait any more. My rankings for King of the Hill Season 3 is finally finished. Back in 2022, I ranked the first 2 seasons based on my personal preference and I have really enjoyed doing these. I have mentioned this in the past, but I personally don’t think that KOTH had bad episodes. Sure, some may have been duds compared to others, but for the most part, every episode is at least decent. That makes ranking these episodes even more difficult, but it is fun. As for Season 3, this is peak King of the Hill. I would say for me, either Season 3 or 4 are the best. The show was clearly in the midst of something great during this season.
As I have done with others, I want to describe what to expect in this article. I am ranking the episodes from the third season of King of the Hill and I plan on ranking each season. Hopefully, I can fall back into a routine and get these out quicker, because I really enjoy writing these. You will read these episodes from bottom to top, so it will start with the episode that I ranked 25th and end with number 1. There is no rating or ranking system that I use with these articles. I rewatch each episode, in order, and I rank them as I go. There are numerous ways to do this, but I think this is the most effective way. It is tough to go back and try to rank these, because like I said, there are things about all of the episodes that I enjoy. Keep reading to find out where I ranked the Season 3 episodes and if you have comments about any of these, let us know. Keep reading to see what the best episodes were for Season 3, in my opinion.
25. “Pregnant Paws” Episode 4
Hank decides that he wants Ladybird to have puppies but finds out that she is unable to. A lot of similarities come back full circle from the time that he and Peggy were trying to have a child, but Peggy is upset because Hank is trying harder with Ladybird than he was with her. Also, Dale becomes a bounty hunter. Well, sort of.
This episode was definitely saved by Dale’s bounty hunter part. The other part of the story is that Peggy is jealous of a dog and Hank jumping through hoops to get the dog pregnant. It doesn’t make sense. Hank’s narrow urethra is the reason why they couldn’t have any more children, but it somehow turned into Peggy being the needy one. Sure, on the surface it makes sense, but if you dive a little deeper it really doesn’t make sense. The one that needed the extra precaution was Hank, not Peggy, but I don’t want to talk about that anymore. It was hilarious watching Dale become a “bounty hunter”. It was a perfect story for him and it was even more perfect that the guy he was hunting is basically a clone of him. I wish Jim Helstrom would’ve made another appearance or two on the show. I just wish this part was attached to a different episode, but they made it tie into the main story well enough. The biggest takeaway is that Peggy is jealous of a dog. It is a dumb storyline and it is my worst of Season 3.
24. “Peggy’s Pageant Fever” Episode 6
Peggy wants to enter the Mrs. Heimlich County Beauty Pageant, but Hank isn’t very thrilled.. She wants to prove the doubters wrong. She gets Luanne to be her stylist and hopes Nancy will vote for her because she is a judge and a former pageant winner. After reluctantly getting $2,000 from Buck Strickland, hiring a professional stylist and getting a proper makeover, Peggy seems to be in great shape to contend, but she soon finds out that the road to win will be difficult after a series of unfortunate events.
I could see why fans of the show dislike Peggy after practically all of the Peggy-centered episodes of Season 3. She isn't very likeable this season. With that being said, her character is unique and really good, but this wasn’t a great episode. We really see Peggy’s self-confidence shine here and she actually thinks she has a shot to be a pageant winner. There are some funny moments in the show though. In my opinion, Stephen Root was the MVP of the show. Bill’s weirdness and Buck Strickland’s regretful demeanor throughout the episode was what held this episode together. Bill butchering “Taking Care of Business” is hilarious. Part of me wanted Peggy to be successful in the end, but knowing her character, I knew it wasn’t meant to be. The part I don’t understand is why they completely abandoned the fact that Hank painted his truck white and it wasn’t white in the rest of the episodes. It’s not a big deal though.
23. “To Spank, with Love” Episode 11
Peggy is called upon to fill in for Ms. Gonzalez’s Spanish class and is met with a couple class disruptors. This goes on for a couple of days and she is getter more and more frustrated. One of the disruptors, Dooley, pulled down her pants in front of the whole class and she is so distraught that she decides to spank him in front of him everyone. She was fired after the incident, but after a public push led by Cotton and his VFW buddies, she is brought back, but now goes by Paddlin’ Peggy and is feared by the students and peers after the attention goes to her head.
