{{short description|Character from the American TV show Lost}} {{redirect|Mr. Friendly|the song by Toto|Isolation (Toto album)}} {{Infobox character | name = Tom Friendly | series = Lost | image = Tom (Lost).PNG | caption = | gender = Male | first = "Exodus: Part 2" | last = "Meet Kevin Johnson" | portrayer = M. C. Gainey | relatives = }} '''Tom Friendly''',<ref name = "comic con 2009"/> often referred to as '''Tom''', '''Mr. Friendly''', or '''Zeke''' by Sawyer is a fictional character portrayed by M. C. Gainey on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television series ''Lost''. The series follows the lives of around forty survivors from the crash of Oceanic Flight 815. The survivors find themselves on a mysterious tropical island, and interact with a group they dub the Others, who appear to have lived on the Island long before the crash. Tom is an influential member of the Others, introduced in the season one finale "Exodus: Part 2", where he kidnaps one of the survivors. The character makes another fifteen appearances before being killed in the season three finale "Through the Looking Glass". Tom appears twice in season four in the flashbacks of other characters. Gainey was initially credited as playing "bearded man" and then as "Mr. Friendly" throughout season two before the character was given a first name. In a montage of deceased characters shown at Comic-Con in 2009, the ''Lost'' producers present the character's full name as "Tom Friendly".<ref name = "comic con 2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a167283/live-lost-panel-at-comic-con.html |title=Live: 'Lost' panel at Comic-Con |access-date=2009-07-27 |last=Wilkes |first=Neil |date=July 25, 2009 |website=Digital Spy}}</ref>
Gainey accepted the role despite knowing nothing about it; his sole motivation was a chance to work again with ''Lost'' producer Carlton Cuse. Speculation over Tom's sexuality arose when he commented to Kate that she was "not [his] type".<ref name = "A Tale of Two Cities"/> Gainey began playing the character as such, and in season four Tom is shown kissing another man on the cheek. ''Lost'' producer Damon Lindelof commented that this revelation was "not subtle, to say the least".<ref name="PodcastMar08"/> Tom was received positively by critics, particularly in his first appearance.
==Arc== In a flashback during "The Other Woman", set around three years before the crash of Oceanic Flight 815, Tom has a brief conversation with newly recruited Other Juliet Burke (Elizabeth Mitchell), where he mentions he is a patient of therapist Harper Stanhope (Andrea Roth).<ref name = "The Other Woman">{{cite episode | title = The Other Woman | episode-link = The Other Woman (Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Eric Laneuville (director), Drew Goddard & Christina M. Kim (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = March 6, 2008 | season = 4 | number = 6}}</ref> Shown in flashbacks during "Maternity Leave", when Claire Littleton (Emilie de Ravin) is kidnapped by the Others a few weeks after the plane crash, Tom oversees Ethan Rom's (William Mapother) progress at the Others' medical station.<ref name = "Maternity Leave">{{cite episode | title = Maternity Leave | episode-link = Maternity_Leave_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Jack Bender (director), Dawn Lambertsen Kelly & Matt Ragghianti (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = March 1, 2006 | season = 2 | number = 15}}</ref> He criticizes Ethan for kidnapping Claire before making "the list".<ref name="Maternity Leave"/> After forty-four days on the Island, the survivors finish building a raft, with Michael Dawson (Harold Perrineau), his ten-year-old son Walt Lloyd (Malcolm David Kelley), James "Sawyer" Ford (Josh Holloway) and Jin-Soo Kwon (Daniel Dae Kim) volunteering to sail it.<ref name = "Exodus: Part 2">{{cite episode | title = Exodus: Part 2 | episode-link = Exodus_(Lost)#Part_2 | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = May 25, 2005 | season = 1 | number = 24}}</ref> Tom makes his first appearance in "Exodus: Part 2", where he arrives in a motorboat, wearing a fake beard and old clothes, with a crew of Others who kidnap Walt and destroy the raft.<ref name="Exodus: Part 2"/> When Michael goes searching for the Others in the jungle, Tom captures him, and then confronts the other survivors who are looking for Michael.<ref name = "The Hunting Party">{{cite episode | title = The Hunting Party | episode-link = The_Hunting_Party_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Stephen Williams (director), Elizabeth Sarnoff & Christina M. Kim (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = January 18, 2006 | season = 2 | number = 11}}</ref><ref name = "Three Minutes">{{cite episode | title = Three Minutes | episode-link = Three_Minutes | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Stephen Williams (director), Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = May 17, 2006 | season = 2 | number = 22}}</ref> Tom warns them not to come any closer to the Others and then leaves with Michael in tow.