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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Moral Orel "The Lord's Greatest Gift"
This is a very dark and unhappy series. The first episode is supposedly humorous, but I'm more appalled, which I think is more interesting.
The first episode is basically showing why religious people cannot be literalists about the Bible. People who are, are the same people who miss the entire point.
Although of Moralton is any indication, its entire point isn't actually any great shakes. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "God's Chef"
Yeah, I'm not entertaining this one or reviewing it. It's basically rape. There is no defense to this episode, much less humor in it. 0.
Moral Orel "Charity"
It's amazing how not funny this is. Going through these first couple of seasons will be a slog. Waiting for the psychological drama. **.
Moral Orel "Waste"
Totally gross. And Clay has no redeeming qualities. *.
Moral Orel "The Blessed Union"
I REALLY like Stephanie. Technically, her giving Orel that piercing is child abuse. Sure. But she's still the only nice person on the series. I look forward to getting back to her.
This is the first episode that really interested me. ****.
Moral Orel "Omnipresence"
Clay is pretty much evil isn't he?
Is it a subtle shot at white privilege that Orel murders a woman and his father is called in to the hospital talk to him in his study, instead of I dunno, the POLICE? Yeah, I think it is. ***.
Moral Orel "God-Fearing"
The whole notion of repenting shows what a racket Christianity is. "Convenient" doesn't quite cover it.
The notion of "good" and "right" being entirely different things is messed up, but what's really messed up is it's kind of true, even if you are secular.
Interesting. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Loyalty"
I thought it was absolutely horrifying when Orel was beating those two cute little kids but I like that they wacked Joe with the bat at the end and went right back to giving each other nice kisses.
I love that Orel's third friend is deliberately being passed over and not named. It seems like a slight and a very real insult.
Also, Clay continues to be the worst. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Maturity"
THERE'S the horrible family dysfunction I've been looking for! Nice! ****.
Moral Orel "The Best Christmas Ever"
He's not there, Orel.
I love the moment of Orel's mom sitting quietly on the bed as a tear runs down her cheek. What a deeply unhappy family.
This is more like it. ****.
Moral Orel "God's Image"
No. *.
Moral Orel "Love"
This town is so evil. They are destroying this poor kid.
Interesting and heartbreaking. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Satan"
This horrible town can't even do Satan right. Ick. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Elemental Orel"
Clay is pure evil. They are teaching this poor kid the absolute wrong values and it doesn't just break my heart. It pisses me off.
The right buttons are being pushed here. ***.
Moral Orel "Offensiveness"
I knew I wasn't going to like the episode when I saw how Miss Censordolls eats eggs. The farmer is super gross too. *1/2.
Moral Orel "God's Blunders"
That town is SO freaking cruel. They are destroying Orel. Poor Tommy. What an awful situation.
I think what kills me is that Tommy proves there ARE good and decent people in the town, and they are all suffering because of everyone else's mass sociopathy. The series feels a HELL of a lot more credible for that reason. Which is good. ***.
Moral Orel "Pleasure"
The show's allegories have value because they follow a well-meaning literalist who follows the Bible lessons to the letter, and misses the entire point. And the entire point is always something the adults themselves don't know. I found the messaging that anything that feels good is sinful totally consistent and on-brand for Godbotherers. The thing is those utter narcissistic sociopaths have no clue whatsoever that doing good and helping others feels good. Because it is a struggle for them, and clearly the part of the Bible they hate (and the ones current Magas insist on rewriting) it doesn't occur to people talking down life's pleasures that being kind and caring IS pleasurable. They would be shocked to hear it. For them, it's their most tiresome chore, and they love Trump so much because he gives them permission to skip it. But no, this is the right button for the show to push.
Here is an unintentional button. Clay, arguably one of the most overtly sinister characters in recent animation, is voiced by the same dude who does Baymax. I am very glad they actually sound nothing alike because if they did, that would completely fuck me up. Like no coming back from it. It's still majorly uncomfortable knowing it. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "The Lord's Prayer"
Wise people have noted if it wasn't religion, something else would have fucked up the human race. We are a very fuck-uppable people. But the specific shit over dominations mattering? Yeah, that's uniquely something found in the Godbotherers. And it's why we aren't allowed to have to nice things. And that's a damn shame. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Holy Visage"
This was the cruelest, most infuriating episode ever until the very end, where Orel used his father's despicable guidance of lying to himself, not to deny the doctor help, but to help him. And regardless of the fact that his town is infected with a bile far worse and more toxic than any disease, that shows why he is not actually a hopeless or worthless human being.
