Clay's Nature Rant - Moral Orel *SPOILERS*

Please don't sue me, Warner... this is just one of my favorite clips from this show and I am not monetizing it whatsoever
Episode written by Dino Stamatopoulos and Nick Weidenfeld
Episode directed by Chris McKay (yes the same one who directed The Lego Batman Movie)

[@fossfox]

The way Orel is framed as small and helpless while his dad inappropriately dumps all of his adult traumas and fears onto his son is so relatable and brutal, you can tell the show creators were working from experience with these situations.

[@gabe_gamer9320]

As brutal as this may be, in a sense... I think Clay is just warning Orel about how cruel life can be.

[@fossfox]

@@gabe_gamer9320 I'm sure that's what Clay thought he was doing, but it was ultimately a self-serving vent session that he took out on someone too small and scared to tell him to stop. Nothing Clay does or says to Orel is ever without an ulterior motive.

[@Fisinocean]

@@gabe_gamer9320 Right, because the world is Sht, YOU gotta prepare your child by acting as Shit as those who has been Shitty to you. Because, keeping in the beloved traditions of generational trauma is better than healing and dealing with your issue, _especially_ when youre handling a *child* Edit: But yes, for all intends and purposes, that might be the case. The trains of thought per se, alas, it does more damage than good.

[@moahammad1mohammad]

@@fossfox Oh Orel ALWAYS had the opportunity to retaliate, to stop the abuse, he could have rebelled, but because of his faith and endless innocence he always believes what others say of him and forgives anything bad people do to him.

[@APinchofBazel]

@@moahammad1mohammad Holy victim blaming, Batman!

[@petuniaclaragarryzera]

crazy how scott adsit (the VA for clay) went from voicing one of the worst fathers portrayed in any animated show to a funky walking marshmallow that goes balalalala

[@枒]

HAHAHA

[@vedji1857]

"There are no accidents" "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"

[@patrickzalatoris3206]

I just found that out, I couldn't believe it

[@ruejanea]

Not to mention orel is voiced by the same woman who voices Sandy Cheeks !

[@cdm0991]

@@ruejaneaBaymax is the father of Sandy Cheeks confirmed?!?!1?1!1!1?1

[@riff__rafferty]

God, the way Orel says “I hate you” is so genuine, the delivery was incredible!!! It’s probably the exact moment he lost every ounce of faith he had in his dad.

[@bradyblue5269]

Hate away sister, hate away. Nah but the man does have funny lines

[@patrickzalatoris3206]

Poor kid took so much abuse from his dad, mostly to try to "teach" what he did was wrong, but this scene showed orel that his dad was nothing more than a drunk abuser

[@MaximusDream78]

@@bradyblue5269 Hate away, sister, hate away. *ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*

[@bradyblue5269]

@@MaximusDream78 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzfzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzczzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzznzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[@citizenvulpes4562]

@@bradyblue5269 no, no, that is a pretty generic alcoholic line, let's not give him credit. My mother has said it to me multiple times after drunken rants that made me feel scared.

[@veneratlazulum2033]

The hidden secret of this scene is that Clay does not confuse "blight" and "bright". All the good things make him depressed and all the bad things give him joy. He enjoys watching Orel lose his innocence, in fact he lives to hurt people (this is made more clear in later episodes); death would be a genuine relief to him. He is basically 100% self-hatred.

[@carlycrays2831]

Out of all the awful characters on this show, he is, oddly, the only one who feels absolutely hopeless. We see that many of the others learn their lessons and try to improve themselves. Or at least acknowledge their mistakes and seem less likely to make them again. But not Clay.

[@枒]

@Amalaric GoTH if you relate to clay that's not something to be proud of

[@vedji1857]

Because acknowledging that his life IS bright is what makes him so awfully depressed. He has a wife, a family, a community, a son who looks up to him despite all the awful things he does to him, it's a blessing, and that's why it makes him hurt. He doesn't deserve it and he knows it, he has taken all the precious things in his life for granted. Clay *needs* to be hated, he *needs* bad things to happen to him, otherwise it won't validate all he is. He is an awful person and he knows it, and he needs something to blame. He needs his drinking to blame, he needs "karma" to blame. He needs to make his perfect life the worst in his own head because it would justify his horrible character. But no. It's just him. He finally realises his life is bright. He is a horrible person and he has everything a man could want, which takes away any reason for his self worth actions. He's irredeemable and the only thing that gave him the slightest joy was the *idea* that being hated enough makes him worth it. Makes his entire existence worth living if it means his awful personality is hated. But no, he isn't hated. He's worse. He's pitied.

[@pizzapizza6722]

@@枒who said anyone was proud

[@jtlego1]

​@@carlycrays2831 Sacrifice really throws it into perspective that for as fucked up as everyone is in Moralton, they're all still *somehow* better than Clay ever will be.

[@anubishound8179]

"There are no accidents!" Is one of the last things Clay's mother ever said before she died.

[@EddieKyteABCDEFG12345678910]

Shut up! (slaps)

[@ironicweeb4111]

I like to think most of the rant was describing Clay’s marriage to Bloberta especially since she introduced him to alcohol and due to them having kids in a isolated middle American town he’s effectively trapped

[@DoNotSubscribetoMePlease]

interesting with how both his mother and himself portrays the meaning in different context. pretty clever writing if you asked me

[@brdgamemaster]

He shot his own son and doesn't take any accountability for it. Damn, this show does a great job making me hate such a despicable father.

[@Blakefe]

Did the same thing to his mother.

[@cormacb2326]

@@Blakefe Nope. His mother's death wasn't his fault, he was just a child and even an adult couldn't have predicted she'd have a heartattack and die.

[@Blakefe]

@@cormacb2326 He was told she has a weak heart. Maybe he didn't expect the shock to kill her. But He showed no remorse for his actions. He just kept on antagonizing his father.

[@vgc_ivan8391]

Sadly his alcohol addiction happen due of his wife pressure him into drinking when they met. He would've been a POS but not a drunk despicable father

[@rare_edamimi_fangirl]

I like how in the third season they try to, in some episodes, have you gain sympathy for him. Show you the struggles in his life, and how his past led him to this awful point. However, through five simple words they make you lose all sympathy you had for him. "I'm glad I shot you". Absolutely masterful writing.

[@rulerzreachf4nnnn]

The “Hate away, sister. Hate away.” Is one of the strongest parts of this scene. At this point, clay knows that he’s doing something god awful, but he proceeds. He knows that he’s a lost cause at this point yet doesn’t show any bit of remorse. He’s just letting himself be an awful person because he KNOWS he’s irredeemable. He’s accepting his fate as the monster he has turned into, but he can’t do anything about it at this point.

