Tommy Merlin is a main character in season 1 of the Arrow TV series, and Oliver Queen's best friend.
He is portrayed by Colin Donnell.
History[]
Background[]
Tommy was born to Malcolm and Rebecca Merlyn in Starling City. He was best friends with friends with Oliver and was very close with his sister Thea (although he was unaware that Thea was half-sister too from their father's side). After his mother was killed in the Glades, Tommy was left in the care of a nanny while his father joined the League of Assassins.
Season 1[]
Tommy welcomed Oliver back when he finally returned home after being presumed dead for 5 years. He started dating Oliver's ex-girlfriend Laurel and they move in together. However, Tommy became afflicted when he starts to think Laurel should be with Oliver instead. After finding out Oliver is the Arrow, Tommy furiously called him a murderer and broke up with Laurel reasoning that she would choose Oliver if she knew his secret identity.
Tommy watches the news as Moira Queen publically reveals Malcolm's plans to destroy the Glades. He angrily confronts his father and threatens him at gunpoint, only to be knocked out by him. During the Undertaking, Tommy saved Laurel who was trapped under rubble. Unfortunately, the building collapsed before Tommy could escape and he was killed in the impact.
Legacy[]
Since after his death, Oliver has been getting visits from illusions of Tommy who help guide him.
Thea later finds out Tommy was her half-brother and was horrified since she tried to kiss him. Malcolm was also remorseful for having accidentally killed his own son, so much that it was part of the reason he was protective of Thea after finding out she's his daughter, even sacrificing himself to save her from a landmine explosion on Lian Yu.
In the multiverse, there had been many earth versions of Tommy Merlyn, including Earth 2 where he is the vigilante, the Dark Archer. Oliver even sympathized with the Earth-X version of Tommy, who served the Earth-X Nazis as the assassin "Prometheus", by telling him about his own Tommy and how he died saving Laurel.
Tommy Merlyn appears dressed as the Green Arrow to clear Oliver for being accused as the vigilante. But in reality, it was really an ally and friend of Oliver, Christopher Chance alias Human Target.
Season 8[]
After Oliver died sacrificing himself to save and reboot the universe and defeat the Anti-Monitor, he resurrected most of his loved ones, including Tommy, and altered their fates. Tommy was seen among everyone closest to Oliver during his funeral, where he is seen talking to Earth 2 Laurel Lance.
Gallery[]