Looks like the Shapey swap is permanent. Like anybody really cares.
It was good. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Be Fruitful And Multiply"
That was SO nice. And I never expected to get that from Reverend Putty. It's official: Stephanie makes everything better.
The best episode of the show so far. *****.
Moral Orel "Praying"
Stephanie is the best and I love that Orel is given the happy ending. These past couple of episodes have been a turning point for the show. If Moralton cannot be redeemed, Orel can. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Repression"
Dark with little-to-nothing to redeem it. **.
Moral Orel "Turn The Other Cheek"
Orel may be a well-meaning kid who is led astray by the adults in his life, but the truth is he would not be having these problems at ALL if he weren't so goddam stupid.
The episode brings up a good point: Bible platitudes are completely unhelpful for real-world scenarios. While that it true, it's amazing people swear by that book. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Geniusis"
That ending just plain sucked. I am going to pretend I did not just see that. **.
Moral Orel "Courtship"
Reality check for Doughy: If OREL is questioning the fitness of your parental situation, you are in deep, DEEP trouble. That's what that means. ***.
Moral Orel "School Pageant"
Honestly? That song is awful. I can't compliment it. I realize this isn't the show to use the light touch, but it's not the show of kids drinking piss anymore either.
Calling this one a miss. *1/2.
Moral Orel "Presents For God"
I have a problem with Sinville. I have a problem with it being named Sinville. Yes, Moralton is a completely evil and sinister town. But they chose the mantle of righteousness for themselves. Why would the free-wheeling and good natured people of Sinville consent to their town being named that? I hate crap like. I get the incongruity that Moralton is evil and Sinville is chill. The parallel works there. Where it doesn't is I can picture an evil town naming itself something righteous. I can't picture a good, or even merely harmless town naming itself something evil.
Maybe it's ironic, as an insult to Moralton? Still, it doesn't sit right.
I tend to overthink these things, but that is why you love me. ***.
Moral Orel "Orel's Movie Premiere"
Say what you will: They built to the last joke honestly. Perfect. ****.
Moral Orel "Nature: Part 1"
Powerful. Powerful. Powerful. Powerful. Powerful.
I imagine myself watching this over the air and swooning in pure dramatic bliss. THIS? Is the Fabled Good Hurt, I'm always chasing. It feels both wrong, and completely right.
Orel has spent two seasons being led astray by utterly immoral adults. This is the turning point that says he's got to come to his own conclusions. Institutions will not save him. This feels relevant to today. I'm sure of it.
That knocked my socks off. *****.
Moral Orel "Nature: Part 2"
Clay is a pure monster. What really pisses me off is Bloberta clearly already knows this, and still refuses to protect her son from him. She won't even acknowledge Shapey has been switched out. The entire situation is fucked up beyond belief.
After viewing the series finale I'm gonna do some comparisons to Black Jesus, the other great sacrilegious Adult Swim show. I THINK Black Jesus is better if only because its tone is consistent, and Moral Orel was kind of flailing until it decided to take things seriously. I'll let you know in a few reviews. *****.
Moral Orel "Numb"
Well, okay, Bloberta got Shapey back. Still, not much to recommend in her mothering style.
This is gonna be a season. Also fuck Adult Swim for not appreciating it. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Grounded"
It's almost as if this was all planned.
Tight, tight, tight fucking continuity.
Well played. ****.
Moral Orel "Innocence"
Okay, the adults now fear Orel, and are starting to question taking a collective responsibility for screwing him up.
Loving this show with consequences. ****.
Moral Orel "Alone"
Wow, the people of this town are insane and broken. No wonder Orel is so messed up. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Trigger"
So the surprise of the episode is that it turns out Doughy is evil. But hey, you get raised in a town of sociopaths... Orel turning out more or less okay is very much an outlier there. ***.
Moral Orel "Dumb"
Very odd place to look for pathos but the season is refusing to go the way you expect it to.
