There are a few contenders for “worst” character from theBuffy the Vampire Slayeruniverse, including Connor, fromAngel, who not only drew ire for having the hotheaded – arguably whiny – personality of a teenager, but forhaving one of the most uncomfortable storylines in franchise history, namely revolving around forming a romance with his surrogate mother, Cordelia Chase.
Angel: After the Fall– written by Brian Lynch, from a story by Joss Whedon, with art by Franco Urru –continues the story of theBuffyversefollowing the conclusion of Angel. The comics go a long way toundo everything fans hated about Connor, and yet, his storylines still remain questionable. Namely, he has a controversial romance with a returning Gwen Raiden, who nearly destroys Team Angel by betraying them.
His icky rendezvous with Cordy was just the tip of the iceberg, for how unlucky in love Connor is, and his bad luck may run deeper than just these two incidents.
Connor’s Controversial Storyline With Cordelia Doomed The Character To Criticism From Franchise Fans Forever
If fans recall the beginnings of Connor’s arc onAngel, they know that Connor was never lucky in love. His tryst with Cordelia was the tip of the iceberg, and obviously, just plain gross. Before he was kidnapped by Daniel Holtz and raised in a Hell dimension until he returned to Earth as a teenager, Connor was a baby having his pampers changed by Cordelia, who frequently helped Angel raise his son after the death of Connor’s mother, Darla. When Cordy is possessed by Jasmine, she seduces the teenage Connor, allowing him to impregnate her to give birth to herself.
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Given how much Connor’s rough upbringing has messed up his psyche, Angel cuts a deal with Wolfram & Hart to wipe Connor’s memories clean and give him a new life with a new, normal, loving family. When Connor reunites with his real father, he also meets Illyria,admitting he has an attraction to her and older women – something Angel quips that the evil lawyers were supposed to fix. It’s worth noting that during his period of normalcy, it’s mentioned in passing that Connor is dating a schoolmate named Tracy, though she was never seen onscreen, nor mentioned again.
Connor’s Moment Of Self-Awareness From “After The Fall” Seems Like The Franchise’s Creators Acknowledging A Misstep
Angel: After the Fall#6, Back-Up Story “Connor” – Written By Brian Lynch; Art By Stephen Mooney & Lisa Jackson.
Angel: After the Fallkicks off immediately after the events of the “Not Fade Away” series finale. Audiences ended the fifth and final season ofAngelwith Team Angel staring down an evil army before a swing of the vampire detective’s sword cut the screen to black,Sopranosstyle. After the Fall showcases the aftermath, where Wolfram & Hart’s latest act of villainy sends the city of Los Angeles to Hell, literally. The change of atmosphere manages to undo the magic done to wipe Connor’s memories of his past, forcing him to remember his tryst with Cordelia.
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Disgusted by his past, Connor likens himself to Oedipus, ina moment that feels self-aware on the creative team’s behalf to acknowledge that, yes, Connor sleeping with the closest woman he’s ever had to a mom was the grossest Buffyverse moment. In the same way thatBuffy the Vampire Slayerhad its moments thatmade viewers quit the show, and don’t age well with modern sensibilities, Cordelia having sex with Connor was such an equivalent for its spinoff series. Little did Connor know at his time of discovery that his love life would only worsen from there.
That is to say, even after this self-reflexive moment, the creators behind the ongoingAngelcomic book continuation still wound up making some questionable decisions with the character. Once more, he would fall prey to an older female character with sinister intentions, who exploited his vulnerability – establishing a pattern that, while making the character tragically relatable, has always impeded him from being fully embraced by theBuffyandAngelfandom over the years. Once again, Connor’s romantic life was at the center of one ofAngel: After the Fall’smost controversial decisions.
Connor’s Love Life In The Comics Was An Extension Of His Misfortune From “Angel” The TV Series
Dating Gwen Raiden In Hell & How It Went Downhill
If readers don’t remember Gwen Raiden, she was in a handful of Season 4 episodes as a mutant with uncontrollable electricity powers, which prevent her from touching anyone. The show briefly teased her being a femme fatale love interest to Angel before she sleeps with Gunn in her final episode once she suppresses her powers. She gets her happy ending and rides off into the sunset, but LA going to Hell re-activates her powers out of control. Her plight brings her back to Team Angel, meeting and joining with Connor and Nina (Angel’s ex) to help LA’s survivors take refuge.
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Off-panel, despite not being able to touch,the mid-20-something Gwen enters a romantic relationship with a teenage Connor, which, again, is not a great look.As if the optics of that weren’t bad enough, it turns out Gwen has been a mole the whole time for a newly antagonistic and vampiric Gunn. Without needing to sleep with him, she seduced Connor to manipulate him for information. Upon her betrayal, despite expressing that she legitimately fell in love with Connor, she tries to kill Connor, only to be killed herself when Connor is saved in a moment of sacrifice by his father’s pet dragon, Cordelia.
For Fans That Worry Connor Is Forever Unlucky In Love, The Comics Provide An Answer
Angel’sPost-After The FallCanon Comics Hint At More Stable Romances
It’s worth mentioning that post-Fall, inAngel and Faith#11, Connor is seen adjusting with his new girlfriend of three months, Natalie, who met through their college’s social work program. When talking to his dad about her, he describes her as “special.” Although she’s never seen on panel again besides one brief glimpse and hardly (if ever) mentioned again, the fact that she’s at least someone closer to Connor’s age is an upgrade from previous suitors. Plus, there are far fewer Oedipal connotations or world-ending implications with Connor dating Natalie than his previous mates.
Connor may not be the best character in theBuffy the Vampire Slayeruniverse, but even he deserves better than what he’s been given.
To say Angel’s son has a bad track record with women would be an understatement. His father’s isn’t much better, as a vampire who once courted a Vampire Slayer. Still,Connor’s relationship history by comparison have had more world-ending consequences compared to Angel’s,not to mention just being either unhealthy or just plain icky to witness. His healthiest relationships (Natalie and Tracy) are offscreen/off-panel characters who get little to no screen time. Connor may not be the best character in theBuffy the Vampire Slayeruniverse, but even he deserves better than what he’s been given.
