After returning to Arlen after their time in Saudi Arabia, the Hills continue to find their place on Rainey Street, in Arlen, and in the modern era as King of the Hill Season 15 settles comfortably into its new status quo, showing how much the characters have changed over the series hiatus while keeping the heart of the original series intact.
Bobby (Pamela Adlon) has grown into a successful chef and restaurant owner, and his romance with Connie (Lauren Tom) finally becomes official. Despite some pushback and the horrors of reality television, they eventually find their footing as a couple. Hank (Mike Judge), meanwhile, finds himself adapting to an ever-changing world, whether it’s electric trucks, Comic-Con culture, or shifting social norms. Peggy (Kathy Najimy) faces menopause with Hank’s well-meaning support, while Bill continues making steady progress toward becoming a happier, more confident version of himself.
But in the finale, fans finally get the answer to one lingering question: Why did Peggy and Hank move to Saudi Arabia?
The Season 15 finale addresses that question while opening up a new and exciting chapter in Hank Hill’s life. Warning: Spoilers ahead for King of the Hill Season 15 Episode 10, “Propane Recall.”
What happens in the Season 15 finale?
Titled “Propane Recall,” Hank reconnects with his old work buddies from Strickland Propane, only to find out that things are far from peachy at his old workplace. The company is going under, and they want him to talk to the owner, Buck (Stephen Root). But when Hank last saw Buck, things did not go well.
Cue flashback…
Before the Hills moved to Saudi Arabia, things were up in the air for the family. Hank is convinced he’s finally in line for the manager position at Strickland Propane, but Buck gives the promotion to his incompetent son instead. Hank quits the company in frustration.
Hank briefly takes a job with Strickland’s biggest competitor but quickly realizes they are just slightly more annoying. He then tries working alongside Dale before landing an interview with a propane company in Houston. However, as it turns out, the position is actually in Saudi Arabia. He would have more money, a better title, and more perks, but the Hills would have to leave their beloved Arlen.
Unwilling to uproot the family, particularly Bobby, Hank initially turns it down.
Why did they leave Bobby behind?
Bobby, at the time, is rebelling the only way Bobby can: by dyeing his hair blue and becoming 100% committed to BTS. During his teenage angst phase, he gets a job flipping patties at Whataburger and falls in love with the art of cooking. “I finally found my propane, dad, and propane accessories.”
Unwilling to move just when he has found his life’s calling, Bobby opts to remain in Arlen. After promising to finish school and “not die” without his mother, Bobby plans to move in with Luanne and Lucky (the late, great Brittany Murphy and Tom Petty), setting him on the path to becoming a chef.
Disney/Mike Judge
How does the finale set up Season 16?
Buck’s son Ray Roy (Diedrich Bader) ran Strickland Propane into the ground. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Desperate to save the company, Buck begs Hank to come back, but Hank refuses to work for him again.
Instead, Hank purchases a 51% controlling stake in Strickland Propane, becoming the company’s new owner and manager, finally earning the position he deserved all along.
Showrunner Saladin K. Patterson told TV Insider that Hank coming back to Strickland Propane creates an exciting opportunity in Season 16 to explore a new side of the character as Hank finally attains his dream job.
“We end the season on Hank coming back to Strickland Propane as the owner now, as a boss now, we’re really excited to explore,” said Patterson. “Hank’s always been the best employee and the best person at Strickland. He’s never been a boss before, though, and so there are some ways he has always been suited to be the boss. But he’s just a 51% owner of Strickland, which means Buck still owns 49% of Strickland. So Buck’s still in the picture, and it’s interesting to see that dynamic switch to where Hank — always to a fault probably — kowtowed to Buck.”
“Now he is the one that has the power, and we want to explore how Hank deals with that, and also Hank being a little bit out of his comfort zone to where he’s never been a boss,” explained Patterson. “There’s certain things about being a boss that he may be surprised [to learn] that Buck was actually good at. He has to now go to Buck to learn something. So those are interesting things to explore.”
King of the Hill, Season 15, Streaming Now, Hulu