King Of The Hill – The
Complete 4th 5th & 6th Seasons
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: D Episodes: B-
Mike Judge could have allowed his career to end with Beavis
& Butthead and the feature film Office Space (both reviewed
elsewhere on this site) retiring on those successes, but as his animated
phenomenon ended, he launched King of The Hill on commercial network
broadcast television. Was he selling
out? Would it be watered down? Would it last? Would it be funny? Would
it be a hit?
Many seasons later, it is the longest running animated
series on Fox since The Simpsons and Fox is up to the 6th
Season in complete DVD box releases.
Judge is the voice of Hank Hill, the simple Texan father of a slightly
dysfunctional family that is doing what it can to get by, including the very
likable Peg voiced by Kathy Najimy in great form, older daughter Luanne and
somewhat insecure son Bobby. Hank also
has his three neighborhood buddies he hangs with often as his family. Add the middle class struggles, humor and
Judge proves that he could do a show that was in for the long haul without the
humor being broad or outrageously gross.
He did that well as well, but these later seasons with all their hi-jinx
done at a slower-yet rapid pace has built the show a permanent audience whose
size is easy to underestimate. Greg
Daniels co-created the series and these shows runs from 1998 – 2001, the last
before the events of 9/11. It would be
a somewhat different show with the 7th Season, but this era was nice
while it lasted.
The 1.33 X 1 image is more colorful than we have seen it
before; with only minor aliasing issues and the detail is simple overall. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has Pro Logic
surrounds, but nothing too spectacular.
This is a comedy series and everything is understated, but the sound has
some punctuated moments. There are no
extras in any of these sets, but the show speaks for itself and if you like the
semi-witty Southern humor with Judge’s irony, then you’ll love the show. I think it is just very solid and consistent
in laughs, but even when it is not funny, it is entertaining enough to make you
smile.
- Nicholas Sheffo
