Character Check-Up: Tommy
Continuing on in a series of posts on the characters of Brothers & Sisters — where they’ve been, where they’re at, and where we’d like them to go — we turn today to eldest brother Tommy.
Origins: In the show’s early days, Tommy was the island of respectability and responsibility amidst his siblings’ turmoil. He’d followed his father’s footsteps into the business, and was not happy when William clearly valued Sarah’s business degree over his Ojai experience when putting her in charge.
Progress: Things just got more disappointing for Tommy from there. His infertility forced him to ask his brothers for sperm to impregnate wife Julia. His efforts to get through to wayward brother Justin met with resentment. His efforts to get Ojai into the wine business failed, so he left the company to start his own winery with Holly, his father’s mistress. The winery’s opening ended tragically when Julia gave birth prematurely, and one twin died. In a fit of post-partum depression and mourning, Julia took the other twin and left Tommy, leaving him to find comfort in an affair with his office manager, Lena.
Current Status: The affair’s over now, Julia and baby Elizabeth are back, and both spouses have confessed to infidelity. Tommy and Julia have decided to stay together and get some marriage counseling. And, perhaps, drift back into plot obscurity.
Concerns: Poor Tommy, overlooked middle child. The writers just do not know what to do with him. He was underused in Season 1, and used very badly so far in Season 2. Perhaps his role of upright observer of sibling silliness was usurped by Robert, but the answer to that was not, I think, making him a callous horndog. I don’t know if the problem is that each of the other siblings has a more interesting “hook” for storylines, or that Balthazar Getty’s the least charismatic actor of the bunch … but honestly, if the writers can’t think of something to do with Tommy and Julia, ship them off to run a winery in France and have them call at Christmas.
Prognosis: Before the season started, I had hoped that there might be a special-needs parenting storyline for Tommy and Julia. I still think there’s a lot of dramatic potential there, and it would give them a hook. Could be some juicy Grandma stories in it for Nora, too.
Second Opinion: Scott thinks the writers should keep pairing Tommy with Kevin and Sarah. What are your thoughts on Tommy? Share them in the comments.
Photo: ABC.com
Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Tommy, Balthazar Getty
March 18th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I think that Balthazar Getty is a good actor, but that he, like the actress playing his wife, (her name escapes me at the moment)is totally underused. The ‘favorite son’ episode showed what a great couple they can be, that they both know how to act and play a very difficult emotional story.
The problem is I guess that Tommy and Julia are just…. they just are… Nothing that happens to them seems to get me involved wit them and when finally something does happen that will make their storyline interesting, her depression after giving birth (had one of those myself, I can garantuee you, ‘BIG fun’) I was very curious about how they would handle it and seeing her leave in one direction and him to Lena-land, was just… uninteresting.
I thought they were good in the earlier eps. like when they were trying to have children and when they were caught in ‘For the children’, they were great!
Tommy interacts well with his brothers. I loved the way the told Justin that he stopped caring for what Justin did with his life. And he did it! He actually turned his back on Justin and walked away. No hollow words, just did it. Which I thought was a strong moment.
His talks with Kevin during ‘36 hours’ were very well acted. I loved the face he made when he asked if Kevin/Scotty were back together and Kevin gives him the speech about defining the word we and Scotty closes with ‘he’s such a romantic’. I have to laugh everytime I see it.
I sort of liked him during Kitty’s weddingday. The bet they had going, dealing with Lena being there, Justin finding out about him and Lena…
I think they should not have let him take over the winery. He should have stayed at Ojai and argue business decisions with his sister. Placing him with Holly put him aside of his family.
A good story-line would be that the new deal Ojai made with the Chinese somehow backfires and he would have to leave the winery, for a while, in Holly’s hands to help Sarah cope with a major problem that involves Ojai and will put him back amongst his siblings and with his mother.
In all, I like Tommy. And I wish the writers would give him something better to do than Lena…
March 18th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Sylviane, her name is Sarah Jane Morris. I agree with you about Tommy’s strong scenes. I also agree about the writers. And what worries me is what will the powers that be do with our friend Kevin next season? There are plenty of great family storylines to be explored, and I hope to see them in Season 3.
I loved it when Tommy said, “What, we’re not allowed to blab?”
March 19th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Thanks, Colleen, for some mystic reason I always want to call her Samantha, although I know that is NOT her name.
I, too, would like to see what will happen to Kevin. If the rumor about Scotty and him getting a dom.partnership + ceremony are true this will certainly change his character a bit.
Maybe there is a way the writers can put Tommy/Julia more with Kevin/Scotty. Would be interesting if their child turns out to be Kevin’s, not Justin’s.
To KNOW it, would perhaps create a closer relationship between the two couples and could certainly create some interesting conversations.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:34 am
To paraphrase Tommy, are we allowed to blab here? Wasn’t sure.
Well, if Lizzie’s witty and well-dressed, we’ll know for sure she’s Uncle Kevin’s!
Agreed, anything for more interesting conversations. There is plenty of drama in the ups and downs of a committed relationship, and we never see enough of that on TV.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I did say it was a rumor. I don’t believe it untill I see it and even then I will look at it in disbelieve. It would be my dream come true for the boys and mine usually don’t come true
Don’t get me talking about Kevin and/or Scotty! I have to wait a little longer untill their character posts are up….
And I was trying to keep Tommy involved in the conversation.
See how difficult it is to stay on the topic of Tommy. Your attention just slips away. Which is too bad, because the guy deserves better.
What can be done to him, that will give him some more attention?
March 19th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Terri summed it up perfectly: “Underused in Season 1, badly used in Season 2.”
Tommy’s character, sadly, got saddled with the lame One Tree Hill subplot (Lena). I’d prefer to forget that plot ever happened, so let’s just say it did him no favors.
How to make him more interesting/relevant? Write to the character’s strenths. The hardworking, underappreciated sibling. The straight man in the comedic situations. And show him and Julia trying to recover the spark of their marriage–which would lead to more lighthearted scenes for the couple.
Also, keep pairing him with Kevin and Sarah.