[@KelvinKorner]

Funnily enough, "Hate away, sister" is one of the most memorable lines from the show for me, and in my opinion one of the funniest on the show

[@mattmetawolf8634]

Maybe this man needs to talk with Kratos have that same conversation that him and Thor had at the end of God of war Ragnarok where Thor was calling himself a destroyer a monster and he told him no we are monsters no longer I think if he would’ve heard those words he probably would have turned away from the bottle and at least try to strive for a better life

[@harrymg8458]

@@mattmetawolf8634 Thor cared about his family. Clay doesnt. He has no one to be better for, so hell just drink and drink until he dies like the pitiful bastard he is

[@personofpinterest4281]

Hate Away

[@kaibyl1]

@@mattmetawolf8634 clay is not a destroyer, clay is a coward and a despoiler, he corrupts everything he touches and he isn’t even remorseful about it he cares only about himself and literally nothing else.

[@punkshotgun3421]

For Orel of all people to say "I hate you" to someone truly means that whoever he said it too is down right an awful person, poor kid man

[@枒]

especially since it's probably the first time he's said that to anyone in his life.

[@Resi1ience]

@@枒 And it's his own _father._ You have to be a truly reprehensible human being to earn that kind of hatred.

[@Noratcat]

I think this moment is where Orel's worldview was shattered. I mean he always looked up to his father and was completely faithful. Only now does he realize too late his father was not the man he thought he was. Though I do wonder if Clay drinking the rubbing alcohol was simply due him being too drunk to realize what he was doing, or if he was honestly trying to spite Orel?

[@Gwestytears]

He cared more about himself being drunk

[@theofficialliedetector1545]

I think it's both

[@Windchanter420]

Both he sees orel as being a better version of him and clays ego cant allow for that but at the same time the liquor was in control and clay was just allowing his worst self to emerge due to his lack of inhibition

[@coleminer5104]

I personally think the episode where Orel becomes more aware about his father is during the episode that takes place chronologically before the camping trip, Grounded. Orel gets punished by his dad from attending church, one of the few things that keeps him happy, and Clay destroys any remnants of it to torture him. He almost meets God and Bartholomew, but then Clay silences him to maintain normality (and perhaps authority), and beats any answers, sense and hopes out of him. It’s also the only episode where Orel gets beaten on screen.

[@PixelSubstream]

Thinking about it. Clay was being self centered and thought his behavior was justified because Orel didn't turn out to be the rage filled violent monster he was and ruined the entire trip. Orel shooting the last two bottles of alcohol is another mistake. Then he shoots Orel and already starts gaslighting Orel into taking blame to protect his ego and reputation. He probably took the suggestion of the rubbing alcohol as a way to "apologize" for his behavior the entire trip. So he Gladly took the emergency alcohol his son offered him.

[@PixelSubstream]

Just realized that you can interpret his rant about women being the same can be referring to his relationship with his wife, his alcoholism, or both

[@JohnDoe-xf8ew]

considering Bloberta gave him his first drink, there's a pretty obvious link

[@CRAgamer]

I think bloberta is the only real perspective on women he has, I don't think he ever really talked much to em outside of his mother when he was a kid.

[@sneakysnitch7885]

it's both

[@coriej2284]

And presumably, his mother

[@bennichol1510]

I also think his relationship with his mother is there as well

[@CRAgamer]

Clays voice actor is amazing, his screams of emotional agony and the way he yells "why do you stop working on me" have been engrained in my mind ever since I first heard it. It's crazy that the only other role I've ever heard him do is baymax. The man is barely tapped talent.

[@slickb88]

It was a live action role but he was also Pete on 30 Rock

[@petuniaclaragarryzera]

@@slickb88 and baymax very interesting voice actors can be

[@pixelated6451]

Drunken baymax shoots sandy cheeks in the leg

[@isaiahwalking]

Scott adsit.

[@user-nm1lx8qb3u]

@@slickb88 your JOKING!?

[@kurkovoin7906]

As someone who grew up with an alcoholic parent, i find this show's representation extremely accurate. I lived through very similar situations from the "you become a bad person when you drink" to Clay's monologue about his addiction. Having to take care of a drunk parent as a child is something I don't wish on anyone.

[@boianko]

I think the worst part is if they've been drunks since you were little, sort of normalizing you looking after them when they drink. Then years later you start to realize how fucked up it is and how it has affected your personality, it really fucks with your sense of self.

[@maximus5792]

I agree, this scene hit a bit too close to home for me as well

[@jaceeatscookies171]

Yeah I agree to you don’t realize it’s not normal until adult hood

[@foxtoons1999]

“You become a bad person when you drink” also feels like something a kid would say to their abusive and alcoholic parent. Side note, when Orel says that line and “sorry dad, it was an accident!”, gosh I just feel for this poor kid; I want to give him a big hug. He sounds like he’s about to cry, and he actually does tear up when he tells Clay that he becomes a bad person when he drinks, and before that when Clay said that he hated himself. And the way he says “I hate you” is also chilling. Carolyn Lawrence’s voice acting just nailed it. People rightfully give Scott Adsit credit for his performance as Clay, but I feel not as many people give Carolyn credit for her performance here. She captured Orel’s emotions perfectly.

[@kurkovoin7906]

@@foxtoons1999 Orel's voice breaks my heart everytime

[@tahraethestoryteller6079]

Clay struggling to pull his pants off really sums up his character more than anything He’s clearly struggling but refuses to do the simple thing to actually make it easier (taking off his shoes) instead just opts to put them back on

[@mrmoviemanic1]

Yep, he's a person that's always struggling to proove he's right and his ways are right, yet they never are and so he cries about it and then afterwalds will act all superior again.

[@nothingposted9056]

Mate , I thing he was trying to get his belt out so he could hit Orel

[@nothingposted9056]

@HanHanPlayz? In 2022? Nawwww. Hopefully not

[@mrmeowsermoney]

@@nothingposted9056 he was; he's done it before and he was gonna do it again

[@garydomaz1849]

Narcissism on display.

[@thestockimagequeen]

The absolute panic in “sorry dad it was an accident!!” is so heart wrenching

[@mackielunkey2205]

And for Clay to just scream at him and insult him… man is it unnerving.

[@PazWasHere]

Brought back terrifying memories for me upon hearing that.

