"Hilloween" is the Halloween episode of the FOX animated sitcom King of the Hill, originally aired as the fourth episode of the show's second season.
Plot[]
Hank and his buddies work on constructing a haunted house for the local school. Meanwhile, Luanne attends a Bible study meeting. The group leader introduces Junie Harper, a new, outspoken member of the church whom Hank considers a busybody. Junie tells the impressionable teenagers that Halloween is a holiday for witches and Satanists. When Luanne returns home, she repeats what Junie said about trick or treating being devil worship--a notion that raises Hank's ire. Later, Junie tells Luanne she is sponsoring a Hallelujah House, a "righteous alternative" to haunted houses. When Luanne tells Junie that Bobby's school is sponsoring a haunted house, she threatens the principal, Carl Moss, with a lawsuit (claiming separation of church and state). Left with little choice, Moss cancels the haunted house.
Peggy suggests that the haunted house be held inside the family garage. Later, Hank initiates Bobby in the fine art of trick or treating by covering Junie's house with toilet paper. As a furious Junie exits the dwelling, Hank and his son run for cover. But Junie gets a good look at Bobby's face and reports him to the police. Hank takes the blame for the incident, but out of Peggy's earshot, he praises the boy as a "regular Halloween hellraiser." Later, Luanne tells Bobby that his father is a Satanist. At first, Bobby dismisses the notion, but after recollecting several of Hank's comments about Halloween (and an unpleasant liver dinner), the boy comes to believe Luanne may be right. Meanwhile, Junie convinces the City Council that her house was attacked by Satanists using her own dead cat (that she accidentally ran over herself) as proof. As a result, the Council passes a curfew that, in effect, cancels Halloween. Despite this, Hank vows to teach his son "the true meaning of Halloween come hell or high water."
Luanne and Bobby attend Hallelujah House, where Junie pushes her own religious agenda. Meanwhile, Hank and Peggy sit by the garbage hoping trick or treaters will stop by the garage to see the haunted house with Hank being upset that nobody will stand up for themselves. When Peggy tries to get her son to join his father Luanne tells her aunt that she took Bobby to Junie's for the boys salvation. This news causes a livid Peggy to angrily berate Luanne about making decisions that she has no authority to make and threatens her with expulsion from the Hill residence if she ever does it again. Outside, when Peggy tells Hank that his son attended Junie's anti-Halloween church party, he takes action. Despite the threat of arrest, Hank dons his Devil's costume from childhood and walks down the street yelling, "trick or treat." Soon after, other residents (and even Luanne) muster the courage to join him, and a parade of neighbors gather in front of Junie's home. Hank tells his son he will be given candy if he joins the festivities. Junie, however, warns he will be sent to hell. Bobby decides to go trick or treating--not because of the candy, but because of his wish to be with his father. Later, the boy tells Hank that despite what he said in front of Junie, he does indeed care about the prospect of getting free candy.
Cast[]
| Voice actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Mike Judge | Hank Hill Jeff Boohaumer |
| Kathy Najimy | Peggy Hill |
| Pamela Adlon | Bobby Hill |
| Brittany Murphy | Luanne Platter |
| Johnny Hardwick | Dale Gribble |
| Stephen Root | Bill Dauterive |
| Dennis Burkley | Principal Moss |
| Sally Field | Junie Harper |
| Neil Giuntoli | Closer #2 |
| David Herman | City Councilman |
| David Zuckerman | Group Leader |
Trivia[]
- The title is a portmanteau of Hill and Halloween.
- The argument between Junie Harper and Hank while they are in the angel and devil costume respectively with Bobby in the middle seems to resemble the cartoonish depiction of a conscience.
- After Luanne joins Hank and the gang to protest against the curfew, none of their mouths are moving when they are saying "Trick Or Treat".
Availability[]
The episode was made available on the King of the Hill: The Complete Second Season DVD set, released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on November 11, 2003.