Angel/Recap/S03 E21 Benediction

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

• 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: Everything to do with Holtz's intentions. He appears to be a worn-out shell of a man after his years in a hell dimension, whose love for his adopted son has overcome his hatred of Angel. It turns out Holtz is playing everyone yet again.
• 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.

Angel: (to Connor) "It could be kind of dangerous. There's a lot of killing and violence. [beat] You wanna 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.

Lilah: "I thought the 'come alone' was a particularly ironic touch. I mean, how else would you come?"

• 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. Of course Angel doesn't know Holtz intends to frame him for his own death, and this loving final message only increases Connor's determination.
• 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

Lorne: "In my professional opinion? Well, Miss Demon-y Britches here gave that child some kind of 'soul colonic'. Flushed him out but good."

• 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.
• Frame-Up / Wounded Gazelle Gambit: At Holtz's request, Justine kills Holtz by puncturing his neck twice with an ice pick, then tells Connor that Angel killed him.
• 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: His last words reveal that Holtz knows he's headed to Hell for his actions. And he doesn't give a damn.
• I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Averted. Holtz sacrifices Justine and Connor's future happiness for revenge.
• Ironic Echo: Justine tells Holtz she would have followed him into Hell. Later when Justine is begging Holtz not to make her kill him, Holtz says, "I'm not asking you to follow me to Hell, Justine — just send me there."
• Lotus Position: Cordy sits cross-legged on the bed listening to Angel.
• Manipulative Bastard: Holtz realises that despite indoctrinating Connor to hate Angel, the boy is drawn to his vampire father. He quickly adapts, encouraging Connor to form a connection which will get under Angel's guard, and increase Connor's rage after Holtz's death.
• 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.

Groo: "But if a thing is meant to be, then how can it 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?"

• Percussive Therapy: The punching bag gets another pounding.
• Political Correctness Gone Mad

Lilah: "Seems [Justine] has been pissing off a lot of undead Americans lately."

• Poor Communication Kills: Cordelia warns Angel not to lie to Connor about going to see Holtz. Angel ignores the advice making him look even more guilty when Connor discovers the deception and runs back to the hotel to find Holtz dead.
• 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.
• Revenge Before Reason: Holtz kills himself (a mortal sin, meaning eternity in Hell) to ensure Angel's demise at his son's hands.
• 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.

Wes: "You really don't know the first thing about me, do you?" 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.

• 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

Fred: "Looks like we've been following [Connor's] emissions the whole time." Gunn: "Now there is a sentence I don't ever need to hear again."

• They Call Me Mister Tibbs

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

• This Is the Part Where

Cordy: "Wait. Angel, before you go we have to do that thing." 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?"

• Twisted Echo Cut

Angel: "He's got to come back on his own. And he will. Just as soon as he realizes what he needs." Gunn: "And what's that?" Cordy: "A father." Connor: "A room. (at hotel reception) I need a room for me and my father [Holtz]."

• You Do NOT Want to Know:

Lorne: "A six-horned Lach-Nie owed me a favor. Don't ask."

• 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.