It’s been over a decade since Duck Dynasty turned a Louisiana duck-call business into a cable TV juggernaut, peaking at nearly 12 million viewers and launching a merch empire that included everything from devotionals to dog toys. Today, the Robertsons are back — streaming this time — with Duck Dynasty: The Revival, now on Hulu.
But don’t expect a rerun of the 2012 phenomenon. The new series, which first aired this summer on A&E, leans less on ridiculous chaos, and more on real-life grief, toddlers and the messy in-between.
“I didn’t know if we’d ever do a show again,” Willie Robertson told us in issue 117 of RELEVANT. “But the way culture is—with all the anxiety, the arguing, the distance in families—it felt like maybe there was something we could offer to help.”
Faith plays a bigger role than ever this time around, but so does loss. Phil Robertson’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and death earlier this year are woven into the season.
Still, this is Duck Dynasty. There are camo hats, laughter and enough Uncle Si to derail any serious moment. But the chaos feels familiar. The Robertsons aren’t trying to recreate a hit. They’re trying to show what it means to keep showing up — for each other, and for the faith that’s quietly anchored their story all along.
“Hopefully people can find some joy in that,” Robertson said. “Even if it comes with a side of nonsense.”