Moral Orel: A Forgotten Dark Masterwork
by Zachary Martin
In the current era, there seems to have been a resurgence of dramedies. Shows and movies which have an equal mix of comedy and drama, which have audiences laughing one moment and crying the next, are increasingly popular. In the world of Hollywood “Jojo Rabbit”, a movie about a boy in Nazi Germany who has Adolf Hitler as an imaginary friend, won massive critical and box office acclaim through its depiction of indoctrination and racism through an extremely childish and goofy lens. In the world of streaming “The Boys”, a tv show about a rag-tag group of criminals fighting against a corrupted Super Hero corporation, has gained a massive following through its pitch-black comedy and commentary on American politics and capitalism. Both of these works combine outlandish premises and outright goofy comedy with heavy themes and gripping drama. And one of the originators of this style, at least in the world of animation, is a practically unknown show known as “Moral Orel”.
The show followed the trials and tribulations of Orel Puupington, a deeply religious boy in the deeply religious town of Moralton. The basic premise of the show, at first at least, is that Orel takes something one of his mentors says, usually in regards to his Christian faith, to its logical extreme with disastrous consequences. For example, in the first episode, Orel listens to a church sermon about how people wasting their lives are spitting in the face of God because they do not appreciate the gift God gave them. Orel then takes this sermon to its logical extreme by declaring the dead sinners since, in his mind, they are wasting the gift God gave them. Because of this, using a Satanic book which he does not know is Satanic, he raises the dead causing a zombie apocalypse which is never mentioned again by the start of the next episode.
Surprisingly, however, Orel never comes across as unsympathetic, because he always just takes the advice of the people around him to their logical extremes. He always means well, he is just far too naive and trusting of the people in his life. It also helps that he is never punished for his worst actions. Each episode, in the first season at least, ends with his father Clay giving him Orel a lecture in his study. Ones in which Orel is called out for the least bad thing he does.
Arthur does not care that Orel raised the dead, he cares that he unclothed them afterward. For the record, Orel did this because he wanted them to smell more appealing. The first episode even concludes with Orel and his family clothing the attacking zombies; causing the townsfolk to gleefully accept being eaten as long as they do not have to look at nudity.
The first season basically follows this formula to a T. Somebody gives Orel some fundamentalist doctrine, Orel takes it to its logical conclusion, and he is called out for the one good thing he does. The second season mixes things up a bit more, much more attention is given to the people in Orel’s life. Elements that were just hinted at in the first season suddenly become much more prominent. For example, Orel’s father is revealed to be a closeted bisexual having an affair with Orel’s gym teacher. Along with that, Orel’s mother is revealed to have a serious case of OCD; along with having cheated on Orel’s father with the same gym teacher Orel’s father is currently having an affair with. In fact, Orel’s brother is actually the gym teacher’s son. Continuity is also brought more into play in this season. In one episode Orel’s brother is replaced with a child that acts exactly like him, and that boy stays with Orel’s family for the rest of the season with nobody but Orel noticing. It all culminates in the final episode, “Nature”, where the show goes from a dark comedy with strong dramatic elements to a pitch dark drama about a deeply dysfunctional family. I won’t dare ruin what happens here, but believe me, when I say is an episode that will bring you nightmares.
I also will not reveal much about the third season since that deals with the direct consequences of “Nature” and so would involve spoiling the said episode.
Moral Orel was a show which shined a bright light on the hypocrisies of Evangelical Middle America. The way it handled its themes was so brilliant, so incisive, and so funny that it rivaled even South Park for its commentary. And its drama was so gripping and disturbing that I still remember these characters and their struggles to this day. If you haven’t watched it yet, please do. It’s available on HBO Max and it is well worth your time.
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