[@randompromises1038]

​@@PazWasHere yeah I remember accidentally bumping the table and breaking a glass cup and having tha exact tone. Not sure if you can ever forget it, honestly.

[@gregjayonnaise8314]

The acting and animation in this scene feels so raw, I forget that it’s stop motion. Clay’s voice acting is amazing.

[@ScradeCottontail]

That's the power of a great production staff, and an excellent director/writer

[@arthurpietrogarcia1057]

@@ScradeCottontail Who would have thought some years later he would do Bay Max.

[@stephaniekern603]

His VA definitely earns at least an Oscar nomination. It was as if he was actually experiencing that turmoil himself.

[@sickandafraid]

@@stephaniekern603 i saw a comment state they won an emmy award for his voice acting during the bar scene, which is definitely deserved because his “NO YOU DONT!” was the most rawest voice acting i’ve ever heard.

[@r.d.ramirez9157]

Same guy who voices Baymax.

[@CJCroen1393]

What’s great about Clay, imo, is that the story goes out of its way to explain-and I mean _really_ explain-why he’s the way that he is whilst simultaneously never woobifying him or framing his actions as justified. He was very much molded into the absolute terror he is today, and the show encourages us to feel sympathy (or maybe pity) for who he used to be, but it still doesn’t shy away from reminding us that nothing he’s done is at all justified or even okay. He truly is the shining example of how monsters are made and not born.

[@mrmoviemanic1]

I agree like Clay's a very terrible person and his actions are unjustifiable. But he has really been corupted by his demons and refuses to stray away from it cause everything else is just possibly another lie.

[@manictiger]

Except he has everything a man could ever want: power (literally the mayor), fun (literally cheating on his wife for other guys), a faithful wife, and a naive but inquisitive son with nothing but potential ahead of him. No. Clay's just a bad person and exactly the kind of person that controls the world. Democrat today, Republican tomorrow. It doesn't matter, because they're all the same. You'll own nothing and you'll be happy about it. Eat the bugs, live in the pod.

[@HarpsiFizz]

Very well said. The people who don't understand that need to realize that children who don't get help for their trauma never outgrow their trauma. They need to realize that you don't magically one day "know better" at age 25 or some other age.

[@e69alpha]

@@mrmoviemanic1 he needs therapy

[@hounddog8993]

@@e69alpha Too late for that

[@urlocal_popsicle4573]

Bro you can tell that when oral said “ITS BECAUSE YOU BECOME A BAD PERSON WHEN YOU DRINK!” Clay was on the verge of “oh my lord have I been doing” and “oh, OH REALLY?”

[@MsScarletwings]

Unfortunately the latter thought won out in his stupor

[@leorospigg4520]

I always thought he thought the latter, he sounds so sarcastic in his response.

[@jesusramirezromo2037]

I think he's just mocking Orel, He feels no remorse

[@SupHapCak]

I thought it was foreshadowing of Bloberta’s line “his true nature is coming out” or maybe proving her wrong Because he puts that face he puts on when he drinks, and he drinks until he can tolerate others and others can tolerate him Like he was showing Orel how, when he drinks, he is able to change up to being a good person on the outside, so if he’s a bad person when he drinks then he’s horrible sober.

[@NoctuaOlivae]

Yeah alcoholics aren't exactly known for having remorse or empathy when drunk. If anything confronting them just causes them to lash out.

[@samanthastephens5285]

I love the biblical subtext of this show so much. The flies clinging to clay is an excellent touch

[@gabrielidusogie9189]

How do I get better at catching those subtle references?

[@kendrickrochelanzot2053]

@@gabrielidusogie9189 it's all in observation and interpretation as well as looking up symbols of certain things

[@gabrielidusogie9189]

@@kendrickrochelanzot2053 I always try to do that but I constantly feel like I’m missing something and I feel bad when others point out stuff I missed

[@kendrickrochelanzot2053]

@@gabrielidusogie9189 there is no need to feel that way, even if I understand the frustration.

[@kimberlymyung6469]

@@gabrielidusogie9189 Part of learning where to look for small symbols is having the ones you never seen pointed out, so you get a better sense of where to look. Once you start building your understanding of the histories, contexts, and stories of things you love, you have more to work with. I wouldn't feel bad at all, I love shows and people like you who appreciate small, yet powerful stories.

[@grantgilbert2822]

The raw emotion in Oreo’s voice when he says “it’s because you become a bad person when you drink” makes me tear up every time I see this scene. The last shred of Clay’s ‘morals’ he throws away with such quick abandon really show how jaded he’s become, even to his own son.

[@pixelated6451]

Morel Oreo

[@fournine.]

moreo oreo

[@Dobcik]

Yea oreo is a good character . Honestly morel oreo is genius

[@nbewarwe]

Oreo, Milk's favorite cookie. Their relationship was unfortunately not as wholesome as advertising made it out to be. As a father and child acting duo, drama was always bound to happen. Milk was very abusive towards Oreo, especially on nights when Milk went drinking. And the worst part is, Milk never faced any concequeses and lived comfortably while Oreo lived with trauma and depression their whole life. Their relationship is a cautionary tale for food families who pursue fame together.

[@davybones7912]

OH MY FUCKING GOD, OREO

[@Borderose]

Christ. Never watched the show, but damn this Orel character had it tough. Wouldn't be surprised if he lets his old man die alone when he's grown up. Let him hate himself to death.

[@kwayneboy1524]

That's actually seemed to have been a plan for the series moving on Clay (The Drunk Spaz Man over there) he was going to end up alone Orals mom left him for a cop and took the kids Oral grows up and starts a better family.

[@masterprick1]

This was the end of season 2, before this Orel idolized his father.

[@vgc_ivan8391]

It's worth the watch. Season 1 before season finale, its just goofy situations then slowly takes a dark turn to show how miserable the family is then snowball its way.

[@anonymousman5573]

As horrifying and pivotal as this moment was, I'm ashmed to say that I died laughing when Clay revealed Orel shot his lquor bottles, specifically the delivery of the voice actor when he said "You shot ONE THING on this trip and its TWO of my liquor bottles?!!" I found it oddly hilarious

[@ScradeCottontail]

I feel like that was intended to be a moment of levity since that’s where part 2 begins

[@WoodsyGerm49]

That’s why I fucking love this show so much, it goes from the funniest joke followed with the most disturbing and dark thing. It’s the one show that makes me go “hahaholy shit..”