I have always enjoyed watching this episode, but it is another good example for those who dislike Peggy to describe how much of a head-case that she is. The funny part of this episode is the fact Cotton is so on board to get Peggy reinstated. The fact that he just randomly pulls up to their house and expects Peggy to fix him a couple hundred pancakes is hilarious. After carefully watching it again, it isn't one of the better episodes of the series, but it is entertaining, if you know the characters well enough. The backstory of Jeter Turbeville, aka Jeter the Beater, was interesting in its own right. It was also the first episode that 6th grade enforcer/school hall monitor/Principal Moss’ right hand security guard, Emily, appears in. I was surprised to see this. It seems like she is in more episodes. It is like a running joke that she is the school’s security. Like I said, I enjoy this episode when I watch it. It is a very easy watch, but I don’t think it is one of the better episodes of the season.
22. “Sleight of Hank” Episode 15
The whole gang is invited to Nancy’s birthday party at Abracapasta where there is a magician act featuring The Astounding Herrera. Hank thinks magic is dumb but is jealous once he doesn’t realize how a trick involving Peggy was done. He spends the whole episode trying to figure out the trick even returning to see the magician perform with Luanne. Bobby is impressed by the magician and even learns a trick or two himself, but he takes things a bit too far with a blasphemous magic act at his church. This leads Hank and Peggy to get into an argument, but quickly realize it was just silly to be fighting in the first place.
This episode doesn’t grab you like a lot of the other ones from this season do. There are things I enjoy watching in it, but when it is included in such a strong season, it is tough to rank it too high. Hank acts like a total square all episode long and normally it is a funny thing, but it wasn’t all that funny here. First it was him freaking out over Bobby painting clouds on his bedroom wall, then it was about the trick, and then it was arguing with Peggy over both things and more. Aside from that, Bill was funny in this one. Peggy saying that you can’t see clouds at night, but you can see Bill dancing with a mop is a hilarious line. Then, they show a clip of Bill dancing with a mop. Also, the clip where the guys are in Hank’s garage trying to figure out the trick and Dale suggests that Peggy has a twin. Golden. This episode isn't great, but not a terrible one either. Also, we find out how the trick is performed at the end.
21. “Peggy’s Headache” Episode 3
After finding out that Doyle Harcavy left the Arlen Bystander, Peggy is interested in writing musings of her own. In the process, she starts developing headaches and asks John Redcorn if he could give her a massage. Dale tells Hank about this and is livid because obviously John Redcorn and Nancy have been having an affair for 12 years. After having to be explicitly told by Hank, Peggy finally comes to the realization of Nancy and Redcorn’s affair. Peggy is now conflicted to tell Dale or not, because he is oblivious to it as well.
I didn’t know exactly where this one would end up, but I think this is a good spot. Peggy’s ignorance is shining brightly in this episode. After roughly 12 years and she doesn’t have a clue that Joseph isn't Dale’s son? That’s beyond ignorance, Peggy is just plain stupid, but they made this into a solid episode regardless. We also realize that Dale is never gonna to figure out what has been under his nose the entire time, but with Dale, he is naïve about a lot of things. I like that Peggy thinks that she is smart and is actually really stupid, although some fans find that annoying. I think the funniest part was when Dale thought Peggy was hitting on him. Also, we don’t get too many Dale and Peggy scenes so that was a unique thing about this one. After assessing the situation, Peggy realizing that telling Dale wouldn't do any good was probably the best scenario. If he doesn’t know after 12 years and a son that isn't the same race as him, I don’t think he’ll ever figure it out. I may be underrating this one a bit, but I can’t take it serious enough to rank it too highly.
20. “Jon Vitti Presents: Return to La Grunta” Episode 16
Hank helps Luanne get a job at the La Grunta resort as a golf course drink girl. To thank him, Luanne decides to get Hank a dolphin encounter as a gift. Hank gets molested by the dolphin and feels violated and has a difficult time moving forward.
Ok, this episode has some really funny moments, but I can’t say that it was one of the better Season 3 episodes. I mean, the majority of the episode dealt with Hank being violated by a dolphin. I couldn’t seriously rank it that high considering the main plot of the episode and the subplot was Luanne getting harassed by golfers at her new job. There were a lot of funny parts like I said; for example, Bobby becoming obsessed with capers and being disappointed when he tried them with his fruit pies. Also, Luanne thinking that her coworker wasn’t a woman. The scene where Hank and Luanne are talking and Luanne asks if Hank is threatening to kill him is incredible. Towards the start of the episode, the scene with Hank and some random guys from the hardware store was pretty funny as well. We also learn that Bill was violated by the same dolphin (twice) and he was bought off by the La Grunta folks just like Hank was. So, Hank decides to give all of his free stuff back and make sure something was done about. Again, not one of the stronger episodes of the series, but not terrible.