This show is bigger than we knew. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Help"
Big revelations. Bloberta turned Clay onto to drinking. And her enabling him was built into their entire relationship. I don't like HIM any more, but I sure as hell don't feel sorry for HER anymore. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Passing"
I love that as a kid, Clay's father hated him. Because he hated him for the right reasons. It's interesting Clay took the idea that his father hit him when he got upset meaning he actually cared, which is an entirely fucked up way to see that.
And yeah, Clay killed his mother. No doubt. She created a monster. Both will be surprised when their souls end up in Hell.
Poor Orel. I don't feel more sympathy for Clay because of that. I hate him even more. *****.
Moral Orel "Closeface"
I think this season and Stephanie are redeeming Reverend Putty. It's not something I expected or even wanted, but I appreciate nice things happening for the sake of niceness. Where was this show two seasons ago?
Him noticing she liked her date is a cool moment. For real.
I love Orel and Christina. They are SO cute together.
Such a sweet episode. The season is knocking it out of the park. *****.
Moral Orel "Sundays"
The continuity is still tight, but I don't think it actually added anything, and in some cases, it took things away. Unfavorable review. **.
Moral Orel "Sacrifice"
This is the first episode of the season entirely set AFTER the camping trip. I'm not sure, and I'll do a deep-dive into the last episode, but I think that was a mistake.
Clay is just... a pure monster. I cannot get over this. The episode is riveting for that reason. THAT'S Baymax?! I don't believe it. ****.
Moral Orel "Nesting"
The whole episode feels kind of skeevy, but the thing I love it how ice cold Orel is treating Clay. He's just given up. And I love him for it.
Clay is the Mayor? I'm not saying it definitely fits. But I can't think of any contradictions either.
Big deep dive review coming up for the final episode and then Beforel Orel. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Honor"
Deep dive. You know you want it.
Moral Orel reminds me of two series. The first of course is Black Jesus. Black Jesus is better because it is refreshingly sincere and real the entire way through. The second series Moral Orel reminds me of is BoJack Horseman. That starts of a comedy and becomes a twisted psychological drama too. I also have to give BoJack the edge here. Why?
I do love and appreciate what Moral Orel turned into. I do. But I can take the horrific scenes and drama and pathos in BoJack more seriously, because despite its many flights of fancy, it was still always comparatively grounded, at least in comparison to this. I LOVE that Moral Orel wound up exploring drama and character moments with scenes that alternately broke my heart and filled it with joy. I love that. I do. But I can only take those moments SO seriously on a show that had a kid drinking piss, raising zombies from the dead, and impregnating unconscious women with his sperm. I am willing to go dramatic places with the show. But that only goes so far. I think it's wonderful what the show turned into. But I think the show would have been better off if the creators ever SENSED it was gonna turn into this, to not do that tasteless and crazy stuff to begin with. You can't come back from it. That's my opinion and how I treat drama in comedy. You want to hit REAL emotional beats in comedy? The comedy itself needs to be grounded. And that's not even a question for me.
I wonder considering how anti-religion and anti-Christian the show is if some audience members who appreciated that kind of felt pissed off at Orel's specific happy ending with Christina, because it's said he remained in the faith. Black Jesus was never really aiming to disprove the Bible, and in fact every bit of its morality lived up to Jesus' truest teachings and reinforced them. But Moral Orel is clearly against fundamentalist Christianity, and thinks it is damaging in all its forms. Or at least it did when it was a comedy.
I want the person who appreciates drama to understand Orel renouncing his faith to finally completely separate himself from his father's domineering toxicity and abuse is not a happy ending for the poor kid. Orel was always portrayed as having LOVED his faith. Regardless of whether or not you think it's dumb (and I think it is) it was the thing he valued most. Having his father take away the best aspect of his life is not a real happy ending for that specific character. What Orel needed to do was come to terms with his faith in his own way, completely outside of his father's influence and shadow. And if you think the show wimped out by not burning down Orel's belief system, that's never been the thing that would assure a happy ending for this dumb, but well-meaning kid.
That was a special thing that happened. It is less special than it could have been if the first season wasn't what it was. But it was still a pretty amazing experience. *****.
Moral Orel "Beforel Orel: Trust"
Clay lied when he met Bloberta that his father was dead, and it's easy to see why. He's decent. I hope after the series ended he and Orel reconnected. They were great together.
