Clayton Middleinitial 'Clay' Puppington is the main antagonist of the series. He is the son of Arthur and Angela Puppington, the husband of Bloberta Puppington, and the strict, abusive, and alcoholic father of Orel and Shapey Puppington. Clay tries to enforce a 1950s-style way of living in his home. He despises his job as the mayor of Moralton, as well as his marriage and children.

== Apperance == Clay is a man in his 40s with short brown hair and black eyes. He stands at 6 feet tall and is often seen wearing an olive green cardigan or a red smoking jacket over a dress shirt and tie, paired with black trousers. He always holds a glass of highball in his right hand, and a smoking pipe rests between his lips. On Sundays, he opts for a brown suit instead.

== Personality == Clay is a man burdened by a painful past and filled with regrets. He struggles with deep depression and frustration, often failing to learn from his mistakes. Ill-equipped to handle life's challenges, he projects his anger and insecurities onto his family, friends, and the community of Moralton. He despises and fears the reality of his life, as well as himself. Ignored or brushed off, he feels worthless, which exacerbates his irresponsible and immature behavior. He often mocks or disregards anyone who disagrees with him, particularly Orel and Bloberta. The consequences of his spoiled and unbalanced childhood are evident in his adult life. His marriage is a facade, and everyone except Orel is aware of it. When he makes mistakes, he shifts the blame onto others to mask his imperfections.

In his twenties, Clay initially appeared calm, friendly, and mild-mannered. However, once he began drinking excessively, it revealed a darker side of his personality, which Bloberta describes as "his true nature coming out."

The scars of Clay's childhood are apparent in his adult behavior. He oscillated between being his mother’s overly indulged darling and a solitary, neglected child. He misinterpreted his emotionally withdrawn father's physical abuse as a sign of validation, believing it meant he was "worth it." Internalizing both parenting styles, Clay grew into a self-loathing yet egocentric man who only cares about himself. His concern for others is primarily self-serving, focusing on how they impact him or his reputation. While he despises his father for withholding affection and making him feel worthless, he inadvertently replicates that pattern of abuse in his own parenting of Orel. This approach is emotionally hollow, as Clay is too deeply troubled to genuinely love or care for his son. Instead, he values Orel mainly as a reflection of his own identity as a father, prioritizing his son's obedience and reputation over his emotional well-being.

Throughout the series and in the prequel, it's clear that Clay avoids his family due to his repressed lack of confidence and self-hatred, spending most of his time in his study, brooding over his misery and drinking. His obsession with the study can be seen as symbolic; it is where his father handed him Ol' Gunny, solidifying his disownment of Clay. This gesture underlines how Clay remains deeply rooted in the traumas of his childhood and the damage they have caused him.

== Trivia ==

• If the series were to continue: a) Arthur would move in with the Puppingtons to cope with a terminal illness. He would attempt to make amends with Clay, but Clay would reject his father's efforts. In his will, Arthur would leave his farm to Orel instead of Clay; and b) it would be revealed that Ms. Censordoll used voodoo to influence Clay's actions during the events of the "Nature" duology, although the extent of this influence remains unclear. This plot twist was hinted at in the episode "Nesting," likely intended to be published in some form before the show's cancellation.
• Clay's name suggests that he is a clay puppet, and his middle name, "Middleinitial," is probably a meta joke.

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