| “ | "I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to make money." | „ |
Alexi Leonov also known as The Russian is an antagonist in season 1 of the CW series Arrow.
He is a ruthless mercenary and criminal who is involved in a variety of illegal activities throughout the series, including kidnapping, theft, and assassination. He is hired by various villains throughout the show to carry out their nefarious plans and is known for his brutality and cunning. Despite his skills, he is eventually defeated by Arrow and his allies.
He is played by Eugene Lipinski, who also played Abe Slaney in Sherlock Holmes.
Biography[]
He was introduced in the episode "Year's End" as a Russian arms dealer who had acquired a powerful prototype earthquake device from Walter Steele's company. His goal was to sell the device to the highest bidder, regardless of the potential damage it could cause.
Throughout the season, Alexi Leonov continued to pursue his arms dealing activities, often coming into conflict with the series' main protagonist, Oliver Queen, who was also known as the vigilante archer, Green Arrow. Leonov's crimes were not limited to arms dealing, however, as he was also involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
In his early appearances, Alexi Leonov was shown to be a ruthless and cold-blooded criminal, willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. He was not above resorting to violence or even murder to protect his interests or eliminate any potential threats. His cunning and resourcefulness allowed him to stay one step ahead of the authorities and his enemies.
In the episode "Dead to Rights," it was revealed that Alexi Leonov had a personal vendetta against the Queen family, particularly against Robert Queen, Oliver's father. It was hinted that Leonov blamed Robert Queen for some past wrongdoing, and was seeking revenge against his family as a result. This provided an additional layer of motivation for his criminal activities, beyond mere profit.
As the season progressed, Alexi Leonov became increasingly involved in the central plotline involving the Undertaking, a plan by Malcolm Merlyn to destroy a significant portion of Starling City using seismic energy. While Leonov was not aware of the details of the Undertaking itself, he became a key player in the plans of Malcolm Merlyn and his organization, the League of Assassins.
In the penultimate episode of the season, "Darkness on the Edge of Town," Alexi Leonov was captured by Green Arrow and brought to the Arrow's hideout for interrogation. There, he revealed that he had been hired by Malcolm Merlyn to transport a large amount of explosives into Starling City, which would be used in the Undertaking. He also revealed that the device he had stolen earlier in the season was a prototype of a seismic generator, which could amplify the effects of the explosives and cause massive destruction.
Despite his capture and interrogation, Alexi Leonov remained a formidable opponent, and managed to escape from the Arrow's hideout using a hidden knife. He then continued to pursue his arms dealing activities, and was shown in the season finale, "Sacrifice," attempting to sell the earthquake device to a group of terrorists.
In the climactic sequence of the episode, Green Arrow, with the help of his allies, managed to prevent the Undertaking from being completed and stopped Malcolm Merlyn and his organization. During the chaos, Alexi Leonov was seen in his car, attempting to flee the scene. However, his car was hit by a rocket launcher fired by John Diggle, Oliver's bodyguard, and exploded in a fiery crash.
The fate of Alexi Leonov was left ambiguous at the end of the season, as it was never confirmed whether he had died in the explosion or managed to escape. However, given the severity of the crash and the apparent destruction of his car, it is likely that he perished in the explosion.
Personality[]
Alexi Leonov is portrayed as a ruthless, violent, and skilled mercenary in Arrow. He is willing to do whatever it takes to complete his missions, even if it means hurting or killing innocent people. Alexi is known for his combat skills, particularly with knives, and his resourcefulness, often using unconventional methods to achieve his goals. He is also shown to be cunning and manipulative, willing to make deals and betray allies if it benefits him. However, Alexi does have some sense of loyalty, as he is shown to work closely with his associates and takes pride in his reputation as a professional. Overall, Alexi's personality is that of a dangerous and formidable adversary, one who is not to be underestimated.
Abilities[]
- Combat skills: Alexi is highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, as well as the use of knives and other weapons. He is able to hold his own against multiple opponents, and is shown to be able to take down highly trained fighters like Oliver Queen.
- Physical strength: Alexi is shown to have a great deal of physical strength, which he uses to overpower his opponents and break through obstacles. He is also able to lift heavy objects with ease.
- Resourcefulness: Alexi is highly resourceful, and is able to improvise with whatever tools or weapons are available to him. He is also able to use his environment to his advantage, such as by creating distractions or setting traps.
- Intelligence: Alexi is shown to be a strategic thinker, and is able to anticipate his opponents' moves and plan accordingly. He is also skilled at manipulation and deception, using his intelligence to gain the upper hand in negotiations.
- Stealth: Alexi is able to move quietly and unseen, making him a difficult target to track or detect. He is shown to be able to infiltrate secure locations undetected, and is skilled at evading detection and capture.
Equipment[]
- Guns: Alexi is shown to use various types of guns, including handguns and assault rifles.
- Knives: Alexi is highly skilled in the use of knives, and is shown to carry multiple knives on his person.
- Explosives: Alexi is shown to use explosives, such as grenades and C4, to create distractions or cause damage.
- Body armor: Alexi is often shown wearing body armor, which helps protect him from enemy attacks.
- Communication devices: Alexi is shown to use various communication devices, such as radios and cell phones, to stay in contact with his associates and coordinate his actions.
- Vehicles: Alexi is shown to use various vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles, to move around the city and escape from his enemies.
- Computer hacking equipment: Alexi is also shown to be skilled at computer hacking, and uses various equipment such as laptops and hacking software to gain access to sensitive information or systems.
Trivia[]
- Alexi Leonov is a character created specifically for the Arrow TV series, and does not appear in the original DC Comics.
- Actor Eugene Lipinski, who portrayed Alexi Leonov, is known for his roles in various movies and TV shows, including "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "The X-Files."
- Alexi Leonov is one of the few antagonists in Arrow who is not connected to any major criminal organization, and operates as a lone wolf.
- In the Arrow episode "Year's End," Alexi Leonov is shown stealing a prototype earthquake device, which was originally developed by Walter Steele's company.
- Alexi Leonov's fate is left ambiguous at the end of his final appearance in Arrow, as it is never revealed whether he survived the explosion that destroyed his car.
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