King of the Hill Creator on Why Hank Moved to Saudi Arabia: ‘A Good Way In’

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In a recent disclosure, the mastermind behind the return of the popular sitcom “King of the Hill” explained the reason for the main character, Hank Hill, relocating to Saudi Arabia from the time the original series ended until the start of this revival. The much-adored adult animated comedy has returned after a 16-year hiatus, focusing on the storyline of the Hill family, with Mike Judge’s propane salesman character at its helm.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I must say one fascinating aspect of the revival of “King of the Hill” is that it seems as though the events between Seasons 13 and 14 unfolded in real life. Consequently, when we return to the series, each character has progressed, evolved, and (in certain cases) relocated halfway around the globe since our last encounter.

In the most recent season, one intriguing back-and-forth storyline is that Hank and his wife Peggy (portrayed by Kathy Najimy) spend some time living in Saudi Arabia. This has left viewers puzzled about what might have led the Hill family to move so far away from home.

The entire Season 14 of “King of the Hill” is currently streaming on Hulu. This new season continues the story of the Hill family, 15 years after the original series concluded. Creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels are reportedly planning for a larger return, with Season 15 already in development.

Season 14 of “King of the Hill” is available to stream on Hulu now. It continues the story of the Hill family, 15 years after the original series ended. Creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels have plans for more seasons, with Season 15 already being developed.

Why Did Hank Move to Saudi Arabia In King of the Hill?

In the universe of “King of the Hill,” viewers might find it surprising to learn that the show’s central characters, Hank and Peggy Hill, temporarily relocated to Saudi Arabia during the gap between Season 13’s finale and the start of Season 14.

As per the show’s summary, this action occurred since Hank advanced further in his profession as a propane salesman, assuming the position of a “supervisor overseeing Arabian propane and related products.” (PBS)

After exploring other lands, they eventually found themselves back in the comfortable setting of Arlan, Texas, following their international journeys.

It’s intriguing to consider how Hank and Peggy’s global ventures affected their young adult son, Bobby. Today, at 21 years old, Bobby is employed as a chef in a local restaurant that blends German and Asian cuisines, still residing in Arlan.

During a chat with Deadline, the co-creator of “King of the Hill,” Mike Judge, shared his ideas about relocating character Hank to the Middle East.

The judges hypothesized that since Hank and Peggy had been abroad in Saudi Arabia for some time, their return could serve as an effective introduction for the audience.

After brainstorming various concepts, we stumbled upon the idea of characters named Hank and Peggy. They had been living abroad in Saudi Arabia for an extended period, only to return home later. The story then unfolds from this point. It felt like a compelling starting point. Additionally, when I scrolled through Twitter, I noticed people suggesting that Bobby and Connie were now grown adults. This led us to believe that’s the direction the universe was nudging us towards.

They recognized that modernizing the universe of “King of the Hill” was a significant decision, as they had pondered for a long time about how much longer they could maintain the characters at their current ages.

Since our series is more grounded than other animated programs, such as ‘The Simpsons,’ it felt natural to consider how long we could sustain a character like Bobby, who was a child and teenager, during the initial run. It seemed appropriate for us to make this decision. We had a reunion table read at San Francisco Sketchfest in 2017, which sparked discussions about reviving the series, and that’s when we began contemplating the idea.

The judge disclosed that the central theme of Season 14 centers around the return of Hank Hil, a character depicted as a traditionalist, re-entering America and observing how all facets of life have evolved.

In the early seasons of our show, Greg Daniels and I often discussed ideas during our writing sessions. One idea we had was to bring back Andy Griffith, but with a twist – he’d be angry because we both grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show. Now, we envision it as Hank Hill returning, but with a similar anger. It’s amusing because the Aramco base has an idealized, perfect American city for its residents. Hank initially found this place appealing. However, after returning to America, he’s shocked and confused, expressing something like, “What in the world is going on here?

In a manner mirroring the approach taken by another Hulu streaming revival, specifically Futurama, they chose to leap forward in time between the conclusion of their last season and the start of the new episodes. The gap between seasons served as the foundation for the narrative in their subsequent storyline.

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2025-08-05 19:15