<ref name="The Hunting Party"/><ref name="Three Minutes"/> A deal is made for Michael to bring Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox), Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly), Sawyer and Hugo "Hurley" Reyes (Jorge Garcia) to the Others in exchange for Walt.<ref name = "Three Minutes"/> In the second season finale "Live Together, Die Alone", Michael successfully leads Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley to the ambush point; various Others including Tom sedate them and take them to a pier.<ref name = "Live Together, Die Alone">{{cite episode | title = Live Together, Die Alone | episode-link = Live_Together,_Die_Alone | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = May 24, 2006 | season = 2 | number = 23}}</ref> There, Tom knocks Jack, Kate and Sawyer unconscious and transports them to a small island nearby.<ref name="Live Together, Die Alone"/>
In season three, Tom supervises an operation on Ben Linus (Michael Emerson), the leader of the Others, which Jack is performing, and is coerced into letting Kate and Sawyer escape.<ref name = "I Do">{{cite episode | title = I Do | episode-link = I_Do_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Tucker Gates (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = November 8, 2006 | season = 3 | number = 6}}</ref> He loses trust in Juliet, believing her to be plotting against Ben, and expresses his views to the Others' sheriff, before returning to the Island.<ref name = "Stranger in a Strange Land">{{cite episode | title = Stranger in a Strange Land | episode-link = Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Paris Barclay (director), Elizabeth Sarnoff & Christina M. Kim (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = February 21, 2007 | season = 3 | number = 9}}</ref> Shown in a flashback during season four, Tom leaves the Island and tracks down Michael in Manhattan, where Michael is trying to kill himself.<ref name = "Meet Kevin Johnson">{{cite episode | title = Meet Kevin Johnson | episode-link = Meet_Kevin_Johnson | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Stephen Williams (director), Elizabeth Sarnoff & Brian K. Vaughan (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = March 20, 2008 | season = 4 | number = 8}}</ref> He tells Michael that the Island will not let him die and gives him the address of his hotel penthouse.<ref name="Meet Kevin Johnson"/> There, Tom convinces Michael to work for Ben, and instructs him to get a job as a janitor on board a freighter that is about to set sail from Fiji.<ref name="Meet Kevin Johnson"/> When Michael arrives at the port Tom tells him to wait a day or two before activating an explosive device, to kill all the freighter crew, preventing them from reaching the Island.<ref name="Meet Kevin Johnson"/> He returns to the barracks and is seen playing football with Jack.<ref name = "Par Avion">{{cite episode | title = Par Avion | episode-link = Par_Avion_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Paul Edwards (director), Christina M. Kim & Jordan Rosenberg (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = March 14, 2007 | season = 3 | number = 12}}</ref> Shortly after this, he and the Others abandon the barracks, making camp in the jungle en route to the temple.<ref name = "The Brig">{{cite episode | title = The Brig | episode-link = The_Brig_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Eric Laneuville (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = May 2, 2007 | season = 3 | number = 19}}</ref> Tom is shocked when Ben agrees to take one of the survivors, John Locke (Terry O'Quinn), to see Jacob, Ben's superior.<ref name = "The Man Behind the Curtain">{{cite episode | title = The Man Behind the Curtain (Lost) | episode-link = The Man Behind the Curtain (Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Bobby Roth (director), Elizabeth Sarnoff & Drew Goddard (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = May 9, 2007 | season = 3 | number = 20}}</ref> His faith in Ben's leadership is shaken, and he ignores Ben's calls to intervene when Locke begins to beat another Other, Mikhail Bakunin (Andrew Divoff).<ref name="The Man Behind the Curtain"/> When Ben returns from Jacob, he orders a raid on the survivors' beach camp that night; Tom is part of the party sent.