Next Year's King of the Hill Finale: Should Nancy Get Away With It?

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spider486

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King of the Hill has been a suprisingly satisfying show for being a long running animated series. News of the series' cancellation this year was kind of a bummer for me and the series' fans until Fox announced that there would be two to six new shows airing next year (or going straight to DVD) to wrap the whole franchise up. Now since it IS just a cartoon we can't expect TOO much in the way of closure. I'd like to see some resolution for Good Hank and the whole Bobby/ Connie 'ship though I won't hold my breath. But I think the biggest story the show has been tip-toeing around since it's inception has been Nancy Gribble's affair with John Redcorn. They have devoted countless episodes since their break-up around the idea that Dale STILL has no idea and that no-one has the heart to break it to him.

I kind of see the series' point on this. Dale LOVES his boy Joseph and the truth could needlessly tear him and his son apart. Depending on Dale's reaction this could obliterate friendships in the neighborhood (since everybody BUT Dale knew) and cause a great deal of conflict. Do we really want to see that in the series' final episodes ever?

But...

Nancy can't just get away with it. She is consistantly the most reprehensible character on the show (although she is given a MEAN run for her money by Peggy Hill) and Dale, for all of his MANY faults has been nothing but a devoted and faithful husband to her. What kind of message does that send to the audience that people can REALLY hurt the people they supposedly love and not have to take responsibility for it? Or is that the entire point of it?

Frankly, part of me wishes that Nancy and John Redcorn had never broken up. It was just a joke when the series started and I wish they hadn't tried to assign a moral judgement to it. But the series having Nancy go back to Dale and reject Redcorn firmly puts the long-running gag in the "cautionary tale" camp. I would feel REALLY cheated if the series ended and Nancy was never given her comeuppence.

What say you?
 
I think the whole gag has already lasted too long, so long that for Dale to find out now would ruin it. It might have worked in previous years, but given the current season has "last season" written all over it, it probably wouldn't so well at this point, if you ask me. The gag about Dale remaining in the dark about Nancy's bigamy, and the irony of it since he's so obsessed with what goes on outside his life that he doesn't even see what's wrong in his own home, has become too well loved.

And count me in for those who want to see GH again. It's a bit annoying, actually, that Lucky's Wedding Suit was aired in a very series finale-esque fashion, and then didn't turn out to be it. So adding in all the one-time characters....meant nothing.
 
I think Dale figuring out Nancy's affair would ruin much of the series. It'd be nice to have a plot where Dale is so terrible close to finding out, but he still doesn't quite get it and never will. Bill finally striking some luck by establishing a strong, solid relationship with a beautiful woman and not being a complete loser would probably (or not) be a better plot, though.

...However, Mike Judge did have Beavis & Butt-Head 'die' in their final episode, so who knows what he has in store for KOTH.
 
The John Redcorn/Nancy thing is one aspect of the show that's always bugged me. It's nice that the two broke up, but I agree, Nancy should not be able to get away with it. Dale needs to learn the truth.

What a finale that would be.
 
Don't think I haven't thought about this concept. I think every KOTH fan has at some point. However, ultimately I'd have to say no.

Nancy confessing to Dale that she had an affair can't possibly be squeezed into one episode, particularly if it were a series finale. That plot thread has been so prevalent in the series (and was there from the very beginning) that it would need to be AT LEAST a season long arc to do it justice. And as we know, another season won't happen anyway.

There's some delicious irony about Dale not knowing, anyway. He's a conspiracy nut who records telephone conversations and spies on neighbors, yet he can't see the affair in front of his face. If Nancy spilled the beans, that element would be thrown out the window.

And personally, even though Dale doesn't know the truth, I actually find it better that way. Ignorance is bliss. As was said in a previous episode, everyone's comfortable with the lie. Telling Dale would disrupt the order of things. On top of that, it's in the past, since Nancy and Redcorn broke up and Nancy is now faithful to Dale again, so why dig up old bones when it's not really necessary?
 