I think Orel is stupid but I think Grandpa has value because he used a test to prove that he wasn't. I don't find that specific test remotely convincing, but what it was is kind and showed faith. Which is not a word his Grandpa is eager to set the kid off with.
And yeah of course Orel's first trial is misunderstanding Abraham and Isaac. I am as disgusted as Grandpa when Orel suggested he saved Shapey by being God's instrument, but yeah, Orel is stupid. I wish he and his grandfather had more time when he was younger.
This prequel actually feels like a wonderful epilogue and wrap-up. I love it. *****.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit "Marauder"
I felt Sykes' anger at Liv was totally justified. Another mark against Liv is her assuming Finn was going do an "I told you so." And Finn's like "Have I ever?" and you realize that Liv's a bad friend on multiple levels.
Going forward, I kind of hope this strains Liv's relationship and trust with the other detectives, particularly Velasco, Bruno, and Curry. I want them to feel a bit of outrage on Sykes' behalf. And although I do like Sykes, I hope this DOES cause her to quit the squad.
Kenneth Tigar is one of those actors you see in everything and you have to look him up on IMDB to find out who he is. He was great as Detective McCluskey.
I really like the fact that the show is using this episode to say that although Liv has a lot of empathy for her victims, the same can not be said of her personal and professional relationships. Recent seasons have portrayed Liv as a kind of empathic superwoman, and like her I.A.B. review with Curry a couple of seasons ago, I like this episode for reminding us Liv is human, not perfect, and can make huge mistakes. One of the interesting things is I believe the episode is taking a VERY unusual tack in having it so that Liv doesn't believe she made a mistake by the end. This will add inherent drama to next season among the squad if they choose to pursue it.
The false confession from the cousin Cal was genius (he obviously read up on this), but I have to say on some level it was stupid for him to do it, or at least the way he did it. His story sounded surprisingly credible to me. If I were doing that I'd have covered some bases and made the confession seem already suspect. It still would have trigger the exhumation, but I'd be less likely to be permanently screwed if no new evidence was discovered. He actually half-convinced ME, which means he did his job better than he should have.
Going forward, I hope this messes up Liv's professional reputation a little. Not just because it would make good drama. But because she deserves that to happen. ****.
Law & Order: Organized Crime "Goodnight"
Prediction: Joey dies next week. His promise to back off if things get too much means he's a goner.
He's not bad though. Getting back the upper hand with Tobias was pretty cool.
Elliot and Randall are cooler however. I love how great they are working together. The M.E. getting Joey clean was cool too especially when he joked Elliot was paying him.
Vargas seemed excited for his first field mission.
Trish is pretty smart. I liked her confrontation with Elliot about Joey and I liked her understanding WHY he kept that quiet.
Good episode. ****.
Moral Orel "The Lord's Greatest Gift"
This is a very dark and unhappy series. The first episode is supposedly humorous, but I'm more appalled, which I think is more interesting.
The first episode is basically showing why religious people cannot be literalists about the Bible. People who are, are the same people who miss the entire point.
Although of Moralton is any indication, its entire point isn't actually any great shakes. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "God's Chef"
Yeah, I'm not entertaining this one or reviewing it. It's basically rape. There is no defense to this episode, much less humor in it. 0.
Moral Orel "Charity"
It's amazing how not funny this is. Going through these first couple of seasons will be a slog. Waiting for the psychological drama. **.
Moral Orel "Waste"
Totally gross. And Clay has no redeeming qualities. *.
Moral Orel "The Blessed Union"
I REALLY like Stephanie. Technically, her giving Orel that piercing is child abuse. Sure. But she's still the only nice person on the series. I look forward to getting back to her.
This is the first episode that really interested me. ****.
Moral Orel "Omnipresence"
Clay is pretty much evil isn't he?
Is it a subtle shot at white privilege that Orel murders a woman and his father is called in to the hospital talk to him in his study, instead of I dunno, the POLICE? Yeah, I think it is. ***.
Moral Orel "God-Fearing"
The whole notion of repenting shows what a racket Christianity is. "Convenient" doesn't quite cover it.
The notion of "good" and "right" being entirely different things is messed up, but what's really messed up is it's kind of true, even if you are secular.