[@shivernaut9884]

I like that Clay says there are no accidents in response to Orel shooting his liquor and when he shoots orel. They really weren't accidents.

[@arthurpietrogarcia1057]

Not only is that something Clay's Mom uses to say, but Also the later end of S3 has some hints that Ms.Censerdoll was involved with Clay shoting Orel.

[@topmalk]

@@arthurpietrogarcia1057 I’m so confused yet intrigued by the implication that Censordoll had something to do with that because…how? There have been a ton of hints that she played a hand in Clay shooting Orel, but I simply don’t understand how she could have done that short of magic, which isn’t something really that prevalent in the show short of the first season, when Orel created zombies. I saw one comment mentioning a voodoo subplot that would have been explored had the show not been cancelled, but I’m not entirely sure if that’s true or not. I just find the implications of Censordoll’s interference so interesting. It’s obvious that Clay does not care for Orel and even tells him he’s glad that he shot him, but at the same time..Clay suspects that Censordoll is the one that made him do it. It could possibly just be Clay bs’ing his way out of taking responsibility for what happened, but at the same time. It *is* implied that Censordoll did have a hand in the entire fiasco, I just really want to know how

[@arthurpietrogarcia1057]

@@topmalk I always thought that Censerdoll was really good at manipulating people, so before the nature episode she probaly said something to Clay that made it even easier for him to shoot Orel. it appears she is also good at predicting stuff, since in a s3 episode you can see in her diorama, clay's dad in a farm fall, foreshadowing the cancelled plotline where clay's dad moved in to the Puppeton's household.

[@topmalk]

@@arthurpietrogarcia1057 That’s super true. I just think there’s more to it other than Censordoll being good at manipulation and predicting the future; still upset that the show got cancelled so we can never explore those themes

[@arthurpietrogarcia1057]

@@topmalk yeah but who knows maybe one day the show will get revived since its been getting a lot of atracttion lately.

[@alainc.5554]

Man, that part at 5:39 is really tense when you first watch it because you think that Clay is going to overdo the alcohol on the wound and put Orel in considerable pain. But then he just fucking drinks it like a psychopath which is somehow even worse.

[@cgecko3]

It gets even worse when you factor in it was almost all premeditated, purely intentional and out of spite, Clay: " there are no accidents!" Fast forward to him shooting Orel, trying to gaslight him and then drinking the rubbing alcohol "Oops." Clay needs severe mental help, definitely my favorite character though for how well he's written.

[@phabiorules]

The reason why it’s worse is because he puts his needs over his son’s. To him, staying drunk was more important than preventing his son’s wound from getting infected.

[@EddieKyteABCDEFG12345678910]

​@@cgecko3 Oh, shut your motor!

[@arthurdias6860]

The worst part is that Clay did that not only to stay drunk, but because he wanted Orel to be without the alcohol, like he said before the hunting trip. He just wanted to control and hurt Orel, like with the shot. He shotted at Orel by "accident" because he didn't give him a whooping. As he said, there wasn't no accident, he fully wanted to hurt Orel.

[@raspberrycrowns9494]

​@@arthurdias6860Yeah I think that really cements Clay's sociopathy. Clay was more mad at Orel for bringing the first aid kit ( and being right that they would need it ) than sad that his son got shot. Incredibly sick and petty move drinking the alcohol

[@Skoringo]

I think the use of flies here is quite symbolic of Beelzebub. Even the flies connection to the dark Lord himself it really works well for Orel’s worldview via his religion and works well to symbolize Clay’s inner evil being brought to the forefront. A sense of toxicity and tainted ideals due to his unhappiness and own trauma.

[@halowaffle25]

Although the show as a whole is obviously pretty critical on modern Christianity, I really love how Orel stays true to himself and his belief in god, even in the face of CONSTANT ridicule and hate from 'true believers'. I've been lucky enough to know a few Christians like Orel, and they're amazing people.

[@akaiyoru2681]

If I remember correctly, Beelzebub is the ruler of Gluttony, which is overconsumption stemming from desire to fill an emotional void

[@hannahw4328]

Not only that, but it paints him as prey. Stinking, festering prey. A miserable thing that life has feasted upon. He could have run a long time ago. But he didn’t. He’d rather sit there and fulfill his purpose as life’s prey, less he’d be seen as a coward.

[@unknown6390]

Some consider Clay to represent the devil, Orel's ultimate test from God before he lives a happy life in the ending

[@gamerstheater1187]

This fits even better knowing Beezlebub was made in mockery of other gods

[@Teristar1]

This show is honestly the all the evidence I needed to never judge a book by its cover. I was blown away how good it got

[@yuarentlucky]

"My life is sunny and blight." GOD THIS IS SO FUCKING GOOD I LOVE THIS SHOW. In all technicality, Clay has a good life, he has a wife, two kids and one who love(d)s him to death, he has a beautiful house, and he's the fucking mayor of Moralton, his life is sunny, but it's NOT bright because he never wanted ANY of this, he never wanted a wife, he never wanted kids, and he never wanted his dead end job. His life is sunny, but it's not bright, it's blight, even if it looks good, he wants so much more...

[@hipsterelephant2660]

"You mean bright?"

[@yuarentlucky]

Ever since I rewatched this show again, I kind of think Clay wanted Orel to shoot him.

[@nitobeato4056]

The fact that he kind of jokes around with orel afterwards makes it feel so much darker to me, idk why

[@ScradeCottontail]

he tries to be jokey in theory to lighten up the situation, but in reality it's just because he has so much hate built up he has to sarcastically take it out

[@nitobeato4056]

@@ScradeCottontail great explanation, that makes alot of sense

[@Caddance]

​@@nitobeato4056another interpretation I have of the scene personally is that it's the shows way of saying "Yeah. The innocence is gone." Because Orel now realizes how awful Clay is. He can't fall back on his faith or the guidance he seeks in his father. It's that moment in a kid's development when they realize that they're family isn't quite what it seems to be.

[@PoshBeard]

It’s because he’s enjoying making Orel feel awful. He wants to hurt his son, he views hatred and hurt to be the only real expression of emotion.

[@lapisfengari2428]

I really wish Scott Adsit got any sort of award for his performance especially in this scene, it's genuinely one of the most terrifying six minutes of television because of just how truly unhinged Clay is becoming fully apparent to both the audience and Orel in a performance that perfectly fits just how angry, broken, and utterly irredeemable of a man Clay is

[@dnmstarsi]

At least Sacrifice got an Emmy and that episode contained some of Adsit's best performances as Clay so I kinda see it as a win.