I can understand people don't like the Peggy Hill character, but what about her makes her a reprehensible character? Sure she's stubborn and arrogant about things, but she's also been proven wrong so many times and her reason for being the way she is was revealed in that episode where they visited the old ranch. Her need to be in the right is fueled by her parents indifference towards her, which even when she's a grown married woman, did not change. Frankly, I find it sad that while she tries to prove herself, she is unaware of just how ignorant she is.

As for the question at hand, I give it one big no. That plot line was laid to rest when Nancy broke up with Redcorn and decided to remain faithful to Dale from then on. She payed for her mistakes through her hair loss and rapidly aging appearance. It's not the most suitable punishment, but it is basically destroying the trait that got her this successful and is a reminder of what she did.
 
These are my thoughts. Plus the most important thing:

DALE FINDING OUT WOULD NOT BE FUNNY. He'd be devastated. There would be no yucks in that episode. It would be a real downer of a series finale, plus an annoying cliffhanger, because the future of his marriage would be in question.

Don't hold your breath for a true series finale, though. They thought the ending was Luanne's wedding and for the past few seasons they've had no idea if Fox was renewing them again at the last minute or not. They'll probably play it safe and make Episode 258 just another show. Don't be disappointed; just expect it and you'll be satisfied.
 
No, Dale shouldn't find out the exact truth, but what they could do is this:

Dale thinks Nancy had an affair with someone else, like Bill, and that causes him to question wether Joseph is his son or not. Just the fact that Dale would think Bill fathered his child is hilarious in itself.

But, just before Nancy is about to admit the truth about John Redcorn, Dale forgives her because he loves her- and Joseph- enough that he'd forgive her for straying, and loves Joseph wether they're biological son or not, just before he gets proof that Bill was innocent.

So you'd have Dale forgiving her for cheating, even though it's for the wrong guy. You'd have Dale's feelings on what happened with John Redcorn without actually revealing to him the real truth.
 
I concur with Speedy Boris and Martianinvader's insight over the issue in regards to Dale finding out. It'd destroy the usual Dale we know and love, and turn it into a rather... painful half-hour if more continues from there.

I keep remembering the episode when this comes up where Peggy figured out that John Redcorn was Joseph's biological father, and when she was on the verge of telling him, she saw how Joseph and Dale conversed with one another, It was, and still is, one of the more sincere moments of KOTH, and she decided against it since it would ruin things forever between.

Do we really want to destroy Dale Gribble?
 
It would be like telling a kid that Santa doesn't exist or something(which we all know is a big fat lie, he exists)...it would destroy his innocence. As annoying as the character can act, Dale is still likeable as can be on the show, and you honestly don't want to see him hurt.
 
I think that's what makes her such a great character. People actually dislike her, one of my friends can't stand her at all, but that's what makes her character work.

Like you said, her childhood also plays quite the heavy part in her attitude. While I didn't like her at first, over time she really grew on me, and I don't think I could deal with Peggy without an ego. Sure she's annoying, but that's part of what makes her a great character.

As for the question... A few seasons ago I thought it would have been perfect, but now there's really no need. John Redcorn and Nancy haven't had their affair in a few seasons now, it's just not worth bringing up again simply for a 'what if' scenario. John Redcorn is a successful children's entertainer and Nancy is fully devoted to her family and job again, that part of their character arcs is over now.

As for Dale finding out... Well, he didn't realize it when John Recorn basically told him to his face that one time, so unless they for some good reason decide to get these characters together for this discussion (and I can't think of a plausible reason these characters would need to have this conversation), then it's really just best left as a 'what if' scenario.
 
Dale doesn't need to find out the truth,IMO...it'd ruin his life,not to mention his relationship with Nancy and Josef...I love that he's a conspiracy nut who can't see what's going on in his own home...
Personally,I liked the episode where Peggy learns the truth,gets upset with Nancy,and almost tells Dale,but stops when she sees Dale interacting with Josef....
...and not to mention the episode where Dale comes to think that an alien was Josef's real father,since he was out of town when Nancy got pregnant...

