Anonymouswizard's Astoundingly Assonant Random Banter #240

[Metastachydium]

Sweet! Finally I can establish the noble lineage of the House of Form!

Too late! That's already a thing.

[Rater202]

I somehow managed to sprain my ankle in my sleep again. It's not as bad this time but it's certainly annoying.

[Mystic Muse]

Well, good old page 50. Time for someone else to start the thread.

[Rater202]

So I flipped on the TV just now and what happened to be on was the episode of King of The Hill where the Hill's neighbors treat Hank like a monster becuase he doesn't want to let an entitled old lady commit suicide in his house.

Does anyone else hate episodes of shows like that? Where the main characters are treated like crap becuase they... Quite reasonably didn't want to deal with something crazier or unpleasant?

[Fyraltari]

Does anyone else hate episodes of shows like that? Where the main characters are treated like crap becuase they... Quite reasonably didn't want to deal with something crazier or unpleasant?

Depends on how the show frames that. Knowing basically nothing about King of the Hill, your little summary here doesn't give me any clue on who the writers expect you to root for.

[Peelee]

Depends on how the show frames that. Knowing basically nothing about King of the Hill, your little summary here doesn't give me any clue on who the writers expect you to root for.

IIRC the lady didn't want to commit suicide there, she just wanted to die there (not much of a difference as far as the effect goes), and I can't remember if the neighbors were aware or not. I think they might have been and Hank asked if they would let her do it if it was their house and they dodged the question. If my recollection is correct then the writers weren't wanting anyone to root for the neighbors at all, and it was just small stakes small town hypocrisy. You weren't really rooting for anyone except maybe rooting for Hank.

My apologies to all the good people in Australia.

[Rater202]

Depends on how the show frames that. Knowing basically nothing about King of the Hill, your little summary here doesn't give me any clue on who the writers expect you to root for.

The thing is? Neither do I.

Like, at one point the woman, Ms. Wakefield, is scratching at Bobby's window asking her to let him in(Bobby being home alone) with a crazed look in her eye and the whole thing is framed liked a scene out of a slasher movie but when Hank has her arrested for trespassing the police take her side.

Later, after the obituaries report that she was found dead at a bus stop, the Hills all feel bad for her... Until it turns out she faked her death so she could break in when their guard was down.

She ultimately gets off scot-free for basically terrorizing the Hill Family, with Hank offering the compromise that she can visit the house whenever as long as she doesn't die there.

Edit: They never actually use the word suicide, but at no point is she said to be terminally ill or even in bad health for her age and from context it seems that she's actively trying to die on purposes—she notes that it'll only take her a day or two, that she won't linger, and at one point while trying to manhandle her out of the house she starts holding her breath.

As for the neighbors, Hank flat out told them, most of the dodged the question, but Dale actively tried to get her to change her mind and die at his house becuase she's trying to convert it into a bed and breakfast and thinks he'd attract more customers if he claimed the house was haunted.

[Fyraltari]

She ultimately gets off scott-free for basically terrorizing the Hill Family, with Hank offering the compromise that hse can visit the house whenever as long as she doesn't die there.

What's his plan if she still does?

[Rater202]

What's his plan if she still does?

Not clear. We have her agreement but the episode ends there and she only appeared in that one episode.

[Peelee]

The thing is? Neither do I.

Like, at one point the woman, Ms. Wakefield, is scratching at Bobby's window asking her to let him in(Bobby being home alone) with a crazed look in her eye and the whole thing is framed liked a scene out of a slasher movie but when Hank has her arrested for trespassing the police take her side.

Police often have little to no evidence on calls and basically take a "he said she said" case presented to them and try to figure out which is more likely. Sometimes the person who calls the cops first gets them on their side. Sometimes the person who seems incredibly sympathetic (eg a frail little old lady) gets them on their side. It sucks sometimes but it's a hard system to start with.

What's his plan if she still does?

Be shocked that she didn't uphold her word.

[Rater202]

Be shocked that she didn't uphold her word.

...Yeah, probably. Hank was legitimately shocked about a car salesman lying about the sticker price being the best possible price for a given vehicle.

[Peelee]

...Yeah, probably. Hank was legitimately shocked about a car salesman lying about the sticker price being the best possible price for a given vehicle.

I don't agree with some of Hank's beliefs, but damned if I wouldn't love to have him as a neighbor. Dude was a legit good man.

[Fyraltari]

Be shocked that she didn't uphold her word.

Most people don't have control over the moment of their own death, though.

[Peelee]

Most people don't have control over the moment of their own death, though.

I think you underestimate Hank Hill's sense of honor.

[Rater202]

I don't agree with some of Hank's beliefs, but damned if I wouldn't love to have him as a neighbor. Dude was a legit good man.

If you pay attention, hank steadily becomes more open minded and flexible in his beliefs over time as he comes to accept Bobby's weirdness of the week or finds some common ground with people he doens't quite gel with.

(He also gets more comfortable with affection.)

It's subtle, mostly because Fox shut down their attempts at hard continuity becuase they wanted to be able to air the episodes in any order, but it's there.

With the revival set to take place 15 years later, I wouldn't be surprised if Hank has mellowed out a bit in his old age just from his character development being furthered along the lines it was going over the series.

[Peelee]

If you pay attention, hank steadily becomes more open minded and flexible in his beliefs over time as he comes to accept Bobby's weirdness of the week or finds some common ground with people he doens't quite gel with.

(He also gets more comfortable with affection.)

It's subtle, mostly because Fox shut down their attempts at hard continuity becuase they wanted to be able to air the episodes in any order, but it's there.

With the revival set to take place 15 years later, I wouldn't be surprised if Hank has mellowed out a bit in his old age just from his character development being furthered along the lines it was going over the series.

I am fully aware and I stand by my statement.

[Anonymouswizard]

Most people don't have control over the moment of their own death, though.

No, but there's also a good chance somebody elderly will die of a condition that makes death expected. As well as a possibility that they'll die of something that seems to come out of nowhere, but it's a lot less likely than when somebody is young.

Even in the former case it's possible for people to hold on ridiculously long. People who die of dementia generally do so after losing some basic survival skill, but could still hold on for potentially a couple of weeks while unable to eat. As long as she's in good health and doesn't have an accident it's actually surprisingly reasonable to assume she'll die while recieving trained medical attention. Which means that she'd be unlikely to be in control of her movements on such a scale, and would likely have been moved to a hospital or potentially an end of life care unit before the moment comes even if she does start the final process in the house.

Sorry, that's probably a little too morbid and real world. But it sucks that too many people don't get to die in the place and company of their choosing. But the property of someone unrelated is maybe a bit too far.

[Aedilred]

I have made an executive decision to start a new thread.