Petteri Paavola, in case you are not in the know, is a young man who has played the role of Elias Vikstedt in the Finnish soap opera Salatut Elämät for the last four years.
Ronny Roslof (left) and Petteri Paavola portrayed lovers Lari and Elias — known by fans worldwide by the portmanteau Larias — on the Finnish sudser. Roslof remains on the show, his once-closeted character is now in an out relationship with an older man.
He announced recently that he was leaving the show and the character was written out, having headed to Belgium to live with his mother. It’s not known at this time if he will return.
The relationship between Elias and Lari captivated audiences around the globe, thanks to YouTube and the good offices of MissFinlandia88, the handle of the dedicated YouTuber who subtitled these clips in English — and even got the show’s blessing to do it.
What do I care? Well, a post I wrote about Salatut Elämät in January 2013 has been the most-read piece on this site for two years running. Go figure. Who knew gay Finnish soap opera characters would bring so much of the world to me?
If you don’t come back — or even if you do, — thanks, Petteri. I’ve enjoyed meeting so many of your fans!
One Last Word 
So Elias will not be coming back soon? 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
That’s my understanding, but I don’t speak Finnish, so I’m relying on others’ translations.
I have much sorrow for Petteri’s contribution to a very good love story with Ronny Roslof. I had read that it was not of Petteri’s doing. That the powers that be just have written his character off the program. Reminds me of Eastenders Ben and Paul. Paul being written off, like every gay relationship is bound to fail. I had high hopes that Elias and Lari would make a go of it. But no the writers/PRODUCERS disappoint every single time. Missfinlandia has put many hours making it possible for gay, bisexual, lesbian, etc, and those of every part of humility. Just to make differences more open, more excepting. But no, is it ratings be dammed. While we the public are shorted AGAIN I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT Petteri’s new job is.
P.S. Can anyone give me Petteri’s and Ronny Roslof’s Twitter and other social media sites that I can show them and the other actors in Elias story some appreciation for all the great work they have put into an awesome job they gave us. And of course no thank you would have been possible without the timeless work of Missfinlandia88 A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HER WORK, TIRELESS EFFORTS WITH ADDING ENGLISH SUBTITLES AGAIN THANK YOU
John – I know Petteri and Ronny are both on Instagram; I’m not sure if either of them have an English language Twitter.
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