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"Luanne's Saga" is the fifth episode of the FOX animated television series King of the Hill. It originally aired on February 16, 1997. The episode was written by Paul Lieberstein and directed by Pat Shinagawa.

Synopsis[]

After leaving her boyfriend, Hank's niece, Luanne, finds comfort with Boomhauer.

Plot[]

When Hank complains about Luanne's belongings cluttering his den, Luanne assures him that she will soon be living with her boyfriend, Buckley. Later that day, Buckley drives his motorcycle to the Hill residence and picks up Luanne. The couple drives thirty yards away when the bike stops and Luanne gets off. When Luanne returns home, sobbing, it becomes clear Buckley broke up with her. Hank grows concerned when Peggy is unable to "fix" Luanne's dilemma, as Luanne spends the next couple days crying at all hours. Peggy tells her husband it will help if he tells Luanne how pretty she looks. Unfortunately, Hank approaches Luanne after she has been crying. Furious, Luanne snaps at him, screaming that she was dumped by her boyfriend. When Luanne continues crying, Hank convinces her that it is all right to swallow her emotions. He then promises to help her find a new man in forty-eight hours. When Hank and Luanne begin to bond, Peggy chastises her husband for meddling with a natural process. Hank responds by telling his wife how pretty she looks. Peggy melts completely.

Hank, Peggy, Luanne, Bill, Boomhauer, Dale and Nancy drive to Ugly's Saloon. Determined to keep his word about finding Luanne a boyfriend, and equally determined to keep his wife in the dark about his motives, Hank tells his friends to search the bar for a potential suitor. In an attempt to keep his wife distracted, Hank asks Bill to dance with Peggy. After passing over several men, Hank notices a flash of light emanating from a shiny belt buckle. The wearer of the belt, Wade, an all-American young football player, passes muster with Hank. Shortly thereafter, Hank tells Luanne to introduce herself. Hank and Peggy return home. When Buckley returns looking to patch things up with Luanne, Hank sends him away, implying that Luanne is with Wade now. Later that night when Luanne returns home with Boomhauer, her new boyfriend, Hank is horrorstruck.

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When Hank sees Luanne giving Boomhauer a peck on the cheek, he storms up to the couple. Luanne explains how, the moment Hank left the saloon, Wade turned into "Mr. Grabby Sam" until Boomhauer stepped in and. Hank forbids Luanne from dating Boomhauer, noting that he is her landlord when Luanne stands up to him, saying that he cannot tell her what to do since Hank is not her father. Out of spite, Luanne counters she will stay at Boomhauer's home. Despite Boomhauer's objections, Luanne moves in. Hank starts to clear his den of Luanne's things. Peggy notices him choking up and says that he is "eating his feelings" knowing that deep down, Hank does love Luanne- he just has a hard time showing it.

Realizing how much Luanne and Hank genuinely like one another, Peggy arranges for the pair to "accidentally" show up at Luby's restaurant at the same time. Still angered, Hank tells Luanne to stop by the house and pick up her belongings. The next day, when Luanne shows up at the house, she finds her belongings unpacked and spread out neatly in the den. Hank admits how much better he likes the room. Realizing she is being allowed to stay at the house, Luanne tells Hank how much she loves him.

During the credits, Bill and Dale encourage Hank to make up with Boomhauer. Hank calls him over and hands him a beer, signaling their friendship is repaired. Dale comments how the moment is beautiful, and the four men start to choke up, as Hank did earlier.

Characters[]

Trivia[]

  • The writer of this episode, Paul Lieberstein, was nominated for the 1997 Annie Award for Best Individual Achievement: Writing in a TV Production.
  • In one scene, Hank is seen in his garage, trying to make noise to block out Luanne's crying. However, there is a window that looks out into the yard and into a window on the left that belongs to the den. This room is never seen again.
  • Hank treats Luanne's use of the word "buttocks" as if it is profanity.
  • Hank states that Luanne and Buckley had only been together for 3 weeks.
  • It is suggested that Hank feels nervous about telling Luanne she looks pretty because she is family.
  • Luanne and Buckley are a couple again by "King of the Ant Hill," where Luanne mentions that Buckley wanted to shoot his .38 caliber at the Cinco de Mayo party.
  • Dale unintentionally makes himself seem gay by saying he will "look for a guy with a round, muscular butt," causing Hank to change the subject.
    • He does so again when he scares the daylights out of a man next to him at the urinal by looking down and to his left and saying "you seem like a regular guy."
  • This is the first episode to reference Bill's attraction to Peggy, seen when he decides to dance with Peggy without question.
  • This is the first episode to show Boomhauer's Dodge Super Bee, as opposed to his green truck.
  • Hank calls Buckley a "dip head" and Boomhauer a "cradle robber" (a dip head is someone who uses chewing tobacco, and a cradle robber is someone who dates people much younger than themself).
  • This episode marks the first guest appearance of Chuck Mangione.
    • This is the first episode of many in the series to reference Chuck Mangione and his hit single "Feels So Good."
    • For whatever reason, Chuck Mangione appears to be much younger than he is in real life.
  • Peggy's entire "Pandora's Box" speech is cut out in the syndicated airings, but it is featured on Adult Swim.
  • This is one of the first episodes where it is implied Nancy and John Redcorn have an affair going on. At Ugly's Saloon, John Redcorn buys Dale a beer and asks if he can dance with Nancy, which Dale obliviously accepts.


Season 1 Season 2

Pilot · Square Peg · The Order of the Straight Arrow · Hank's Got the Willies · Luanne's Saga · Hank's Unmentionable Problem · Westie Side Story · Shins of the Father · Peggy the Boggle Champ · Keeping Up With Our Joneses · King of the Ant Hill · Plastic White Female
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