The "Nature" two-parter and the final season is featured in a non-linear but episode-to-episode continuity, in which it showcased the show's shift from a satirical black comedy to a nihilistic and bleak psychological comedy-drama, depicting the convictions and mentalities of other characters (meant as an expansion on subplots from the first two seasons), exploring topics such as child sexual abuse, rape, abortion, and latent homosexuality.

[3] However, Stamatopoulos denies the comparison with Davey and Goliath, telling The New York Times that Moral Orel grew out of a concept for a send-up of a Leave It to Beaver-style 1950s sitcom that would star Iggy Pop.

[4] The series received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike for the performances, characterization, emotional weight, and the frank depiction of its subject matter, and has developed a cult following over the years.

At the end of each episode, his father would sternly put a halt to the situation and "correct" Orel, by means of corporal punishment, only to offer an even more warped interpretation (in the first season, typically one of Clay's "Lost Commandments") of the church sermon.

A running gag of the show was that before the ending credits ran, Clay's pants would fall down when he stood from his chair, as he had earlier removed his belt to punish Orel.

While still the protagonist and primary character, Orel becomes less a catalyst for each episode's events than an unwitting bystander often left confused and dejected at the end, finding himself unable to reconcile his optimistic nature and faith with the corruption and cynicism of the adults around him, particularly his father.

It is revealed that during the trip, Clay gets drunk and shoots Orel in the leg, afterward showing a complete lack of remorse or sense of responsibility.

When the series eventually premiered, three episodes of the first season were held back from airing because the network's Standards & Practices Department found them to be too dark and sexually explicit.

In 2015, Brad Stabler of Vice described Moral Orel as a "now-cult classic", and that, "to those who stuck around for three seasons, the program revealed itself to be a rare gem that inverted what to expect from Adult Swim, especially since it evolved into something that was anything but funny.

"[5] In 2024, a Collider ranking of the best Adult Swim series ranked Moral Orel at number 11, and stated: "As one of Adult Swim's darker comedic TV shows, Moral Orel doesn't pull any punches with its hard-hitting exploration (and critique) of typical suburban life, Protestant culture, and religious fundamentalism.