Interesting. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Loyalty"
I thought it was absolutely horrifying when Orel was beating those two cute little kids but I like that they wacked Joe with the bat at the end and went right back to giving each other nice kisses.
I love that Orel's third friend is deliberately being passed over and not named. It seems like a slight and a very real insult.
Also, Clay continues to be the worst. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Maturity"
THERE'S the horrible family dysfunction I've been looking for! Nice! ****.
Moral Orel "The Best Christmas Ever"
He's not there, Orel.
I love the moment of Orel's mom sitting quietly on the bed as a tear runs down her cheek. What a deeply unhappy family.
This is more like it. ****.
Moral Orel "God's Image"
No. *.
Moral Orel "Love"
This town is so evil. They are destroying this poor kid.
Interesting and heartbreaking. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Satan"
This horrible town can't even do Satan right. Ick. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Elemental Orel"
Clay is pure evil. They are teaching this poor kid the absolute wrong values and it doesn't just break my heart. It pisses me off.
The right buttons are being pushed here. ***.
Moral Orel "Offensiveness"
I knew I wasn't going to like the episode when I saw how Miss Censordolls eats eggs. The farmer is super gross too. *1/2.
Moral Orel "God's Blunders"
That town is SO freaking cruel. They are destroying Orel. Poor Tommy. What an awful situation.
I think what kills me is that Tommy proves there ARE good and decent people in the town, and they are all suffering because of everyone else's mass sociopathy. The series feels a HELL of a lot more credible for that reason. Which is good. ***.
Moral Orel "Pleasure"
The show's allegories have value because they follow a well-meaning literalist who follows the Bible lessons to the letter, and misses the entire point. And the entire point is always something the adults themselves don't know. I found the messaging that anything that feels good is sinful totally consistent and on-brand for Godbotherers. The thing is those utter narcissistic sociopaths have no clue whatsoever that doing good and helping others feels good. Because it is a struggle for them, and clearly the part of the Bible they hate (and the ones current Magas insist on rewriting) it doesn't occur to people talking down life's pleasures that being kind and caring IS pleasurable. They would be shocked to hear it. For them, it's their most tiresome chore, and they love Trump so much because he gives them permission to skip it. But no, this is the right button for the show to push.
Here is an unintentional button. Clay, arguably one of the most overtly sinister characters in recent animation, is voiced by the same dude who does Baymax. I am very glad they actually sound nothing alike because if they did, that would completely fuck me up. Like no coming back from it. It's still majorly uncomfortable knowing it. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "The Lord's Prayer"
Wise people have noted if it wasn't religion, something else would have fucked up the human race. We are a very fuck-uppable people. But the specific shit over dominations mattering? Yeah, that's uniquely something found in the Godbotherers. And it's why we aren't allowed to have to nice things. And that's a damn shame. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Holy Visage"
This was the cruelest, most infuriating episode ever until the very end, where Orel used his father's despicable guidance of lying to himself, not to deny the doctor help, but to help him. And regardless of the fact that his town is infected with a bile far worse and more toxic than any disease, that shows why he is not actually a hopeless or worthless human being.
Looks like the Shapey swap is permanent. Like anybody really cares.
It was good. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Be Fruitful And Multiply"
That was SO nice. And I never expected to get that from Reverend Putty. It's official: Stephanie makes everything better.
The best episode of the show so far. *****.
Moral Orel "Praying"
Stephanie is the best and I love that Orel is given the happy ending. These past couple of episodes have been a turning point for the show. If Moralton cannot be redeemed, Orel can. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Repression"
Dark with little-to-nothing to redeem it. **.
Moral Orel "Turn The Other Cheek"
Orel may be a well-meaning kid who is led astray by the adults in his life, but the truth is he would not be having these problems at ALL if he weren't so goddam stupid.
The episode brings up a good point: Bible platitudes are completely unhelpful for real-world scenarios. While that it true, it's amazing people swear by that book. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Geniusis"
That ending just plain sucked. I am going to pretend I did not just see that. **.
Moral Orel "Courtship"
Reality check for Doughy: If OREL is questioning the fitness of your parental situation, you are in deep, DEEP trouble. That's what that means. ***.
Moral Orel "School Pageant"
Honestly? That song is awful. I can't compliment it. I realize this isn't the show to use the light touch, but it's not the show of kids drinking piss anymore either.
