Few animated characters have the heart, humor, and surprising depth of Bobby Hill. Over the course of King of the Hill’s 13-season run, Bobby emerged as the show’s softer side. He’s equal parts goofy and wise beyond his years. Whether he’s dishing out karate kicks or navigating heartbreak, Bobby never fails to make us laugh, cringe, or feel something real. His quirks, from his love of comedy to his husky modeling career, make him one of TV’s most memorable teen characters.
As we look ahead to Hulu’s upcoming King of the Hill revival, it’s the perfect time to revisit Bobby’s best moments. From tender father-son breakthroughs to full-on “That’s my purse!” chaos, these episodes prove why Bobby Hill remains an all-timer. Here are the 10 Bobby episodes we absolutely love.
1) Bobby Goes Nuts (Season 6)
If there’s a Bobby moment everybody quotes, it’s this. It’s so iconic, Pamela Adlon scored an Emmy for her performance here as well. After getting bullied, Bobby takes a women’s self-defense class — and delivers the legendary “That’s my purse! I don’t know you!” line. It has endured decades and has become one of the most iconic King of the Hill moments ever.
Beyond the laughs, this episode encapsulates Bobby’s defiance of traditional masculinity, and Hank’s uncomfortable realization that maybe his son is tougher than he thinks. It’s a fan-favorite for good reason, and when Bobby continually delivers a front-kick to the groin of anyone in his way, it created a meme legend.
The episode also cleverly subverts sitcom tropes by having Bobby’s success stem not from brute strength, but from empathy-based martial arts. His training is rooted in self-protection techniques often dismissed by Hank’s worldview. And when Bobby gets suspended for “kicking too many people in the groin,” it hilariously highlights how out-of-touch the adults are in recognizing the deeper reasons behind Bobby’s actions.
2) To Sirloin With Love (Season 13)
This is the emotional final episode from the original series run. After years of tension and misunderstanding, “To Sirloin With Love” finally gives Bobby and Hank the connection they’ve always struggled to achieve.
Hank and Bobby bond over their shared love of meat, culminating in the “Heimlich County Junior College meat examination team” showdown. Hank’s final words are some of the most heartfelt in the entire series, cementing this as one of the most rewarding payoffs for longtime fans.
What’s brilliant here is how the show anchors Hank’s acceptance of Bobby in something uniquely “Hill”— meat grading. It’s absurd on paper, but the execution is so grounded that it feels genuine. It also proves that Bobby doesn’t need to change to earn Hank’s approval, he just needs to find a common language, even if that language is marbling scores.
3) Chasing Bobby (Season 5)
This episode has been cited by fans and critics alike as a must-watch. Bobby accidentally wrecks Hank’s beloved truck in this episode, leading to wrenching feelings for both of them. Even though the truck ends up as a total write off, Bobby facilitates an emotional breakthrough for Hank.
What sets this episode apart is how Bobby deals with his father’s heartbreak. There’s something profound about Hank’s breakdown and it’s something we rarely get to see from him. While the episode revolves around a truck, it’s really about growing up and recognizing emotional responsibility. When Bobby finally offers to go sit in the back “where he belongs,” it’s both hilarious and strangely moving.
It’s Bobby who remains grounded for a change, offering emotional presence when Hank loses his. In a reversal of their usual dynamic, it’s Bobby who plays the adult, comforting a grieving father mourning more than just a vehicle.
4) And They Call It Bobby Love (Season 3)
We can’t have a Bobby list without including Bobby’s first big romance. This episode has it all — teenage heartbreak, first kiss, and eating a 72‑oz steak to show his worth. The steak scene is hailed by many fans as one of the best moments in the show’s history. This episode also earned an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program.
This is Bobby at his most earnest. His relationship with Marie brings out a tender vulnerability rarely seen in animated sitcoms. His heartbreak is portrayed with such sincerity that you can’t help but root for him, even when he’s stuffing down pounds of steak to prove himself. This episode perfectly captures teenage angst with Bobby’s unique charm.
It also gives us a pure moment of father-son tension, as Hank struggles but tries to comprehend Bobby’s feelings. And even when Bobby’s emotions spill out, the show never mocks him for having them. The steak-eating scene is Bobby’s unique way of reclaiming dignity. It’s funny, yes, but also unexpectedly triumphant.
5) Meet the Propaniacs (Season 4)
Bobby is front and center in this episode as he joins forces with Hank to form a propane-themed comedy troupe. This episode gives us a rare peek into Bobby’s comedic aspirations syncing with Hank’s propane obsession. Seeing Bobby’s performance style meet Hank’s rigid, conservative ideology creates a surprisingly heartfelt father-son collaboration.
