What makes a good comfort TV show will always depend on the person, but for this author, it’s King of the Hill.
I’m reminded of this personal fact as Thanksgiving comes and goes in the U.S. Not many shows have a solid slate of Thanksgiving episodes, but King of the Hill does.
It’s not that there are good Thanksgiving episodes that makes KotH such a good comfort show. Rather, it’s the fact that no matter the time of year, you can flip on this animated sitcom and enjoy it.
No matter where I’m at in my life, I can boot up King of the Hill and relax. A big reason for that is how relatable the show can be.
Often, cartoons, both for adults and children, defy the laws of nature. How often do you see Peter Griffin brutally killed in one scene of Family Guy only to reappear the next? It works because it’s a cartoon.
King of the Hill is in a similar boat but, for the most part, it’s an animated snapshot of real life that defies the typical cartoon norms. Sure, there are moments where cartoon psychics come into play — like Peggy Hill surviving a sky diving mishap — but for the most part, it stays true to real life.
There’s something comforting about watching real life play out like a cartoon. Furthermore, it mirrors real life in a similar way that Seinfeld did.
Hank Hill is a suburban Texan with a family, a full-time job, friends, and weird neighbors. Hank takes such pride in his home that a big plot point surrounds his love for his lawn.
“Why would anyone do drugs when they can mow a lawn?” Hank asks dreamily in one episode. Let’s be real, though exaggerated, we all know someone like that.
Which brings me to my final point: relatability. I lived in Texas for a couple of years as a church missionary. I ran into people that were oddly similar to the characters on King of the Hill.
I loved the show prior to my two-year mission, but it became that much more funny and relatable after living in Texas. This is by design as co-creator Greg Daniels took the writing team to suburban Texas to better understand the show.
This effort isn’t lost on me because I can tune in to any episode and feel transported back to the Lone Star State.
All of these factors add into a show that I can turn on at any point in my life and find comfort. It’s gotten to a point where watching King of the Hill quells my anxiety.
Every time I here that iconic theme song from The Refreshments, I am not only transported to the fictional Arlen, Texas, but I’m brought back to a simpler time in my life. It’s really refreshing to have that.
Every holiday season, I tend to watch more holiday TV episodes more than movies. I have accumulated a large list for references but, as is always the case, I don’t get through the entire entry every year.
That said, I always make time to include King of the Hill holiday episodes. It’s the comfort it brings that ensure I will never miss it.
Most people have a TV show that ignites similar feelings in you and it is so great to have a place you can go to escape life in 24-minute increments.
It just goes to show how powerful entertainment truly can be.
What about you? What is your favorite comfort TV show? Do you have a show you can turn in no matter what and just relax? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
Featured Image: Fox Broadcasting Company (via CBR)
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