Ep 20. Dog Dale Afternoon

Dale Gribble, one of the main characters in the show King of the Hill, is often portrayed as a paranoid conspiracy theorist who believes the government is spying on him and that his neighbors are involved in secret societies. However, in season 3 episode 20 titled "Dog Dale Afternoon," Dale's paranoia takes a backseat as he becomes obsessed with finding his missing dog Ladybird.

The episode begins with Dale, his wife Nancy, and their son Joseph returning home from a camping trip. As they unpack their car, they realize that Ladybird, Dale's loyal bloodhound, is nowhere to be found. Dale immediately launches into full-on panic mode, insisting that his beloved dog has been kidnapped or taken by the government for experimentation.

Dale's friends and neighbors, including main character Hank Hill, try to help him search for Ladybird but become increasingly frustrated with Dale's erratic behavior and conspiracy theories. However, Dale refuses to give up and enlists the help of a pet psychic named Madam Meg who claims to be able to communicate with animals.

As Dale and Madam Meg go on a wild goose chase trying to track down Ladybird, the rest of the town becomes increasingly annoyed with Dale's antics. Hank, who has always been skeptical of Dale's theories, becomes even more frustrated when Dale accuses him of stealing Ladybird.

Meanwhile, Ladybird is shown to be enjoying a day out on her own, wandering around town and getting into various misadventures. She runs into some of the other characters in the show, including Bill and Boomhauer, before finally making her way back home to Dale and Nancy.

When Dale is reunited with Ladybird, he is overjoyed and insists that Madam Meg's psychic abilities led them directly to her. However, it is revealed to the audience that Ladybird simply followed the scent of Dale's sweatshirt, which he had left behind at the campsite.

Overall, "Dog Dale Afternoon" is a lighthearted and comedic episode that showcases the quirks and eccentricities of the characters in the show. While Dale's paranoia is a recurring theme throughout King of the Hill, this episode allows the audience to see a more vulnerable and emotional side to his character as he tries to find his lost dog.