King of the Hill is one of the most distinct yet successful animated sitcoms out there. Rather than trying to create a dynamic or comedic spectacle with the animated format, King of the Hill decides to simply use it to facilitate and caricature the simple livings of Texas families, with its central focus being on the Hills. One of the leading families on Fox's old lineup, the Hills were an iconic representation of a simple, conservative lifestyle.

Portraying and even challenging that lifestyle through young eyes was the child of the family, Bobby Hill. Through him, the series saw a variety of classic escapades involving fatherly tension, teenage angst, and, of course, the awkward complexity of young love. Looking at the boy who grew up with the series, this list will be looking through his 10 best episodes.

10 An Officer and a Gentle Boy

To sum up how the world of King of the Hill views and fits Bobby using Hank Hill's words: "That boy ain't right." Bobby is an eccentric child brought up by a fusion of his father's strict yet distant hand and his mother's nurturing support. Somewhere along the way, this molded the funny lump of fat that he is; and in this episode, Hank has become sick and tired of its innate laziness and aloofness.

However, finding that he is unable to personally discipline him, he sends him off to Cotton's old military school, an establishment that soon gets taken over by Cotton himself. It's a classic encounter that sees rigid, old-world values go up against the gentle, almost peaceful complacency of the youth.

9 Bobby on Track

However, as much as Bobby can come to terms with a wicked war vet, he is not actually well equipped to walk the streets of everyday life, let alone walk at all. Such a natural lack of talent somehow makes him the perfect member for Tom Landry Middle School's track team.

The gimmick here being that, whenever an actual track member was seen slouching off, the coach would humiliate them by having Bobby replace them on the actual meet. It's a hilariously demoralizing concept that Bobby is all too comfortable with yet still bares incredible risk later on.

8 Chasing Bobby

The relationship between Bobby and his father is a strained one. While Hank is certainly more trying and compassionate than Cotton, that really isn't saying much. Supported by conservative, masculine values, Hank is often reluctant to connect with his son, especially one of Bobby's character (see above).

However, "Chasing Bobby" really stresses how drained for emotional connection Hank really is, and he becomes overrun by tears by the idea that his truck is at its final legs. Such weird yet somehow touching vulnerability leads to him and Bobby bonding over how to get it fixed and, much later, replaced.

7 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Clown

Seriously, that boy ain't right. A common thread going throughout the series is the fact that Bobby is an aspiring comedian, having touched on the concept in a variety of gimmicks, whether that has meant pranks, prop comedy, or even ventriloquism. However, this episode fully dissects how susceptible and even willing for change that Bobby is, once he enrolls in clown college proper.

Here, Bobby's and, well, anyone's views of what a clown should be is brought to academic pretension, as a snooty professor tries to push Bobby down a more Shakespearean style of comedy that has definitely gone out of date.

6 Bad Girls, Bad Girls Watcha Gonna Do

Bobby's relationship with Connie has been through its ups and downs, as the two ride the ever-changing tides of puberty and middle school together. During their breakup, however, a nice little episode teases remnants of feelings between the two that could still be there. In this episode, Connie's street punk cousin from LA has moved in with her family and becomes partnered with Bobby for a science project.

Bobby is instantly smitten with her, an ignorance complemented by his own naivete that inevitably hides the fact that she's tricking him into helping her make methamphetamines. With Lucy Liu taking the reigns as Connie's cousin, this episode was a wild ride.

5 I Don't Want to Wait for Our Lives to Be Over

Growing up is really weird. It's full of bodily and emotional changes and is, for some reason, dispersed differently and unevenly between different people. Such is the existential turmoil for Bobby Hill who, despite finally reaching the tender age of 13, finds that he hasn't developed as much as his two best friends.

Connie has already started having her period, and Joseph returns after summer camp essentially a different person, taller, deeper toned, and pimple ridden. As his thirteenth birthday approaches, Bobby desperately tries to assert his own manliness as well as reestablish his mature place between his friends. In true teenage fashion, he becomes a jerk.

4 And They Call It Bobby Love

While Bobby's will-they-won't-they relationship with Connie has been interesting, there really is a special place in everyone's hearts for first loves and first heartbreaks. While Hank and co. are dealing with what to do with a mysterious couch, Bobby begins a relationship with an older girl who finds him funny.

Though Bobby is emotionally unequipped to maturely deal with a relationship, he enters an entirely new world with this girl's friends, her vegetarian lifestyle, and emotionally distant yet ever life-changing kissing. Yeah. It doesn't end well, but his vindication at the end was a hilarious display of moving forward.

3 Hilloween

One of the series' most iconic holiday specials, "Hilloween" has the small town of Arlen come to religious (and, more specifically, litigious) arms with Halloween. While Hank is offended by the insinuation that Halloween is an evil holiday, Bobby takes everything too heart, examining the demonic symbols and all the trickery in a new light, especially after an attempt by him and father to get back at the religious zealot ends up killing her cat.

This would lead to his internal conflict between sticking with his dad or siding with the aggressively persuasive religious group. In either case, someone is getting tricked.

2 I'm With Cupid

As much heartbreak as Bobby went through with his first girlfriend, he actually handles his breakup with Connie with a surprising and peaceful maturity. Then, Bill comes along and crashes his romantic nihilism right over Bobby's head.

This, in turn, pushes Bobby into a Bill-esque desperate spiral that sees Bobby awkwardly and creepily try to get Connie back leading up to a Valentine's Day party. There are quite a few interesting visual pieces within this episode. Chocolate somehow becomes less delectable.

1 Kidney Boy and Hamster Girl: A Love Story

This episode really had it all in terms of showcasing Bobby's propensity for performance as well as his more complex and developing relationships with other people. In this episode, Bobby somehow gets mistaken for a high schooler and starts walking the hallways of the local high school, eating at its cafeteria and hanging out with its elite, popular kids.

Tantalized by the fast food in the food court and fearful of getting beat up for being a middle schooler, he makes up this entire story about being a sick kid just discharged from the hospital, a ploy that not only gets him in good graces with the popular crowd but somehow ropes in Connie as his "Hamster Girl" friend from the hospital. It's a fragile balancing act that is just outrageous to see Bobby fumble through.

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Sean Cubillas (549 Articles Published)

As a writer, auteur, and innovator, I seek to expand human potential through the creative medium, intellectually and emotionally challenging the mass audience. I seek to work in visual and written media, whether it be in film, video games, or publishing, using a variety of mediums to express the full spectrum of art. Over the years, I've familiarized myself and worked with film organizations and workshops, such as the Austin Film Society, Austin Film Festival, and Austin Film Meet, to grow my understanding of the industry and hone my craft as a writer. My interaction and networking with the Austin film community as well as my interests and studies as a Writing & Rhetoric major have contributed to a fundamental and growing understanding of trends and changes within the art and media industries. In this instance, my knowledge and research could be fundamental in creating and editing effective material. As a whole, I'm a valuable asset to any organization seeking experience and knowledge of the media industry as well as any group seeking ambitious storytelling and content creation.

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