Improving Connor

[Marisa]

The idea of Angel having a son was a brilliant one and could have been great but then the baby grew up and there came the problem. I don't hate Connor but I think his character didn't really stand a chance.
What do you think the writers could have done to improve Connor?

 

[GrrArghx]

They did improve him. In Season Five 😉

 

[Marisa]

They did improve him. In Season Five 😉

I agree with that I say that is what made his character finally shine. 🙂
But it took forever for them to do that. I know he hates his dad because of the way he was raised. I know the dimension was horrible. It is just I think they took the whole hating his father to far and that is all he had character wise for what seemed like forever.

 

[TheVoid68]

I would've had him reconcile with his father in mid-late S4. Then all the pain he's gone through still gets too much for him, and the plot goes the same from there. He just spent too long hating Angel, it got boring and repetitive.

 

[white avenger]

I agree with the above. Connor improved in Season 5, as well as in "After The Fall" and beyond, pretty much the same as (FINALLY!!!) Dawn began to in Season 7 and beyond. Do you realize that they went an entire season without a single "Get out. Get out! GET OUT!!!) from her? Light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[Bungle Jerry]

I have no problem with Connor hating his father - everyone in the whole Buffyverse save Fred hates his/her father. The thing is how petulant Connor is about it, and how much the mere fact of his hatred defines his character. I'd have had Connor doing different things - given him a plotline of his own, I don't know what - something to take him away from the 'Father, I want to kill you' stuff. Because it's whiny and one-note.

 

[Marisa]

I have no problem with Connor hating his father - everyone in the whole Buffyverse save Fred hates his/her father. The thing is how petulant Connor is about it, and how much the mere fact of his hatred defines his character. I'd have had Connor doing different things - given him a plotline of his own, I don't know what - something to take him away from the 'Father, I want to kill you' stuff. Because it's whiny and one-note.

That is so true. It seems like he was one of the only main characters to not have anything at all besides that. His interaction with Faith could have been something, he could have had interaction with the rest of the AI team. It is as if he was never really thought of.

 

[caitaintdead]

I think they should have gone for a quiet and broody teenager instead of whiny and annoying. Season 5 he became much more likeable, I almost would have liked him to feature more if they were going to make so likeable. Season 4 Connor? Someone kill me please!?

 

[Kana]

I'm one of the few people in the universe who acutally found Connor interesting. He annoyed me, but that's ok, I only dislike characters to whom I'm indifferent.

The misconception is that Connor was simply pissed at Angel, when it is actually more accurate to call him conflicted.

It's hardly surprising that he would appear to hate Angel, I mean he was raised that way. It's clear to see that Connor can see part of himself in Angel. I mean, I actually jump for joy when the fight vamps together, because both Angel and Holtz notice the connection between them.

Connor's issue is with his identity and his identity is down to his family and finding purpose through that. Yes, Connor is whiny, because he's needy, he needs a family but the problem is, if he embraces Angel, then he has to accept his adoptive father has fed him lies but if he doesn't, he'll never find the answers he's looking for.

Part of the problem wasn't even Angel or Connor's fault. They have been products of manipulation and while they are still responsible for their actions it's understandable that they would fall prey to loneliness, jealousy etc.

Now of course his interaction is going to focused on Angel, because family is the main issue with him. He's the father he's longs to embrace but has been raised to hate. He's source of his identity and insecurity. Spying on his 'family' and feeling drawn to saving the family in Slouching, prove that this is centre of Connor's world.

The hearbreaking moment is when Connor seems upset that Angel wouldn't want him at the hotel. If he simply hated Angel, why would he care? Also when he calls Angel 'dad' in Habeas Corpses. A part of him wants to embrace, the other part wants to be better than him and the other part wants to kill him. All of these feelings are strong in him and none of them are reconcilable.

Angel also has issues. He loves his son but he also doesn't want to repeat the sins of his own father. By being stand offish, he also, unconsciously does some damage. He also wants his son to embrace him, so he can feel better about himself (most likely because of how his father made him feel)

Ok in short, I think there was a lot more going on with him than, "he's pissy and he hates Angel" I could actually go on about it but I'll leave it there.

