Tom/Theories

From Lostpedia

Tom with and without his fake beard.

Role and rank

• Was responsible for the Others' "public relations."
• He was not one of the original "Others", born on the island like Ben or brought there as a young child. This would explain why he didn't seem to have particular duties but just acts as an general assistant to those who do have assigned duties. (alb)
• Unlike Juliet, who was apparently brought to the Island because of her medical talents, Tom was most likely not any kind of doctor, considering he didn't like the sight of blood and he looked as though he was about to vomit during Ben's surgery.
• Seems less manipulative of and more amiable with the losties than Ben and Juliet following his 'de-bearding' - could have been a fairly low-ranking Other, only making appearances at the request of Ben due to the losties' familiarity with him.
• Appeared remorseful or confused when Jack listed the reasons he thinks the Others are going to kill him (kidnapping Claire, killing Scott, hanging Charlie, kidnapping the kids). He may not have been aware of some of these acts or may have disagreed with them but was powerless to do anything about them.
  • Tom was seen pointing out cameras in a room where he takes Jack to see Kate, indicating he may have been helping Jack, probably in concert with Juliet. ("The Man from Tallahassee")
  • It is highly doubtful he was remorseful or confused as to the kidnapping of the children considering that he was part of the team who kidnapped Walt. There was no chance he disapproved of it since he showed complete and total loyalty to Ben.
    • It is common for people to appear loyal to their superiors in order to maintain their status.
• Tom was not very bright and seemed to have only an average education. He is not a specialist in anything, which means that he was probably not recruited.
  • Not necessarily, he could have been downplaying himself. In "Stranger in a Strange Land," he asked Jack about his "glass house" and offered "to give him some stones." In a clever way, he was telling Jack that they were indeed moving him out of his isolating cell ("glass house") somewhere more open ("give you some stones"). The words both got Jack's attention and alleviated any fears he had about being killed.
    • That's not what he meant at all. Tom was referring to the saying "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." He was pointing out to Jack that the Losties were no better than the others and had killed many of them.
      • double-entendre

DHARMA connections

Tattoo on his chest that could confirm a long time relationship with the DHARMA Initiative

• In "A Tale of Two Cities" he said that it only took two hours for the polar bears to figure out the cage feeder puzzle. The polar bears escaped during the collapse of the DHARMA Initiative, so he was part of it. (Official Lost Podcast transcript/October 30, 2006)
  • He may have origanlly been a member of the DHARMA Initiative, as a zoologist and joined the hostiles just like Ben.
• Tom may have been ex-Dharma. In The Hunting Party he quotes Alvar Hanso and on Hydra Island he knew how long it took the bears to figure out their cages.
  • The Hanso quote, upon reflection, is mocking. Tom follows it with, "You know the other one about curiosity, don't you?" Tom was originally a hostile, non-DHARMA, and is referencing the deaths of the curious DHARMA types who trespassed on the island.
• Probably worked at The Hydra since he knew exactly how long the bears took to solve the puzzle.
• Tom may have been a low level Dharma employee, perhaps a Work Man.

Character connections

• His full name was "Thomas Hobbes" in accordance with the pattern of naming characters after social contract philosophers. (Thomas Hobbes was a contemporary and rival of John Locke).
  • Since the name "Mr. Friendly" was actually used originally in the script, his name could in fact be Tom Friendly
  • Another possible surname is "Aquinas," or something similar. Thomas Aquinas was a very influential Catholic philosopher.
  • The philosopher Thomas Hobbes was most likely not only gay but also into young men, much like this Tom. This further confirms a connection to the character's potential namesake.
• He is like Squealer from Animal Farm, who is totally loyal to Napoleon and represents propaganda.
• Wore the beard so as not to be recognized from previous encounters before the crash. This would also explain why he was not sent to either crash site by Ben, seeing as the others appear to have a great deal of information on the survivors.
  • Specifically, wore the beard so as not to be recognized by Michael. Michael was the only character present every time Tom wore his beard (on the raft, at the line, at the decoy village, and on the dock); Tom never bothered with his beard when other Losties, such as Claire, were present. Thus, Michael knew Tom from some event in the past, which is also why Ben was upset with Tom for removing his beard. But Michael didn't say anything, fearing losing his chance to leave with Walt; so Tom's past remained hidden.
    • Wearing the beard so as not to be recognised by Michael could be very likely. An upcoming flashback in Season 4 seems to point to this. Season 4 Spoiler
      • Tom recruited Michael off the island to work for Ben. Michael is Ben's man on the freighter.
• He was at The Pearl, watching the losties in the Swan, and he pretended to be Walt over the computer to lure Michael away to be captured.
  • Well anybody could have done that (why Tom?)
    • Tom was, supposedly, at The Pearl around Day 49, when Michael received the first message from "Walt". In addition to the orders to cover the hatch door with the Beechcraft wreckage, he could have been given additional orders to contact Michael.
• He gave Locke the tape with Ben's recording, to help overthrowing Ben in agreement with Richard, and to help the Losties (Ben calls for him when he realizes the tape wasn't returned to Juliet). He also met Juliet and Jack to tell them the Others would attack in a couple of days (they couldn't have learned this from the tape, as they hear it for the first time when Sawyer plays it)
  • He may have just called for Tom because Tom was part of the team going to the beach. Furthermore, Juliet was informed of the plan with Ben before she left, so she already knew that the Others were coming.