Follow TV Tropes

Following

Recap / King Of The Hill S 2 E 17 Hanks Dirty Laundry

Go To

After Hank's good credit is sullied by a late fee due to Arlen video that has a false record of him renting pornography, he fights it to set the record straight.


Tropes in the Episode:

  • Accidental Pervert: What happens to Hank. Initially, it just starts off as a computer error with him owing money for a porn movie he never rented, but gets worse when his names gets onto a porn mailing list and he gets a whole bunch of packages, which makes him look like a smut hound.
  • Anonymous Benefactor: As the trial nears, Peggy and the guys have made it clear that they will not support Hank against the video store, specially since he has no evidence to prove he didn't rent that porno movie. However, he gets a bunch of VHS tapes, with a Cut-and-Paste Note from "A Friend" saying that the evidence he needs is in the movies. After Hank wins the case Bill leaves another anonymous note saying "Congratulations! -A Friend."
  • Birthday Episode: Subverted in that his actual birthday is a month away, but Bobby is convinced that it is and Hank and family are planning a Surprise Party for him and buying him gifts. Luanne tries to tell him it's not the case, but eventually just rolls with it.
  • Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs: As Hank looks for Cuffs & Collars, he goes by these sections: "Action-Adventure, Action-Comedy, Action-Action".
  • Clear My Name: Ultimately what Hank tries to do after getting his credit declined by Arlen Video, he eventually succeeds in this by proving that he never rented Cuffs & Collars in court.
  • Comedic Underwear Exposure: With Hank, though indirectly. He gets embarrassed when Peggy puts his underwear on an outdoor clothing line, due to the dryer being broken and he rushes to bring them down.
  • Courtroom Episode: Hank takes Arlen Video to court and proves his innocence by showing photos that Cuffs & Collars wasn't released on the day he supposedly rented it.
  • The Cuckoolander Was Right: Hank initially dismisses Dale's conspiracy theory of "The Beast", a computer system the government uses to spy on and harass citizens. But as time goes along, Hank becomes convinced it exists.
  • Cut-and-Paste Note: Hank gets this alongside a pile of porn tapes to help him prove his innocence.
  • Exposed Embarrassing Purchase: Hank tries to return unwanted porn tapes to the post office, but they tell him he has to contact the company to get off their mailing list. He tries to just throw them in the trash, but an elderly postal worker calls out that he forgot his mail, reading out the ad offering to "prolong your lovemaking pleasure for just pennies a night".
  • Fanservice: As Hank takes his underwear off the clothing line, he grabs a sheet, revealing Luanne in pink underwear (presumably changing clothes) and he promptly puts it back up. Much to his dismay.
  • Friendship Denial: As Hank tells the people in the post office he's fighting for the people that they don't fall into computer errors and porn mailing lists themselves, the mail clerk asks Boomhauer if he knows him. Boomhauer denies it, just dismissing him as a Dirty Old Man, then he flirts with her. Hank rightfully calls him out on this.
  • Hypocrite:
    • Both Nancy and John Redcorn have the gall to look at Hank disapprovingly when he comes out of the porn section at Arlen Video, which they have no credibility considering their adulterous relationship.
    • Bill looks down upon Hank for his "pornography interests". At the end, it's shown the mysterious friend who lent the tapes to Hank is Bill himself.
  • A Man Is Always Eager: Averted with Hank, though Peggy accuses him of this. When Hanks tries to figure out how the video store made the mistake of him renting "Cuffs and Collars," Peggy says the date coincides when a day he was home-alone, and despite Hank saying he didn't rent the movie Peggy insists that she doesn't care if he rented it or not. After Hank files a lawsuit to get his credit in good standing back, Peggy insinuates that Hank lost the videotape and doesn't want to pay the fine because of his ego and refuses to back him up. When Bill, anonymously, leaves a bunch of porno-tapes on the Hills' front porch, Bobby assumes Hank got him some movies for his birthday, and Peggy angrily accuses Hank of not being more discreet with his mail-order pornography purchases. When Hank looks at the movies to search for clues that would exonorate him, he's at first disgusted, but then starts looking intently in order to take notes, but when his pen runs low on ink and he shakes it, Peggy peeks into the room and assumes he's enjoying the movies.
  • Mistaken for Masturbating: When Hank watches the porn videos for research for evidence to prove his innocence, he shakes his pen in an up-and-down motion, right when Peggy walks in.
  • No Sympathy: No one is sympathetic to Hank's cause, even Boomhauer and Dale abandon him, Dale even lampshades it. Peggy is the worst offender, giving a mixed message of saying he should just pay the fee because it doesn't matter and accusingly distrusting him anyway. Subverted for Bill, who lambasts him for the porn, when in the end, he secretly assists him in his case.
  • Riddle for the Ages: The actual source of the eroneous rental is never made clear, the best guess given in the episode being that it was a computer error.
  • Shout-Out: A movie poster seen inside Arlen Video is based on Beverly Hills Ninja.
  • Slippery Skid: Hank makes one for a pursuing police officer that chases him after he gets in trouble for getting rid of his porn stash.
  • Start X to Stop X: To prove he did not rent a pornographic video, Hank has to watch a series of pornographic videos closely for evidence of when they were released.
  • Sure, Let's Go with That: Luanne says this when the Hills finally bought their dryer and Bobby believes it is indeed his birthday present.
  • Variations on a Theme Song: The end-credits theme has a porn music-style variation of the theme song, complete with sexual moaning.
  • Verbal Backspace: Hank does this after getting a call from a porn mail-order service, shocking him into yelling "Arlen Video told you I rent pornograhy?!", which then catches the attention of the Strickland Propane staff. Hank then plays it off as a radio station prank call.
  • Yank the Dog's Chain: While sitting there protesting Arlen Video with a sign that says "Honk If You Hate Arlen Video", a car drives by honking with Hank raising his fist in support. It turns out it was just John Redcorn picking up Nancy. Dale even laughs at Hank for what just happened.



Top