Angel (TV Series) A New World (2002) User Reviews

Conner: My most unfavorite character in the Buffyverse

[katierose295 · 8/10 · 1 March 2007]

I don't like Kate or Holtz here on "Angel" Nina, in season five, really annoys me. I don't like Dawn or Riley over on BTVS. And I hate all those Potentials that invade Sunnydale in season seven. But, in all of the Buffyverse, Conner is probably the person I hate the most. It's a tough call, especially when you consider how much I despise Kennedy over on BTVS. I REALLY hate her. But, honestly, I think Conner's the worst. He just takes over the whole show and he's completely uninteresting, unsympathetic and annoying. Still, if you're planning to see the rest of the show, than you should probably watch "A New World." It sets-up the Lilah and Wes relationship, brings Holtz back into the picture, and reunites Angel with the son.

Basically, this episode revolves around Conner returning from that hell dimension. He's now a teenager and he hates Angel. After fighting off Team Angel, Conner dashes off into LA. Angel, Gunn and Fred follow him, while Cordy and Gru guard the rip in reality that leads to the hell dimension. They're afraid something else will come through, and they're right. They're soon knocked unconscious as something passes through. Lorne brings a blue haired woman to close the rip, but it's too late. Gru continues to question his place in Cordy's world, especially when he sees how much she cares for Angel.

Meanwhile, Conner beats up some drug dealers and befriends a homeless girl named, Sunny. (Vampires. Sun. Get it? Also, Conner is Angel's son, which is a nice little play on words.) Back in Wes's apartment, his brooding is interrupted by Lilah. She arrives to offer him a job at Wolfram and Hart. Wes declines, but Lilah isn't ready to give up. Sunny ODs. Angel finds Conner and together they beat up the drug dealers. Conner refuses to accept Angel as his father. He insists that Holtz is his dad and that Angel is nothing but an evil vampire. Angel tells Conner that he loves him and wants him to come back to the hotel. Instead, Conner leaves and goes to Holtz, who has come through the portal after him.

There are some good parts to this episode. I LOVE Wes and Lilah together. They're so bad and mean and fun. I think they become one of the show's best couples. And I like Gru a lot when he gets sarcastic. He's pretty really hilarious sniping about Angel. "Angel's our leader. We must make him happy." I laugh out loud every time I see that scene and I love Angel. And I like the lady with the blue hair who closes the portal. Too bad we never see her again. Also, I think it's interesting that Conner and Sunny end up at an abandoned motel. It's low-rent and seedy, haunted by humans who are lost and alone. It's kinna the mirror image of the Hyperion, which is classier and more often haunted by demons. It's just sort of neat. Finally, the scene where Angel tries to run after Conner, right into the sunlight is very cool.

On the downside, I don't like Conner. Period.

My favorite part of the episode: I actually think the ear-less drug dealer is pretty funny. I wish HE'D been Angel's son.

Connor's Return

[Samuel-Shovel · 7/10 · 17 August 2018]

In "A New World", after entering Earth's dimension, Connor is out to kill his father. After a brief skirmish with Angel, Connor runs off into the streets of LA. Angel cannot follow due to it being daylight. Connor meets a new friend, a junky named Sunny. Connor defends her from her drug dealer and ends up chopping off the man's ear. One of the dealer's thugs ends up dead. Connor & Sunny take refuge in a flophouse where Sunny accidentally ODs. A distraught Connor wants vengeance on the drug dealer Tyke. Angel shows up to try to console the scared teenager. Tyke and his gang also show up to kill Connor. The cops aren't far behind, looking for the murderer from earlier. Angel saves Connor's life by taking a shotgun shell to the back. Connor runs off again and reunites with now a much older Holtz.

While all of this is happening, the rest of the gang has their own subplot going on. Lorne finds an expert to close the dimensional tear that was created when Connor broke through. Something else might have snuck through as well. Groo is starting to show signs of jealousy towards Angel whenever Cordy brings him up. Lilah offers Wesley a job at WR&H.

