Angel/Recap/S03 E21 Benediction

Connor finds himself torn emotionally between Angel and Holtz. Justine discovers her former mentor has returned.

"Angel: (to Connor) "It could be kind of dangerous. There's a lot of killing and violence. [beat] You wanna come?""
 * Ahem
 * Attack Hello: Connor to Angel in the alley behind the nightclub.
 * Back-to-Back Badasses: Connor and Angel fighting vampires in the nightclub.
 * Bait and Switch:
 * Bait and Switch Comment: Angel's meeting with Connor is interrupted by Cordy having a vision, so Angel has to make his excuses. Gotta go to work, son.

"Lilah: "I thought the 'come alone' was a particularly ironic touch. I mean, how else would you come?""
 * Chekhov's Gun: A subtle version where Connor's superhearing is hinted at by his failure to hear a vampire (who doesn't breathe).
 * Come Alone: Lilah sends an anonymous email to Wesley asking for a meet.

"Lorne: "In my professional opinion? Well, Miss Demon-y Britches here gave that child some kind of 'soul colonic'. Flushed him out but good.""
 * Continuity Nod: The vampires re Justine. "She thinks she's a Slayer."
 * Cooldown Hug: Cordy to Connor after she does the glow-y thing, draining him of his hatred.
 * Cruel Mercy: Holtz says that Angel taking back Connor as his son will remind Angel of the family Angelus took from Holtz.
 * Dead Man Writing / One Dialogue, Two Conversations: Holtz leaves a letter for Connor, inviting Angel to read it so he knows it's above board.
 * Description Cut: Holtz warning Connor "The devil will show you bright things, many colors." to Fred examining an enchanted crystal. Fred saying that he [Connor] has to come back to Angel "because he's family." Cut to Wesley sitting alone in his apartment.
 * Emotion Bomb

"Groo: "But if a thing is meant to be, then how can it be forced?"
 * Foreshadowing: "The devil will show you bright things, many colors." In the next episode Angel takes Connor to an action movie which he quite enjoys. Fred's conversation with Connor on what lies beneath the ocean also becomes significant.
 * Fantastic Racism: Connor insults Lorne, then when Cordelia sits down with him to explain that she too is a demon, Connor tries to kill her the moment she turns away.
 * Getting Crap Past the Radar: While wielding a Geiger counter, Fred says that Connor is pretty hot.
 * Good Is Not Nice: Cordy isn't bothered if Angel kills Holtz.
 * Heel Realization:
 * I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Averted.
 * Ironic Echo: Justine tells Holtz she would have followed him into Hell.
 * Lotus Position: Cordy sits cross-legged on the bed listening to Angel.
 * Oh Crap: Fred & Gunn realise Connor can hear their conversation.
 * One Dialogue, Two Conversations: Groo asks Lorne why Angel is waiting for Connor to return to him of his own accord. Lorne says these things can't be forced.
 * Oh Crap: Fred & Gunn realise Connor can hear their conversation.
 * One Dialogue, Two Conversations: Groo asks Lorne why Angel is waiting for Connor to return to him of his own accord. Lorne says these things can't be forced.

Lorne: "Well, I guess it can't."

Groo: "And if a thing is not meant to be?"

Lorne: "Well, then it really can't. Just because someone hops a dimension or two is no guarantee that things will work out. [realises Groo is actually referring to his relationship with Cordelia] Well, aren't you just sneaky with the subtext?""

"Lilah: "Seems [Justine] has been pissing off a lot of undead Americans lately.""
 * Percussive Therapy: The punching bag gets another pounding.
 * Political Correctness Gone Mad

"Wes: "You really don't know the first thing about me, do you?"
 * Poor Communication Kills: Cordelia warns Angel not to lie to Connor about going to see Holtz. Angel ignores the advice
 * Power Glows: Cordy lets out some serious mojo to stop Connor killing her -- his knife blade disintegrates and he's drained of his hatred.
 * The Power of Hate: Holtz attributes it to his own longevity in Quor-toth. Justine comments that hate has a bad rap.
 * The Power of Love: Holtz realises that Justine and Connor's love for him is a more powerful weapon than their hatred of Angel.
 * Secret Test of Character: Lilah arranges for Justine - the woman who cut Wesley's throat and stole Connor - to walk into a vampire ambush and invites Wesley to take a grandstand view. Wesley scoffs at the idea that he'd want to do so and starts to walk out.
 * Secret Test of Character: Lilah arranges for Justine - the woman who cut Wesley's throat and stole Connor - to walk into a vampire ambush and invites Wesley to take a grandstand view. Wesley scoffs at the idea that he'd want to do so and starts to walk out.

Lilah: "Probably not. [beat] Like, will he go straight to his car, or will he stop to warn her first?"

[Wes stops, but doesn't turn or speak.]

Lilah: "He has to think about it. That's good. That's all I really needed to know. (Turns away from him) You can go."

Wes: "A test, Lilah?"

Lilah: "Oh, don't look so grim. I just needed to know whether or not I was wasting my time."

"Fred: "Looks like we've been following [Connor's] emissions the whole time."
 * Schizo-Tech: Fred's enchanted Cedrian Crystal inside an army surplus Geiger counter.
 * Stealth Hi Bye: Done by Wes to Lilah. Of course it's easier when you're in a crowded nightclub.
 * Super Senses: Connor has highly-tuned hearing, as Fred and Gunn find out when they discuss Angel going to see Holtz out of what they assume is his hearing range.
 * Talk About That Thing: The Fang Gang giving Angel some alone time with his son.
 * That Came Out Wrong

Gunn: "Now there is a sentence I don't ever need to hear again.""

"Connor: "Filthy demon."
 * They Call Me Mister Tibbs

Lorne: "That's Uncle Filthy Demon to you. It wasn't that long ago - like a week - I was changing your diapers.""

"Cordy: "Wait. Angel, before you go we have to do that thing."
 * This Is the Part Where

Angel: "What thing?"

Cordy: "That thing we do. You know that thing where I say 'are you sure you know what you're doing, Angel, please think about this' and then you ignore me and rush head long into trouble?""

"Angel: "He's got to come back on his own. And he will. Just as soon as he realizes what he needs."
 * Twisted Echo Cut

Gunn: "And what's that?"

Cordy: "A father."

Connor: "A room. (at hotel reception) I need a room for me and my father [Holtz].""

"Lorne: "A six-horned Lach-Nie owed me a favor. Don't ask.""
 * You Do NOT Want to Know:


 * What Year Is This?: Holtz looks at a newspaper to see what year it is and is shocked to find that only days have passed since they left.