“Double or Nothing”

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Episode 18 of Season 3

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“You should've come to us. You should've trusted us...”

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Original US airdate: April 22nd, 2002

Rewatched: July 27th, 2023

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• Writer: David H. Goodman

• Director: David Grossman

• Guests: Andy Hallett, Mark Lutz, Jason Carter, Patrick St. Esprit, John David Conti, P.B. Hutton

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This is one of the episodes where Angel calls his team family, making this a fitting theme to explore. First, with Cordy back, the heart of the team has returned and in her interactions with Angel, it’s clear the two of them feel deeply for each other. Cordy embraces Angel, consoling him for his loss and telling him she’s sorry, and later sits with him in his room, as Angel contemplates the empty, burned ruins of his home with Connor. She is there for him in a way the others haven’t fully been. Cordy, later in the episode, also notices Gunn’s misery, she just doesn’t quite guess the reason, showing she is somewhat in tune with everyone on the team.

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Wesley, however, is no longer family. What he did is hard to forgive and his lack of trust is a clear sign he didn’t fully see the team as family. Fred even calls Wes out for his actions, finally warning him not to come back to the hotel or Angel will kill him. Wesley is isolated, much like Angel, but unlike Angel, he has no one. Although he has grown a lot in LA, he hadn’t grown enough. His insecurity and desire to prove himself led to having nothing left.

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Then there’s Gunn. Seven years ago, when he was 17, he sold his soul for his truck in order to better fight evil and protect his gang. Now, his debt is due. Instead of telling anyone (much like he hid actions previously and will in future), he breaks up with Fred and goes to face his fate alone. Fred realizes something is wrong and convinces the gang, and Angel, to help save him. They are successful and all is well. But it’s clear Gunn doesn’t really trust the gang like family, as he’s still not ready to go to them for help.

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So, despite Angel underlining that his team is family, this episode shows that this might not be the case at all, at least not for Gunn and Wes. I also question whether Gunn selling his soul is realistic. He said he had nothing to live for at the time, but he did. Before he met Fred, he had his sister. He would have wanted to live for her. Also, selling his soul to a demon for gain seems out of character for pre-Angel Gunn, who had trouble with the gray areas. In a black and white world, anything a demon peddles is suspect. So, there we are.

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What this episode does do is underline that decisions may cost you your happiness. Even if we think they’re necessary, they may end up making the future worse. Gunn and Wes face these consequences. It’s Angel who shows that we do have the power to learn and grow and make the right choices, like the choice to continue fighting the good fight and saving your friends even in the face of horrible grief.

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In fun facts, this episode features a married Codger demon couple, a demon type last seen in Lorne’s bar.

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“The Price”

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Episode 19 of Season 3

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“The Destroyer's coming...”

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Original US airdate: April 29th, 2002

Rewatched: August 4th, 2023

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• Writer: David Fury

• Director: Marita Grabiak

• Guests: Andy Hallett, Stephanie Romanov, Daniel Dae Kim, Mark Lutz, John Short

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Everyone is dealing with the aftermath of what happened with Connor. First, the gang is generally not willing to forgive Wesley, although Fred may be. This may be because Angel, Cordy, Gunn and Wes were friends for longer, and so feel more betrayed by Wesley not coming to them. Fred, as someone new, doesn’t have such strong feelings, or can see the situation better from the outside. However, when Fred is in danger in this episode, Gunn is willing to go to Wesley to find a solution. Wesley is angry. He feels betrayed, too, and is working through his recovery and his feelings all alone. He helps Gunn for Fred’s sake but tells Gunn not to come back again. So, things are still a bit rocky there.