There's really a lot to like regarding the direction Season 3 is heading as we near the finale. Wes's future seems completely up in the air. Fred seems like she wants to reach out but Gunn continues to shut her down. The romantic triangle that was briefly in the balance adds another element to the complicated relationships at stake within the gang.

Connor seems to be a bit brainwashed by Holtz. We've yet to find out what exactly Holtz has told him other than that Angel is a vampire who killed Holtz's family and that he needs to be killed. But he seems extremely confused by Angel's good-naturedness and his selflessness in protecting Connor. What Holtz will tell them as the two reunite is intriguing.

While nothing about this episode was spectacular (although it did have some good action sequences), it was an important building block to move forward with.

Oh also, I need to note that the CGI of Connor on top of that bus is laughably atrocious. I really could have done without that.

Peter Pan Connor

[Joxerlives · 7/10 · 9 March 2012]

A NEW WORLD

The Good; Anthony Starke who plays Tyke also played Ezra in the TV version of the Magnificent Seven, my favourite character, very Doc Holliday (he's also Sanchez's assistant Truman Lodge in the Bond film Licence to Kill). Love the way you can see Gunn and Groo just automatically reacting to Connors attack without a moments hesitation. Love Myrna too.

The Bad; Connor jumping on the bus looks very fake. The shootout with the police looks like it belongs in the Matrix films as indeed does the initial confrontation at the Hyperion. Also, where is the body of the beastie that proceeded Connor through the rift? Holtz's makeup also isn't too good. CC's blood seems almost translucent which it wouldn't be unless that's a side effect of her half demon side. You can see Angel's shoulder reflected in the door when he tries to follow Conor outside

Best line: Tyke; (pointing to where his ear used to be) "You'll have to speak up because I DON'T HEAR SO GOOD!" just beating; Fred; "Poor Connor he must be so scared" Gunn; "Yeah he looked real scared when he was KICKING MY ASS!" (once again Gunn is AI's straight man)

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Sunny dead in the bathtub with the needle in her arm. Such realistic depictions of death and suffering always more disturbing than demons and vampires. Connor cutting Tyke's ear off!

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Clichés Inverting the Hollywood cliché; In disguise; 8

DB get's his shirt off; 12

Cordy's tatt; 10

Cheap Angel; 9

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy: 5 Angel: 11 Wes: 6 Gunn; 4 Lorne; 3 Fred; 2

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy and Groo Cordy: 12 Angel: 14 Wes: 5 Doyle; 1 Gunn; 1 Lorne; 3 Groo; 1

Kills: none but Connor must be quite the boy to fight off Angel, Gunn and Groo!? Cordy: 5 vamps, 3 demons Angel; 39 vamps, 57 and 1/2 demons, 7 humans Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 12 demons+3 vamps, 2 humans Kate; 3 vamps Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans. Gunn; 10 vamps+ 11 demons. Groo; 1 demon Fred; 1 vamp

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 2 Angel: 2 Gunn; 1 Wes; 1

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 2 Angel: 8 Fred; 1

Characters killed: Sunny ODs. 47

Recurring characters killed; 8;

Total number of Angel Investigations: 6, Angel, Cordy, Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Groo

Angel Investigations shot: Angel by the police in the motel shootout Angel: 12 Wes; 1

Packing heat; Wes; 6 Doyle; 1 Angel; 2 Gunn; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy: 4 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis+Groo Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde Gunn; 1 Fred Fred; 1 Gunn Groo; 1Cordy

Kinky dinky: Tyke appears to be attempting to force Sunny to have sex with him in return for drugs. Connor is fascinated by a bra he finds at the squat. The Groo once spent 11 days standing stock still to avoid being mated with by a herd of Burrbeasts. He implies that he was a virgin before him and Cordy. Connor strips before Sunny and they kiss.

Captain Subtext; Sunny warns him not to play 'teddy bear in the hole' with another of the residents.