Calling this one a miss. *1/2.
Moral Orel "Presents For God"
I have a problem with Sinville. I have a problem with it being named Sinville. Yes, Moralton is a completely evil and sinister town. But they chose the mantle of righteousness for themselves. Why would the free-wheeling and good natured people of Sinville consent to their town being named that? I hate crap like. I get the incongruity that Moralton is evil and Sinville is chill. The parallel works there. Where it doesn't is I can picture an evil town naming itself something righteous. I can't picture a good, or even merely harmless town naming itself something evil.
Maybe it's ironic, as an insult to Moralton? Still, it doesn't sit right.
I tend to overthink these things, but that is why you love me. ***.
Moral Orel "Orel's Movie Premiere"
Say what you will: They built to the last joke honestly. Perfect. ****.
Moral Orel "Nature: Part 1"
Powerful. Powerful. Powerful. Powerful. Powerful.
I imagine myself watching this over the air and swooning in pure dramatic bliss. THIS? Is the Fabled Good Hurt, I'm always chasing. It feels both wrong, and completely right.
Orel has spent two seasons being led astray by utterly immoral adults. This is the turning point that says he's got to come to his own conclusions. Institutions will not save him. This feels relevant to today. I'm sure of it.
That knocked my socks off. *****.
Moral Orel "Nature: Part 2"
Clay is a pure monster. What really pisses me off is Bloberta clearly already knows this, and still refuses to protect her son from him. She won't even acknowledge Shapey has been switched out. The entire situation is fucked up beyond belief.
After viewing the series finale I'm gonna do some comparisons to Black Jesus, the other great sacrilegious Adult Swim show. I THINK Black Jesus is better if only because its tone is consistent, and Moral Orel was kind of flailing until it decided to take things seriously. I'll let you know in a few reviews. *****.
Moral Orel "Numb"
Well, okay, Bloberta got Shapey back. Still, not much to recommend in her mothering style.
This is gonna be a season. Also fuck Adult Swim for not appreciating it. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Grounded"
It's almost as if this was all planned.
Tight, tight, tight fucking continuity.
Well played. ****.
Moral Orel "Innocence"
Okay, the adults now fear Orel, and are starting to question taking a collective responsibility for screwing him up.
Loving this show with consequences. ****.
Moral Orel "Alone"
Wow, the people of this town are insane and broken. No wonder Orel is so messed up. **1/2.
Moral Orel "Trigger"
So the surprise of the episode is that it turns out Doughy is evil. But hey, you get raised in a town of sociopaths... Orel turning out more or less okay is very much an outlier there. ***.
Moral Orel "Dumb"
Very odd place to look for pathos but the season is refusing to go the way you expect it to.
This show is bigger than we knew. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Help"
Big revelations. Bloberta turned Clay onto to drinking. And her enabling him was built into their entire relationship. I don't like HIM any more, but I sure as hell don't feel sorry for HER anymore. ****1/2.
Moral Orel "Passing"
I love that as a kid, Clay's father hated him. Because he hated him for the right reasons. It's interesting Clay took the idea that his father hit him when he got upset meaning he actually cared, which is an entirely fucked up way to see that.
And yeah, Clay killed his mother. No doubt. She created a monster. Both will be surprised when their souls end up in Hell.
Poor Orel. I don't feel more sympathy for Clay because of that. I hate him even more. *****.
Moral Orel "Closeface"
I think this season and Stephanie are redeeming Reverend Putty. It's not something I expected or even wanted, but I appreciate nice things happening for the sake of niceness. Where was this show two seasons ago?
Him noticing she liked her date is a cool moment. For real.
I love Orel and Christina. They are SO cute together.
Such a sweet episode. The season is knocking it out of the park. *****.
Moral Orel "Sundays"
The continuity is still tight, but I don't think it actually added anything, and in some cases, it took things away. Unfavorable review. **.
Moral Orel "Sacrifice"
This is the first episode of the season entirely set AFTER the camping trip. I'm not sure, and I'll do a deep-dive into the last episode, but I think that was a mistake.
Clay is just... a pure monster. I cannot get over this. The episode is riveting for that reason. THAT'S Baymax?! I don't believe it. ****.
Moral Orel "Nesting"
The whole episode feels kind of skeevy, but the thing I love it how ice cold Orel is treating Clay. He's just given up. And I love him for it.