19. “De-Kahnstructing Henry” Episode 13
Kahn is acting like his normal braggadocios self and is doing his best to impress his neighbors and make them feel jealous about his new promotion. He takes it a step further when he goes to Strickland Propane to deceive Hank into thinking he could earn a potential sale. Kahn brings Hank to work with him and tells him confidential information. It is quickly discovered that Kahn breached his contract by telling government secrets and is fired on the spot. The rest of the episode deals with the Souphanousinphones struggles due to Kahn’s abrupt firing.
This episode is always an easy rewatch, but I don’t think it is one of the best of the season, personally. It is so easily rewatchable because Kahn is such a funny character and this episode was no exception. One thing that I didn’t care for was Peggy trying to make Hank feel guilty about sharing Kahn’s job-related secrets. Kahn was the only one to blame for that. Bobby had a small role in this episode, but they were classic lines. From him trying to learn Laotian, to hilariously translating for Joseph, and asking Hank “How do you know it’s extra yet?” when Hank brings Connie and Minh chicken for dinner. Overall, it is a funny episode, but somewhat difficult to rank among the rest of the season.
18. “Escape From Party Island” Episode 17
Hank feels the need to go with his mother and her friends to Port Aransas to see the museum of miniatures after he feels they aren't capable of making the trip on their own. Hank gets way more than he bargained for, dealing with the old ladies and trying to navigate around Port Aransas with MTV’s Spring Break in town at the same time.
I wasn’t sure where I would end up ranking this one. I like it, but it is an episode where King of the Hill really shows its age. The MTV culture isn't as big as it used to be and back in this time, it was a huge deal. We’re in a stretch of episodes where I think the writers just wanted Hank to be in the most uncomfortable situations possible and this is a good example. The Golden Girls were a popular thing in the 80s and 90s and they obviously wanted to recreate a storyline reflecting that here. There are a bunch of funny moments in the episode. Especially, Bill feeling the need to step up in Hank’s absence. Also, the scene where Hank is getting ready to leave and Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer are giving him the business about taking a trip with a bunch of old women. The old ladies’ interactions with Hank are hilarious too. This is a funny one, but it also falls into the category of difficult to rank due to the fact that Season 3 was so strong.
17. “Next of Shin” Episode 5
Hank and Peggy decide they want to try and have another child and after a long period of unsuccessful attempts, the process is weighing heavy on them. To make matters worse, they find out that Cotton, Hank’s 75-year old father, got Didi pregnant. Cotton has a traumatic experience at the baby store and runs off to Vegas. Hank, Dale and Bill make the trip to bring him back.
I have always enjoyed this episode. We see the vulnerability of Hank and we get to see Cotton. There were a lot of funny things about this episode. Hank’s awkwardness in the fertility clinic, the guys reaction to Hank wearing shorts, Cotton saying his urethra is so wide that he could pass the child himself, Bobby saying he not only likes the Andrews Sisters, but loves them. This was a funny episode. We also see a rare time when Cotton backhandedly respects Hank. It took me a few watches to look it up, but the song they sing a couple times is, “Peaches” by The Presidents of the United States. I find it difficult to believe that Hank would know the song, but it’s pretty funny to think that he would. This was a very busy and a really good episode in my opinion.
16. “Death and Texas” Episode 22
Peggy receives a letter from a death row convict explaining that she had the biggest influence on his life as his substitute teacher. Of course, naïve Peggy bought it and decided to visit the convicted killer in prison. She kept going back to visit him to teach him to read, or so she thought, but little did she know, that she was actually smuggling the prisoner an illegal substance. He turns her in and Hank and Peggy grapple with how they can get her off the hook.
This is a decent Peggy episode, but sometimes you have to wonder though. Is Peggy really that dumb? Obviously, this is a pretty outlandish episode, but it is a good one. How could Peggy not realize that she was smuggling cocaine to this man? Wesley Martin Archer is the name of the prisoner and it was named after the director of this episode and many other KOTH episodes. Peggy decides that this man is legitimate and that she was going to teach him to read, but never picked up on the fact that he was practically the same age as her, or even the fact that she was supposedly his sub, but he couldn’t read. Peggy redeems herself at the end but come on…. The woman literally hands Peggy a white brick and she thinks it is timer sand… I crack up every time at the opening. Luanne is passing out silverware and she can’t quite remember the nursery rhyme, “Hey Diddle Diddle” and nearly has a meltdown. The subplot was hilarious too. Dale offering to exterminate the prison for $1 to become and executioner. Incredible. Despite the serious nature, this is a very comedic episode, but one that gets lost in the shuffle of a very good season.