Know the face, different character; 4

Parking garages; 5,

Buffy characters on Angel; 16 Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony

Questions and observations; When does Connor reload his arm cannon, it has 3 tubes but he fires four shots? Note Wes keeps a couple of swords in the umbrella stand by his door. It's an interesting comparison between Groo and Riley, both love their sweethearts but realise they're not the ones for them so leave. However whilst Riley was pretty much agony to watch the Groo does it much more subtly and with dignity (maybe the writers learned their lesson?). The LAPD at the crime scene seem remarkably forthcoming to Gunn, maybe they're friends of Kate's? Connor intends to find Tyke from his scent, has he inherited his parents vamp senses? Angel says that Stephen isn't an Irish name, true but in Southern Ireland Boxing Day is also known as St Stephen's Day.

Marks out of 10; 7/10, pretty good

If a fat guy, wearing furry slippers asks you to play 'teddy bear in the hole' just tell him to get lost

[SleepTight666 · 10/10 · 28 August 2007]

With only three episodes left, 'Connor' comes back from the hell dimension, only as a teenager and not very cuddly anymore. This is definitely one of my favorite episodes, I think the directing is fantastic (But hey, it's Tim Minear) The dialog is brilliant, and the acting is also superb. The chemistry between 'Connor' and the extremely cute 'Sunny' was lovely, it was sad to see her OD'd. I guess 'Angel' was right, 'Connor' did trade one hell dimension for the other. The bad guy of the episode was also great, I loved his sarcasm and his ear getting cut-off by 'Connor'. Vincent Karitheiser does an excellent job as the troubled teenager, and looks damn good at it, I loved the scene where he just stands there nude in front of 'Sunny'. The chemistry between 'Wesley' and 'Lilah' just keeps on growing, and 'Cordy' realizes the more that 'Groo' is not the man she truly loves. My favorite scene of the episode is the teaser, what an awesome fight sequence. Also loved the ending with 'Holt' re-appearing. Brilliant stuff all around. GUNN: Angel? I hate to bring that up, but are we sure this was Connor? Just 'cause he said 'hi, dad'?. ANGEL: It was him. GUNN: Couple of weeks ago he was wearing diapers. Now he's a teenager?. CORDELIA: Tell me we don't live in a soap opera. (10 out of 10)

Lilah: I guess when she slit your throat, she nicked your sense of humor. Wesley: Not at all. I find you being here extremely funny.

[bombersflyup · 10/10 · 18 January 2018]

A New World is about the arrival of Angel's son Connor, through the portal of Quor-toth.

One of the contenders for best episode. Connor's immediately on the attack, firing stakes at Angel after he comes through the portal. He fights Groo, Gunn and Angel, but Angel's holding back as he doesn't want to fight and happy to see him. Holtz's revenge has certainly come to fruition. Connor has nothing but hate in his heart for Angel, Holtz has told him who Angel is and what he has done to his family and nothing he can say is going to change that. The scene where Angel confronts Connor, one of the strongest I've seen. Connor: Come on, show me! Show me the face you used to kill my father's family. Show me! Come on! Show me! Angel: Looks like this, son. Connor: That's what you are. Angel: It's part of what I am. A part I hope you will be able to accept one day. Connor: You'd have to kill me first. That's his little boy he held in his arms just days ago. It isn't his fault he feels the way he feels, he was taught it growing up, Angel has to stand there and take it. Connor starts to see the good in Angel by his actions and wants to have a connection with his father, but Holtz soon puts a stop to that. Lilah approaches Wesley to offer him a job. I like this pairing, Wesley now his own man and bitter, has someone to throw wisecracks at and stay involved. Tyke's also amusing in the episode. Tyke: I'm sorry, did you say no need for violence? You might want to speak up, you see, I don't hear so good anymore!