[@BucketThinkTank14657Nerd]

Orel is such a loving son that Clay had to literally SHOOT him for him to say he hates his dad. And after this episode Orel doesn't see to talk to his dad for six months.

[@mackielunkey2205]

Orel is lucky to have a dad who’s just an all-around monster than a parent who could be genuinely good to him on one day and abusive the next. Because with that, Orel could find it easier to learn from his parents’ mistakes than mistaking bad parenting as good parenting like other abuse victims who later become parents.

[@BucketThinkTank14657Nerd]

@@mackielunkey2205 that's def true. I think Clay is manipulative but he's so bad at it that once you see him for who he really is he can't do anything.

[@mackielunkey2205]

@@BucketThinkTank14657Nerd I don’t think Clay shooting Orel made him fully hate Clay, but rather the fact that he chose not to atone for it by drinking the rubbing alcohol.

[@arthurdias6860]

i wouldn't say Orel is lucky , but it definitelly made his job easier to identify bad and good parenting@@mackielunkey2205

[@yanderefangirl8317]

My dad had a drinking problem and so did his father and grandfather. Except my dad was never violent, he just got really emotional because of his past traumas, and he’s been going to AA for years now and has never had any alcohol for years now. Seeing Clay like this really makes me appreciate my dad’s dedication to sobriety.

[@juannaym8488]

Same here. It's my main reason why I don't drink

[@DiegoAlvarezBeltran1993.]

My old man liked the bottle.. Not to that degree but he never hit us or anything. He just.... Was tired and wanted someone to listen

[@daniapfel2825]

​@@CharL2031 Yeah !

[@bismuthbish5863]

3:17 you can hear the pain, desperation, and hurt in Orel's voice when he says this... god it's so realistic

[@JoeyTDoesThings]

1:33 I don't know why, but this shot in particular got me. Just the way that Orel tears up at the sight of his own father breaking down. I can only imagine how that feels.

[@joshmartin4914]

As someone who has seen his father cry, I can say it's a gutting experience.

[@elliottpak]

@@joshmartin4914it always hurts to see your guardian break down in tears. But the worst part for Orel is that his dad is the exact opposite of a guardian.

[@raspberrycrowns9494]

It's like a therapist thing where there's only so much you can learn about them before they start getting a little too relatable. Very much a "if you can't even help yourself how are you gonna help me"

[@mink3952]

Its honestly rips my heart to see Orel tear up when Clay says 'I hate myself'. Even though he had disdain for his father and even more after this moment and the hunting trip. He clearly cared and seeing his own dad, despite his malice and apathy, break down into a pained self-loathing tirade must've broken Orels soul to its core.

[@Tony6Shot]

Watching this scene, I picked up on something I'm not sure the show does much up until here, but it's incredibly fitting given the scenario: it's how Clay drinks. In a lot of other adult cartoon shows, the characters that drink beer might just do a "glug glug" sound effect or something, and them getting drunk is usually part of a gag. When Clay drinks, it is loud and *obnoxious,* almost to the point that he sounds like he's desperate to empty the bottle and unable to help that. I'm sure it's 100% intentional on the show's part to have the VA make the most unappealing drinking noises possible, just to make the while thing a little more uncomfortable for Orel (and us) to watch.

[@ScradeCottontail]

never picked up on this, rly good touch

[@Xboxplayerfromohio]

Another thing is that clays monologue about how he hates himself, and especially the last part about women and "staying in and pulling out." makes a lot of sense considering how he and bloberta got married.

[@0xArkemi]

"you sit there for the rest of your life with nowhere to go and no one to be." God i love when Clay starts screaming, just like an agonizing animal because there's not other way to express the pain he's going through besides screaming at the top of his lungs, i've been there, when the pain is too great that you only can scream, just like an agonizing animal, he's suffering.

[@floating_mario_head]

I love how intense this scene is but it perfectly conveys how twisted and pathetic clay is

[@CorvineAftermath]

This scene made me cry real tears because orel's dad in this episode is like. Exactly like my stepfather. I think I've actually said some of orel's exact words to my own stepfather

[@uBpGK]

I hope he didn’t shoot you with a gun.

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen69]

Man the world is fucked up

[@porcelaincandy]

the fear in orel's voice and just everything about this hits so close to home. this is so horribly real

[@nooneinparticular5256]

"I hate myself." "I hate you." "Hate away, sister! Hate away."

[@butterspike680]

I love how when Orel says he hates him, you can hear a snake hissing in the background. That attention to detail is amazing.

[@hi-hl1ob]

3:19 the fact you can hear orels voice And know hes about to cry ☹️

[@True_kind_of_love]

He is crying. You can see tears weld in his eyes :(

[@patrickbeaton4827]

God, I forgot how good the show was at portraying realistically shitty parents. I've been in Orels position here, and the shot of him tearing up when Clay tells him he hates himself really gets to me. You're supposed to be able to trust your dad, and you're afraid of confronting him on his behaviour because you know you're still the child and don't want to get into trouble or make things any worse so all you can do is helplessly watch this adult spiral out of control and yell incessantly about things you only half understand and break down beyond your ability to help. It's such a sad and scary situation to be in. You stop seeing that person as a perfect figure of authority and guidance.

[@randomcenturion7264]

It's heart-breaking. When your a kid, your parent is the first and sometimes only thing you feel like you can trust. And for Orel it's worse because Moralton is already a toxic shithole. I mean yeah, he has Stephanie and, on a good day, Reverend Putty. But the only parental figures he has is an emotional cripple struggling to keep the facade and a malicious manchild.

[@anisomniac5931]

My dad’s not an alcoholic, but I went through the same sort of thing with him as a child. Yeah, it was like constantly walking on eggshells, ‘cause if I were to say or do anything that he merely interpreted as an infraction on his authority, I would get attacked. Funny thing is, he’s actually a decent guy when he’s drunk. Hell, I’ve been going through this exact sort of situation with my mother the past few months. She seems to be a wonderful person when sober, even if she’s a little unhinged, but when she’s drunk, she acts just like Clay. Full… psychotic… episode. Say the wrong thing or look at her the wrong way in that state, and she’ll shatter your spirit. Even scares my dad shitless… The effect that going through this sort of abuse has on your psyche is very serious. It warps your self-image, makes you end up hating yourself, makes it to where you can’t trust anyone, and, in my case, sometimes reality itself breaks. I can’t say that it affects everyone the same way, though. Recently this has been my comfort show. It really helps me a lot to be able to identify with Orel. Sorry if I’m saying too much, but I just wanted to add on to what you’ve been saying. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. Wishing the best.

