Straight as an Arrow
Encyclopedia
"Straight as an Arrow" is the seventh episode in the 13th season of the Fox
animated series King of the Hill
, and the 242nd episode overall. It originally aired on November 30, 2008. Andy Richter
guest stars.
sees Bobby
riding his bicycle with a flat tire but showing no apparent interest in fixing it, he fears that his son may grow up to be irresponsible. Meanwhile, Peggy
takes over as Arlen's 'Welcome Wagon' lady after the previous welcomer resigns over various indiscretions. On Peggy's first Welcoming, she and Hank meet attachment parents
Wesley and Annette Cherish, who have just moved to Arlen from Fort Worth
. While discussing the various things to do in Arlen, Wesley states that he wishes to enroll his two oldest sons into the Order of the Straight Arrow. Hank mentions that Arlen does not have a chapter of 'the Arrow' any more, and Wesley suggests that he and Hank restart one. At the subsequent first meeting of the Order, Wesley decides to show the children how to build a fire; Hank is annoyed when the 'fires' turn out to be made up of twigs, ribbons, and a small fan, as Wesley believes building an actual fire to be too dangerous for the boys. Wesley then hands out the 'Arrow Knives', but to Hank's further dismay offers rubber toys rather than the actual, useful pocketknives Hank remembers from his own Arrow days. Afterward, Hank goes over to Wesley's house to discuss teaching the kids something more useful, proposing a lesson on tying knots and having the kids then craft a bow
and arrow
. When Wesley suggests making a dream catcher instead of the bow, dismissing a bow as too 'hunty-killy', Hank realizes that Wesley may in fact not be the type of man that he is.
Later, Hank relates his displeasure at Wesley's overprotective ideas about leading the Order to Dale
, Bill
, and Boomhauer
after Wesley's latest announcement of a 'camp-in' (instead of a campout) at the library. Together, they decide to show the boys a real Order of the Straight Arrow experience, using Hank's having volunteered to watch the boys for part of the night as an opportunity. When Wesley turns the gathering over to Hank and heads home, Peggy and the guys arrive with offerings of snacks and sodas, and Hank turns the boys loose in the parking lot to roughhouse. However, Wesley's sons Robin and Carey consume too much sugar and run off into the woods, and Hank sends the guys to Wesley's house to stall his return while Hank searches for the runaway boys. This turns out to be a prime opportunity for the other Arrow kids, however, as Hank teaches them tracking, tree climbing, and compass skills while their search progresses. Meanwhile, Bill, Dale, and Boomhauer drive to Wesley's house and pretend to be stranded motorists, assuming that he would be nice enough to assist them; instead, Wesley sprays the three of them with mace
.
Upon finally locating the errant boys, Hank and the Arrow kids return to the library, where they find Wesley and the guys waiting for them. Hank tells Wesley that they were just outside 'getting some air', but the guys admit to having told Wesley everything to get him to stop spraying them with mace. Wesley angrily tells Hank that he was acting irresponsibly, and that Robin has ADHD and Carey is hyperglycemic. After Wesley takes his boys home Peggy follows him stating she dose not want to be the welcome wagon lady any more, however, the other boys in the Order ask Hank if he could teach them 'more cool Arrow stuff', and Hank decides to show them how to whittle a fishing spear.
Meanwhile, Luanne and Lucky go to their neighbors and friends in an attempt to collect on wedding gifts which they feel they are owed.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
animated series King of the Hill
King of the Hill
King of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, and the 242nd episode overall. It originally aired on November 30, 2008. Andy Richter
Andy Richter
Paul Andrew "Andy" Richter is an American actor, writer, comedian, and late night talk show announcer. He is best known for his role as the sidekick of Conan O'Brien on each of the host's programs: Late Night and The Tonight Show on NBC, and Conan on TBS...
guest stars.
Plot
When HankHank Hill
Henry Rutherford "Hank" Hill Age 50 animated series King of the Hill. Hank lives in Arlen, Texas and works at the fictional Strickland Propane selling propane and propane accessories. Hank's voice is provided by series creator Mike Judge. The Economist named Hank Hill as one of the wisest people...
sees Bobby
Bobby Hill (King of the Hill)
Robert Jeffrey "Bobby" Hill is a character on the animated series King of the Hill and is voiced by Pamela Adlon. Bobby is the only child of Hank and Peggy Hill.- Biography :...
riding his bicycle with a flat tire but showing no apparent interest in fixing it, he fears that his son may grow up to be irresponsible. Meanwhile, Peggy
Peggy Hill
Margaret J. "Peggy" Hill is a fictional character in the American animated series King of the Hill.-Biography:Peggy is the matriarch of the Hill family, and the wife of series protagonist Hank Hill. She wears rimless glasses and is generally seen wearing cut-off blouses and culottes...
takes over as Arlen's 'Welcome Wagon' lady after the previous welcomer resigns over various indiscretions. On Peggy's first Welcoming, she and Hank meet attachment parents
Attachment parenting
Attachment parenting, a phrase coined by pediatrician William Sears, is a parenting philosophy based on the principles of the attachment theory in developmental psychology. According to attachment theory, the child forms a strong emotional bond with caregivers during childhood with lifelong...