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Then Angel doesn’t want to deal with his recovery (the gang is repainting his room at the start of the episode) and only wants to work cases. He’d rather deal with someone else’s issues than his own. However, this episode forces him to face the issue. When the hotel begins to be overrun with crazy slug demons who only want water (and will infect a host, like Fred, and drain all the water from them), Angel has to admit that perhaps his use of dark magic caused this (like the similar consequences when Willow brought Buffy back). It turns out it may not be that simple, as the slugs warn that the Destroyer is coming, but as they and the destroyer appear where Angel’s pentacle in the lobby is, there seems to be at least some link.

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Cordy is also dealing with her feelings. She’s angry the gang didn’t tell her about Connor and let her continue her vacation. She’s sure she could have done something. Maybe. However, the end of this episode, where Cordy is able to catch a slug, then starts glowing white, and this white glow manages to cleanse the hotel of all the demon slugs seems to indicate that perhaps Cordy isn’t wrong. Her new demon powers may have been able to do something. I get her anger at not being called. When everything falls apart, you want to know even if you can’t do much.

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Groo is the least affected by all of this, as he is the least invested in the group. He is, however, invested in Cordy. And this episode shows he’s starting to notice that she may not be fully invested in him. Viewers are right to wonder how long they will last.

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Finally, a few side notes. First, the hotel is seen to have a ballroom, a pool filled with water and a great kitchen. It really does seem strange that they only use the lobby and Angel’s room with any frequency. Then, at the beginning of the episode, Angel wonders why he bought Connor a snow globe when it never snows in southern California. Cordy reminds him that it did once, a reminder of the power of good.

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The final scene of this episode is the big reveal. The Destroyer the slugs were fleeing enters via some portal thing in the lobby. At first, it seems to be a large demon, but it turns out it’s a human following the demon. He slays the demon and then turns to stake Angel, saying “Hi. Dad.” It seems that Connor is back. He’s grown. And he’s out to kill his father. Angel’s wish to get his son back has been fulfilled, but perhaps not in the way he wanted.

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“A New World”

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Episode 20 of Season 3

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“I know everything.”

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Original US airdate: May 6th, 2002

Rewatched: August 10th, 2023

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• Writer: Jeffrey Bell

• Director: Tim Minear

• Guests: Vincent Kartheiser, Andy Hallett, Stephanie Romanov, Mark Lutz, Erika Thormahlen, Anthony Starke, Deborah Zoe

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So, the main theme of this episode is fatherhood, and two continuing plot points also appear. First, Groo continues to be uneasy with Cordy’s relationship with Angel, although she continues to be invested in their relationship. Second, Wesley is still on his own. Gunn confesses to everyone except Angel that he went to Wes to save Fred. Fred is also sure that they should go to Wes in this episode, but she is dissuaded. Wesley is, however, approached by Lilah about a job at Wolfram & Hart. She equates him to Judas and implies that betraying Angel was such a sin that joining her team isn’t really that bad. Wesley turns her down.

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Then, there’s Connor, now named Stephen, who has decided Angel must die. He is unsuccessful in this first attempt, and he flees. On the mean streets of LA, he helps a drug addict named Sunny in an encounter with her dealer. She takes Connor to the abandoned building she’s staying in. They bond, but Sunny then overdoses. Angel tracks down Connor there. He tries to talk to Connor, but he’s not sure how to do it. For Connor, Angel wasn’t able to save him from a childhood in a hell dimension. For Angel, it’s only been a few weeks since Connor left, and he hadn’t really given up trying to find him. Angel also isn’t sure how to deal with Connor’s relationship with Holtz, again complicated by Holtz not being evil, but rather misguided. Connor, in fact, claims to know everything about Angel, that Angel’s a thing that kills. He asks to see Angel’s second face, his face for killing, and Angel obliges. At the end of the episode, after Angel saves Connor’s life, it seems the two might be bonding a bit. Angel tells Connor he’s not alone, and Connor replies “Yeah, I know.” However, for viewers, once Connor leaves Angel and tracks down Holtz, who has returned as well (evidently arriving after Connor), it’s clear Connor didn’t mean he wasn’t alone because of Angel, but because of Holtz.

