Connor bursts into the motel room and calls, "Dad!" He looks so scared! Gosh. I'm suddenly overwhelmed with maternal instincts, and wish I could give him a blanket and some cocoa. Connor backs out of the room, and I guess Angel didn't finish Holtz's letter or something, because there's more: "My only prayer is that I've prepared you well enough for whatever lies ahead. I trust I have. Be brave. Lovingly, Your Father." The captions have that last bit as "Lovingly, Dad," which makes Holtz far too informal, in my opinion. Anyway. Connor runs...uh, somewhere, and ends up in the alleyway where Justine is stroking the hair of a very dead Holtz. Connor kneels down in shock by Holtz's body. Justine looks up at him rather guiltily. And honestly, if you have the episode on tape, watch the bit where Connor sees the wounds on Holtz's neck. You can totally see his expression go from a horrified "How?" to a cynical smile of dawning comprehension, and I'd just like to say: wow. He's very good. I'm sad about Keith Szarabajka's departure, but Vincent Kartheiser is pretty good compensation. Connor sees the two punctures in Holtz's neck and says, "Angelus." The end.

Next week, the season finale. Angel hugs Cordy and pals around with Connor, which looks sweet in the preview but you know has to be bad news because of what we just saw. Cordy says, "I'm in love!" And, off-camera, adds, "With Angel." I join the world in prayer that this is some sadistic editor at work. Dear Mutant Enemy: I don't care if Angel falls in love with someone, and notice that I'm very much in favor of the idea that he loved Darla more than Buffy. But this thing with Cordelia? Makes. No. Sense. Love, Strega. I got a little distracted there, so back to the preview: Connor tries to do some kind of David Blaine magic trick with Angel in a box. I realize that my customary contrariness has led me to a somewhat defensive stance about this season, but seriously: isn't this better than Pylea?