<ref name = "Greatest Hits">{{cite episode | title = Greatest Hits | episode-link = Greatest_Hits_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Stephen Williams (director), Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = May 16, 2007 | season = 3 | number = 21}}</ref><ref name = "Through the Looking Glass">{{cite episode | title = Through the Looking Glass | episode-link = Through_the_Looking_Glass_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Jack Bender (director), Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = May 23, 2007 | season = 3 | number = 22}}</ref> In "Through the Looking Glass", the season three finale, Jin, Sayid Jarrah (Naveen Andrews) and Bernard Nadler (Sam Anderson) are captured by the party, and Ben radios Tom to shoot them.<ref name="Through the Looking Glass"/> This prearranged code is the signal for Tom to shoot three bullets into the ground, only pretending to kill the hostages, to mislead the rest of the survivors, who have been met by Ben.<ref name="Through the Looking Glass"/> Afterwards Tom expresses regret at not finishing the hostages, as they killed seven of the Others.<ref name="Through the Looking Glass"/> The arrival of Hurley in a van, along with Sawyer and Juliet, sees the rest of the attack party killed.<ref name="Through the Looking Glass"/> Tom admits defeat and surrenders, but Sawyer shoots him in his heart, claiming his life as payment for taking Walt off of the raft.<ref name="Through the Looking Glass"/> Juliet later buries Tom near the jungle along with his team of deceased Others.<ref name = "The Beginning of the End">{{cite episode | title = The Beginning of the End | episode-link = The_Beginning_of_the_End_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = January 31, 2008 | season = 4 | number = 1}}</ref>
==Characteristics== [[Image:Tom-Lost.jpg|thumb|Tom wearing his fake beard in "Three Minutes"]]
When Tom is introduced in the first season finale, he wears a fake beard and old clothes.<ref name="Exodus: Part 2"/> He continues to appear under this guise throughout the second season, only revealing his beard to be fake in the finale.<ref name="Live Together, Die Alone"/> M. C. Gainey, the actor who portrays Tom, was only informed that his character's beard was fake near the end of season two.<ref name="PodcastApr07"/> The producers describe Tom as "friendly", earning him the nickname "Mr. Friendly".<ref name="PodcastJan06"/> One critic has described him as "sarcastic" and "bright".<ref name="CTV"/> Tom's dislike of blood causes him to struggle while supervising Ben's operation,<ref name = "Not in Portland">{{cite episode | title = Not in Portland | episode-link = Not_in_Portland | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Stephen Williams (director), Carlton Cuse & Jeff Pinkner (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = February 7, 2007 | season = 3 | number = 7}}</ref> which Emerson believes makes him "cuddly".<ref>"''Lost'' on Location: 'Not in Portland' ". ''Lost: The Complete Third Season - The Unexplored Experience'', Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Featurette, disc 7. Released on December 11, 2007</ref> Gainey does not think he is very similar to Tom, commenting, "He seems to be very loyal and I'm a very loyal person so I have that in common, but other than that, I don't really know what he's about. He seems much more socially awkward than I am."<ref name="PodcastApr07"/> After Tom was revealed to be gay during season four,<ref name="PodcastMar08"/> M. C. Gainey stated that "anytime you've got a group of people, somebody's got to be marching to a different drummer - that would be Tom Friendly."<ref name="SeasonFourDVD"/>
==Development== M. C. Gainey first met ''Lost'' producer Carlton Cuse while working on ''The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr''.<ref name="PodcastApr07">Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (April 16, 2007) "Official ''Lost'' Audio Podcast", ''ABC''. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref><ref name="Casting">Martell, Erin, (April 17, 2007) "[http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/04/17/lost-audio-podcast-recap-april-16-2007/ Lost audio podcast recap: April 16, 2007]", ''TV Squad''. Retrieved on December 26, 2008.</ref> The opportunity to work with Cuse again was motivation enough to take the part of Tom, even without a script or description of the character.<ref name="PodcastApr07"/><ref name="Casting"/> Gainey watches every episode of the series, but admits to not knowing what is happening much of the time.<ref name="Preston and Steve"/> In his first appearance, in the season one finale "Exodus: Part 2", Gainey was credited as "bearded man", and was lovingly called "Gay Tom" in season 4.<ref>ABC Medianet, (May 9, 2005) "[http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=050905_10 The castaways on the raft are surprised at sea by something they didn't expect. Meanwhile, remaining islanders try to blow open the hatch, and a visitor to the encampment might be a threat to Claire's infant son] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118161835/http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=050905_10 |date=2009-01-18 }}". Retrieved December 27, 2008.