Warning! This article contains SPOILERS forKing of the Hillseason 14, episode 9.In an unexpected move, theKing of the Hillrevival brought back one of Hank’s most overlooked relatives. Almost every main character from the original show returned in theKing of the Hillrevival. WhileLuanne and Lucky aren’t in the revival, everyone from Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer to Cotton Hill (as a memory) and his third son, Good Hank, made an appearance.
That last appearance, Good Hank and his mother, Didi, actually made it possible for Hank’s most obscure relative to appear. SomeKing of the Hillfans may not know or remember that Hank had another half-brother besides Good Hank, but he was the subject of a fan-favorite two-part episode back in 2002, and he lasted all the way toKing of the Hillseason 14.
Junichiro Makes A Cameo After Being Mostly Ignored
Hank, Junichiro, and Good Hank Were All Called To Receive Cotton’s Settlement Money
Surprisingly enough,Hank’s Japanese half-brother, Junichiro, makes a cameo inKing of the Hillseason 14, episode 9.King of the Hill’s creators actually teased Junichiro’s comebackin an interview withScreenRant, but the cameo was still a surprise. Junichiro, Hank, and Hank’s other half-brother, Good Hank, all attended a meeting about Cotton, their father.
As the lawyer explained, Cotton was part of a class-action lawsuit against a company who sold lotion that promised to grow shins back.Junichiro was easily the most surprising part of the entire meeting, however, as he hasn’t appeared since Luanne’s wedding inKing of the Hillseason 11, and he hasn’t had a speaking line since season 6.
Cotton famously had his shins shot off in World War II by “fiddy” (50) Japanese soldiers. His feet were then sewn directly onto his knees, making him significantly shorter than Hank.
King of the Hillis filled with small but memorable characters. John Redcorn, for example, only appears in 40 episodes, yet he’s a well-known figure of the show. Still,Junichiro is an extremely niche character for theKing of the Hillrevival to bring back. Though he is a relatively minor character, it was nice to see him again after all these years, even if it was only briefly.
Fans May Have Forgotten About Junichiro
Junichiro Is Such A Minor KotH Character That Fans May Have Forgotten About Him After Over A Decade
The only problem with Junichiro’s cameo inKing of the Hillseason 14, episode 9 was that some viewers may not have recognized him.As previously mentioned, it’s been 18 years since Junichiro appeared inKing of the Hilland 23 years since his beloved two-part special. MostKotHfans probably don’t remember who Junichiro is after all this time.
TheKing of the Hillrevival also does very little to remind viewers of Junichiro’s connection to Hank. Aside from saying they’re half-brothers,KotHdoesn’t say anything about how Junichiro was Cotton’s illegitimate son after he was injured in Japan, or Hank’s history with him. Junichiro basically had to be there to get Hank and GH in the same room, but it would still have been confusing for most viewers.
Even though Junichiro’s cameo may have flown over some heads, it does display that the creators ofKing of the Hillhave just as good a memory as its viewers. Junichiro is the type of character who could have easily been forgotten, but theKing of the Hillrevival was too careful to leave him out.
