Malcolm and Tommy Conversation Episode 23 "Sacrifice"

Tommy having a conversation with his father Malcolm about Laurel. Malcolm reveals to Tommy his mother last words through a voice mail

[@mookjuice]

John Barrowman is an incredible actor. I think the actor who played Tommy was actually scared in this scene. Even if it is scripted, it's amazing and quite frightening how Barrowman goes from being completely calm to a fucking lunatic.

[@smac919]

he was def. scared by John there and minimum it surprised the hell out of him, the way he jumped is just like when you hear a loud ass noise and it scares you, you can see on his face after the fact that hes almost in awe

[@alexgrant191]

Shinigami I would be interested to know if Malcolm shouting like that was in the script because if it wasn’t & John Barrowman decided to shout like that on the spot then it would definitely explain why Colin Donnell (Tommy) got such a fright. Colin is a terrific actor but his jump was definitely real

[@Calebnelson24]

Alex Grant it wasn’t, he as libbed it

[@captainawesome830]

John Barrowman killed it in this role. He is an excellent villain and this is one of my favorite scenes of this show.,

[@thewholocknetwork3797]

i think he deserves an emmy

[@derrickchow8689]

He looked too young in the show, the whole time watching it I thought he was supposed to be Tommy's slightly older brother.

[@muserussell2377]

Josh Vance barrowman was excellent for this show

[@moelester3807]

Derrick Chow same

[@MajorMusicGeek]

Amazing actor

[@HoustonSoto]

The way he says "no one would come" along with the recording just shows he has probably listened to his wife die thousands of times. Barrowman is simply amazing here.

[@thewholocknetwork3797]

he's always amazing

[@baconvaper8950]

And it's funny that he can give such a performance knowing that he made such a sappy music video😂

[@zoid4341]

Bacon Vaper ikr

[@BlackDiamond2718]

God that would send anyone over the edge. I really admire his acting and how they made the plan to purge the Glades.

[@Usernamesdontmatter1]

Honestly the reason I really like arrow season 1. Merlin was a good villain and honestly...I was kinda rooting for him after this scene.

[@alexisepinger9212]

John Barrowman made this scene so believable. You could see the psycho gleaming in his eyes. And Tommy got so startled, It's almost like he didn't know Malcolm was supposed to yell in that scene.

[@Bmedeiros-youtube]

He didn't. It was off script

[@ajhampton3722]

I CAN'T listen to Malcolm's wife's message without tearing up a little bit. I feel for him, he's a psycho, yes, but I understand how his vengeful madness set in

[@joeytribbiani34]

Aj Hampton That expression of sadness bordering to insanity that Malcolm has while listening to his wife's voice always gets me.

[@greenarrow5802]

Aj Hampton would he do the same if it was tommy the one to die

[@kyleboyles9563]

David Uziel I agree. We need frank castle in this world

[@Shamoneee]

He isn't psycho, because a psycho wouldnt have feelings for anybody, but malcom loves his kids

[@wafflingmean4477]

I think a large part was also his ability to exact vengeance as he saw it. If something like this happened to you or me, even if we had some crazy thought like all of the people in that poor district deserving to die, without any ability to act on it, we'd simmer down and go to therapy or something. Malcolm was insanely rich and much more importantly, a former member of the League of Assassins.

[@Vergil1876]

OMG the way tommy got scared, it was so real

[@Xehanort10]

That's because John Barrowman ad libbed the line. It wasn't in the script. So Colin Donnell who played Tommy wasn't expecting it. It helped to sell how shocked the Tommy character was.

[@thatonespoopykid1214]

It WAS real

[@alexdavis2478]

I met John Barrowman and talked to him about this scene. He said during one of the takes he slammed the table harder than he originally intended to which led to a more genuine reaction than expected

[@greenarrow5802]

For a while then he became strong

[@nocom5613]

Yea Ik Right lol

[@RagnarokLoW]

Everyone is praising Barrowman for his performance but dont forget, it takes two to tango!