[@stanpines9011]

Blast to the past, not having a good father figure sucks ass

[@TechnoHajikelist]

Yeah child abuse and child neglect is a reoccurring theme because Dino said that’s the most disgusting crime any asshole with a kid can do!

[@James.99]

This guy makes Butters' dad look like the best dad ever

[@Esquizo726]

The fact that both of them look very similar makes it more funny lmao

[@kdoesthings2548]

Jesus christ this show's insane

[@ScradeCottontail]

right??? it's such a strange but gripping turn

[@gabe_gamer9320]

Please tell me you didn't intend to make a pun there just because this is a "Christian themed" adult show.

[@kdoesthings2548]

@@gabe_gamer9320 i really didn't. Wow...i feel like a clown

[@True_kind_of_love]

My god this show is amazing. I can’t get over this scene. The raw emotion of Orel really makes you feel for him. And the voice acting in both Orel and Clay is amazing. Also I was shocked to find out about this but The voice actress that voices Orel is Sandy Cheeks on SpongeBob and Cindy Vortex in Jimmy Neutron. And the voice actor for Clay also voiced baymax in Big Hero Six.

[@damianmonke3922]

Fr lol

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

Orel’s voice sounds like Cindy trying to talk like Jimmy.

[@VoidHearted]

There’s a lot of people in the world like Clay. He hates himself, his existence makes him miserable. But rather than trying to turn himself around for the better, he just digs even deeper into the hole he’s in, wrecking and ruining everything around him in order to validate his own depression. Pain is all that he’s ever known, so his self worth is based on how much people hate and hurt him. But nobody hurts him anymore. He’s just pitied. And that fact ruins him.

[@MT-pf1pv]

The fact that Clay blames Orel for him shooting Orel says a lot. And it’s painfully accurate to some of the smaller things in many households

[@Tree_e888]

I love Orel's face at 3:39. He's finally admitted to his dad that he doesn't like the person he becomes when he drinks, and what does he do after his own son says that he doesn't like his alcohol addiction? He immediately attempts to whoop him with his belt. Orel's face is like "Are you serious?" For a second he thought he finally made a breakthrough, he told his dad what he really thinks of his habits, maybe Clay will finally realize the error of his ways and apologize, but no, he goes for the belt. At this point Orel doesn't even care about the fact that he's about to get a whooping, he's just disappointed that his father won't listen to him and is too drunk to care.

[@TheRealClaylex]

You can see for the first time Orels reaction to just how much his Dad actually drinks. This is a clay figure drinking copius amounts of alcohol and even I kinda cringe over how much Clay just downs this stuff.

[@MsScarletwings]

Not to mention how he downed straight up rubbing alcohol without even flinching His liver must be made of titanium at this point

[@MrX_UNI]

Wasn't expecting to see you here bud! Yea this scene is ridiculously raw. So well directed and even better acted by Clay's VA. The rage, the pain and self loathing is damn near palpable.

[@c00mgoblin]

Let me just say as a child (and now even as an adult) there’s almost nothing worse than your parents making their problems *YOUR* problems especially when you’re not equipped mentally or emotionally to handle them. It makes you feel uncomfortable, helpless, and at fault.

[@VexedCastle]

Did Clay’s VA ever win an Emmy for this? Because holy shit.

[@TheAllSeeingEye2468]

I like the detail with the flies all over clays body. His soul is rotting and they can smell it

[@slam.p]

its also might be because he was eating diseased dog meat

[@7uss2m]

Really a blight scene

[@tenebrismedia3318]

0:23 They had the perfect chance to have Clay call Orel "Moral Orel" in a sarcastic tone... This is the biggest turning point of the show, so I think this would have been the golden opportunity to just flat-out throw the title in there.

[@shyam2kannan]

What are you, some kind of Moral Orel?

[@alexanderadams9058]

I just started watching this show last week and last night I got done with part 2 of nature and....wow. Moral Orel was already a great show that was funny, emotional, and a little dark but after watching Clay's rant, Orel sit in the forest for an entire day with a wounded leg, Orel kill a bear and lie to his dad, and the ending where his mom tells Orel that when his dad drinks it just reveals his true nature......it's now an amazing show. I just hope season 3 is just as amazing and dives into the more emotional aspects of Orel, his family, and the entire town.

[@BradleyK]

Buckle up my guy...

[@halowaffle25]

Season 3 will make you hate the execs of Adult Swim for cancelling such a good show.

[@fournine.]

season 3 will make you sit like orel in the forest wondering what the hell just happened

[@FedoraMark]

I’ve always loved the subtle joke thrown in that the ONE thing (count ‘em, ONE) that Orel shot was *two* bottles of alcohol.

[@枒]

ONE, COUNT EM ONE 👉👆

[@annaliesecancilla894]

“I got shot by you” even the phrasing here sounds like oral has learned to speak in such a way that he is laying no blame.

[@korncobb8808]

The way Orel immediately teared up when his dad says he hates himself hit me harder than everything else. My dad had a phase like this (He's a wonderful father but he was going through a hard time) and I vividly remember him saying that to me and I reacted the same way. Makes Orel feel like a real child who's going through a very traumatic experience and man...

[@perrisavallon5170]

Man this animation is fucking great. The subtleties in the body language really add a lot to the scene.

[@ryanyvegaify]

The scene where he shoots his kid drinks the rubbing alcohol and passes is the most damning part of this. He leaves his child wounded and open to the possibility of bleeding out, losing his leg to that Tourniquet, or dying of infection because of his selfishness. The end of this episode when Orel questions his mother and she has a blase response to why they endure this misery was stark. Its the saddest episode because there are kids out there that have this kind of stuff going on in their lives and dont stand a chance.

[@brandonrodriguez7253]

This show needs more seasons

[@nightslasher9384]

Could you bear it thoughts?

[@giygas79]

No, it ended exactly how and when it needed to. The ending monologue is one of my favorites ever.

[@actually_bee]

@@giygas79 Actually it was originally going to have 5 seasons but adult swim decided to cancel the show after it aired the episode "alone". And the last season was gunna have 20 episodes not just 13

[@dnmstarsi]

Or a proper resolution given the scrapped stories.