15. “Good Hill Hunting” Episode 8
The guys are taking their kids on their first hunting trip, but there is one problem. Hank doesn’t get his and Bobby’s permits. When Hank goes to get them, he is told that there is a limit and the limit has already been reached. Joseph, Dale, Connie, and Kahn go on their hunting trips, but Hank must break the news to Bobby that he can't go. All the while, Peggy is concerned that Bobby’s fear of missing out could cause Bobby to have a fit of rage. Hank finds out from Eustice that La Grunta offers a hunting experience, so he takes Bobby to it. After realizing they are practically shooting pets instead of a wild deer, they go back home disappointed. Hank instead lets Bobby drive his truck and Bobby ends up with a deer to show off to his friends.
This episode has a lot of rewatch value. It’s not exactly a go-to, but it is a good and simple episode. It is a classic Hank and Bobby episode that shows that even though Hank thinks they are two totally different people, they are a lot alike. Bobby was really funny here. From when he was having a pretend shootout with the kid. I don’t understand why Hank would be so upset about it, but I thought it was funny. Bobby’s reaction to Joseph and Connie bringing back their deer. “Everythin’ looks so Christmasy. Now I know how the Jewish kids feel” is a classic line and “I’m driving the hell out of this truck” is too. They don’t show Connie killing her deer, but they did show Joseph killing his and let me just say, Dale has a lot of trust in a 12-year-old shooting a gun. Another solid episode for Season 3.
14. “Take Me Out of the Ball Game” Episode 24
Some local businesses are starting a co-ed softball league where a woman has to pitch. Hank recruits Peggy to pitch for the Strickland Propane team, but Peggy isn't quick to buy in. After her disgust with Thatherton, she decides to join, but she and Hank aren't seeing eye-to-eye in their player/coach relationship.
I had no idea where this one was going to end up. I have always enjoyed it, but I knew it wasn’t going to be considered among the best of Season 3. Peggy seems to be full of hot air about everything, but she actually has a reason to be here. She is a fantastic softball pitcher. The Peggy haters don’t have many reasons to dislike her in this episode. Hank, on the other hand, is a different story. Hank was a total jerk in this episode. He took his coaching duties far too seriously and he refused to see it that way. Peggy gets the yips when Hank gets in her head about being a bad wife. With all of that being said, they made up for it in the end. Don’t get the wrong idea though, it is a good episode with a lot of funny parts. Dale had the funniest part of the episode. When Buck was having a cardiac event on the field, Dale continuing to play cracks me up every time. Not to mention the fact that he is on the team simply because he sprayed the building one time. Also, Boomhauer being the umpire is perfect. I think this would’ve been a higher rated episode, but the subplot with Bobby feuding with the Arrow Girls over cookies was kinda stupid. I couldn’t buy into it. It is an easy rewatch, but it simply can't compete in a stacked Season 3.
13. “Revenge of the Lutefisk” Episode 21
Arlen Methodist gets a new minister and her name is Karen Stroup. The congregation host a welcoming party. Rev. Stroup brings a platter of lutefisk and soon discovers it in the garbage. She feels that the congregation isn't giving her a very warm welcome and the during the Sunday service the next morning, someone sets fire to the church. The probable suspect is Cotton, but it was actually Bobby.
I know it seems like a spoiler in the episode description, but it isn't. We know the truth the entire time. With that being said, this is a very decent episode. The man with the terrible smell is Bobby and the cause of the smell is the aftermath of him devouring a lutefisk platter made for 30 people. He was too embarrassed to tell anyone, and it almost caused Cotton to go to prison. Cotton took the fall for him and I would like to say that he would do the same for Hank, but I don’t feel confident that he would. He really cares for Bobby and we get further evidence of that here. I seriously don’t know how Bobby kept eating that dish. Lutefisk sounds awful! Fish in gelatinous form? Gross! This was the first series appearance for Rev. Karen Stroup. However, it was the only time Rev. Stroup was voiced by the legendary Mary Tyler Moore. I wish she would’ve stayed on the show for the whole series, but Ashley Gardner does a great job with the rest of the appearances. The best part of the episode was Dale’s bringing Cotton into this situation. The fact that a female minister joined the church and Dale wanted to create chaos is hilarious. Also, it was funny to see Bill so defensive of Rev. Stroup.