[@JosephProphet17]

this is by far my favorite Malcolm moment

[@danielmoultrie]

Mine too

[@jonirenicus9903]

If they made a separate series with Malcolm Merlyn kicking ass with Bow and Arrow I wouldn't mind at all!

[@BPAdemo]

I believe it's called torchwood, except there's no bow and arrow and he's not called malcolm but Captain Jack. lol.

[@thewholocknetwork3797]

***** i would defo watch that

[@0718Dragonlord]

+Jon Irenicus They do have a comic. Dark Archer

[@BlackDiamond2718]

Perhaps it could be his flashbacks and the missions that Ras Al Ghul sent him on or his training. HIS ISLAND!

[@lilleparm5996]

HELL YEAH

[@RevolutionBruce]

The fact that Tommy gets scared as hell made this scene so much more powerfull, he realised that malcom was in a way a monster. On of my top three moments in arrow.

[@thewholocknetwork3797]

in a way i am on the same side as malcolm because i think he wanted justice for his wife but saying that there are many more ways to get that apart from levelling the glades

[@greenarrow5802]

For a little while then tommy got his fighting spirit back and got the gun Tommy looked dead serious he actually looked like he was gonna pull the trigger I like how he gets scared than serious/angry at his da it was great scene

[@greenarrow5802]

The WhoLock Network of tommy had been the one to die instead of his wife Malcom would have tried to destroy the whole city but only half in the end

[@ojar91]

he was made into a monster because of punks shot his wife like she was nothing, I honestly dont blame him, ppl handle loss differently.

[@xcaliber4141]

@@thewholocknetwork3797 he wanted revenge nobody even saved his wife becox she ws doctor helped them n then she is bleeding nobodo did anything that part is better removed

[@Leatherbubba]

Remember when this show was well written? I miss that.

[@TheGeorgeD13]

It is now...

[@ThePartisan13]

Yeah that good writing lasted about 2 seasons.

[@Delicashilous]

And came back in Season 5. Edit: Season 6 was solid, Season 7 was the biggest waste of Potencial in the Series, expect the Prison part, the Conversation-fight when Emiko betrays oliver, and the last minutes of the Finale.

[@kyleboyles9563]

Delicashilous _ for like the first episode. It was shitty after that.

[@darkgoddarkseid2824]

Kyle Boyles Nah, all season was really, really good. Perfect redemption.

[@OliverG1998]

i love the way he just snapped at him like dang the best moment is where he just screamed A++++

[@thewholocknetwork3797]

when he started shouting i was like holy crap he's good

[@metaltak1154]

When you're young you want the heroes to win When you get older, you understand the villains

[@NadiaAburouman]

When I was little I rooted for villains 😂

[@notnero5280]

@@NadiaAburouman psychopath

[@shadowdragon7946]

When you get older you want some shows where villians win

[@xcaliber4141]

@@shadowdragon7946 he did win

[@ARKdeEREH]

@@xcaliber4141 He sort of half won since he destroyed half the Glades. But he also killed his son in the process and the cops found out about his connection to the Undertaking due to Moira's confession so he lost his businesses and became a fugitive, which makes it seem like less of a win.

[@Indceptions]

“YES,THEY DESERVE TO DIE, ALL OF THEM, THE WAY SHE DIED!” -Malcom

[@TheBlackKakashi]

I felt like when Tommy jumped when Merlyn got angry, that was real and unplanned.

[@malagrim260]

it was

[@realUlfricStormcloak]

It was

[@dirtydan9153]

it was

[@zephyr-117sdropzone8]

it was

[@andraw4002]

It was

[@pokeloon15]

It's amazing how Malcolm can be so scary and so sympathetic at the same time.

[@spikeyok8497]

1:18 - 1:28 I would say that this is probably the best piece of acting in the whole show. You can just feel the pain he feels every time he listens to this.