Clay is the Mayor? I'm not saying it definitely fits. But I can't think of any contradictions either.
Big deep dive review coming up for the final episode and then Beforel Orel. ***1/2.
Moral Orel "Honor"
Deep dive. You know you want it.
Moral Orel reminds me of two series. The first of course is Black Jesus. Black Jesus is better because it is refreshingly sincere and real the entire way through. The second series Moral Orel reminds me of is BoJack Horseman. That starts of a comedy and becomes a twisted psychological drama too. I also have to give BoJack the edge here. Why?
I do love and appreciate what Moral Orel turned into. I do. But I can take the horrific scenes and drama and pathos in BoJack more seriously, because despite its many flights of fancy, it was still always comparatively grounded, at least in comparison to this. I LOVE that Moral Orel wound up exploring drama and character moments with scenes that alternately broke my heart and filled it with joy. I love that. I do. But I can only take those moments SO seriously on a show that had a kid drinking piss, raising zombies from the dead, and impregnating unconscious women with his sperm. I am willing to go dramatic places with the show. But that only goes so far. I think it's wonderful what the show turned into. But I think the show would have been better off if the creators ever SENSED it was gonna turn into this, to not do that tasteless and crazy stuff to begin with. You can't come back from it. That's my opinion and how I treat drama in comedy. You want to hit REAL emotional beats in comedy? The comedy itself needs to be grounded. And that's not even a question for me.
I wonder considering how anti-religion and anti-Christian the show is if some audience members who appreciated that kind of felt pissed off at Orel's specific happy ending with Christina, because it's said he remained in the faith. Black Jesus was never really aiming to disprove the Bible, and in fact every bit of its morality lived up to Jesus' truest teachings and reinforced them. But Moral Orel is clearly against fundamentalist Christianity, and thinks it is damaging in all its forms. Or at least it did when it was a comedy.
I want the person who appreciates drama to understand Orel renouncing his faith to finally completely separate himself from his father's domineering toxicity and abuse is not a happy ending for the poor kid. Orel was always portrayed as having LOVED his faith. Regardless of whether or not you think it's dumb (and I think it is) it was the thing he valued most. Having his father take away the best aspect of his life is not a real happy ending for that specific character. What Orel needed to do was come to terms with his faith in his own way, completely outside of his father's influence and shadow. And if you think the show wimped out by not burning down Orel's belief system, that's never been the thing that would assure a happy ending for this dumb, but well-meaning kid.
That was a special thing that happened. It is less special than it could have been if the first season wasn't what it was. But it was still a pretty amazing experience. *****.
Moral Orel "Beforel Orel: Trust"
Clay lied when he met Bloberta that his father was dead, and it's easy to see why. He's decent. I hope after the series ended he and Orel reconnected. They were great together.
I think Orel is stupid but I think Grandpa has value because he used a test to prove that he wasn't. I don't find that specific test remotely convincing, but what it was is kind and showed faith. Which is not a word his Grandpa is eager to set the kid off with.
And yeah of course Orel's first trial is misunderstanding Abraham and Isaac. I am as disgusted as Grandpa when Orel suggested he saved Shapey by being God's instrument, but yeah, Orel is stupid. I wish he and his grandfather had more time when he was younger.
This prequel actually feels like a wonderful epilogue and wrap-up. I love it. *****.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit "Marauder"
I felt Sykes' anger at Liv was totally justified. Another mark against Liv is her assuming Finn was going do an "I told you so." And Finn's like "Have I ever?" and you realize that Liv's a bad friend on multiple levels.
Going forward, I kind of hope this strains Liv's relationship and trust with the other detectives, particularly Velasco, Bruno, and Curry. I want them to feel a bit of outrage on Sykes' behalf. And although I do like Sykes, I hope this DOES cause her to quit the squad.
Kenneth Tigar is one of those actors you see in everything and you have to look him up on IMDB to find out who he is. He was great as Detective McCluskey.
I really like the fact that the show is using this episode to say that although Liv has a lot of empathy for her victims, the same can not be said of her personal and professional relationships. Recent seasons have portrayed Liv as a kind of empathic superwoman, and like her I.A.B. review with Curry a couple of seasons ago, I like this episode for reminding us Liv is human, not perfect, and can make huge mistakes. One of the interesting things is I believe the episode is taking a VERY unusual tack in having it so that Liv doesn't believe she made a mistake by the end. This will add inherent drama to next season among the squad if they choose to pursue it.