12. “Wings of the Dope” Episode 23
Luanne is having a tough time with beauty school and in a time of overwhelming stress she is visited by a vision of Buckley. Meanwhile, the guys take on the task of fixing Buckley’s favorite trampoline that Kahn now owns. Buckley’s angel convinces Luanne to seriously think about her future. Even though there is skepticism, some of the neighbors think that Buckley’s angel could be real.
Thinking about this episode, I didn’t know where exactly to rank it. I really enjoy it, but I don’t personally think it is one of the better ones of the season. So, stuck in the middle, it is. It was funny to see everyone’s reaction to the news of an angel sighting on Rainey Street. Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer’s reactions were hilarious. Leaving notes by the trampoline and praying at the trampoline. Hilarious. Also, the guys’ negotiation tactic to fix Buckley’s trampoline was really funny was well. Luanne decides to go to college after a near-fatal car accident caused by another vision of Buckley. This is also the last time we see Buckley, in living form or afterlife form. He is mentioned a couple times afterwards, but not enough to matter. This closes a chapter in Luanne’s life and even though her character doesn’t exactly change too much from here on out, it is an important story arc for her. I don’t really have a lot else to say about this episode, but I enjoy it every time I watch. Do you know why? Chicken thigh.
11. “Hank’s Cowboy Movie” Episode 19
Hank and Bobby travel to Wichita Falls, TX to see the Dallas Cowboys training camp. Bobby loves Wichita Falls and starts to dislike Arlen. To try and get Bobby to see how great their hometown is, Hank convinces the rest of the alley to help him create a film to persuade the Dallas Cowboys to move their training camp site to Arlen in the future, but they hit a few snags in the process.
I think this is probably one of the lower rated episodes of the season (lowest on IMDb), but I personally love it. I don’t know, maybe it is the nostalgia of the episode. I have to mention, that this episode is the first memory I have of King of the Hill. I remember flipping channels when I was really young, and this was on TV. I watched the whole thing and loved it. I was probably 6 or 7 years old at the time. Looking back, I still love it. I understand why it doesn’t exactly resonate with others, but still, I enjoy it. There are a lot of funny moments in the episode. Hank getting into a fight song battle with the official propane dealership of the Cowboys is one of the funniest scenes in the series. It has everything you could want in an episode. Dale trying to do camera tricks, Boomhauer in an armadillo suit, Nancy needing a “migraine treatment” in the middle of a shoot, Peggy having to be the center of attention, and Hank trying to fix everything. It was also cool to see their home videos towards the end. I have a cool bit of trivia for you. Wichita Falls was, in fact, the official training camp site of the Cowboys from 1998-2001. This is a fun episode.
10. “Propane Boom II: Death of a Propane Salesman” Episode 1
Season Two ended with a cliffhanger and they debuted Season 3 with this resolution. After the Mega Lo Mart explodes, everyone is frantic, and we find out that Hank and Luanne make it out alive, but Buckley did not. Hank is practically unscathed, but Luanne loses her hair. Luanne decides to have a totally different outlook on life after the explosion, but Hank doesn’t want to open up about it. Instead, he keeps all of his emotions inside and discovers that he is now afraid of propane. All of this has also taken a toll on Bobby as he can't imagine a world without his father.
This was a good episode to start the season with, especially after the way Season 2 ended. Although there were a lot of serious moments in the episode, they did a great job of mixing comedy and reality. Chuck Mangione was the star of the episode in my opinion. It could be argued that Kahn was as well. Mangione had a couple speaking parts and a beautiful rendition of “Taps/Feels So Good”. I laugh every time he seamlessly transitions into it. Kahn told his wonderful anecdote at Buckley’s funeral of the tiger chasing the man. Also, Boomhauer’s touching “Meaning of Life” speech is a highlight of the episode. It is also his longest uninterrupted speaking role on the show. Luanne was extremely out of character in this episode, but understandably so. Her whole world was rocked in a matter of seconds. She is dealing with serious issues, but her abrupt change in demeanor is too funny not to laugh. This isn't the best of Season 3. but it is a solid episode and a solid end to the 2-parter.