[@abdulkarim5600]

I will never understand how the show writers reduced such a multi layered character to absolute nothing in later seasons

[@Shamoneee]

I think they didnt know what to do with him

[@ThePartisan13]

@@Shamoneee The CW has a trend of doing that. Malcolm here got Crowleyed

[@floarrow5227]

Hight performance of John Barrowman

[@Tesseract.2012]

The Merylns in Arrow make me think of the Osborns from Spider-Man. Malcolm is the archenemy of Oliver (who doesn't know at first that he's a costumed villain), he's the father of his best friend (Tommy), he's a wealthy businessman and CEO of his own company, he has a secret room where he keeps his costume and weapons, he also has an dark, apathetic and cold hearted nature like Norman. Tommy has several similarities to Harry Osborn. He's Oliver's best friend, he grew up without his mother, he dated Laurel (like how Harry dated MJ), he has a hidden jealously for Oliver (like how Harry envies Peter), and (like Harry) was brought up by wealth and had several rich kid traits.

[@profanity3733]

Several years later and I still get goosebumps whenever Malcolm screams. In addition to that, the lighting and the background music made it look like it was genuine anger from the depths of hell.

[@Shamoneee]

thats the reason why i think he is a better villain than reverse flash in terms of character. He has a reason and is believable, eobard not, at least they never really explained why he hates the flash so much. And eobard has nothing which makes him sympathic

[@roastofsparta]

far out, i always jump despite knowing he was going to raise his voice

[@thewholocknetwork3797]

same here

[@ultimateranger213]

It's amazing. When he listens to the message, the monster that is the dark archer reveals himself.

[@matthewklene2264]

I feel so bad for Tommy.... His friends and family kept dark secrets from him. Betrayed him. The man thought he was a part of thier lives.... But he really wasn't.

[@realUlfricStormcloak]

Fuckm dude! He's not the alpha Chad like his father Malcolm. 😎

[@AlphaOmega804]

I know he is a lunatic but i have a hard time not feeling for Malcolm. He is right about one thing. What kind of heartless monster, sees a women lying on the pavement, bleeding out, crying for help.....and does nothing? Not even bothering to call 999 from their window?

[@BPAdemo]

911

[@AlphaOmega804]

BPAdemo I'm British, 999 is our emergency number.

[@BPAdemo]

i know, but Arrow universe is set in the US (supposedly), so they'll be dialing 911 rather than 999.

[@AlphaOmega804]

I know. But when i write these comments i often don't think that far ahead.

[@ChiefBoze]

AlphaOmega804 We know what you meant it doesn't matter which emergency number is called; it just matters that one is called.

[@Entereri]

Such a great villain because he had a conviction that what he was doing was just and right.

[@13jonash]

This scene perfectly portrays that Malcolm never wanted to fix the Glades, all he ever wanted, was a violent revenge.

[@reverseflash3421]

You watch 2 minutes of great acting, form both of them. Especially John.

[@bigfatcarp93]

I can't be the only one who thought that Tommy was going the Harry Osborn route.

[@LocktheIce]

I'm not convinced that he is dead.

[@LocktheIce]

LocktheIce Or am I?

[@ndwwrestler2]

I think 98% of the people who watched this show thought that was going to happen including me. But now I think they are going to go that route with Thea.

[@bigfatcarp93]

ndwwrestler2 Well... *SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2 FINALE* ...You called that one.

[@ndwwrestler2]

bigfatcarp93 I wasn't shocked, between Thea and Tommy, Thea is in a more vulnerable state. I just hope the writers don't have her as a villain in season 3 and save that arc for season 4.

[@rimuru2343]

Man there is just so much conviction behind Malcolm when he saids those lines give this man an Oscar being able to go from charismatic to that savage psychopath

[@notnero5280]

1:49 great acting. you can just feel his rage.

[@tylerlyon8155]

Lol I live near Detroit, sadly that's actually very accurate. People just don't give a crap

[@xxRafaelProductions]

Season 1 finale is the greatest episode of the whole show tbh. Never get tired of rewatching it and its still as intense as the first time (one of the few episodes where It was flawless from start to finish).

[@mufcbenm]

they just don't do scenes like this anymore. the downfall of this show is just tragic

[@ASkepticalHumanOnYouTube]

Malcolm Merlyn is suuuuchh a great character. Super complex, especially in the later seasons. Lots of powerful moments too like this one, that acting at the end, Jesus, world class.