[@okimightcomeback]

​@@actually_bee season 4 was supposed to have oral become emo apparently

[@caprifoliaceousConfectioner]

*this is my personal experience, so before reading. it discusses a bit about my life and how i relate to some of what is shown in this scene.* i have had my own experience with my dad. he struggled heavily with alcohol and it took a huge toll onto the family. as the years passed by, it only got progressively worse and his health started to deteriorate. my dad has never done anything crazy like actually hurt me but when he got drunk, he turned into a completely different person. as time went on, he had to start taking medication but he didn't do what he was supposed to do. he stopped going to work and instead stayed home and slept in his bed, he would sleep for hours and hours. he stopped taking a shower and stopped moving. his behavior even became more aggressive and his anger issues went through the roof that he started yelling more often. he even started lying and hiding beer cans from my mom so he can drink when no one was around. since it got so bad, my mom suggested to leave and go somewhere to get away from my dad. it was almost like a 'monster' was living in our house. but even though alcohol destroyed him, none of it is his fault. i see my dad as clay and my mom as bloberta because my mom kept offering him to continue drinking because i believe she thought it was helping him. not only that, my dad also became quite emotional whenever he was drunk.

[@stinkystink9830]

nigga why would you post this

[@cattopi8774]

holy heck, that must be alot of trauma to hold with. Im sorry this happened to you, and i hope that youve recovered.

[@djgaben6187]

Ita uncanny how accurate the drunken animation is. The look and even the shine from the sweats. God damn

[@Freyafanboy90]

The symbolism in this is very interesting. How the Flies landing on Clay sort of portray his corruption like Beelzebub, the daylight fading like how Orel saw his father in this almost sunny and bright setting slowly darkens as the bright happy image of his father is being slowly revealed and the red glow of the fire makes it like Clay is a demon, not the moral upstanding person Orel thought, and I think the bird might be Orels innocence. Shooting the bottles is Orels way of killing 2 birds with one stone. He shoots the bottles to stop his Clay from drinking and hoping to save him but it's for nought. And when Orel finally admits to hating Clay it is said with such rawness and venom.

[@dinobro6851]

I never thought that Orel was aiming for the last bottles to make his father stop drinking, I guess there really are no accidents

[@randomopal6758]

It's been 3 weeks since I first watched this show and I seriously can't get over the two episodes. The voice acting on Clay is extremely underrated and one of the best that I've heard in a long time. His whole rant just HAUNTS me to the point where I think about it almost on a daily basis. This show was so well done, still upset that it was cancelled

[@halowaffle25]

I'm so glad people are experiencing this show for the first time, myself included! I watched through it about 6 months ago, and I'm considering doing it again. This show will be poignant and resonant forever - I hope Dino gets the chance to bring it back, if he wants to.

[@sodainmycereal788]

As someone who admittidly drinks to escape from my problems sometimes, I never want to become a Clay, great character, even better cautionary tale

[@eliwallace3825]

now's the time to moderate it before it's too late. it's very wise of you to be aware of it

[@sodainmycereal788]

Ty. I'm getting better about it, and my boyfriend is a huge motivation, I still like to drink, I just do it occasionally now

[@strikingsarcophagus]

Orel only thinking of his father as a bad person when he drinks just goes to show his momentary innocence and the last remaining bit of hope his father was pure inside. Of course that was taken mere minutes after

[@alfonshedstrom9859]

"Drunk...IS... nature" Clay said it himself Then later Bloberta says "No.. thats just his true self coming out" which is extra fucked up when you consider that she's the one that brought him into drinking, and prefered him when he was drunk. She is the one that created this monster.. but she loved that monster.

[@laylover7621]

I've never watched this show but this was a horrifying 6 minutes. My heart goes out to every child out there with a parent like this

[@nani-by1hv]

i really couldn't care less about Clay's past. call me unsympathetic, but every ounce of sympathy fled my body the second he shot Orel and continued to blame him for it. he could've been at least partially redeemed in this scene if he showed some care for Orel or regretted his action but no, he couldn't even bring himself to do that. i know this isn't a very original thought but i had to share my hatred for Clay somwhere lol

[@EXEcosmoman20]

thats a narcissist for ya, if they dont consider getting themselves therapy then they arnt worth the time

[@carlycrays2831]

I mean, I feel bad for him, but we see throughout the show that change is possible. And Clay just refuses it.

[@andginisin]

The show never excuses his actions. Just dives into generational trauma. Clay’s a monster

[@vgc_ivan8391]

His past is tragic but the man refuse to get help, he's a monster that cost him his family, his status, and everyone. Unlike oral who held his head high after suffering a broken home. He has a wonderful family. Loves his half and step brothers and still show affection towards his parents after all that

[@elliottpak]

That’s honestly quite understandable

[@ead0132]

The voice acting in this really adds so much to the scene. Orel sounds so scared at times it actually made me feel so sad for him. Like when his voice starts to break and tears form in his eyes after realizing how much of a mess his father is. It’s just heartbreaking that kids in real life have to go through this.

[@KrutchesRDH]

YOU SHOOT ONE THING THIS WHOLE TRIP COUTEM' ONE THING AND IT"S MY LAST TWO BOTTLES OF LIQUOR?!

[@steve.s8495]

Technically 2 things

[@vitorpereira9515]

@@steve.s8495 Didn't you heard coutem' one thing dude?

[@OUTSKATE69]

God Clay is so relatable i too struggle with the entraping ever-present pressure of society's unblinking gaze to wear pants

[@supersmashbro596]

when your tragic backstory is completely invalidated by just how much of a monster you are.

[@hipsterelephant2660]

This is seriously the best performance of both Scott Adsit and Carolyn Lawrence's careers.

[@ptrd4111]

Perfect lighting for this. The way the sunsets and he gets illuminated by the fire making his deranged rant more sinister.

[@tesloche9349]

This is a disturbing moment, but I can't help but luagh when Clay drinks the rubbing alcohol

[@warlordofbritannia]

That’s the moment I actually hated Clay the most. It was just so…evil, terrifyingly maliciousness mixed with the petty vindictive action of a child’s tantrum.

[@alfonshedstrom9859]

You think it's going to be one of those "pours entire bottle causing victim to scream in agony" but he somehow ended up doing something far worse

[@eternallegacy89]

This was fucked up but is seriously underrated as a show. The harsh truth of a "God-fearing Christian". They have a twisted truth of the world showed here.

[@kwayneboy1524]

This series show's us how toxic some of those ideals are like how Orals mom was pressured into forcing Clay into marriage because she felt like the odd one out because she wasn't engaged which led to this moment. Or how their is no such thing as a perfect town and how every despite how they look on the outside are pretty sad on the inside but all try to put on a face to look good in society.

