Turning the Other Cheek

I can't in good conscience recommend [adult swim]'s Moral Orel because it's pretty sacrilegious (I'm not religious myself, but there's no need in getting the Bible-thumpers all pissed off about a show that's well under their radar.) "Sacrilegious" may be too strong; let's just say it takes Christian dogma and views it from a skewed angle.


But I have to say the episode that aired two weeks ago, "Turn the Other Cheek" was pretty good-- even if you don't find humor in religion.

Orel is a very enthusiastic young Christian who wakes up early and listens to a song about turning the other cheek. One day, school bully Walt punches him to the ground. Orel is ecstatic because he can finally turn the other cheek. He tells his friend Dougie that he's going to teach Walt a lesson, and he turns his other cheek. And Walt gives him a second black eye.

This goes on, day after day. Orel gets beaten to a pulp, and he enthusiastically asks for more.

Soon though, his mom is worried because Orel's clothes are getting so bloody. She takes the problem to her husband, who sees no problem that she has to wash clothes every day. ...Until she informs him that she has to double her laundry detergent budget.

Orel's dad asks him what's going on (because it's so bad that his wife has to talk to him, and "no one wants that"). After Orel explains, his father tells him that God wants him to protect himself and maybe it's time Orel makes Walt turn the other cheek. He also tells Orel that a fist is just one hand praying by itself, so it's not really a bad thing to make one.

Orel finds a new purpose in life: teaching God's word by his actions. He starts beating on Walt, then a sick kid who needed to make a fist to have blood drawn, then other school kids, then a cat he kicks across the street. He's terrorizing the neighborhood and is oblivious to the whole thing.

Finally he comes home and sees his mom's fist, holding a feather duster. He knocks her to the ground and starts wailing on her. His dad comes home and sees Orel going to town on his mom. He hesitates for a second and then screams at him. He reaches for the spanking paddle Orel made in shop class (made because his father's pants fall down every time he has to take his belt to Orel) and got ready to connect.

But Orel sees the fist clenched on the paddle and springs on his dad like a wild animal. I practically fell off the couch from laughing. Anyway, Orel's laying into his dad; even going so far as grabbing the paddle and giving his dad a few whacks, while enthusiastically informing him that he's "Getting a lesson from Jesus."

It was one of the funniest things I've watched since the season finales of my favorite shows a few weeks back.

So while I still can't recommend the show to everyone, I still think it's worth checking out if you can accept the humor. The thing is, Orel is unbelievably naive, but his desire to be the best Christian he can be is what makes the humor work (and it makes Orel someone to root for-- even if he's more dedicated than the most fanatical fundamentalists). And, in my opinion, there are lots of things that people have taken too far in the name of religion and anything that can show the ridiculousness of such things is something worth watching.

Or just forget the religious aspects altogether and just laugh at the antics of a young man who is completely clueless about the world around him.