Contains spoilers for “King of the Hill” Season 14, Episode 6 — “Peggy’s Fadeout”

While the revival of “King of The Hill” is nearly flawless, there’s a significant hiccup in the form of Bill Dauterive (Stephen Root), whose antics are exaggerated to a cringeworthy level. This reaches its zenith in “Peggy’s Fadeout,” where Hank (Mike Judge) discovers Bill has taken up another barber position post-retirement. Bill falsely boasts to his colleagues that Peggy is his long-distance girlfriend, much to Hank’s dismay.

Bill attempts to escape the predicament by fabricating a tale of Peggy’s death, culminating in a spontaneous memorial service at his residence. He redeems the situation somewhat by delivering a heartfelt tribute to Peggy, which placates his friend temporarily. Nonetheless, Bill’s deterioration is stark compared to his comrades, and Season 14 delves deeply into this aspect.

To give credit where it’s due, the “King of the Hill” revival maintains some authentic elements of Bill’s character, like when he attempts to woo Didi Hill (Ashley Gardner) upon learning of her newfound singleness. Bill served as a comedic focal point in the original series, but now he’s portrayed as rather self-centered. While most characters in Season 14 undergo some transformation, Bill’s trajectory is particularly perplexing, leaving viewers curious about his future in Season 15.

The main concern with this darker turn for Bill is the extent to which the humor stretches. A prime example occurs in Episode 2, “The Beer Story,” where Dale (now voiced by Toby Huss following Johnny Hardwick’s untimely passing) mentions that Bill is the only one among them familiar with the taste of gun metal. While the writers aim to highlight Bill’s struggles, they tread a delicate line in drawing comedy from his misfortunes.

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