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Kids grow so fast. You blink and they’ve gone from baby to teenager. And they’re angry with you and the world. Angel’s journey with Connor, although supernatural in nature and complicated by a 2nd father, represents how many parents seem to feel when parenting teenagers. Angel will continue to have a rocky relationship with Connor until Angel fully realizes that being a parent isn’t about yourself, but about your child, allowing Angel to finally give Connor what he needs, without thinking of his own desires.

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Two questions remain open. First, how did Connor manage to get back when there are no portals (it was a tear in reality… but how did it happen?) And what is Connor exactly? He’s human, but somewhat like a Slayer as well, with speed and strength. Since the Slayer is a human imbued with demon essence, perhaps this is really what Connor is as well, a human imbued with the demon essence of his vampire parents.

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“Benediction”

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Episode 21 of Season 3

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“He thought it was where he belonged.”

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Original US airdate: May 13th, 2002

Rewatched: August 31st, 2023

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• Writer: Tim Minear

• Director: Tim Minear

• Guests: Vincent Kartheiser, Laurel Holloman, Mark Lutz, Andy Hallett, Stephanie Romanov, Keith Szarabajka

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The basic plot of this episode is a ride. Connor is dealing with being back, and Angel is trying to figure out how he can deal with his son’s return, too. And Holtz seems to be coming to terms with being back, and with Connor being Angel’s son.

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Let’s talk about Holtz, Connor and Angel first. At the beginning of this episode, Holtz encourages Connor to seek out Angel, and that although Holtz is Connor’s father, he understands that Connor may also need a relationship with Angel. Connor then seeks out Angel at the hotel. Although the gang leaves them alone to get to know each other better, Cordy has a vision and Angel invites Connor along to slay vampires with him. This goes surprisingly well, it seems. Later, Connor returns to Holtz. Connor is still not convinced Angel is good, but Holtz encourages him to seek out Angel, saying that Connor may not be a demon, but Holtz is unsure what he is and Angel can help him find himself. So, Connor goes back to the hotel, but is shocked to see Lorne, a demon, hanging out. Connor has a bit of a meltdown, unable to accept that demons might not all be bad. He attacks Cordy after she tells him she’s part demon, too, but Cordy’s powers (the white light she has) are activated, and she somehow cleanses Connor. Cordy later tells Angel that she understands Connor’s darkness and confusion, that in some part he thought he belonged in Quor’toth. Although Connor tried to kill Cordy, Angel is still willing to let him in and invites him to make his home at the hotel. Connor lets slip that Holtz told him the same thing.

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Angel, knowing Holtz is back, decides to confront him. He sends Connor off with Fred and Gunn, but Cordy warns Angel not to lie to Connor, telling Angel she doesn’t care if he kills Holtz, but that lying to Connor may not be a good plan. This turns out to be true. Fred and Gunn end up discussing Angel’s plans to visit Holtz, thinking Connor can’t hear, but he does and goes off to find his Holtz. In the meantime, Holtz and Angel have their confrontation, which is not as violent as you would expect, and the two seem to come to an agreement, able to forgive each other to some extent. Holtz gives Angel a letter for Connor and says he plans to leave. This is somewhat true. It turns out he is planning to have Justine kill him and make it look like a vampire (Angel) killed him. Connor finds Holtz after Angel has left and after Justine has killed him. Holtz’s revenge is complete. Holtz seemed reasonable to everyone around him, making Connor and Angel believe they could start having a relationship. But this is his ultimate vengeance.