 

[Marisa]

Kana I like your point a lot and at times it did seem like he wanted to like Angel and did like Angel and he would feel bad for that. For example when he first came back and they had that play fight type thing in the alleyway that was so precious because they were really bonding. Thanks for bringing that up 🙂

 

[Bungle Jerry]

I agree with everything Kana said, and I think most people will agree that the idea of Connor is a good one - that there are a lot of great conflict that could play out. With coming-of-age and parent-child-relationships being such recurring themes in the Buffyverse, it's a great format to explore real issues. Further, Cordy being pretty much the first woman he'd met, excepting Sunny, there ought to have been a real big mess of emotions tied in there: mother, lover, protector, protectee... his relationship with her didn't need to be merely flesh-crawling. It could have been another big-issue, complex-theme thing. But the problem is the execution. We see fewer of those conflicted feelings and more of the simple petulance. At least that's all i see from Connor in Seasons 3 and 4. It's like wasted potential - Connor could have been so much better a character. Alas, we're just left with a brat who gets on people's nerves.

 

[Goby]

Mid-way through Season 4, they should have stolen an idea from the Simpsons:




Hi, Poochie. You look like you've got something to say. Do you?

POOCHIE
Yes, I certainly do! I have to go now. My planet needs me.

A screen shows some handwritten text: "Note: Poochie died on the way back to his home planet".

KRUSTY
Poochie's dead! (laughs) (kids in audience cheer) Well kids, we all know that sometimes when cartoon characters die, they're back again the very next week. That's why I'm presenting this sworn affidavit that Poochie will never, ever, ever return!

LAWYER
This document conforms to all applicable laws and statutes.

 

[Misty]

I don't really have any problems with Connor, except for the part where he hooked up with Cordy/Jasmine. It would be nice if we didn't have to see him do that.

 

[sisterofmercy]

I don't really have any problems with Connor, except for the part where he hooked up with Cordy/Jasmine. It would be nice if we didn't have to see him do that.

Likewise, I think it was a bit odd to go down the whole Oedipal route. Other than that though I liked him, preferred him to Dawn on Buffy anyway.

 

[Kean]

Keep him as baby Connor. If not that, hire anyone but VK to play him.

/runs from Lyri

 

[Lyri]

You bloody better run woman!! I'mma sic DB's smoopiness on you!!

Alright, seriously though, everyone here knows that Connor is my favorite character, but the reason I like him has absolutely NOTHING to do with the character of Connor, and everything to do with hearing Vincent Karthieser talk about Connor. Listening to him explain Connor in his own words was a real eye opener, and as soon as I came home from that Con, I rewatched Connor's seasons and understood everything Vinnie was talking about.

So no, there's nothing I would change about Connor's character. Even the Cordelia awfulness. It was there for a reason.

 

[Kean]

Even the Cordelia awfulness. It was there for a reason.

Yes. To scar us all for life.

 

[Lyri]

Yes. To scar us all for life.

Yes, I admit, we were all traumatized and we will be in therapy until we're 104, but looking at it objectively, from a storytelling point of view, it did make sense. It's just unfortunate that Cordelia had to be the one Jasmine chose to be her vessel, rather than Sally-Anne down the street.

 

[Natasha1988]

I'll get slayed for saying it but the only way Connors character could be improved was if he was in a diffrent show..... preferably one that I didnt watch!

 

[Connor Holtz]

You bloody better run woman!! I'mma sic DB's smoopiness on you!!

Alright, seriously though, everyone here knows that Connor is my favorite character, but the reason I like him has absolutely NOTHING to do with the character of Connor, and everything to do with hearing Vincent Karthieser talk about Connor. Listening to him explain Connor in his own words was a real eye opener, and as soon as I came home from that Con, I rewatched Connor's seasons and understood everything Vinnie was talking about.

So no, there's nothing I would change about Connor's character. Even the Cordelia awfulness. It was there for a reason.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who who'll admit that Connor is their favorite character. I also wouldn't change a thing about Connor's character/history. Although, I have enjoyed seeing him evolve in season five and more so in the comics. If Whedon doesn't continue to utilize Connor's character after he re-acquires the series, I'll be majorly disappointed.