[@MajorMusicGeek]

Almost twelve years later & John acting man. When he screams like that and says, they deserve to die, they all do etc. The show came out when I was 15 watched it day 1 and now I will be 28 in the Fall damn time flies

[@pior_dos_pecadores]

it's a evil world we live in. And I'm not talking about Malcolm. Everything he said is true, people don't want to be saved.

[@LeaderColden]

I love how Tommy jumped

[@pooppoop3759]

LeaderColdenX ikr

[@BatmanHQYT]

I'm absolutely speechless at how fantastic this show (and Malcolm) were in their early days. The comparison in quality between a scene like this and just about anything from the odious and excruciating 23-hour display of lackadaisical writing masquerading as a fourth season is so fucking glaring that I'm simply out of ways to describe just how profoundly this series fell off the precipice. To think a character this driven, this terrifying, has been reduced to a bumbling jackass and obsequious lackey for a multitude of subpar villains is beyond sickening. The story of this series' quality is a fucking Shakespearean tragedy, I'm telling you.

[@antoniodemedeiros1920]

Season 3 wasn't that bad. It's way better than season 4. Yeah, 3's fights were shit but at least the story was bearable. You can't watch season 4 without cringing at least once per episode.

[@HenshinHeroesMedia]

Antonio De Medeiros hated season 4's lying drama.

[@vunobi]

A powerful good villain always have a reason to commit evil acts for the "greater good." I always wondered if Malcolm was trained by the League of Shadows.

[@TheBohobemeister]

As later revealed, he was.

[@rahulbsb1]

Awesome super awesome act. John Barrowman is a natural. He just blends into the role so well. Seeing this scene makes me so emotional and makes me side with Merlyn very spontaneously. The reason given by amalcom for what whatever he is about to do next so understandable and somewhat justifiable. The amount of pain that he has been living with possibly by reliving that tragic night every day is unimaginable. Even after training with the league yrs ago which is supposed to make him absolutely repurposed, some pains are permanant.

[@Herswasthesky09]

Omg, John always scares me all over again with this outburst from Malcolm! Awesome!

[@TheGunmode3]

For some reason I get a Norman and Harry Osborn vibe from them

[@avimittal6914]

Well it's probably a more common trope but yeah a lot people get that vibe

[@shaf621]

TheGunmode3 yeah I get that as well, because you know how Peter and Harry were in a love triangle with Mary Jane, it draws similarities to how Oliver and Tommy were in a love triangle with Laurel. What's important to know is that Tommy and Harry play that main characters best pal, but deep down they're jealous of them because they get the girl and they don't therefore end up becoming evil.

[@Xehanort10]

Lex and Lionel Luthor in Smallville too.

[@garytaylor3880]

Xehanort10 yep just throw in the arrogant, self righteous and condescending bitch known as Lana and you got yourself another love triangle to. I just realize in all these love triangles they go out their way to make the woman unlikable

[@TheBohobemeister]

@@shaf621 Tommy didn't become evil.

[@java4656]

Barrowman is obviously phenomenal, but don't forget that it takes two to make a fantastic scene.

[@AmandaLpz]

Whenever season 3 sucks, I come back to this scene to remind me of how good arrow can get.

[@adamm9235]

AmandaLpz thought i was the only one who thinks season 3 has been a bit crap

[@Huhmasta]

damn, what an excellent acting performance

[@rimuru2343]

This is one of the best scenes in arrow the fact that barrowman decided to go from soft spoken to just complete rage and yelling out of nowhere and the actor tommy didn't know that was going to happen is what made this perfect. 2nd best scene of arrow deathstroke after tonight this city will be known for one thing graves

[@doctordifficult2709]

1:55 right there just made me smiled.

[@reverendandy3279]

Dear gods I miss this show.

[@juspraim5891]

You’ve got to admit that he’s not entirely wrong in some aspects. If people just walk past a woman bleeding out on the ground when she opened a clinic to help them, they’re just as bad (if not worse) than the gunman. If you shoot the woman who is there to help, you’re a horrid person. So in one aspect, they do have it coming.. death, I mean.

