- Dia-BILL-ic Shock
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"Dia-BILL-ic Shock" King of the Hill episode Episode no. Season 13
Episode 1Production code CABE16 Original air date September 28, 2008[1] Episode chronology ← Previous
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"Earthly Girls are Easy"List of King of the Hill episodes "Dia-BILL-ic Shock" is the season premiere of the 13th season of the Fox animated series King of the Hill, and the 236th episode overall. It originally aired on September 28, 2008, and is rated TV-PG L. The episode's title references the phrase 'diabetic shock'.
Contents
Plot
After collapsing while bingeing on carnival junk-food, Bill is diagnosed with diabetes. Hank and the others express concern at this news, and Hank steps in to coach Bill in improving his diet. However, old habits die hard, and another binge (and subsequent collapse) lands Bill back in the hospital. There, a surly, egotistical and uncaring doctor, skeptical that Bill will ever change his habits for the better, tells him that his future will involve a slow death from the diabetes beginning with the loss of his legs, and advises Bill to get a wheelchair (which he really doesn’t need) while his insurance will still cover it.
Hank and the others are shocked and saddened when Bill returns to the alley in his wheelchair, and, believing this to be a permanent change, conspire to remodel Bill's house to make everything in it wheelchair-accessible and help him out however else they can. When Hank takes a downcast Bill to the park, Bill is befriended by a wheelchair rugby player nicknamed Thunder, who teaches him that he can still be independent despite needing to use a wheelchair. After Thunder lends Bill his spare rugby chair, Bill takes to the court himself; over time he proves to be a competitive, capable player, and his depression turns to confident delight with his new upper-body strength. However, as the rugby players loudly celebrate one of their games at a bar one night, Bill tipsily excuses himself to use the restroom... and makes his way on foot, impeded only by the beers he'd had. When the other players indignantly protest Bill's 'deception', he attempts to explain that he has diabetes and whips out his blood glucose monitor - only to read normally, as all the exercise from playing rugby had reversed his condition.
Back at Bill's house, Hank, Dale, and Boomhauer are putting the finishing touches on a basketball court for Bill when Bill arrives, walking his own wheelchair in shame. The three are angered with him for having acted like he was handicapped, and, like the rugby players, refuse to speak to him further. Depressed anew at having alienated all of his friends, Bill begins eating spoonfuls of granulated sugar in an attempt to regain his diabetes. Hank arrives, accompanied by Thunder, and stops him from eating the sugar; Hank and Thunder explain that Bill is inspirational in simply having cured his diabetes on his own. Later, an angry Bill beats up the nasty and disrespectful doctor in his office, while Hank waits outside and reads a magazine.
Trivia
- This episode features the song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys.
Reception
The show drew 7.04 million viewers, down 2.00 from their lead-in’s ratings.[2]
References
King of the Hill General Characters Categories:- King of the Hill episodes
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