What makes this episode particularly poignant is how it shows that both characters are capable of compromising and respecting each other. Hank manages to loosen up while Bobby reins his more extroverted self in. The duo’s awkward “dad joke” routine flops spectacularly, but the fact they tried — together — is the real win. It’s Bobby at his most creative, and Hank at his most supportive.
6) I Don’t Want to Wait (Season 5)
On the edge of Teenagerhood, Bobby stumbles into the emotional chaos of young love and friendship. Male hormones collide when Joseph returns changed from summer vacation. This slice‑of‑life episode beautifully captures awkward growing pains through Bobby’s eyes.
Joseph’s pubescent transformation creates a distance between him and Bobby. And Bobby’s own body insecurity feels both funny and painfully real. “I Don’t Want to Wait” provides a subtle but poignant look at the most awkward stages of adolescence, and the weird disconnect of middle school. Bobby hasn’t quite changed yet, and he’s terrified he never will. Watching him try to compensate; first by acting mature, then by acting out, strikes a nerve for anyone who’s ever felt left behind in the rush toward adulthood.
7) Kidney Boy and Hamster Girl: A Love Story (Season 5)
One of the most underrated Bobby-centric episodes, this one lets Bobby go full performance artist, highlighting one Bobby’s craving for acceptance. Afraid of being bullied by high schoolers, Bobby he pretends to be a senior whose short stature is down to kidney disease. The high school students adore his tragic backstory, and Bobby basks in the attention while wrestling with the guilt of deceiving them. His lie spreads throughout the school as fact, and he gets accepted into a friendship group.
This episode captures Bobby’s desperate desire for validation. When he finds himself growing in popularity, more lies spiral, including the story that Connie has a hamster tail, and he begins to forget his duties as a good friend. What makes the episode memorable is its subtle critique of how people romanticize suffering, and how easy it is for Bobby to get swept up in a false identity when it feels like the only path to affection. It’s a perfect portrait of a kid still figuring out where he fits, and realizing — once again — that being himself is both his biggest strength and his biggest challenge.
8) Rodeo Days (Season 4)
In “Rodeo Days”, Bobby finds his passion not in bronco riding like Hank hopes, but in the glittering, hyper-theatrical world of rodeo clowning. As Hank tries to nudge Bobby toward cowboy glory, Bobby instead embraces a path that’s weirder, funnier, and entirely his own.
The contrast between Hank’s rugged ideals and Bobby’s flair for performance has never been sharper. Bobby’s exaggerated makeup, physical comedy routines, and dramatic clown persona send Hank into a near existential panic attack.
What makes “Rodeo Days” stand out is how sincerely it treats Bobby’s creative instincts. While it mines laughs from his clown obsession, it never mocks his desire to shine. It’s also one of the clearest examples of how King of the Hill allows Bobby to resist the narrow definitions of masculinity surrounding him.
9) Bobby on Track (Season 9)
This episode offers a more cynical but revealing look at how adults exploit kids for their own ends. When Bobby is recruited for the track team, Hank is thrilled. Finally, his son is doing something athletic. Turns out, Bobby isn’t chosen for his skill at all. The coach uses him instead as a motivational prop to shame the other runners, and Bobby’s only value to the team is as a punching bag. The episode critiques the toxic elements of competitive youth sports and the damaging ways adults try to instill discipline.
Even though Bobby doesn’t come out with a win, the episode subtly reaffirms his self-worth in the face of shallow validation. He manages to retain his self-respect, even when others treat him like a joke.
10) Husky Bobby (Season 2)
Many fans see the episode “Husky Bobby” as a defining episode that explores body image, confidence, and parental discomfort. In this standout early season installment, Bobby is mortified to discover he’s considered “husky” but ends up modeling plus-size children’s clothes at the mall when he discovers their comfy fit.
This episode is quintessential Bobby. He’s unapologetically himself, even in the face of ridicule. When he struts down the mall runway in flashy outfits Hank and Peggy are concerned about potential criticism, but Bobby is the poster boy for body confidence.
What elevates this episode is how it tackles real themes without losing its comedic core. Hank’s discomfort is played for laughs, but it also reflects how adults so easily project their own personal insecurities onto kids. Bobby, by contrast, shows surprising resilience. The episode ends not with a moral lecture, but with Bobby proudly owning who he is, and setting the tone for how the show handles his uniqueness throughout the 13-season run.
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