9. “Three Coaches and a Bobby” Episode 12
The guys reminisce the old days when they were winning football games as kids and they want the same for Bobby and Joseph, but the football coach, Coach Maxwell, prioritizes fairness over winning. They run Coach Maxwell off and need to get a new coach. They decide to call upon Coach Sauers, their old HS coach. Coach Sauers takes things a little too seriously and pushes away a bunch of the kids. Those kids decide to join the soccer team, including Bobby and Joseph. Hank decides to stay with Coach Sauers, but soon realizes that he is insane and must put a stop to his madness.
If I am going off of personal preference, I think I am underrating this episode. I love this episode. We get to see Hank and the guys’ love of football. We see “Sour” Coach Sauers. Peggy was the side story and it was entertaining due to her difficulty fitting in with the soccer moms. We see the only appearance of Coach Sauers, Coach Maxwell, and the soccer coach, Coach Lucas who is voiced by comedy legend, Will Ferrell. Coach Sauers is among series’ best one-off characters. He definitely wouldn't be likeable in real life, but as far as a character is concerned, he is top notch. Hank’s refusal to watch Bobby play soccer and join Coach Sauers, in all honesty, is a pretty crappy move as a parent, but it made for good TV. It goes to show how much he thought he admired Coach Sauers. It is also great to learn fun facts, especially that soccer was invented by European ladies while their husbands did the cooking. Soccer’s origins aren't exactly clear, so I will believe this. This is a great episode in my opinion.
8. “Pretty, Pretty Dresses” Episode 9
Bill is in a deep depressive state as the Christmas season and the anniversary of his ex-wife, Lenore, leaving him is approaching. So, Hank decides to check up on Bill and finds that he still has presents wrapped for Lenore as if she never left. Feeling sorry for him, Hank invites Bill over for a family dinner, but quickly depresses everyone. Things continue to go horribly wrong and he falls further into depression. He decides he is going to fall off the roof of his house. Bill is now on suicide watch and the guys watch him 24/7. After having enough of his shenanigans, Hank snaps at Bill and Bill himself snaps into a new low. He starts wearing dresses and acting as Lenore.
By the looks of it, I know it sounds like a horrible and sad episode. It is sad, but trust me, there are comedy elements to it. When Hank, Dale, and Boomhauer are constantly watching Bill, is where it gets funny. Bill’s “suicide attempt” turns out to just be him sliding off the roof with one hand hanging on. He also tried to shut his head in his nightstand and stick his head in an oven and if you needed further evidence that he didn’t actually want to die, he gets nervous when Dale sits in front of him with a loaded gun. Dale taking Bill’s stuff, as if he is already dead is hilarious too. You will also learn the correct pronunciation of iguana (I-ja-wana) in this episode. One of the funniest parts was at the end, when Bill realizes he was acting crazy and Dale is walking back from his house in a dress. My description doesn’t do the episode justice. It is a very good episode, not one that I rewatch too often though.
7. “The Wedding of Bobby Hill” Episode 14
There’s a lot to unpack for this episode, but I’m going to try to condense it as much as possible. Luanne is giving a haircut to a customer named, Rad Thibodeaux and she is charmed by his smoothness. Not only that, but Bobby thinks Rad is a big shot and wants to earn his attention. Bobby is tasked with taking care of Boomhauer’s house while he is out of town. Rad gets wind of it and throws a party at Boomhauer’s. Bobby gets in trouble for allowing this and seeks revenge on Luanne for bringing Rad into their lives. Both of them trade pranks, but it goes a step too far when Bobby tampers with Luanne’s birth control. In a hilarious misunderstanding, Bobby thinks he got Luanne pregnant because of it, so the next step is to marry Luanne.
The plot sounds pretty dumb, but it is a very funny episode. Rad Thib-a-day-ox-sss may be the best one-off character in KOTH history. He is voiced by Matthew McConaughey and it was the perfect casting. Bobby and Luanne’s ignorance in this episode is the shining light. It’s funny that Bobby thinks he got Luanne pregnant as well as Luanne buying the fact that they actually got married and her being a “controlling” wife over Bobby. Bobby’s regret and uneasiness is what sells this episode, but everyone was funny in this one. Hank and Peggy getting in pranks of their own. Bill being the “minister’ and hilariously telling Luanne and Bobby that their marriage and Dale’s keyboard skills were a sham. Kahn cashing in a bet with Minh that Bobby would marry his cousin. Also, the fact that John Redcorn attended their wedding. I may actually be underrating this episode, it is so good.