[@kwayneboy1524]

But it also shows that people despite the pain, trauma and darkness still have a chance to move on to better things while Clay is the opposite he represents those who are too consumed by their darkness to ever let go; he see's the negativity in his life but instead of making a positive change for him or his son he embraces it and trys to mold his son just like him.

[@stryker5055]

Yeah dude, all Christian people are just fucked up and you're special.

[@54032Zepol]

@@kwayneboy1524 dang that's a good one and through all his trials and tribulations it is Christianity that saves oral, its his rock and it allows him to explore spiritually further

[@kwayneboy1524]

@@54032Zepol something that I always thought was after when Oral prayed for few better minutes at the end of the holiday special I think God did answer him but instead of giving a good Christmas he gave him a better understanding of his life. Because at the end of that season is what lead to Clay taking Oral camping and we all know how that went. Oral finally realized how far gone Clay was. Afterwards Clay finally shows how pathetic he is which causes his wife to move forward with the divorce and the coach finally seeing him as the weak man he is. At the end when Oral gives his stop motion kit to his little bros it shows that Oral is ready to close this chapter in his life for good and will move on to better things and you know what? He did He got married to the girl loved from the start, fallows Christianity not blindly or because he was forced into it but because he wants to and he even got his large inheritance from his gramp pappy. This all leads to Blaberta getting married to officer Papermouth and Block and Shapy become civil servants when they grow up. Oral finally got what he wanted a happy family and a brighter tomorrow.

[@garydomaz1849]

This taught me to set boundaries and be upfront with someone that you’re uncomfortable with them trauma dumping on you.

[@Talking-mango1035]

3:21 i will never ever forget that line, because of how emotional orel sounds while saying it. You can tell he hates it when Clay is wasted off his ass

[@alfonshedstrom9859]

Best part about this scene is the complete lack of music. Makes it more terrifying and real

[@CB66941]

I love this scene because the only thing you're witnessing is the raw performance of it all. There's no music to tell you how to feel or any kind of fancy editing. It's brilliant.

[@whitestarlinegoodnight]

Moral Orel easily takes the award for "show that strays furthest from its supposed genre". This scene had me honest to god sobbing the first time I saw it, it's just so full of despair and hatred.

[@LabRat1210]

My mouth dropped like a tonne of bricks when he shot Orel and blamed him XD

[@Garethsmod]

The way clay acts is how my dad described his step father, just miserable and drunk and he'd feel no remorse for hurting him.

[@speedracer2008]

The tears in Orel’s eyes as his father breaks down makes you think Clay has become sympathetic in a pitiable way, but his subsequent rant and Orel’s reaction makes it clear that said sympathy only goes so far.

[@reidye]

The single most powerful stuff I think ive ever seen on television. Orel as we knew him is gone after this moment.

[@estebanrodriguez1175]

1:29 this exchange chills me because despite Clay admitting his self loathing and maybe reaching out, he cries “Why!?” and spirals further and further down. Grasping for a reason to absolve him, something to blame. It is not the immense cruelty that Clay shows thats unsettling to me, but how familiar his self hatred is. Sometimes being putrid and worthless gives you an excuse, especially when you don’t measure up like how you’d like, but Clay is a perfect display of what happens when all that self hatred boils over and affects everyone around him.

[@genreproductions2706]

“He doesn’t change Orel. That’s just his true nature coming out.” -Bloberta Puppington

[@citizenvulpes4562]

This is scarily accurate to how an alcoholic talks to their child. This is WAY TOO ACCURATE!

[@freiza79]

To everyone else, the glass half full, to clay , it's 23 and half bottles empty.

[@arbknight12]

If this show continued, I think we could’ve seen Orel finally open his eyes to the truth about his parents and hometown and leave both.

[@Tywil714]

Im glad that in the end its confirmed that Orel and his little borther grow up to be happy and have a good jobs and most of all Orel dosnt let his toxic relationship with his father be an excuse to be a neglectful alcoholic asshole like his dad or his mother. If I were him i would want nothing to do with either of them and let them wallow in their regrets and saddness since its clear they dont want ot change

[@SpiderandMosquito]

Ladies and gentlemen... the voice of Baymax!

[@yumithehunter6292]

I know we don’t get another season but Orel having a good ending… made me happy. It’s like no matter where or who we come from we can still be better or our best

[@Accreal]

This episode was extremely hard for me to get through the first time I watched, the crew nailed everything about clay's alcoholic mannerisms to the point that they were almost identical to the behaviors of my biological mother. I had to pause multiple times to get through it without bawling, this episode is by far my favorite of the series

[@binterwinterboyii1095]

"There aren't any mistakes either" Jesus christ this man was actually going to kill his son in the fucking woods

[@thelethalgamer2077]

Can’t believe when Adult Swim got what they asked for, it was too much

[@Thatsit222]

3:02 I remember saying this to my drunken dad when I was eleven, accidentally spilled a cup of beer and my dad just stared at me angrily. Now he's dead and just yikes

[@TehSkullKid]

I recently watched through this show in its entirety for the first time. I thought I was capable of hating fictional characters, villains in movies and books and whatnot who do despicable things and show no remorse, but this show makes me realize I didn't even know what hate was. At least with most villains, you can muster some sympathy for their troubles, or see their actions as so cartoonishly evil that they can be funny, or their acts might be so terrible that your fright overcomes your dislike. With Clay, and many other people in Moralton for that matter, I don't get that. Somehow, despite the show going out of its way to depict some aspects of him in a sympathetic light, I hate Clay, with actual fervor that I haven't felt for any other character in fiction, or most people in real life, actually. He can't face his problems himself, or even attack other people his age for them; he takes his frustration out on a child because he knows Orel won't fight back. Because he can't bear to imagine anyone could ever be happy, as it confirms that the facade of happiness he puts up is a lie. Because he particularly hates a son he sees as ruining his life instead of facing the idea that he's responsible for part of it. Pathetic beyond measure, and an incredible failure as a parent.

[@kingonchon5610]

Orel crying when Clay says he hates himself may be one of the saddest moments in the show.

[@edghhfdchjnmmm]

i keep coming back to this so many times, this is legit some of the most twisted yet wonderful writing and animation ive ever seen. so much heart went into just the soundscape alone. the incredible acting along with clays increasingly erratic behavior and movement is top notch. also the symbolism of clay killing orels remaining respect for him by literally shooting him. im prob reading too much into that but man does this scene makes me stan out so hard.