Character of the day

Character: Tommy Merlyn
Known from: Arrow (TV series)
Role: Supporting character
Age: 28
About the character: Tommy is the son of Malcolm Merlin, the owner of Merlyn Global group. His mother Rebecca was killed by a thug in the Glades area which resulted in Malcolm leaving for two years (presumably in grief). In those two years Tommy found what he could call a home with his best friend Oliver Queen and his family.
Tommy and Oliver were complete brats, partying, playing around, ending up in court a couple of times due to the wealth of their fathers, so up until they were 27 years old they never worked a day.
Tommy and Oliver shared most of their childhood, teenage years together. Robert, Oliver's father, took them to their first basketball game and years later to their first R rated movie. Tommy saw in Robert a father more than his own.

After Oliver, Robert and Sara Lance were presumed dead, Tommy and Laurel Lance found solace in each other and had a short lived relationship. Laurel acted out of hurt and anger, but apparently Tommy had feelings for her that weren't met at the time.

When Oliver returned home five years later, Tommy helped him ease into their former life only to find that Oliver was not the same person anymore. When his father cut him off, he worked in Oliver's night club Verdant for a while.

Why he drew my attention: Well, at first he was the carefree, lazy and kind of selfish guy but through out the first season I found myself liking the character. Many people wouldn't care much about Tommy,for he only lived for 24 episodes and died tragically, but for me he's always an influential character and an example of a good friend to keep around :D

Yes I know Tommy wasn't very faithful when he dated Laurel his dead best friend's girlfriend, but in his defense he thought Oliver was dead! I don't know what's so appealing about Laurel, but she seems to be everyone's first crush so for me Tommy is excused from that :D
His character development is nice to watch, he finds in himself the will to change and become a productive person and he just proves that it's never too late to work on yourself and improve your role in the world. Of course he struggles, but eventually he gets through it.
When he discovered Oliver's secret, he didn't reveal it to anyone though he was furious with Oliver which proves him a true friend.

His death :'( It was sad (for me at least) watching him die for Laurel, till the very end he loved her. But I'm glad they made his death count, because it was Oliver's motivation to become a better Green Arrow, more than a vengeance seeking killing machine.

In the end I recommend you checking out Tommy and see if you agree with me ;) or just take him as another dead character.