6. “And They Call It Bobby Love” Episode 2
This Emmy winning episode is about Bobby’s first taste of love. Bobby has his first “relationship”, and all is going well in the beginning with his new girlfriend Marie, but things aren't exactly what they seem with he and Marie. Meanwhile, Hank and the guys find a random couch in the alley and decide that sitting in the alley is better than standing and decide to keep the couch there.
I know this seems like it is a jumbled episode by the description, but it is fantastic. This was Bobby’s breakout performance, or should I say Pamela Adlon’s breakout performance. If Bobby isn't one of your favorites at this point in the series, he definitely will be after this episode. Throughout the series, we see Bobby encounter normal pre-teen/teenage experiences and this was no different. It was funny seeing Bobby arguing that he and Marie were more in love than his parents. Marie was voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar and it was her only appearance on the show. We also got a rare Luanne/Connie scene and it was funny as well. The couch subplot was so simple, yet so great. The random couch is thrown out by Kahn and the guys fix it up nicely and it becomes a part of their daily lives. The exchange with the sanitation workers who are going to throw it away is also hilarious. Also, anytime you can work a Lynyrd Skynyrd and a couple Hank Williams songs into an episode, you earned some brownie points with me. The moment of the show was probably Bobby’s valiant 72 oz. Steak Challenge effort and the whole restaurant cheering him on, including Marie’s parents. There are a lot of great moments in this episode and there’s definitely a reason why it won an Emmy.
5. “Dog Dale Afternoon” Episode 20
Dale buys a new mower and gloats incessantly to the guys in the alley about it. The guys are tired of hearing about it and decide to prank Dale by hiding his mower. They push Dale to the brink of insanity and he obsesses over who could’ve taken his new mower. One thing leads to another and Dale is thought to be unstable and Bill calls the police because he spots Dale with what is believed to be a gun in the community college clock tower.
I knew this was going to be one of the higher rated episodes for me. This episode is a good example that the smallest thing can turn chaotic for someone like Dale. His obsession over his mower was a sight to behold. I always love watching the scene where he is singing the Mason mower commercial (I’m assuming) and then he says, “You gonna talk? Or you gonna mow?” Another thing I found hilarious was the fact that Dale wanted Bobby to take the shot if they were going to shoot him and Bobby attempts to grab the gun from the SWAT team. It is funny to watch Dale go down the conspiracy rabbit holes and this was a great episode for that. There were a couple outlandish things in this one, for example, having Hank to take a bullet for Dale getting shot at by armed vigilantes from the Arlen Gun Club. Also, Dale not having the slightest clue about John Redcorn and Nancy after Redcorn is caught climbing out of his bedroom window. I feel like this is an easy rewatch episode and you could say this is where KOTH really found their groove. I just want to know why Bill was playing ping pong with random college kids.
4. “Love Hurts and So Does Art” Episode 18
Bobby faces a tough decision between Connie and his newfound love of deli foods. Bobby gets gout from all of the deli foods he is eating at a new deli restaurant in the mall. Meanwhile, Hank finds himself in quite a predicament after a Dallas art exhibit features him in an unflattering way.
My intro is probably a bit too vague, but I wanted to explain it more here. I personally think that this is one of the best episodes of the series and to be fair, I feel I may have potentially ranked it too low. There is a perfect mix of comedy and seriousness in this episode. Bobby getting gout at the start was a funny thing, but it turned into a really serious matter, not because of the ailment itself, but his negligence to improve himself. He knew how much the dance meant to Connie and just kept shrugging her off. He finally realizes what he has done in the end though. Also, they did Hank dirty. Featuring an x-ray of his constipated colon is just wrong. Especially, without his permission. I have to say though, it was funny, and it goes with the trend of the writers creating scenarios in which Hank would feel the most uncomfortable in. Not only that, but his son was lying to him about getting a sports injury and had to find out from a blood test that Bobby had been sneaking away to eat deli foods. Bobby leaning into his ailments to be the center of attention was hilarious. The school getting him a motorized scooter was icing on the cake. Now that I am thinking about it, this may be the best Bobby episode of the series. Also, the episode ends with an absolute jam from LeAnn Rimes.
