For those unfamiliar, the series finale to King of the Hill was Season 13 Episode 24, To Sirloin with Love. It aired originally on September 13th, 2009, and although four more episodes aired in May of 2010, this was the official ending to the series. Since we're coming up on a decade of living in a post-King of the Hill world, I'd like to take a minute and discuss the ending and why it's amazing. For those of you who haven't seen it, here's a clip.
The basic gist of the episode is that Bobby discovers he knows a lot about meat and is brought onto a meat-examination team. It follows the typical KotH plot of the character having a moral dilemma, being screwed over, and then finding a solution without sacrificing their morals. But the ending is what ties this episode, and the series itself, all together.
So the final scene begins with Hank and Bobby grilling together, the father-son activity that Hank and Bobby have struggled doing for the entire series. Hank struggles to understand the dynamic a good father should have with his son, considering his relationship with his own father. Bobby likes unorthodox things and doesn't perform too well at the activities Hank expects his son to perform at. Here, that dynamic finally happens.
The scene cuts to their neighbors one by one, settling conflicts and pulling together Hank's social network for one last hurrah. Khan shows appreciation for his daughter when she frets over her homework, telling her that she's far enough ahead already and tells her to take the night off (a welcome break in character). Nancy is no longer a cheating whore, and Dale is now able to help his wife in ways he wasn't able to before (although he wasn't aware of how miserable his situation was, it's finally improved). Lucky and Luanne grab their child, Gracie, and head over, adding family to the wide mix of friends coming to the Barbecue. Boomhauer flips open his wallet, revealing that he's a texas ranger (which answers the question as to what his job was, a mystery throughout the series). Peggy helps serve and is glad that her husband and son have finally found a common interest.
Then, in an emotional moment, we can see that there's a final steak. Bobby points this out, but Hank Hill reminds his son that he'll be grilling his whole life. Bobby then acknowledges that he'll be following in his father's footsteps. Then he and Peggy both put a hand around Bobby, reprising the image we see at the start of each episode. Then we're treated to an overview of the BBQ and a final glimpse of Arlen while the show's theme plays out quietly.
This settles conflicts throughout the series, the biggest one being Hank's relationship with Bobby. And in the end, it's just a stereotypical end to another day in America in the summer. The show plays a lot with stereotypes, and it's fitting that a show that harps on American stereotypes ends with a green-lawn BBQ shared between family and friends as the sun sets on a Texas town. For a series like King of the Hill, it's the perfect ending.
Submitted September 07, 2019 at 09:46PM by Heavens_Sword1847 https://ift.tt/2ZIZptv
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