Forget The Bear: King of the Hill Features the Most Tense Restaurant Episode of 2025


From the moment the opening credits of King of the Hill appeared as a preview for the highly awaited Season 14, my anticipation surged. The theme song played over images of Arlen locals like Bill, Dale, Boomhauer, and the Hills: Hank, Peggy, and Bobby, all behind the fence of their family home. It felt as though no time had gone by, yet even in an animated series where characters can stay the same age for years, time has indeed progressed.

Season 14 of King of the Hill returns with Hank and Peggy as retirees who have relocated from Saudi Arabia back to Arlen, Texas, while Bobby Hill has become a 21-year-old chef who opted to skip college to open his own eatery. Episode 3 of the new season from creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels centers on Bobby’s venture. I wasn’t prepared for how emotionally involved I would become in witnessing Bobby (voiced by Pamela Adlon) succeed.

“Bobby Gets Grilled” introduces the greatest challenge yet for the adored character, presenting stress levels akin to the real-time episode of The Bear, Season 1, “The Review.”

What unfolds in “Bobby Gets Grilled?”

A pivotal day is at hand for Bobby Hill. Now living in Dallas, he holds the position of head chef and co-owner at Robata Chane, “a traditional Japanese barbeque infused with flavors and techniques from the German traditions of the Texas hill country.” Despite having a devoted team, issues arise. With the Binchotan charcoal needed for grilling nearly depleted, Bobby must urgently source a new supply, or Robata Chane will face closure. However, prospective new supplier Mr. Yoshida refuses to sell to Bobby, perceiving him as a cultural appropriator.

Yoshida distributes flyers across the area, denouncing this perceived slight, which infuriates three German-Americans who believe Bobby isn’t “pure” enough in his German background. (“Really? You’re going there?” Bobby replies in disbelief.) That’s not the end of it. Bobby’s investors, the arrogant father-and-son team of Ted and Chane Wassanasong, are reconsidering their backing of Bobby’s dream. And there’s even more.

Charcoal. Bobby Hill, the son of proud propane (and propane accessories) seller Hank Hill, is opting for charcoal instead of propane in his restaurant. When Peggy and Hank visit Bobby’s eatery for the first time, Hank is dismayed to learn of this grilling choice. So, what will Bobby do?

A final meal. Inspired by his new friend and sous chef Emilio, Bobby prepares what could be a final meal, serving his fusion dishes his way to all who question him: The Germans, Mr. Yoshida, the Chanes, the Hills, and the Gribbles (who joined in).

It’s a scenario reminiscent of the indie film Big Night, which showcased the pressures of restaurant ownership before The Bear. As I watched, my muscles tightened, my anxiety for Bobby gripping me tightly. When Bobby presented his grilled kebabs of yuzu-wurst filled with rice and pickled daikon, I gasped. My eyes brimmed with tears, poised to weep in despair if he faltered and rejoice if he succeeded.

And Bobby Hill does succeed.

Bobby Hill is no Carmen Berzatto.

“That boy ain’t right” was a signature phrase from the original broadcast of King of the Hill, used by Hank to convey his bewilderment regarding his artistic young son. While Hank grew up entrenched in the toxic masculinity of war narratives, womanizing, and football influenced by his father Cotton’s perspective, Bobby dismissed such conventions, possibly influenced by his mother Peggy Hill, who is similarly an assured and creative outlier.

Whether it involved prop humor, dancing with dogs, or engaging in video games, Bobby’s passions were frequently met with initial disapproval from Hank. Nonetheless, despite his irritation, Hank loved Bobby, expressing it in the ways his own limited emotional perception permitted. In “Bobby Gets Grilled,” Bobby acknowledges his awareness of how he often let his dad down, telling Emilio, “My dad cherishes four things in life: America, my mom, me, and propane. And when I was a kid, depending on the week, propane would rank higher than me.”

It’s a moment that’s both humorous and painfully real. Bobby and Hank care for each other, yet there exists a considerable gap in their worldviews. Hank worried that Bobby’s creativity and softness could be hindrances. In every flashback, Cotton Hill pushed Hank to believe that sensitivity was a weakness a man couldn’t afford. Thus, Hank’s criticism of Bobby stemmed not from disdain but from concern and confusion. In “Bobby Gets Grilled,” we observe Hank finally grasping that Bobby being himself is how he prevails.

Addressing his diners before the final meal, Bobby states, “Before we serve it, let me clarify something: This is not authentic Japanese or German cuisine. It’s authentic Bobby cuisine. It’s essential that I’m