The surprise hit, King of the Hill, was the Fox animation giant that no one expected could last as long or even stand next to the likes of its crude and cartoonishly animated sister series, The Simpsons. However, it is its grounded sense of humor and characters that have helped it stand apart from the usual line up of potty-mouthed adult animation and become a television success story of its own.
Spanning 13 years and 13 seasons, the tale of Hank, Peggy, and Bobby Hill has certainly been with fans for quite a while. It's a series that not only comments on the current events and crisis' of its time but also likes to step back and celebrate with its audience during the most time-honored traditions.
This list will be looking at some of the most highly rated of those moments, as it flips back the family album and runs down some of King of the Hill's best holiday specials, according to IMDb.
10 Pigmalion - Score 7.4
Definitely a Halloween episode that has stuck with the audience, "Pigmalion" is often seen as one of the most horrifying if not outright controversial episodes of King of the Hill, having actually survived a couple of television season's worth of banning.
It focuses on the story of Luanne who, after feeling a little disenfranchised by Aunt Peggy's constant middle management, falls in love with a rich, pork plant owner who essentially does the same but more eloquently.
From there, the episode slowly lurches to horror, as this guy quietly and forcefully transforms Luanne into the poster girl of his company. It only gets worse from there, with the ending quickly becoming one of the most genuinely shocking of the series' history.
9 The Father, the Son and J.C. - Score 7.4
Hank's strenuous relationship with his father, Cotton, is a reoccurring and often echoing theme across the seasons. What this actually means to Cotton, however, is shown in surprising light in this episode, as his usual brash nature becomes clearly defined by jealousy when Hank starts getting close to his boss, Buck Strickland.
With some tinsel here and a little help from ex-President Jimmy Carter there, this episode turns into one of the series' most heartwarming (at least, for Cotton episodes), as Hank and his father become just a little closer by the end.
8 'Twas the Nut Before Christmas - Score 7.5
The holidays are typically some of the most depressing days for some of society's most impoverished and lonely. For King of the Hill, that simply means Bill Dauterive and Christmas simply don't mix. In this episode, Bill's desperate drive for human connection leads him to create a small Christmas village to entertain the local families.
However, he doesn't exactly know when to quit, as he keeps the village open long after the holidays are over, driving away a potential relationship and only attracting those who can smell his desperate weakness. There is such a thing as too much Christmas spirit.
7 Spin the Choice - Score 7.5
Thanksgiving specials are an underrated treat among cartoons, especially adult animation. It's a bit of a dry holiday at its best and a depressing one at its worst when compared to more festive holidays like Christmas or Halloween. However, as a middle America staple, Thanksgiving is a time where King of the Hill can thrive.
As such, one of the series most emotional and seminal episodes, particularly for its Native American, playboy John Redcorn, is the Thanksgiving episode, "Spin the Choice." This episode not only goes over Bobby's white guilt over the tragic origins of the holiday but also digs deep into John Recorn's hidden insecurities about family life and his secret son, Joseph.
6 Happy Hank's Giving - Score 8
Travel is a holiday theme that is not explored nearly enough within media, let alone cartoons. However, the perils of the airport are at full display in this episode, as the Hill family must fight delays, TSA bureaucracy, and even some of their friends in an effort to make it to Tennessee in time for Thanksgiving.
In addition to commenting on the various annoyances with last minute travel, this episode also provides short but interesting scenes of other characters adventures within the airport, like Bill constantly stalking the area or Dale posing as an admiral to get into a VIP room.
5 Nine Pretty Darn Angry Men - Score 8
A bit of a Thanksgiving and Black Friday episode, this little adventure sees Hank clash with his father, as Cotton unexpectedly drops in on Thanksgiving dinner during a year when the family was supposed to exclusively spend it with his ex-wife, Tilly. Throughout the episode, Cotton makes constant negative remarks about Tilly, as Hank can only awkwardly stand by.
It becomes harder to do this, however, as he becomes locked in a room with Cotton when the old man sneaks into his invitation only focus group for one of his favorite lawnmower developers. From there, the debate between new and old trudges on, as the two fight with each other and everyone else in the demo.
4 Pretty, Pretty Dresses - Score 8
At some point, Bill really should have his own show, given his constant conflict with depression and loneliness is not only one of the series' most distinct reoccurring jokes but one of the most compelling stories of the entire series. Such is the case with "Pretty, Pretty Dresses," where he is put on suicide watch by the entire neighborhood, just as Hank's big Christmas party draws nearer.
Here, the gang becomes conflicted with treating Bill as either a burden during a strenuous time of the holidays or as a struggling person grappling with a hard break up. It's an interesting dialogue that gives Bill one of his most cathartic scenes in the entire series.
3 Hillennium - Score 8.1
Y2K was a weird time, right? Often exaggerated as this technological end of the world, King of the Hill is one of the few series that provides a little more real-world depth to the issue.
It not only takes the potential mass error seriously but also shows how it affected regular life, shopping, arcades, small businesses, during the days leading up to it. This episode weighs the challenges of progress and talks about how fear may often keep people from seeing or experiencing the larger picture.
2 Hilloween - Score 8.2
The only other Halloween entry on this list, "Hilloween" is a fun romp exploring the religious controversies surrounding the holiday, especially in small, God-fearing towns like Arlen.
As Hank and co try preparing the middle school's annual haunted house, their festivities become interrupted when a local, religious zealot with apparently really good lawyers not only stops everything but also issues a curfew to directly sabotage the holiday. She also manages to bring in Luanne and Bobby, simultaneously creating some internal tension within the Hill family.
1 Livin' on Reds, Vitamin C and Propane - Score 8.2
Ranking at the top of this list is a Christmas special like no other. When Hank's mom inherits some furniture from a friend but is unable to pick it up for the holidays, Hank realizes a boyhood dream of his and rents out a truck to deliver the furniture personally.
It's a race against the clock and the elements, as Hank, Bobby, and a few stowaways struggle with the trucker life and getting back home in time for the holidays. On the side, Peggy and Luanne try to write a new, holiday song befitting the situation. It's a fun, well-paced adventure that has certainly earned the love and attention of fans.