[@Futurevenomzone]

How is Barrowman so intimidating? Have you seen him in real life?

[@Stalheim1990]

Just met him at Comicon yesterday and he is very awsome!

[@pauljones3587]

Last Son of Reynholm I met him in Cardiff in a few years back and he acts very feminine in really life.

[@Xehanort10]

From what I've seen of him in real life he's the practical joker type so it shows how good of an actor he is that he can turn serious and play a character as evil as Malcolm.

[@TheNTony19]

Met him on Comic-Con one of the coolest guys I’ve ever met

[@rex198]

Xehanort10 I honestly was so surprised when I realized he was Captain Jack from Doctor Who. I mean, Malcolm looks and acts _nothing_ like Jack and it's almost scary how different they are. And man, Barrowman can be _intimidating_

[@Minnesota_Central]

Back when the acting was phenomenal

[@0omatthewo0]

1:50 i think tommy shat his pants XD

[@chandlerbing3636]

Why, man?😂

[@lilleparm5996]

Chandler Bing the way got scared doe

[@Black_Vapor]

Very powerful scene. I felt Malcom’s pain.

[@rosellitv8054]

I agree with Merlin! If you took my everything, then I’ll take everything from them!

[@callumclark5050]

I wish Tommy was still around. Malcolm was a brilliant villain, and season 1 holds a special place in my heart. But it's sad that it came at the cost of Tommy

[@user-re6rd1lu7c]

" he wasnt always like this" that was tommys words. Yet to be the merlyns, the queens, and everyone else involved, they were not like them they just wanted to help but each one lost their way.

[@djdeej02]

When love is gone hate wants to fill the vacuum. You can't be someone who is only saved or redeemed because of love only to have your angel of mercy ripped from you by creatures who are irredeemable.

[@smac919]

There have been 3 moments in Arrow/Flash/Legends/Supergirl where an actor just gave me goosebumps from sheer talent and delivery... 1. Malcolm Merlyn (this scene) 2. Reverse Flash Season1(Tom Cav.) when he "kills" Cisco and 3. Reverse Flash Season3 (Matt Letscher) When hes locked up during Flash Point.

[@Bmedeiros-youtube]

He's basically Oliver. Only a darker and smarter version of oliver.

[@kevinyoka4258]

Yep like flash and zoom

[@farakhhanif]

This is one of the 3 best scenes in the series so far. Some spoilers below. 1. Oliver and Ra's Al Ghul's fight (S3) 2. The reveal of Slade being alive in present day (S2) 3. This scene.

[@kevinyoka4258]

Same here

[@adamheida8549]

And then after season 2 he became worse but still tolerable with his season 3 arc. And then came season 4 and they forgot all his motivations. And then for some reason he went on LoT and the writers there probably hadn't even seen season 1 of arrow. And then he died. A saddening loss of one of my favourite arrowverse characters. Probably my #1 favourite tbh

[@AnimeFreak10000]

I understand why Malcom turn evil. Honestly if I were in his position I would've done the exact same thing. With zero concious or remorse

[@fullmetalquinnp7047]

I had to watch find this clip after seeing john at awesome con ❤

[@jimmy2k4o]

How darkness spreads....... Brick probably was mistreated as a kid by his parents... So he kills Rebecca to join a gang. That murder inspired an attack which left 502 people dead. And their grieving families spread that darkness further...

[@stephaniefinnigan4237]

I love it and put me Malcolm he is good love him why this scene helps me to sleep in my dreams and childhood memories of him Malcolm he could be my daddy my king of D.C. legends love Ray he is good love him

[@rjwallace7477]

I love this scene and Malcolm. I just finished watching this season for my first time.

[@LuKaS2oo9]

1:50 EPIC

[@megamarcbeats]

This is a masterclass in humanizing a villain!

[@flavinonuko1043]

Malcolm has always been right...i now understand why he is always furious with the city Sterling and its guardian angels like Oliver "that she bled out into the pavements while people passed and did nothing"

[@muserussell2377]

Great acting by barrowman

[@rimuru2343]

I swear i can replay the last 10secs for a good 2-3 mins its just that good

[@HomelanderV]

I can never forget this scene. Its very powerful.