Wesley and Annette Cherish, who have just moved to Arlen from Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. While discussing the various things to do in Arlen, Wesley states that he wishes to enroll his two oldest sons into the Order of the Straight Arrow. Hank mentions that Arlen does not have a chapter of 'the Arrow' any more, and Wesley suggests that he and Hank restart one. At the subsequent first meeting of the Order, Wesley decides to show the children how to build a fire; Hank is annoyed when the 'fires' turn out to be made up of twigs, ribbons, and a small fan, as Wesley believes building an actual fire to be too dangerous for the boys. Wesley then hands out the 'Arrow Knives', but to Hank's further dismay offers rubber toys rather than the actual, useful pocketknives Hank remembers from his own Arrow days. Afterward, Hank goes over to Wesley's house to discuss teaching the kids something more useful, proposing a lesson on tying knots and having the kids then craft a bow
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
and arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
. When Wesley suggests making a dream catcher instead of the bow, dismissing a bow as too 'hunty-killy', Hank realizes that Wesley may in fact not be the type of man that he is.
Later, Hank relates his displeasure at Wesley's overprotective ideas about leading the Order to Dale
Dale Gribble
Dale Alvin Gribble is a fictional character in the animated series King of the Hill. and is voiced by Johnny Hardwick . He is an exterminator, bounty hunter, smoker, gun fanatic, and paranoid believer of almost all conspiracy theories and urban legends...
, Bill
Bill Dauterive
Bill Dauterive, born Gillaume Fontaine de la Tour D'Haute Rive is a fictional character on the Fox animated series King of the Hill...
, and Boomhauer
Boomhauer
Jeff Dexter Boomhauer III, almost always referred to as simply Boomhauer, is a fictional character in the animated series King of the Hill. The character is voiced by series creator Mike Judge, and is known for his nearly incomprehensible speech....
after Wesley's latest announcement of a 'camp-in' (instead of a campout) at the library. Together, they decide to show the boys a real Order of the Straight Arrow experience, using Hank's having volunteered to watch the boys for part of the night as an opportunity. When Wesley turns the gathering over to Hank and heads home, Peggy and the guys arrive with offerings of snacks and sodas, and Hank turns the boys loose in the parking lot to roughhouse. However, Wesley's sons Robin and Carey consume too much sugar and run off into the woods, and Hank sends the guys to Wesley's house to stall his return while Hank searches for the runaway boys. This turns out to be a prime opportunity for the other Arrow kids, however, as Hank teaches them tracking, tree climbing, and compass skills while their search progresses. Meanwhile, Bill, Dale, and Boomhauer drive to Wesley's house and pretend to be stranded motorists, assuming that he would be nice enough to assist them; instead, Wesley sprays the three of them with mace
Mace (spray)
Chemical Mace is a tear gas in the form of an aerosol spray which propels a lachrymatory agent mixed with a volatile solvent. It is sometimes used as a self-defense device...
.
Upon finally locating the errant boys, Hank and the Arrow kids return to the library, where they find Wesley and the guys waiting for them. Hank tells Wesley that they were just outside 'getting some air', but the guys admit to having told Wesley everything to get him to stop spraying them with mace. Wesley angrily tells Hank that he was acting irresponsibly, and that Robin has ADHD and Carey is hyperglycemic. After Wesley takes his boys home Peggy follows him stating she dose not want to be the welcome wagon lady any more, however, the other boys in the Order ask Hank if he could teach them 'more cool Arrow stuff', and Hank decides to show them how to whittle a fishing spear.
Meanwhile, Luanne and Lucky go to their neighbors and friends in an attempt to collect on wedding gifts which they feel they are owed.
Continuity
- This episode features references to the original Order of the Straight Arrow episode, such as the 'invocation' of the native spirit Wematanye.
- Bobby seems to have forgotten that he had previously been in the Order 240 episodes prior.
- Joseph, who was in the Order of the Straight Arrow alongside Bobby in season one, is not featured in this episode because Dale states that he won't be joining: "Thanks to my tutelage, he's a level six survivalist. He's been trained to use boys like yours as food and shelter."
- Also absent is Randy (the son of Eustice, who had been thrown out of the Order when he was a child), who was also featured as an Order member in the same episode.
Reception
- This episode drew 6.2 million viewers, making it third place that night.