(S11E02)
Dale [in the sewer]: It's kinda spooky down here. Do you think poop has ghosts?
This episode actually reminded me a little bit of Tom Goes to the Mayor with its focus on a city council being taken for suckers by two guys who really don't have the city's best interest in mind. Mostly, I just found it interesting how different shows can tackle the same issues in wildly different ways.
What I admire most about King of the Hill is how cohesive it is. The writing is so tight and the characters so well-defined that it's easy to understand what each episode is trying to say. Of course, that could be said about a lot of shows. After all, why make an episode that obscures its meaning?
What I mean is, King of the Hill makes its point through good storytelling and multi-dimensional characters, not through heavy-handedness and manipulation. Some of the Family Guy crew are delving into live-action with the upcoming series The Winner, but I'd really like to see the King of the Hill folks do the same and bring that same attitude to a live-action series -- which will probably air early in the evening and be constantly pre-empted by football.
I kept wondering if this episode was meant as a sly jab at the current War on Terror with everyone blowing the snake threat out of proportion. I don't think that was the case for two reasons: one, King of the Hill doesn't really do satire; if the show wanted to tackle the War on Terror, it would do it more directly. Secondly, I think the episode was really about how easy it is to lose sight of things when your only considered with saving your own skin. The only concerns the city council members and the animal control people have are furthering their political agendas. The python that's loose in the sewers is not a problem to be solved, it's a problem to be exploited.
Oh yeah, and we finally got recognition that Luanne is in fact pregnant. I was a bit concerned when it wasn't referenced in the first episode, as if the writers had forgotten about it. That'll teach me to not have faith.
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-12-2007 @ 1:02PM
Frank said...
Was that John Goodman voicing one of the sanitation workers?
At times I was certain it was, and then he'd say something in a voice that convinced me it wasn't...
Reply
2-12-2007 @ 1:05PM
Vito said...
I think the satire was definitely there. It wasn't at the expense of Hank, just at politicians too spineless to actually speak to what they believe in, but rather repeat the same bland statements that advisors keep telling them is the only way to get elected. Also how this type of idiocy has spread down to the lowest levels of government, where city council members act like they think they're congressmen. You can always tell the satire because Hank is the one speaking out against it and everyone else is all for it.
Good ep, though. Sucks hard that it's going to be preempted AGAIN for The Winner. At least it seems like they're going to be running that one into the ground as fast as they can, though. Six episodes in three weeks at the beginning of March. Wow. At least Rob Corddry likely won't get the blame for it.
Reply
2-12-2007 @ 1:14PM
Adam from TV Squad said...
That's a good point, Vito, and well-taken.
Frank: It was John Goodman. His name was in the credits.
Reply
2-12-2007 @ 1:24PM
Bill said...
My favorite line: "You know, I always thought we'd be on tv for being murdered in our sleep."
And yeah, Frank, that was John Goodman.
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com
Reply
2-12-2007 @ 8:12PM
KMF said...
This was a fun episode. I'm glad to see they have a better time slot, and that Lucky was back!
Yes, best line of the show was Peggy's 'You know, I always thought we'd be on tv for being murdered in our sleep.'
Reply