</ref> then in his season two appearances as "Mr. Friendly".<ref>ABC Medianet, (February 13, 2006) "[http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=021306_17 Claire returns to the scene of her kidnapping with hopes of finding a cure to baby Aaron's mysterious illness, and Jack and Locke keep their prisoner a secret from the other survivors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118161811/http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=021306_17 |date=2009-01-18 }}". Retrieved December 27, 2008.</ref><ref>ABC Medianet, (May 8, 2006) "[http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=050806_13 Jack and Sayid come up with a plan to rescue Walt from "The Others", and Locke makes a dangerous decision regarding the hatch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118162948/http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=050806_13 |date=2009-01-18 }}". Retrieved December 27, 2008.</ref> In the Official ''Lost'' Podcast, Damon Lindelof confirmed Mr. Friendly is not his real name, but is how the producers refer to him internally, because "he's so friendly";<ref name="PodcastJan06">Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (January 23, 2006) "Official ''Lost'' Audio Podcast", ''ABC''. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref><ref>Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (May 19, 2006) "Official ''Lost'' Audio Podcast", ''ABC''. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref> however, his surname was later suggested to actually be ''Friendly'' during Comic-Con 2009.<ref name = "comic con 2009"/> He is nicknamed "Zeke" by Sawyer in "The Hunting Party",<ref name = "The Hunting Party"/> which led to some critics using this name for him.<ref>Susman, Gary, (May 3, 2006) "[http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2006/05/lost_zekes_been.html 'Lost': Zeke's been moonlighting]", ''Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref><ref>Pastorek, Whitney, (January 19, 2006) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070409070443/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1150372,00.html "Lost":The hunters and the hunted]", ''Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref> In the season two finale "Live Together, Die Alone", his name is revealed to be Tom.<ref name="Live Together, Die Alone"/> On his character's death, Gainey noted that "just because they kill you on this show, don't mean they don't need you anymore 'cause everybody's got a past."<ref name="SeasonFourDVD">"''Lost'' on Location: 'Meet Kevin Johnson' ". ''Lost: The Complete Fourth Season – The Expanded Experience'', Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Featurette, disc 6. Released on December 9, 2008.</ref>
In the third season premiere "A Tale of Two Cities", Tom tells Kate that she is not his type.<ref name = "A Tale of Two Cities">{{cite episode | title = A Tale of Two Cities | episode-link = A_Tale_of_Two_Cities_(Lost) | series = Lost | series-link = Lost (2004 TV series) | credits = Jack Bender (director), J. J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof (writers)| network = ABC | airdate = October 4, 2006 | season = 3 | number = 1}}</ref> This comment resulted in online discussion in regard to Tom's sexual orientation,<ref name="CTV">''CTV'', (November 14, 2006) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070209155747/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20061103/TheOthers-Lost/20061114/ The Others]". Retrieved on March 31, 2008.</ref><ref>Kubicek, John, (March 21, 2008) "[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/lost/more/lost-easter-eggs-meet-kevin-jo-17821.aspx ''Lost'' Easter Eggs: 'Meet Kevin Johnson' #5 – Gay Tom]", ''BuddyTV''. Retrieved on April 12, 2008.</ref> and Lindelof and Cuse hinted that a ''Lost'' character would later be outed.<ref>Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (October 30, 2006) "[https://ll.media.abc.com/podcast/audio/itunes/Lostpodcast_305_abc.mp3 Official ''Lost'' Audio Podcast]", ''ABC''. Retrieved on March 24, 2008.</ref> Gainey joked, "if [Kate's] not your type, you're gay", and began playing the character as such.<ref name="Preston and Steve">Elliot, Preston & Morrison, Steve, (February 22, 2007) "[http://www.prestonandsteve.com/audio/500.mp3 ''The Preston and Steve Show'']". Retrieved on December 26, 2008.</ref> He tried to subtly flirt with Jack, claiming that this attraction "got [him] through the first half of the season."<ref>Gainey, M. C., (October 2, 2007) "Femme Fatales: Hostile Environment". ''Lost: The Official Magazine'', Titan Magazines. Issue #13.