• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, Yesterday

It is highly appropriate that the return of “King of the Hill” is coming to Hulu and not its original home on Fox.

The ascent of streaming and the fall of legacy-network TV is just the kind of societal change that Hank Hill has confronted in so many episodes of this very special series since its premiere in 1997.

If the first episode of the series’ 14th season is anything like the episodes to come, then “King of the Hill” remains the best show produced in the last 28 years about contemporary America across all categories -- animated, live-action, sitcom, drama, quiz show, talk show, news, sports, documentary and non-scripted. It is no contest.

This new flight of episodes, starting next Monday on Hulu, is being billed as a new season of the show because this is not a reboot or a re-imagination since this show needs no rebooting or reimagining.

They are the first new episodes of the show since 2010. 

The only thing that has changed here are aspects of American life that Hank (voiced by series co-creator Mike Judge) and wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy) have missed because they have been living in Saudi Arabia for a number of years (possibly around a decade, although this was not specified in the first episode).

It seems that Hank and Peggy moved abroad because Hank -- long-time manager of a business in fictional Arlen, Texas, that sold “propane and propane accessories” (as he is fond of saying) -- took a very high-paying job doing the same thing in Saudi Arabia for the state-owned energy company Aramco.

In Episode One, with Hank’s stint in the Middle East having recently ended, he and Peggy are seen returning to Arlen and settling back into their old home, which they have been renting to a neighbor.

Son Bobby (voiced by Pamela Adlon) is now 21 and working as a chef in a Dallas restaurant.

Hank’s pals Dale Gribble, Bill Dauterive and Boomhauer are also back to join Hank in the rear alley for beer and conversation. 

They are occasionally joined by the neighbor who rented Hank’s house, Brian Robertson (photo above, voiced by the incomparable Keith David).

Everywhere he and Peggy go in Episode One of the new “King of the Hill” season, Hank is irked by all the changes he sees -- from newly designed streets with directional signs that make him have to drive a mile out of his way just to reach his driveway to restrooms no longer identified by gender-specific signage.

But one of the attractive aspects of “King of the Hill” and the Hank Hill character is that he never rails about the changes with a raised voice or contorted facial expressions.

He is more likely to just sigh. He is resigned to the changes, but in the long run, he just focuses on the world created by his community of friends and family, and manages to survive.

In Episode One, the changes come so fast and furious to Hank and Peggy that they even consider returning to Saudi Arabia.

The irony here is that the community where Hank and Peggy lived in Saudi Arabia that was built by Aramco to house American expats felt more like America to them than the real America they were returning to.

This will not spoil the show for anyone to reveal that Hank and Peggy end up staying in Arlen, which is a gift for Arlen and for all of us too.

The revived “King of the Hill” premieres Monday, August 4, on Hulu.