Never thought such emotionality could come from a claymation

I watched Moral Orel from the beginning, and while I enjoyed the lighthearted satire of the first season and a half, I was very taken aback by the sudden shift in tone in the "Nature" episodes. They seemed out of place in a show that was mostly satirical, filled in with earnest and almost heartwarming episodes such as the one where Rev. Putty meets his daughter. The following episodes only became more and more shocking and depressing, as the neurosis of bit characters like Bloberta, Nurse Bendy, Miss Sculptham, Ms. Cesondall, etc. became apparant as they became more fleshed out.

Clay was perhaps most affected by the shift, going from the oblivious but vaguely unsatisfied patriarch to an angry, bitter, lost bisexual haunted by his Oedipus complex and failed marriage. I now understand that the reason for the shift in tone was an early cancellation notice of the show, and that these plot lines were meant to be scattered over a few seasons. I, for one, am glad that the show got cancelled after only three seasons, however. Otherwise, we wouldn't have had such an intense, gripping, and shocking final season. It was as if the show, like Orel, had moved from it's adolescent first season, into a turbulent post-pubescent period (the alliteration gods be praised).

In the end, we're left with a bitter, sad, beautiful mess of a final season. I had never expected such emotionality from a claymation, let alone an AS show. The final season served as a general lament of the loss of innocence, the fear of change, the restlesness of suburban lives and commitment.

One of the best single seasons of any show I've ever watched, without a doubt.



"And he died on his birthday. LOL"