In "The Ticket" (S7E1), Santos asks Leo if he wants to step down as his running mate candidate, to which Leo flatly refuses. But then Santos says something like "Well if you don't want to quit then you're just going to have drum up another heart attack or something!"
Nine episodes later and we arrive with "Running Mates", and Leo's (and John Spencer's) penultimate appearance on our West Wing screens. ("The Cold" being his last)
It has to be said that John doesn't look particular well during his screen-time in this episode, but whatever pain and discomfort he may have endured filming it, he exploited to the full by playing a slightly different Leo to what we have become accustomed too.
His test podium Q&As with Otto at the beginning of the episode was a good example of a disconcerted, detached and slow-witted Leo; even his usual commanding voice seemed weak and unsure. And even though the episode finished on a high note for both Leo and the Santos campaign as a whole, to realise that we would never seen John/Leo again for the remainder of the season was a bitter bitter blow!
Principle actors may come and go: Sam's departure was unfortunate, but for me didn't have the same resonance as Leo because I never really believed in the Sam character anyway.
And then of course you had the Mandyville characters, who disappeared with barely a word of explanation; but again they were no great loss, apart from maybe Jordan and Ainsley.
But John's ultimate departure left a massive void that could never be filled. And for me this was Spencer's most accomplished role in his long and industrious career. Leo's commanding and reassuring presence through the hallowed halls of the West Wing always brought a certain fatherly presence to those people around him who were unsure of something.
And even now when I find myself with a problem I think to myself "WWLD?"
Nine episodes later and we arrive with "Running Mates", and Leo's (and John Spencer's) penultimate appearance on our West Wing screens. ("The Cold" being his last)
It has to be said that John doesn't look particular well during his screen-time in this episode, but whatever pain and discomfort he may have endured filming it, he exploited to the full by playing a slightly different Leo to what we have become accustomed too.
His test podium Q&As with Otto at the beginning of the episode was a good example of a disconcerted, detached and slow-witted Leo; even his usual commanding voice seemed weak and unsure. And even though the episode finished on a high note for both Leo and the Santos campaign as a whole, to realise that we would never seen John/Leo again for the remainder of the season was a bitter bitter blow!
Principle actors may come and go: Sam's departure was unfortunate, but for me didn't have the same resonance as Leo because I never really believed in the Sam character anyway.
And then of course you had the Mandyville characters, who disappeared with barely a word of explanation; but again they were no great loss, apart from maybe Jordan and Ainsley.
But John's ultimate departure left a massive void that could never be filled. And for me this was Spencer's most accomplished role in his long and industrious career. Leo's commanding and reassuring presence through the hallowed halls of the West Wing always brought a certain fatherly presence to those people around him who were unsure of something.
And even now when I find myself with a problem I think to myself "WWLD?"