</ref> In the fourth season episode "Meet Kevin Johnson", Tom is seen kissing his New York lover Arturo (Francesco Simone).<ref name="Meet Kevin Johnson"/> After the broadcast of "Meet Kevin Johnson", Lindelof and Cuse confirmed that the line from the third season premiere is an allusion to Tom's sexuality, but felt that it needed to be explicitly confirmed in the show, although Lindelof noted that the confirmation scene in "Meet Kevin Johnson" "was not subtle, to say the least".<ref name="PodcastMar08">Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton, (March 21, 2008) "[https://ll.media.abc.com/podcast/audio/itunes/LOST_409_audio_podcast_8ea5441e-65f4-4d96-ad4d-4e2de171b95e_1604375.mp3 Official ''Lost'' Audio Podcast]", ''ABC''. Retrieved on March 24, 2008.</ref> ''Lost'' writer Edward Kitsis stated that "It was great to see [Tom] and realize that... he is a true gentleman."<ref>Terry, Paul, (August 12, 2008) "2008 Yearbook: The Others – Remembering Season 4". ''Lost: The Official Magazine'', Titan Magazines. Issue #18.</ref>
==Reception== Chris Carabott from IGN "loved" Tom's first appearance because "It's a great scene and our first introduction to The Others besides Ethan's infiltration of the camp."<ref>Carabott. Chris, (November 20, 2008) "[http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/932/932230p2.html Lost Flashback: "Exodus: Part 2" Review]", IGN. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref> Gainey found the fan reaction to his first appearance "really tough", because "everywhere [he] went people would just give [him] dirty looks and they were like 'What are you going to do with that boy?'", but he noted this gradually improved after his appearances in season two.<ref name="PodcastApr07"/> Erin Martell from AOL's TV Squad listed Tom in her five "most entertaining guest roles" from the first three seasons, commenting "I am counting his first episode as my favorite. For my money, there was nothing more disturbing than when Gainey showed up out of the blue and uttered the words, 'We're gonna have to take the boy.' I could not get that scene out of my head for days after 'Exodus' aired. Ben has made Tom seem relatively less menacing over time, but I have a feeling that the terrifying, bearded sea captain is still in there somewhere."<ref>Martell, Erin, (February 19, 2007) "[http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/19/the-five-best-lost-guest-stars/ The Five: Best Lost guest stars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217202102/http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/19/the-five-best-lost-guest-stars/ |date=2021-02-17 }}", ''TV Squad''. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref> In her review of the season four episode "The Other Woman", Nikki Stafford of ''Wizard'' called the return of her "favorite Other" (Tom) a "highlight".<ref>Stafford, Nikki, (March 7, 2008) "[http://www.wizarduniverse.com/030708gettinglost.html What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the Sun! And She is MINE, All MINE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310232215/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/030708gettinglost.html |date=2008-03-10 }}", ''Wizard''. Retrieved on March 9, 2008.</ref> Following his posthumous flashback appearance in "Meet Kevin Johnson", Martell said "Now I feel even worse about his death. He wasn't just one of Ben's scary, Walt-napping minions. He had a heart."<ref>Martell, Erin, (March 21, 2008) "[http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/03/21/lost-meet-kevin-johnson/ Lost: Meet Kevin Johnson]", ''TV Squad''. Retrieved on December 27, 2008.</ref> Tim Goodman from the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' thought the revelation that Tom is gay was a "unique and funny twist".<ref>Goodman, Tim, (March 21, 2008) "[https://blog.sfgate.com/tgoodman/2008/03/21/lost-the-spoiled-bastard-5/ ''Lost'': The Spoiled Bastard]", ''San Francisco Chronicle''. Retrieved on December 28, 2008.</ref> Jay Glatfelter of The Huffington Post noted this revelation "seemed a little oddly placed, kind of like 'Let's make one of our characters gay just for the heck of it' but still it's cool that the show has a perfectly normal (well for an 'Other') not over-the-top gay character."<ref name=jackandjay>Glatfelter, Jay, (March 21, 2008) "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-glatfelter/on-lost-meet-kev_b_92765.html On ''Lost'': 'Meet Kevin Johnson']", The Huffington Post. Retrieved on March 21, 2008.</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{lostpedia|Tom}}
{{Lost (TV series)}} {{good article}}
Category:Lost (2004 TV series) characters Category:Fictional gay men Category:Fictional kidnappers Category:Fictional LGBTQ characters in television Category:American male characters in television Category:Television characters introduced in 2005