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The Mystery Of Donna: Unpacking King Of The Hill's Most Confusing Character And Her Revival Fate

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Few minor characters in King of the Hill have sparked as much dedicated fan debate and confusion as Donna, the accountant for Strickland Propane. For a character who primarily exists in the background of Hank Hill’s professional life, her shifting appearance, contradictory personality, and bizarre storyline in a later season have made her a fascinating case study in animated sitcom continuity, or lack thereof. As of late 2025, with the highly anticipated Hulu revival of the beloved series on the horizon, the question of which Donna—if any—will return to the offices of Strickland Propane has become a hot topic among the Arlen faithful.

The character of Donna is more than just a throwaway gag; she represents the strange, often-unseen corporate world surrounding the down-to-earth lives of Hank and his friends. Her story arc, fragmented as it is, highlights the show’s willingness to introduce deep-cut lore and then completely subvert it, creating one of the show's most enduring and entertaining mysteries. The key to understanding Donna lies in accepting the reality of the "Tale of Two Donnas."

The Tale of Two Donnas: A Deep Dive into Her Confusing KOTH Biography

The character known as Donna is not one, but arguably two distinct individuals who held the same position at Strickland Propane, leading to a significant continuity error that fans have had to piece together. This dual identity is the source of all the confusion surrounding her profile.

  • Name: Donna (Last name is never officially confirmed for either character)
  • Occupation: Accountant at Strickland Propane
  • Employer: Buck Strickland
  • Primary Setting: Strickland Propane Office, Arlen, Texas
  • Voice Actor(s): The character is often listed under "Additional Voices," but is frequently credited to the prolific voice actress Pamela Adlon, who also famously voices Bobby Hill and Chane Wassonasong.
  • First Appearance (Donna #1): The original character, often described as a "plump, dark woman" who was a member of the "Propaniacs," the Strickland Propane bowling team.
  • Final Appearance (Donna #2): The character featured prominently in the Season 12 episode "Lost in MySpace."
  • Key Plot Point: Her identity shift is directly tied to a plot point where Buck Strickland fires the original Donna for stealing office supplies and tells Hank, "Find us a new Donna."

The original Donna was a silent, visually distinct employee who was part of the background cast, occasionally seen in group shots like the Propaniacs bowling team. This first version of Donna was a Strickland employee who was caught in a moment of petty crime when Buck Strickland found stolen office supplies in her home. This incident served as a clean narrative break for the character.

Lost in MySpace: The Second Donna’s Bizarre Story Arc

The second, and arguably more memorable, Donna appeared in the later seasons, most notably in the 2008 episode, "Lost in MySpace." This Donna was visually and personally a complete change from her predecessor. She was depicted as a "tall, curvy white" woman, and her personality was drastically different.

In this episode, Hank Hill is forced to confront the dark side of early social media when he discovers an anonymous user posting aggressive, hateful rants about Strickland Propane and its owner, Buck Strickland, under the screen name "Death to Strickland." The culprit is revealed to be the new accountant, Donna.

The brilliance of this storyline is the stark contrast between her online persona—a furious, revolutionary keyboard warrior—and her real-life demeanor. When confronted by Hank, the new Donna immediately folds, terrified, showcasing a classic King of the Hill commentary on the disconnect between digital and reality. This episode cemented the second Donna as a distinct entity in the show's canon, and her bizarre, hidden rage added a layer of dark humor to the mundane world of propane accounting.

Donna’s Voice and The Pamela Adlon Connection

One of the recurring pieces of trivia that adds to Donna’s enigmatic status is the connection to voice actress Pamela Adlon. Adlon is a powerhouse in the voice acting world, best known as the voice of Hank’s son, Bobby Hill, as well as Kahn’s son, Chane Wassonasong.

Adlon is frequently credited with providing "Additional Voices" throughout the series, and the name "Donna" is often listed among the minor roles she played. This is a common practice in animation, where core cast members take on multiple smaller roles. However, the fact that a major voice actor for a primary character (Bobby Hill) also voiced a minor character with such a confusing history only deepens the lore surrounding the Strickland Propane staff. It’s a testament to Adlon’s versatility that she could voice a sweet-natured boy, a bully, and a rage-filled accountant all in the same series.

What Does the Hulu Revival Mean for Donna?

The news of the King of the Hill revival, set to stream on Hulu in 2026, has ignited speculation about which beloved minor characters will return. Showrunner Saladin K. Patterson has confirmed that the main cast, including Hank, Peggy, and Bobby, will be reprising their roles, but as older versions of themselves. This time jump creates a perfect opportunity to revisit and update characters like Donna.

The question isn't just *if* Donna will return, but *which* Donna. Given the popularity of the "Lost in MySpace" episode and its commentary on digital culture, the second Donna offers the most comedic potential for a modern setting:

  • The Social Media Influencer: Fan theories suggest the second Donna, who was obsessed with MySpace, would now be a full-blown social media influencer or a TikTok personality. Her "Death to Strickland" rage could have morphed into a niche online brand, perhaps as a disgruntled former employee or an anti-corporate activist, all while still being meek in person.
  • The Return to Accounting: It is equally possible that the new series will simply introduce a *third* Donna to maintain the running gag of Strickland Propane having a revolving door of accountants. Buck Strickland’s chaotic management style and constant legal issues make the accounting position a high-turnover job, which is a perfect, subtle joke for the revival to continue.
  • A Continuity Nod: The writers could also choose to intentionally address the "Two Donnas" mystery, giving a brief, meta-joke explanation for the character's changing appearance and personality over the years, satisfying the curiosity of long-time, dedicated fans.

Whether she is a disgruntled accountant, a social media personality, or simply a new face in the Strickland Propane office, Donna’s return would be a welcome nod to the deep, often-overlooked lore of the series. Her character, in all her forms, perfectly encapsulates the subtle, strange humor that made King of the Hill an enduring classic.

The Enduring Entities of Strickland Propane

Donna's story is inextricably linked to the ecosystem of Strickland Propane, which serves as a central hub for many of the show's most memorable entities. Her position as the accountant put her in direct contact with the most chaotic elements of the business:

  • Buck Strickland: The morally bankrupt, womanizing owner whose constant scandals (like the one that led to the firing of the first Donna) create an environment of high employee turnover.
  • Hank Hill: The Assistant Manager who is often tasked with cleaning up Buck’s messes, including finding a "new Donna" and confronting the second Donna about her online rants.
  • Joe Jack: The Grill Associate who, along with Enrique and others, forms the core of Strickland’s blue-collar staff, completely separate from the office drama.
  • The Propaniacs: The aforementioned bowling team that the first Donna was a part of, highlighting the small, localized social life of the Strickland employees.

The mystery of Donna, and the fact that a minor character could generate such intense debate, is a testament to the show's layered writing and its ability to turn even the most peripheral figures into memorable, if confusing, parts of the Arlen universe. Fans eagerly await the 2026 revival to see if the accountant’s office will finally provide a definitive answer to the question: Which Donna is it this time?

The Mystery of Donna: Unpacking King of the Hill's Most Confusing Character and Her Revival Fate
king of the hill donna
king of the hill donna

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