Days of Our Lives sees Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) claims that he has modified his methods, however has he actually? We’re going to dive into Greg Rikaart’s character and the sins of his previous which can be being dredged up proper now.
The Evolution of Leo Stark: From Salem Schemer to Soul-Looking out Citizen
So, love him or hate him, you bought to confess Leo has left his mark on Salem since he first appeared again in 2018. In case you didn’t know earlier than that, Greg Rikaart was over on Younger and the Stressed on and off for a pair of many years taking part in Kevin Fiser the place he was a dodgy schemer there as nicely. And he was nice. I do like Leo higher than Kevin. I’ll say I take pleasure in him extra on days.
So again in 2018, Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) had employed Leo to seduce Sonny Kiriakis (Zach Tinker) and trigger some massive scandal. So Leo’s shenanigans pressured Sonny out of the CEO place at Titan Industries. And since then, Leo has performed so many horrid issues to the folks of Salem. But on the identical time, he’s all the time been witty and enjoyable and likable and humorous. even when he was doing dastardly issues to Sonny, to Will Horton (Chandler Massey), to so many others on Days of Our Lives.
Days of our Lives: Leo’s Terrible Previous
And I’ll say over the previous, I don’t know, yr and a half or so, we’ve seen Leo performing some soul-searching and attempting to be a greater particular person. What he did to Sonny and Will was fairly terrible. After which what he did to his finest pal Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) by banging her husband Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) was to me worse in some ways.
As a result of Leo and Gwen had been finest mates for years. The place when Leo first was concentrating on Sonny and Will, he was employed to do it and so they have been strangers versus, you already know, doing horrible issues and violating the belief of your finest pal.
However Leo was actually scorching for her scorching hubby Dimitri. And so Leo simply threw that friendship away. He simply crapped throughout it. And Gwen’s return is mentioning rather a lot of his previous sins proper now. Javi Hernandez is discovering out issues about Leo he by no means knew and that he undoubtedly doesn’t like to listen to about his boyfriend.
Woman Whistleblower and a Seismic Shift: Has Leo Stark Actually Modified?
With Woman Whistleblower in his rear view. You recognize, it was feeling like Leo had actually modified his sneaky and conniving methods. However we obtained a query with Gwen again. Has he actually? You recognize, there’s been a seismic shift specifically over the previous, I don’t know, possibly 6 months or so. He satisfied Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) to let him swap from Gossip Lady to a severe investigative reporter on the Spectator. And for probably the most half, once more, previous six months plus, Leo has been an exemplary citizen of Salem.
I’ll say that him serving to fence the Horton household necklace that Doug Williams (Invoice Hayes) stole was the dodgiest factor that Leo’s performed shortly. However when he did it, he didn’t have all the data. And not too long ago, he wrote that very considerate article/obbituary about John Black (Drake Hogestyn) when he handed away. Not solely that, however Leo’s performed the work.
He has performed rather a lot of self-reflection. He obtained into counseling with Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Corridor). That got here after he obtained that Pricey John letter from Dimitri when he was in jail as a result of Dimitri obtained himself a prison romance and dumped Leo.
However in keeping with his therapist Marlena, she undoubtedly feels that Leo has made important progress in addressing his insecurities and traumas. However has he actually modified for the higher? Or is he simply the identical outdated Leo however possibly solely barely extra self-aware in maintaining the evil tucked away inside? That’s an excellent query.
Javi’s Affect and Gwen’s Warning: Unpacking Leo’s Emotional Baggage
I do assume that cutie Javi has been a very good affect on Leo. And now these two together with Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) are fostering Sophia and Tate’s son who they named Tasto. However with Gwen’s current arrival again to Salem, Leo of course is considering his depraved previous. Gwen even warned Javi that he was making a mistake getting concerned with someone like Leo.
Now, all of us noticed Javi was a bit of shaken by what Mrs. Von Leuschner mentioned about Leo. And there are issues that he withheld from Javi, however he did share some of the sins of his previous, however not all of them. Frankly, there’s rather a lot. And because of Gwen, we noticed Leo being pressured to return clear to Javi on much more stuff. He needed to unpack extra emotional baggage for his boyfriend, Javi. Fortuitously, Javi nonetheless loves Leo.
Days of Our Lives: Javi Loves Leo
He simply doesn’t just like the issues he’s performed in his previous. However Javi was significantly shocked to listen to that Leo was so disloyal to the one who was as soon as his finest pal. In case you can betray your finest pal like that, you may most likely betray your boyfriend like that, you already know. So when Leo’s former bestie Gwen simply laid into Leo in entrance of Javi, actually all Leo may do was apologize and say that he discovered his lesson.
However now this complete ordeal is making Leo second guesses whether or not he’s worthy to be foster child’s gunk, homosexual uncle, by the way in which, in the event you didn’t know the phrase. However you already know, we’ve seen Leo’s softer aspect. Is he and Javi are caring for the little child boy? and his boyfriend even mentioned he thought Leo would make an excellent father sometime.
Redemption and Forgiveness: Can Leo Stark Persuade Salem and the Viewers?
And when Will was on the town for John funeral, Leo made an effort to clear the air with him. He can’t undo what he did, however he did acknowledge how flawed he’d been for what he did to Will and Sonny. And of course, we all know rather a lot of Leo’s points are right down to his depraved mother, Diana Colville (Judith Chapman), his abusive father as nicely.
It’s arduous to be an excellent companion and a dad if you don’t have an excellent instance if you’re rising up, proper? In case you bear in mind, Leo was so excited when Diana mentioned John was his father. You recognize, Leo thought he lastly had a constructive male position mannequin in his life. And John was able to embrace the position of dad, however then Diana revealed she lied and she or he crushed her son but once more.
Days of Our Lives: Leo Stark’s Shady Transfer
And despite the fact that Leo helped fence Julie’s necklace, he was attempting to assist poor broke Doug. And now Leo is attempting to assist get the necklace again. So backside line, I don’t assume at this level that Leo desires to be dangerous. He simply wasn’t raised proper. He didn’t know higher and he obtained wrapped up in dangerous schemes that have been really orchestrated by different folks. However possibly now Javi’s love may assist save Leo from his darker impulses.
He appears to be doing okay, however Gwen’s return may trigger points as a result of it makes Leo assume again on how really terrible he has been previously the identical approach that Will’s return did. However Will got here and went and Gwen’s going to be sticking round. So, she’s going to be a relentless reminder of Leo’s poor previous life selections and his betrayals. Nonetheless, if Leo an get Gwen to forgive him, that may assist all people transfer ahead.
Days of our Lives: Leo’s Huge Turnaround Convinces Others
So, I imply, even Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus) who has hated him for a very long time as a result of of the Will and Sonny stuff, advised Ari that she initially didn’t need Leo to maneuver in, however he’s been nice. And she or he is aware of Javi actually loves him, so she’s softening.
Chad has softened. He’s getting together with Leo, despite the fact that he stole Abigail Deveraux’s (AnnaLynne McCord) jewellery the day she was murdered. So, possibly Leo’s obtained an opportunity to stay to the fitting path in life and persuade Gwen he’s actually modified. after which, you already know, possibly he’ll persuade us viewers that he’s actually modified as nicely.
