Death Picks Cotton

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“Death Picks Cotton”
King of the Hill episode
Hank and Cotton's last moment.
Episode no.	Season 12 Episode 5
Written by	Murray Miller Judah Miller
Directed by	Tony Kluck
Guest stars	David Herman
Production no.	4E01
Original airdate	November 11, 2007
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List of King of the Hill episodes

"Death Picks Cotton" is the fifth episode of King of the Hill' twelfth season, and originally aired on November 11, 2007.^[1] The episode features the death of Hank's angry father, Cotton Hill. The episode aired on Veterans Day and Remembrance Day,^[1] as a tribute to all war heroes. It was written by Murray and Judah Miller, and directed by Tony Kluck. David Herman makes a guest appearance.^[1]

[edit] Plot

Hank and the guys are building a new shed, since Dale blew up Hank’s old shed. Cotton shows up and kicks the shed down. He doesn’t like the shed since it wasn’t as good as the one he built back in World War II. Lucky and Luanne are talking about the restaurant they are planning on eating at that night. It sounds like a Benihana but Bobby isn’t allowed to go since the night out is for adults only. Cotton volunteers to stay and watch Bobby. Peggy leaves Bobby a lasagna in the fridge to heat up for his dinner later. Cotton doesn’t like cold lasagna and refuses to let Bobby heat it up, since they are both men. Cotton says he’ll drive his grandson (at night without glasses or a license and using a mop to reach the peddles) to the restaurant to join his family for dinner.

They show up at the restaurant, but Cotton doesn’t want to have anything to do with it, since it’s Japanese. He gets into a huge fight with the chef at their table, even though the chef only speaks Spanish and winds up in the hospital. The doctors don’t think Cotton is going to make it, and Hank refuses to believe them. He goes home to rebuild the shed his father knocked down. Dale visits Cotton in the hospital and learns that it’s Cotton’s last wish to knock down Hank’s shed one more time. Lucky and Luanne take Bobby in while Cotton is in the hospital so they can practice being parents. It doesn’t go well. Dale tries to knock down Hank’s shed, but only hurts his shoulder. Hank wants to know what the hell he’s doing and Dale tells him about his father’s last wish. Hank realizes that if his father is making a last wish he must really be dying so he heads to the hospital where he gets into a fight with his father and tells him he doesn’t love him, just then, Cotton flatlines and Hank rushes out of the room just as the doctors rush in to work on their coding patient.

Back home Peggy is telling Hank it’s ok because Cotton made his life hell when they get a call from the hospital. Cotton is still alive and Hank has a second chance to tell him that he did love him. Hank tries to tell his father he loves him and Cotton flips out on him. He leaves the room and Peggy gives him a piece of her mind and tells him that she hopes he lives forever and is always in pain. So, just to spite her, Cotton dies. Hank comes back in the room and Peggy tells him that Cotton told her he loved Hank before he died. In Hank’s yard he’s finished the shed and he’s placing a plaque on the door dedicating it to Cotton Hill: American. Just when everyone stands back to admire the shed, Dale blows it up as a tribute to Cotton.^[1]

[edit] Cultural references

The title of this episode is a take-off of Death Picks Her.^[2] Bobby dances to the Pussy Cat Dolls's "Don't Cha".^[2]
Cotton died on November 11th-- Veteran's day.^[2]

[edit] Reception

The episode was very positively received.^[3] Some, however, criticized the episode because of the notable absence of Didi and G.H.^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

IMDB: Death Picks Cotton