Moral Orel
Series, 2005, The mid-2000s, Set in Moralton
Moral Orel is #13 of 16 in release order and #13 of 16 in chronological order in the Adult Swim Classics.
The story
Orel is an 11-year-old boy who loves church. His unbridled enthusiasm for piousness and his misinterpretation of religious morals often lead to disastrous results, including self-mutilation and crack addiction. No matter how much trouble he gets into, his reverence always keeps him cheery.
Moral Orel recap
Orel Puppington is a cheerful, devout twelve-year-old in Moralton, a town that thinks of itself as the centre of Protestant America. In the first season, every episode follows a formula: Orel hears a sermon from Reverend Putty, takes it too literally, and does something terrible, and his father Clay, a cold, drunk, angry man, punishes him and gives a twisted lesson. His mother Bloberta is distant and his little brother Shapey is a brute. In season 2, the focus moves to the town's miserable adults, and the two-part "Nature" ends with a drunk Clay shooting Orel on a hunting trip. Season 3, from 2008, is a connected, dark drama about loneliness and abuse among Moralton's adults, including Clay and Bloberta's hatred of each other and Coach Stopframe's secret relationship with Clay. The stop-motion show was created by Dino Stamatopoulos and runs from 2005 to 2008. A 2012 special, Beforel Orel, is a prequel about Orel as a small child.
Moral Orel ending explained
The finale, "Honor" (2008), has Orel learn his leg will never fully heal. Clay admits his love for Coach Stopframe in front of his family, and Stopframe, who has bonded with Orel, rejects Clay because of how he treats his son. A final flash-forward shows an adult Orel with a happy family of his own, suggesting he breaks the cycle his father started.
Where to watch Moral Orel
Moral Orel is streaming on YouTube TV, Adult Swim, and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.1/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Boondocks, before Metalocalypse.
- Chronological order: after The Boondocks, before Metalocalypse.
Cast
- Carolyn Lawrence as Orel Puppington (voice)
- Scott Adsit as Clay Puppington / Doughy (voice)
- Britta Phillips as Bloberta Puppington (voice)
- Jay Johnston as Coach Stopframe / Miss Censordoll / Sal Figurelli (voice)
- Dino Stamatopoulos
- David Herman
- Tigger Stamatopoulos as Shapey Puppington (voice)
- William Salyers as Reverend Putty (voice)
Created by Dino Stamatopoulos.