Wesley: Dante's Divine Comedy. Lilah: Actually, it's just part one. The Inferno. It's not a first edition. More like the 1500s. But it is in the original Tuscan. Have you read it? Wesley: Several times. Lilah: Then you know it's a guided tour of the underworld. The nine levels of hell. Wesley: Yes, descending, concentric rings based on the severity of the sin. Lilah: You know, I always forget. At the very bottom of hell, in the ninth circle, the devil's frozen in ice, right? He's got three heads, three mouths, and these mouths are reserved for the worst sinners. I can't remember, who is in the center mouth? What was his name? The one person in all of human history who was deemed the greatest sinner. Who is it? Wesley: Judas Iscariot. Lilah: Right. The worst spot in hell is reserved for those who betray... So don't pretend you're too good to work for us.

A fish-out-of-water tale, and the introduction of a divisive character.

[UNOhwen · 19 January 2012]

Before i say anything, let me say two points:

I don't want to incorporate, here, what we all know will happen, but, stick specifically to what is known as of THIS pointing the series.

I also want to reflect on my this episode A NEW WORLD, by commenting on the first user review I saw: katierose295.

As I write this, it's now '12 - almost 5 years after she wrote her review. While the series has been off the air (new episodes) for almost a decade, ANGEL still lives on, in perpetuity on TNT (which is how I initially got hooked in the first place).

As ANGEL is shown in a never-ending loop, you develop insight as to when a particular season, story-arc, etc. will begin.

In A NEW WORLD, we see for the first time, a (physically - definitely not emotionally) mature Connor, Angel's son, for those who might not know.

With this episodes intro, we're given a quick back-story, and, then, we're met with a animal-skin covered (or, as the drug dealer, Tyke says, a 'chamois suit') Connor - whose escaped from the hell-dimension Quor'Toth.

I mentioned katierose295, and, now, I'll tell why I mentioned her:

She makes it quite clear that she dislikes Connor above all other characters in the BuffyVerse.

She explains that, amongst her reasons for disliking him, are, he's 'uninteresting,mug sympathetic, and annoying.'

I, too - have similar feelings about Connor (as do many others), but, katierose295's comments being the first I saw, they stuck out.

And, I thought about what she said.

The thing is, I think the character, Connor is SUPPOSED to be a 'sullen teenager,' pushed to extreme characterisation.

People can argue whether or not he's justified in his beliefs (basically, his father 'abandoned' him, and, didn't 'do anything' to get him back. Personally, I think Angel did all that he COULD do), but, as the character Connor is of main-focus, in this season, he brings a lot of controversy to this season.

A NEW WORLD's major story line, is a 'fish-out-of-water' story, about Connor.

After his violent introduction to Team Angel (I live their version of 'bullet-time.' What would YOU call it - 'arrow-time?'), Connnor heads into an unknown world; Los Angeles.

His first encounter is with a conflict, between a drug user, named Sunny, and her drug dealer, Tyke.

From Connor's unknowing point-of-view, he sees a woman in distress, and acts accordingly.

Sunny brings Connor into her home - an abandoned hotel, where she shoots up, explaining to Connor, that she's 'sick,' and the dope's her 'medicine.'

After Sunny OD's, Connor - from the look on his face - feels abandoned, again.

His first introduction to our 'civilised' world, immediately appears to him, just as dangerous, as the dimension he's just escaped from.

I don't want to give a blow-by-blow story-line, but, it's from this 'damaged' first introduction, that Connor's views are shaped.

Yes, he's a. VERY damaged young man, who has not had any stabilised guidance in his life. He's been raised by a man, who's Angel(us)'s sworn enemy, and, has been thrust into something very alien, to him.

As I initially said, how katierose295 dislikes Connor (I don't mean to pick on you!), I understand what Mr. Wheaton wanted to do, but, I think the Connor character's introduction, and subsequent hatred could've been handled better.

Given Mr. Whedon's usual writing abilities, I come down harder, on him. He should've been able to handle Connor with more finesse.

But, given what we are, this is a story-arc that will have strong importance, throughout this season.

I still give this episode a '7,' because overall, the writing is heads-over-heels far better than on most series.

Still, it's hard for me - as it apparently is for others - to separate Vincent Katheiser's performance AS Connor, from the actor himself.