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In many ways, the fact that Connor has two fathers could represent adoption, and the pull of the adopted family and biological family. His relationship with Holtz may also reflect an abusive childhood (Quor’toth definitely does). Holtz claims to Justine that at first, in Quor’toth, he only hated. And it kept them alive. But then he came to love Connor. He may love Connor, but he is still using Connor as a tool to his own ends with little regard to what would actually be best for him. This belies the claim that Holtz makes that he always told Connor the truth and always loved him. He didn’t and he doesn’t, not based on his actions in this episode. The relationship between Holtz and Connor also represents how hatred (for example, racism) can be passed down. Holtz has worked to make sure Connor will hate his true father for being a vampire. The final letter, when Angel reads it, seems to indicate that Holtz is giving Connor back to Angel, but on the backdrop of Holtz’s death can be read differently. Holtz is hoping that he has prepared Connor to kill Angel, and that is the destiny he hopes Connor finds. In Holtz’s final moments it is clear that however he started his journey, he is no longer a person fighting for justice, but solely and at all costs for vengeance, and Angel and Connor are caught up in his plot.

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Three other key events happen. The first two involve Wesley and Justine (and Lilah). The vampires Cordy sends Angel and Connor to kill are a set up for Justine. Lilah tipped off Justine that the vampires would be there and the vampires that Justine would be there. Lilah then invites Wesley to come and see Justine die. Wesley refuses to stay, but also plans to leave without telling Justine it’s a trap, this is proof to Lilah that Wesley may be corruptible. Wesley does stay when Angel and Connor show up, and he realizes Connor is Angel’s son. So, Wesley knows Connor is back. Justine also figures out who Connor is, which sends her to find Holtz, leading to her being included in Holtz’s final plans.

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The third event is about Groo and Cordy. Much like Riley in season 5 of Buffy, Groo is great guy. He loves Cordy. They could have a great relationship. But Cordy isn’t as in to him as he is. Groo realizes this in this episode.

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“Tomorrow”

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Episode 22 of Season 3

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“Where did everybody go?”

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Original US airdate: May 29th, 2002

Rewatched: September 7th, 2023

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• Writer: David Greenwalt

• Director: David Greenwalt

• Guests: John Rubinstein, Vincent Kartheiser, Laurel Holloman, Mark Lutz, Andy Hallett, Stephanie Romanov, Daniel Dae Kim, David Denman, Keith Szarabajka

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This episode sees most members of Angel Investigations facing very individual issues. In fact, the end of the episode sees Fred and Gunn alone in the hotel.

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First, Lorne leaves for Vegas. He’s not sure he wants to build a club in LA only to have it destroyed again, and a friend is looking for help. He leaves the team to see what a new city will bring him.

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Then, there’s Cordy. Groo leaves town because he knows she loves Angel (and Lorne tells Angel that Cordy loves him). Then Cordy’s demon powers cause her to see a reflection of herself, which helps her sort out her feelings for Angel. But on the way to meet Angel (we see her yellow jeep for the first time), she encounters Skip, who tells her that she’s ready to be a higher being and leave earth. It is a hard choice, but Cordy chooses to ascend. She has embraced her mission at the cost of love.

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Lilah continues to taunt Wes, and they end up sleeping together, but Wesley is still not ready to join Wolfram & Hart, or to have a deeper relationship with Lilah and kicks her out.

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Finally, there’s Angel and Connor. At first, it seems that everything is okay. Connor is moving in, and Angel is trying to pick a good room for him. They go to a movie together (where Wolfram & Hart try to kidnap Connor). However, Connor is just biding his time, and Angel, not knowing Holtz is dead, has no idea. In the end, Connor attacks Angel. Although Angel tries to explain what happened, Connor isn’t ready to listen. He instead calls Angel the prince of lies. With Justine’s help, he imprisons Angel in a metal coffin and sends him to the bottom of the ocean, where Angel can survive forever locked in a box.

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This episode does call the central family metaphor into question, like other events in the series do, with the ending being a complete breakdown of the team. It also raises interesting questions about Connor and Angel, and whether it is at all possible for them to ever build a trusting relationship. Connor, having lost the only person in this life, isn’t at a point where he can even begin to accept his father’s love for him. It’s a cliffhanger ending, leaving a lot of themes and plot lines for the next season.

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