[@tsims89]

Man I miss this Malcolm.

[@arcadius3257]

Cant even fault him for this one. She got abandoned by the people she dedicated her life to save and died like a dog all alone on the streets. He's right to hate and want to kill the trash who abandoned his wife.

[@OreskisVR]

What Makes Malcolm An Amazing Villain Is l Because It Makes Sense Of Why He’s Full Of Hatred For The Glades. Hearing How His Wife Was Murdered By Them Gives Sense For His Actions But They Are Wrong Even If We Understand Them👍👍

[@ArcTrooperRod-269]

& unlike average mcu villains *After he dies he still gets mentioned because od the great impact he had*

[@The_Goat_24YT]

I agree with Malcom they walked past as she was bleeding out so take everything from them that they took from him

[@mohamedanoofshaheem707]

Way to go Malcom, Tommy peed his pants ahah

[@mdm822]

Malcom Merlyn was best actor on actor on CW superhero universe by far

[@bunsonbaker4156]

I honestly don’t see him as a monster. He’s just a guy in pain

[@spiderverse7361]

Malcolm is the DC Norman and Tommy is the DC Harry Osborn

[@avimittal6914]

00:21 Wait till you see season 4 then, kid

[@leafyishereisdumbnameakath4259]

"Maybe after your Jihad we can grab some stakes." Lmaoooo

[@NOONE-cd4gu]

Malcolm snapped badly and that kinda scared the shit outta me

[@kmirk7069]

I really wanna fucking cry ! fucking hell the pure awesomness that it was to the stinky shit it has become

[@LordDamianus]

1:48 Shocker

[@tonyo.r6585]

I feel like this relates to a lot going on right now. 2020 mood.

[@BlackDiamond2718]

This is what could have happened if Batman chose a different path. And Malcolm was trained as Bruce was in the path to purging injustice.

[@austindukes1089]

Malcom Merlyn....a true badass

[@stiliancvetanov4881]

This and Slade Wilson screaming "Get Out" are my 2 favorite moments of the show. It went downhill fast after season 3.

[@ArcTrooperRod-269]

But managed to recover after season 5

[@smolidk7981]

Malcolm was right. The way the people of the glades reacted to the news, rioting, breaking windows, indulging in violence 100% proves his point.

[@gbemilekemicah3041]

Barrowman is so amazing here

[@Scartafist]

one of the best scenes of a once great show that succumbed to fandom pressures. seasons 1 & 2 were by far the best written stories that had proper character development and kept the viewers engaged. what made arrow great was that it was more dark and grounded in reality. once this funky magic bs became the focus it was all over (looking at you season 4).

[@eroticjoe1155]

Season 5 was fire though you can’t cap

[@Scartafist]

@@eroticjoe1155 true it gave me false hope that the series could return to its peak :(

[@eroticjoe1155]

Scartafist at least season 5 was kind of a peak and arrow 6-7-8 were actually pretty good imo

[@maskedbodybuilder4020]

Love you melcolm!

[@JoelKellenProductions]

"I woke to a voicemail from her." I thought he said in a previous episode that he ignored her first call, then shut his phone off on the second one.

[@whitetrash64]

Yea he ignored the calls then picked up the voicemail

[@JoelKellenProductions]

@@whitetrash64 But if he shut his phone off, how could he wake up to it?

[@Shamoneee]

@@JoelKellenProductions maybe he has two smartphones, one for work and one for private

[@kaiz1845]

"Woke up to" means he woke up and saw that there was a voicemail. Not that the voicemail actively pulled him out of his nap.

[@jordanriley1806]

Anyone else die laughing at how Malcom said”YES” and the face he made ?

[@geoffreysnow5256]

Best scene in season 1 by far!

[@davidcase8635]

From a certain point of view, Malcolm Merlyn is basically Norman Osborn of this show. Tommy is basically Harry. You know what I mean?

[@LisleBrathwaite]

Jeebus!! Now THIS IS ACTING!!!

[@MrBamBamBaby]

So tragic