Thoughts about Leo/Greg Rikaart (Read 184 times)

[Kpatch]

I really disliked Leo in the beginning but I am sure I wasn't supposed to like him. He was a scoundrel and a con man.

He's still a scoundrel and a con man, but less so now. He's great for comic relief but Greg Rikaart can play pathos just as well. He's not one-dimensional and I'm often so impressed by how his facial expressions show his emotions. Not many actors have the ability to do that well (Victoria Grace who plays Wendy Shin, for example, has only one facial expression. Okay, I'll give her two), but Rikaart does. He sparkles with any scene partner and injects energy into every scene. I really enjoy watching him.

Your turn. Thoughts?

[mikey]

I think Greg Rikaart is great. I wish he were playing a less obnoxious character. The show goes out of its way to cram Leo into every little thing, and they rely way too heavily on building entire scenes and scenarios out of "clever" one-liners and double entendres. And I'm tired of them having Leo prey on uninterested straight men and acting like it's the height of comedy. But that's the writing, not the performance. GR commits and he has both a great sense of comedic timing and an ability to slide into heavy drama.

[horizon]

Took a while for me to warm up to the character because at first, he seemed like nothing more than a swindler. But as time went on and his relationship with Gwen fleshed out, he has become a signature comic piece on the show. Albeit he still gives off a strong whiff of being unreliable.

I agree with the above post that his gay riffing gets a bit tiresome when it is aimed at straight men, but it works when a gay character like Dimitri is the target.

His sarcastic asides remind me of a gay version of Bob Hope. He also belongs in the grand tradition of the wily and slippery hard to get a handle on comic foils like Kramer of "Seinfeld" Jim from "Taxi" and Ed Norton from "The Honeymooners." to name a few.

If Leo "splits' up with Gwen it could become a problem since they demonstrated great comic synergy together.

[doolfan4life]

He is a bit like the character of xander
It took a long time to warm me up but once I did I was in love
I like seeing the different side of Leo
He does really well with all the material even when it’s stupid

[ProudTVJunkie]

I absolutely adore Leo. I found him entertaining in the beginning, but I quickly grew to love him. I'm pretty sure I could watch Greg Rikaart read an old phone book and be entertained. Leo has even made Gwen far more tolerable.

Leo is completely over the top, but I've always thought there was a heart in there somewhere craving attention and acceptance.

I really wish they would have followed through on Leo being John's son. I think I'd love to see Greg Rikaart and Drake Hogestyn sharing more scenes together.

[wildheartashley]

Leo is not necessarily one of my favorite characters on the canvas right now, but I love Greg Rikaart’s acting. He has beautiful comic acting, and he brings a lightness to the show. I can get usually one good chuckle when Leo is on my screen at any given day,and I do like that Days has that comic relief in a character. It makes me think of the days of Calliope and Eugene.