The false confession from the cousin Cal was genius (he obviously read up on this), but I have to say on some level it was stupid for him to do it, or at least the way he did it. His story sounded surprisingly credible to me. If I were doing that I'd have covered some bases and made the confession seem already suspect. It still would have trigger the exhumation, but I'd be less likely to be permanently screwed if no new evidence was discovered. He actually half-convinced ME, which means he did his job better than he should have.
Going forward, I hope this messes up Liv's professional reputation a little. Not just because it would make good drama. But because she deserves that to happen. ****.
Law & Order: Organized Crime "Goodnight"
Prediction: Joey dies next week. His promise to back off if things get too much means he's a goner.
He's not bad though. Getting back the upper hand with Tobias was pretty cool.
Elliot and Randall are cooler however. I love how great they are working together. The M.E. getting Joey clean was cool too especially when he joked Elliot was paying him.
Vargas seemed excited for his first field mission.
Trish is pretty smart. I liked her confrontation with Elliot about Joey and I liked her understanding WHY he kept that quiet.
Good episode. ****.
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Date: 2024-05-10 02:16 pm (UTC)I'm glad I'm not the only one who was reminded of Bojack Horseman! I watched that show a bunch but I don't know which I'd prefer if I rewatched both of them. Maybe I need to check out Black Jesus.
I said that about the show's premise but I wonder if the arc would have been cleaner if the show hadn't been canned. I remember hearing the original idea at some point was to have season three be twenty episodes with two more seasons after it so it would have ended up with more going on after the dark turn. Although maybe that doesn't help if you think they jumped the shark from the very beginning.
Glad I wasn't wasting your time by making you watch it again. Good show.
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Date: 2024-05-10 02:32 pm (UTC)Interesting idea about the show being made by an Adult Orel, but I'm gonna decline it because I like that the show has faults and is imperfect. I don't feel the show needs to justify itself to me even if I disliked the earlier portion of it.
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Date: 2024-05-10 02:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-10 02:47 pm (UTC)But it turns out it HURT Julius bad, he never forgot it, and resents the fact that Gilda thinks she is better than him, and told him that within 60 second of meeting him. And I love whenever fiction takes a stupid and mildly offensive thing the audience snickers at, and later shows why they shouldn't have. And Moral Orel is a good show because it did that on a MUCH higher level.
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Date: 2024-05-10 03:00 pm (UTC)The Un-Iverse exists to fill a hole in fiction. If the hole didn't exist, neither would The Un-Iverse.
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Date: 2024-05-10 03:11 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2024-05-10 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-10 02:37 pm (UTC)...I guess they could have changed the name.
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Date: 2024-05-10 02:39 pm (UTC)Maybe.
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Date: 2024-05-10 03:54 pm (UTC)I still have my recordings of the early episodes + the Best Christmas Ever premiere. It was something incredibly new just for what they showed during that winter season.
We had episode delay airings specifically because of Standards and fighting Christ. We’ve actually come a very long way with religious satire in television thanks to this show because now any hack can make God or Jesus the unflattering main character. (Saw a cartoon trailer just today that shows God as a talking cat...)
All it took was portraying the cult a certain way for some Orel eps to be briefly deemed unairable.
As an atheist, I’ll say your notion about anti-religious fans possibly not liking Orel keeping his faith doesn’t quite speak for me personally. It was all about ultimately finding a way for Orel to break the cycle and remain himself whole. The bad ending would be him keeping the family tradition of being miserable and destroyed. He found a way to keep true to himself and not give into all the cathartic abuse that had shaped his worldview upside down.
Before Orel is an amazing special because it picks up on what the cancellation had missed with Orel’s non-faithful grandfather. The best role model in Orel’s life was indeed an atheist. That ending would be tragic for showing how the series prevails, except Orel’s innocence just doesn’t allow for it to come off that spiteful.
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Date: 2024-05-10 03:58 pm (UTC)Good to get an atheist's perspective.
And yes, Beforel Orel was amazing for the reasons you stated.
I'm glad you liked the reviews.