four and dropping of Kartheiser from regular cast, Minear says that they had an idea at the conception of teenage Connor that he would only last a season, and "it was time to end the character's story". But, they changed his original "violent, morbid" sendoff to a relatively happy one, citing their likability of actor and character as the reason. Also it was "nice to give someone a happy ending for once." Kartheiser was satisfied with the sendoff, particularly because the issue between Angel and Connor was confronted: That to me is the soul of the character. The name of the show is Angel so it all comes back to him. For Connor, everything stems from this place with Angel and Holtz, and when we got the opportunity for him to let that out, I think he came out of his tough shell and showed a little bit of his sensitivity. He showed that he was hurt by his father and that he was hurt by Holtz. The last scene of Angel watching memory-wiped Connor dine with his new family and slipping away quietly was Whedon's idea, derived from 1937's classic movie Stella Dallas: "I've given up my child. I see my child is happy, and does not know me, and I'm happy. That is the thing that made Stella Darlas the greatest, the thing that made this episode work." Despite Whedon's claim that the fourth season is a ‘final statement' for Connor, the character returns for a couple guests appearances in the fifth. This season sees a big development with a "well-adjusted" Connor and the long-due reconciliation of father and son; Connor is able to accept and appreciate all Angel did for him after his memories return. Minear and Bell were open to and had mentioned the possibility of character's return to Kartheiser at the end of season four. But following his return, Kartheiser isn't sure if the re-appearance was not only due to the necessity of tying up loose ends after the series was reckoned to be canceled. Originally Kartheiser was asked to appear for one episode "Origin" but the crew and Kartheiser enjoyed working with revamped Connor so much that "it became clear to [them] that he had to appear for the series finale". Connor again returns for Angel:After the Fall. Brian Lynch was initially confused about how to incorporate Connor into the story. It was Whedon