For all intents and purposes,Dale IS Josef's father anyway,he's the one who raised Josef,not John Redcorn...and Nancy eventually ended the affair and chose to stay with Dale...
 
I'm personally inclined to agree. One of the absolute best things about the controversial finale of Dinosaurs was how shockingly bleak it was. It was completely unexpected and that's what made it so memorable. Happy endings are overrated. You can't just introduced an element so that is so heavy and then shrug it off as a joke ESPECIALLY if it has yielded so many memorable stories on the show.

I think an idea like this would be an acceptable compromise. However instead of Bill, I'd make it Boomhauer since everyone knows he's a playa and hearing him try to defend himself would be funny.

She's been proven wrong to the audience but she is always shielded from complete humiliation from Hank on the show itself and always ends up each episode believing she's in the right. I don't think I'd enjoy watching Micheal Scott on The Office as much as I do if he had been given all of the free passes Peggy has gotten due to Hank's enabling. None of the other characters on The Office can stand Micheal and that's as it should be.

The "it can't be squeezed into one episode" argument is the best argument against doing it. However if there are truly going to be six new episodes next year they should reveal it in the first and let the chips fall where they may in the last five.

King of the Hill has done drama in the past and I personally don't think every episode of a comedy series has to all funny all the time. However I think the last episode probably should be. That's why I think revealing it in the first episode of six would work.
 
At the same time, a dark ending shouldn't be shoehorned into a show just to buck that trend of happy endings. I haven't seen the Dinosaurs ending in question, so I won't talk about something I have no knowledge about, but it's certainly the case that in some shows, a dark ending feels forced. For example, some have argued the Seinfeld finale falls into that camp. And despite that it was meant to parody shows which get more serious later on, Excel Saga is the same deal, as it was wacky comedy for 20-some episodes and suddenly got melodramatic (note I'm not counting episode 26).

KOTH, despite containing many serious/dramatic moments, is a comedy at heart (and depending on who you ask, is actually optimistic in its outlook despite some sarcasm/satire against various aspects of society). An ending where Dale finds out the truth and then kills himself would be a great departure from the series tone, and it would also mean that every time you saw the character in reruns, you'd be sad and think, "That guy DIES later."

Now of course, Dale killing himself is an extreme example. They wouldn't have to go THAT far. And I'm not suggesting you were insinuating KOTH should have an ending like that. But my point is, a dark ending doesn't automatically equal good. If they were to do a "Nancy spills the beans" episode, it has to be done well (mixing comedy and drama seamlessly like the rest of the series) or not at all.
 
Nope, he just as clueless as his dad. While something was implied in the Thanksgiving episode where Bobby was protesting Thanksgiving itself, it was more spiritual meaning on how he was told, like how we're all God Children.

Though, now that you mentioned it, I would like to Joseph reaction to that.
 
Joseph finding out would be a good compromise. Plus, it's something he SHOULD know. He's a Native American. He should know about his heritage and have someone there who can teach him about it in a "passing the torch" sort of way. Plus, finding out that John is his father won't change anything. Dale raised him. That'll always be his true father at the end of the day. I'm sure he'll figure that out by the end.
 
Well, I do agree with the fact that Joseph should know who his "Father" really is, and I'm still interested in seeing his reaction. But thinking about it for a while, his reaction won't be as big as Dale would be, since Dale is this enigma of a character that he is obsessed with his fantasy world of conspiracy theories and doesn't even realize that John Redcorn is his Father. Sure there was that episode where he thought about it, but he blamed the aliens.

While Joseph is more like a socially awkward teenager, not sure if that will add more to his socially awkwardness or not, but I guess it could, I'm not a child psychologist on this one.

But who knows, maybe someone telling Joseph the truth could be the domino effect that leads Dale to the truth.
 
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