1 minute ago, te. said:

I mean, if Leo was portrayed and written like a gay man in his 40s I could've probably understood the attraction - life experience can be sexy. The reason why the age thing comes up is because he's being written as much younger and it's somewhat jarring. 

Here's my thing, though: how is a "gay man in his 40's" supposed to act like? I know plenty of men⏤heterosexual or homosexual⏤who behave just like Leo Stark does. And the same thing goes for when viewers bitch about how teens are not "acting their age." Everyone is different, and while I am not defending the "writer" and his lazy-ass writing, I am stating there isn't one specific way to write a character.

Because I don't see people calling out Sami when she comes to town pulling the same, tired schemes she always does. 🤷🏻‍♂️ If anything, it's hailed because it is Sami Brady.

3 minutes ago, te. said:

I mean, if Leo was portrayed and written like a gay man in his 40s I could've probably understood the attraction - life experience can be sexy. The reason why the age thing comes up is because he's being written as much younger and it's somewhat jarring. 

Hell, if they wanted to write him like a conniving grifter like they sometimes seems to allude to, he'd be a lot more smart than he usually comes across (except for the days when he gets to have The Salem Brain).  But all his schemes are Sami-at-15 at best.

Interesting.  I thought the fact he acted a bit younger was an appeal, but apparently it is not lol.  Leo's age just never really entered my mind in this scenario.  I was confused at how two people who shared a couple of drinks and some texts were now suddenly in a serious relationship.

Leo's schemes are idiotic.  Sami at 15 was way more intelligent.  Don't diss her like that haha!

5 hours ago, te. said:

Hey now, there was that cute bell boy too. 

Derrick

Really good show after three duds in a row.

I really enjoyed Xander and Brady today. So much history, mostly bad, between them, and Xander's apology was very needed. I hope now that we can see these two have a better relationship, something I have been hoping for since they had those wonderful scenes after Victor's death.

Holly and Tate are pointless, and he still looks every bit his real age. Sophia was the only thing that made him interesting, and now she is making Aaron interesting. I imagine he will pretend to be her baby daddy when she is inevitably pregnant in a month or so.

Ava mocking Kristen was fantastic. Finally, Brady has somehow managed to glom on to a woman who will not be intimidated by her. Wonder how Ava will fare against Rachel though?

Xander and Sarah were very sweet in that first scene. I've missed them having moments together. And she felt Maggie throw a water bottle on her leg! I hope this is the start of the end of the paralysis story and we can move on to Philip vs Xander, which I feel will be highly entertaining stuff.

3 hours ago, carolineg said:

The way he treated Gwen was deplorable and we have to hear how sad he is about losing that friendship which is 100% his own fault.

I’m not really looking forward to 

Spoiler

Gwen coming back because of this. Leo doesn’t deserve her forgiveness 

 

2 hours ago, te. said:

I think this is the main issue with Leo to be honest - I don't think Rikkart looks bad, but he's obviously in his 40s. So we have a 40-something gay man, who acts like a messy 21 year old (at best) and for whatever reason attracts a lot of hot men? I'm sorry, I don't really see why they would at this point not treat Leo as a last resort situation. As someone else said, at least build up the relationship with Javi to the point where we understand what the possible attraction there is.

Definitely.

On some level, I do feel a little sorry for Greg Rikaart because it’s not his fault that so many fans hate Leo.

Ron and his writing is to blame 

1 hour ago, AbcNbc247 said:

I’m not really looking forward to 

  Reveal hidden contents

Gwen coming back because of this. Leo doesn’t deserve her forgiveness 

 

Definitely.

On some level, I do feel a little sorry for Greg Rikaart because it’s not his fault that so many fans hate Leo.

Ron and his writing is to blame 

Greg Rikaart has managed to play two characters on two soaps that I despise and wish were never on my screen. I’ve never felt love to hate from either Kevin or Leo. I’d like to see what he could do with an actual likeable character. Also both on Days and YR his character hangs out with characters that are significantly younger than him which is annoying.

2 hours ago, AbcNbc247 said:

On some level, I do feel a little sorry for Greg Rikaart because it’s not his fault that so many fans hate Leo.

Ron and his writing is to blame 

I love what I know about Greg Rikaart as a person. He's a pretty outstanding human being.

However, I don't think Rikaart is blameless when it comes to the character Leo. Yes, the writing is bad, as we've all pointed out, but in my opinion the way he plays Leo is also a fail. I just don't think it works.

21 hours ago, carolineg said:

Wow, rude.  And I am not even the original poster.

 

It honestly wasn't meant to be rude. I should have added a smiley face of some sort to convey I was teasing. 