3. “As Old as the Hills” Episode 25
Hank and Peggy are celebrating their 20th Anniversary, but Peggy is upset that their 20 years have been pretty bland. After spending their anniversary together in a trash can in the garage, they decide to do something bold. They agree to sky dive. Meanwhile, Didi is in the process of giving birth with Bobby’s help.
I have tried my best trying to limit myself with each episode, but this one is nearly impossible to cap myself on. There is too much to unpack. Hank and Peggy have a crappy anniversary. Bobby thinks he is going to have a really fun weekend with his grandpa and step-grandmother and ends up aiding Didi with childbirth, Luanne is stuck trying to hide from Hank and Peggy after her weekend plans fell through, and we are left with another classic KOTH season finale cliffhanger. Back in 1999, viewers had to wait 4 months to find out if Peggy died or not after her parachute failed to open. Much like the end of Season 2, where viewers had to wait to see if Hank died in a propane explosion. This isn't the last 2-part episode of the series, but it is the last cliff hanger season finale/new season opener 2-parter. There were funny parts to this episode despite the very serious ending. Peggy and Hank getting drunk on tequila and passing out in the garage was funny. Bobby trying his best to help Didi, including driving her to the hospital was hilarious. It is pretty impressive that Bobby knew exactly how to get to the Arlen hospital from Houston nearly 100 miles away. Luanne was an underrated part of this one. Hank and Peggy don’t know she is home but is trying her best to keep it that way. Also, this is Topsy’s debut, which doesn’t seem right, but it is. When he and Cotton get together it is always funny. This is a fantastic episode and I wouldn't call it underrated or overrated, but it is definitely one of the top episodes of the series.
2. “Nine Pretty Darn Angry Men” Episode 7
Hank and the guys are going to be involved in a lawn mower focus group to give their opinions on a brand-new lawn mower from the Mason Corporation. This focus group will meet at the mall on “(in my opinion)” the busiest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving. But before that, Peggy and Hank’s mother, Tilley, are getting the Thanksgiving meal ready. Despite not being invited, Cotton and Didi show up to the meal and Cotton decides to embarrass Tilley in front of the rest of the family and Bill. Cotton continues to do so for the rest of the time and even in front of strangers in the lawn mower focus group, that is, until Hank finally stands up to him.
KOTH’s version of 12 Angry Men. This almost seems like a forgotten holiday episode, but I personally feel like it is one of the best holiday specials in the show. Cotton’s abrasiveness shines brightly in this one and even though he is comedic, you really want to hate him for how he treats his ex-wife and even his current wife for that matter. Hank was brilliantly written in this episode. It was a struggle to see him finally stand up for his mother and it was a treat to see him convince everyone that the new mower was garbage. Each featured character had funny or impactful moments, even the minor characters. We were introduced to Lane Pratley and Boyce Hubert who are voiced by Dwight Yoakam and Billy Bob Thornton respectively. I feel like this is probably in my Top 10 of most watched episodes due to the extreme amount of quotable moments. I feel like I’m not describing it well enough, but it is one of my personal favorites of the entire series.
1. “A Fire Fighting We Will Go” Episode 10
The Arlen firemen are on strike and Bill and Heck Dorland encourage the guys to become volunteer firefighters. As they train, it is clear that all of them except Hank isn't cut out for it. Hank is the only one taking it seriously while the others are just hanging out at the fire station. Their carelessness leads to unfortunate events.
I realize that I cut the summary short, but I really wanted to talk about this episode. This is not only the best episode of the season. It is my favorite of the whole series. From start to finish, the episode is non-stop comedy. I could probably write a 20-page essay about this episode, but I’ll spare you that. This episode’s layout is different than the rest of the series. We initially see the fire chief interrogating the guys, trying to get some answers out of them, and we find out little-by-little that everything that could go wrong, went wrong while the guys were volunteer firemen. I’ll not dive too deep into it, but from them destroying a fire hydrant, Chet Elderson saying whatever is on his mind, also trying to get Dale to plug in the Alamo beer sign. Hank getting pissed at everybody. The graveside scene. Bill calling Dale a “Chicken, Neck Ass.” Their own recollections of how the fire could’ve gotten started. It is all incredibly funny. Not to mention, Peggy denying suffering an injury picking up Bobby using a leverage technique called a “fireperson’s carry,” and learning that ladies don’t have groins. Lastly, Boomhauer ratting Dale out, but the fire chief not understanding him was icing on the cake. This is an all-time great episode and I personally think that it is the funniest King of the Hill episode ever.
Yacs
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