UNT Dallas College of Law - Library Blog

Top Five King of the Hill Characters

from the (Self-Appointed) Biggest King of the Hill Fan at the UNT Dallas Law Library

Now that the weather has gotten much colder and rainier, plenty of people are spending more time in front of the television, and I am no exception to this phenomenon. For me, this means my King of the Hill viewing time has gone up from an unhealthy amount to an ungodly amount. For as long as I can remember, KotH has been a staple in my family’s household, and I have a high amount of reverence for every single character that Mike Judge brought to life when he created this perfect piece of media. While I cannot prove that I am, in fact, the biggest King of the Hill fan, I have seen every episode multiple times and have an entire folder on my phone dedicated to KotH memes, so I believe I am qualified to speak on any and all matters relating to Arlen, Texas. So without further ado, I present my top five King of the Hill characters.

5) Luanne Platter

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be just like Luanne. Even after growing up and going to therapy, I can’t say that dream has changed. Luanne is known for being ditzy and something of an airhead, but she’s so much more intelligent than her family and social circle gives her credit for. She consistently steals the show and is always a class favorite among KotH fans. How could anyone forget about the time Luanne became a radicalized communist despite Hank’s devotion to George W. Bush and the Republican Party? Luanne Platter is the only woman strong enough to go three rounds with Freeda Foreman and smart enough to drop out of hair school, only to enroll in community college, only to drop out and become a hairdresser. Queen behavior.

4) John Redcorn

I have a very soft spot in my heart for Mr. Redcorn. He is a free-spirited, ex roadie who watches from afar as his child is raised by the woman he loves and her goofy, irresponsible husband. Many fans would like to equate Redcorn to an immoral, selfish man due to his long-term affair with Nancy Gribble, but as the (unofficial) biggest King of the Hill fan on staff, I think this is the wrong way of thinking. In fact, he is always the person the KotH crew turn to for spiritual guidance and help, only to be shoved to the wayside once they are done with him. He is a beacon of wisdom for his community, but like most of us, he is flawed and makes mistakes, which makes him a delightfully three-dimensional character.  Every episode with John Redcorn is bound to be hilarious and gut wrenching at the same time.

3) Buck Strickland

Buck Strickland is perhaps the most underrated character in the KotHCU. His erratic, irresponsible behavior is entertaining for us and stressful for everyone else in the show, especially Hank, who works for Buck at Strickland Propane. His entire life seems to be a wild soap opera, full of substance abuse, marital affairs, and self-destructive hobbies. He has a habit of pulling everyone in his immediate circle into his shenanigans and rarely shows any remorse for his actions. Watching Buck Strickland in just about every episode he’s in is the equivalent to watching a dumpster fire- you can’t look away, and why would you want to? A couple of iconic quotes (that ring inside my head every day) include “Who wants breakfast whiskey?” and “Miss Liz! Two Hot Toddies!”

2) Bobby Hill

This one will probably catch some flack amongst other KotH fans. How is Bobby not number one? Well, in the grand scheme of things, he is. He is what makes King of the Hill so palatable for viewers who otherwise may not care much for the show. His androgynous behavior and complete self-acceptance is appealing to so many, and we love to watch Bobby being himself at the expense of his father, Hank’s, wishes. The “that’s my purse!” icon has so many amazing moments, such as growing roses in his closet with the help of the local smoke shop, railing against Thanksgiving by refusing to eat “the white man’s white meat”, and rocking velour joggers with “cutie” emblazoned on the backside.

As amazing as Bobby is, this is MY list, and I am the biggest King of the Hill fan (not proven). And while Bobby is completely perfect in every way, and despite the fact that I have a Bobby Hill sticker on my car’s back windshield, I’m docking a few points for one reason- pure and utter contrariness. Bobby is everyone’s favorite, and rightfully so. But in my opinion, it is time we dethrone Bobby and make room for the most powerful, most highly-skilled, absolute killer of all KotH characters.

1) Dale Gribble (Rusty Shackleford)

Dale Gribble is a walking time bomb. He is chaotic, unstable, and a threat to his community. He is also president of the Arlen Gun Club, a loving husband and father, and a very loyal friend. This unique blend of volatile and gentle is what makes the inventor of pocket sand such a unique facet of the King of the Hill community. Dale’s lack of self-awareness can be so stressfully entertaining, but it can also be super cringey and depressing. For instance, his ignorance to his wife’s affair with John Redcorn, who is also his son’s real father, is very uncomfortable to watch. This isn’t made any better by the fact that every other character in the show knows about the affair and must play dumb to keep Dale from finding out. So while I love watching Dale get his friends and himself in wacky situations, I can’t help but feel immense sympathy for his failings. This ability to evoke both pity and admiration is what makes Dale Gribble my top King of the Hill character of all time.

Disclaimer: The thoughts expressed in this blog post are mine only and do not represent the UNT Dallas Law Library. The UNT Dallas Law Library does not hold an opinion on Mike Judge’s King of the Hill. They are more of an Archer kind of establishment.

Jayden Reider, MS-LS Candidate 2022