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by Soaptastic75

16 minutes ago, Soaptastic75 said:

It honestly wasn't meant to be rude. I should have added a smiley face of some sort to convey I was teasing. 

 

21 minutes ago, Soaptastic75 said:

It honestly wasn't meant to be rude. I should have added a smiley face of some sort to convey I was teasing. 

LOL!  The smiley face would have helped because I read it and was like damn....that's cold to the OP.

2 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

but in my opinion the way he plays Leo is also a fail. I just don't think it works.

 

3 hours ago, Antoyne said:

Greg Rikaart has managed to play two characters on two soaps that I despise and wish were never on my screen.

Yes there is something about GR's onscreen persona that is grating to me.

Same with Michelle Stafford. Nina on GH was just as annoying to me as Phyllis.

6 minutes ago, carolineg said:

LOL!  The smiley face would have helped because I read it and was like damn....that's cold to the OP.

Reading it back, it DOES seem pretty cold lol 

4 hours ago, Antoyne said:

Greg Rikaart has managed to play two characters on two soaps that I despise and wish were never on my screen. I’ve never felt love to hate from either Kevin or Leo. I’d like to see what he could do with an actual likeable character. Also both on Days and YR his character hangs out with characters that are significantly younger than him which is annoying.

So, Kevin is forced as much as Leo is? 😂

3 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

I just don't think it works.

It hasn’t worked since about 2019 lol 

I liked Leo when he first came on. I thought it was refreshing and something different to have a gay villain. But now, after everything that’s been written for him, I’m just done.

I’m curious though, how do you think Greg is at fault too? 

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by AbcNbc247

On the one hand, Leo is written as such an immature goofball that it feels as if the actor is just playing what is in the script.

On the other hand, I thought his performance during weightier scenes, like those over the summer with his mother in prison, and pouring his heart out to Marlena about not feeling loved, were not as moving as I would have liked.  I actually thought Judith Chapman's performance felt more evenly toned next to GR's in their scene.  And that is saying a lot, given Ms. Chapman's fondness for hysteria.

Even this week, when Leo thought that Javi had stolen his scripts, it all felt inorganic.  We were told that this was Leo's dream job.  He had written three months worth of scripts, and we knew that he was committed to doing a good job.  But his screech at his laptop when he saw that the scripts had been leaked seemed to be played for laughs rather than pathos. 

So, I guess, I am left feeling that there is room for blame all around.  I don't expect every gay to be an accurate representation of the entire culture.  Nor do I think that they have to be likeable or worthy of empathy.  But, Leo remains a one-note-clown, despite multiple efforts to make us feels that he is a victim of his past, lonely, and desperate.

I also really don't understand why Bonnie would give him the time of day, given their history.  Everyone seems to forgive Leo, despite the fact that he is not very kind, nor charming.  Like, I can see why people would still tolerate EJ, but Leo is just a loser, a con artist, and keeps aiding multiple criminals.

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by j swift

23 minutes ago, j swift said:

On the one hand, Leo is written as such an immature goofball that it feels as if the actor is just playing what is in the script.

On the other hand, I thought his performance during weightier scenes, like those over the summer with his mother in prison, and pouring his heart out to Marlena about not feeling loved, were not as moving as I would have liked.  I actually thought Judith Chapman's performance felt more evenly toned next to GR's in their scene.  And that is saying a lot, given Ms. Chapman's fondness for hysteria.

Even this week, when Leo thought that Javi had stolen his scripts, it all felt inorganic.  We were told that this was Leo's dream job.  He had written three months worth of scripts, and we knew that he was committed to doing a good job.  But his screech at his laptop when he saw that the scripts had been leaked seemed to be played for laughs rather than pathos. 

So, I guess, I am left feeling that there is room for blame all around.  I don't expect every gay to be an accurate representation of the entire culture.  Nor do I think that they have to be likeable or worthy of empathy.  But, Leo remains a one-note-clown, despite multiple efforts to make us feels that he is a victim of his past, lonely, and desperate.

I also really don't understand why Bonnie would give him the time of day, given their history.  Everyone seems to forgive Leo, despite the fact that he is not very kind, nor charming.  Like, I can see why people would still tolerate EJ, but Leo is just a loser, a con artist, and keeps aiding multiple criminals.

This is why I think that the writing is mostly to blame. 

Ron always takes his villains too far, so when he writes something that’s designed to make fans have sympathy for them, it just doesn’t happen. Personally, I always see it as well deserved karma. 

You can say the same thing is happening for Kristen right now actually.

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by AbcNbc247