No Hank Left Behind

Until this episode I was surprised at how even-handed the revival was being with its social messaging. I mean, it's owned by Disney and made in 2025, there's going to be messaging, especially when the whole premise is characters from the 90s finding themselves in a 2020s world. That's a big part of the show. And it really was going well until this one.

I liked what they tried to do with it. Taking on the creepy YouTube hucksters who use words like "beta" was a good idea, and they handled it alright for a while, but in trying to teach being respectful to women they accidentally slipped in some classic sexist concepts. I doubt they even realized they did it.

During the climax Hank says, "If we aren't getting support from the women in our lives it's because we haven't earned it." That drivel somehow manages to contain two contradictory implications: first, that all women are universally nurturing, and second, that men aren't worthy of love unless they prove themselves. Neither sex escapes unscathed. Maybe it's no coincidence that the show is about old-fashioned values and those ideas are steeped in traditional gender roles, but that's no excuse. The writers responsible are either thoughtless or stupid, and I can watch that anywhere.

Ep 9 "No Hank Left Behind" delivers one of its most emotionally grounded episodes in the revival yet.

Hank brings his teenage half-brother G. H. to a boot camp marketed as a character-building retreat, but the programming quickly reveals itself as a troubling echo of toxic masculinity. Hank's discomfort becomes central... as he realizes that true strength lies in respect, not coercion.

Peggy's subplot quietly supports this theme: recovering from an MRI and living with Bobby, she's forced to confront how distant she feels from her son. Bobby responds with thoughtful small gestures that underscore his growth without theatricality.

Mike Judge remains Hank's moral anchor, and Pamela Adlon gives Bobby a natural, empathetic presence. The episode smartly avoids dramatic climaxes; instead, it lets clarity emerge through Hank's refusal to stand for misogyny, anchored by Peggy's emotional availability.

This entry stands out for giving Hank, Bobby, and Peggy moments that shift our understanding of their relationships - without changing who they are.

A bit morally preachy, but hey I liked it!