Line #27 Characters/TenYearOldTom


1	A work in progress list of the characters.
2	!Tom's Family
3	[[folder:In General]]
4	* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Their family is widely known across Shady Oaks for being poor, dumb losers.
5	* ButtMonkey: An entire family of them! None of Tom's family members have achieved any measurable amount of success and are usually in the bottom of the social pole. They are also prone to being humiliated in many awkward situations.
6	* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Nothing ever goes right for them.
7	* PerpetualPoverty: Any time the family comes across the chance to make riches always gets cruelly thrown away by the end.
8	[[/folder]]
9	[[folder:Tom]]
10	Our main character, an extremely unlucky ten-year old named Tom who often finds himself in strange situations.
11	----
12	* AllForNothing: Much of Tom's efforts ultimately amount to nothing by the end of the episode. "Tom Tucks His Shirt In" for example has Tom {{Streaking}} as a form of protest against the school's new uniforms and as a [[ItMakesSenseInContext way to gain back his friends]], only to discover that the school had ''already'' gotten rid of the uniforms and only ends up worsening his friendships.
13	* BeYourself: A few episodes show that Tom is genuinely capable of being fairly popular in his school by just being himself, but his own ditzy actions caused by an outside source and unlucky circumstances always prevent that from fully happening.
14	* ButtMonkey: Tom can't go a single episode without being humiliated, made fun of, or forced to do something that he doesn't want to do.
15	* CantGetAwayWithNuthin: No matter what misdemeanor Tom creates, he always gets caught by everyone.
16	* TheDitz: Tom is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He has a terrible habit of misinterpreting advice and making plans that have glaring holes, all of which inevitably backfire and spiral Tom into a world of social humiliation and embarrassment.
17	* TheDogBitesBack: Of an unintentional variety. Some episodes (especially in season two) have people who wronged Tom getting their comeuppance at the latter's hands. However, Tom is not a vengeful person and most karma he causes are mostly accidental.
18	* DreadfulMusician: Downplayed, he's not very good at the bassoon, but by the second season he has somewhat improved after practicing.
19	* EasilyForgiven: Probably the only remotely positive thing that Tom has going for him. No matter how much of a social pariah Tom becomes or the various terrible actions he (in)directly commits, by the next episode everyone forgives him and he is treated the same as normal (as in being seen as a weird loser). Likewise, Tom never holds a grudge for the people who drag him into horrible situations.
20	* {{Expy}}: He is a younger, more innocent, but just as a stoic and horrifically unlucky version of [[WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim Tim]].
21	* ExtremeDoormat: Most of Tom's misadventures wouldn't happen if he didn't cave to every person who insists he joins their ZanyScheme and/or stand up for himself when he gets blamed for the ensuing chaos.
22	* FallGuy: Tom always gets the most blame for the trouble, even when it is usually the others who set him up who are more responsible. Unfortunately Tom has no backbone, usually never elaborates on what happened, and takes all the blame in with almost no resistance.
23	* FreeRangeChildren: Tom's Mom allows him to pretty much do anything he wants as long as it does not affect her personally.
24	* HeroWithBadPublicity: By the ''first episode'', Tom is widely known across town for being "the boy who pooped his pants during a baseball game".
25	* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: Tom gets involved in multiple incidents ''no'' child should ever be subjected to and is repeatedly berated and insulted by everyone around him, ''especially'' [[AdultsAreUseless the adults]], who always blame him for everything that goes wrong in the town, which is all PlayedForLaughs.
26	* IntergenerationalFriendship: Tom has formed many tenuous friendships with the weird adults in Shady Oaks. In fact, Tom is seen interacting more with adults than his actual peers in school (aside from Nelson).
27	* LittleNo: Whenever an adult or a friend relays to him a bizarre plan that usually has him doing something weird or make him look bad, Tom's expected reaction is a always a small, monotone "no". Of course he goes with it anyways.
28	* LoserProtagonist: Dumb, unathletic, not good at ''anything'', widely mocked, and almost never wins.
29	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Particularly in season two. While Tom has extremely bad luck, the catalyst for most of his problems were caused by his very own dumb and misinformed actions.
30	** "The Nurse's Baby" probably being the biggest offender. Where not only is he mainly responsible for polluting the town's lake and killing all the fish, but he also doomed the town for generations of lead poisoning after a mishap involving lead plaques of his name.
31	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Tom is on the receiving end of one by a random character every few episodes. Most times are caused by misunderstanding, but a rare few [[WhatTheHellHero are deserved]].
32	* PintSizedPowerhouse: Despite being seen as weak, he once kicked Randy hard enough that he appears in a later scene wearing a head brace. [[DisproportionateRetribution All because he stole his stick of cheese]].
33	* TheStoic: Much like [[WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim Tim]], he has no emotional response to all the horrific things he is subjected to, [[HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood especially as a kid]], beyond "disappointment".
34	* ThrowTheDogABone: Tom is such a ButtMonkey that virtually any episode where he is not in a bad situation can be considered a victory for him.
35	** PlayedForLaughs in "History Week", in which the principal chastises Tom for destroying getting his office burned down by an angry mob. The principal says that he will be known as "the kid who burned the principal's office down," which Tom states that it's an ''improvement'' of his reputation over being known as the kid who crapped his pants in baseball.
36	* WhatTheHellHero: Tom gets this treatment at least OnceAnEpisode. Sometimes deservered, sometimes not.
37	[[/folder]]
38	[[folder:Tom's Mom]]
39	Tom's irresponsible mother. Her husband recently ran off to Myrtle beach with a female masseuse, leaving her to take care of Tom.
40	----
41	* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Just like her son, most schemes she enacts end up with her getting humiliated, which by proxy, harms her son's reputation.
42	-->'''Tom's Mom''': I can not be the mom who brought a fart gun to get out of carpooling!
43	-->'''Tom''': That's who you are!
44	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Tom's Mom can be extremely unsympathetic to the people around her and often uses her boyfriends just to mooch off their money and get free meals (just ask the school principal). Despite that, she still loves her son, even if she is not the best at showing it.
45	* ParentsAsPeople: She is a well-meaning parent who genuinely cares about her son and wants to give him a better life, but is also extremely irresponsible and is just as prone as Tom is when it comes to making dumb schemes that backfire on her and getting into awful situations.
46	* ToughLove: She claims that her punishments to Tom (i.e. pouring cheese all over his head, forcing him run around the neighborhood in his underwear, or making him bathe in soda) are this.
47	[[/folder]]
48	[[folder:Uncle Bill]]
49	Tom's {{Manchild}} uncle who moves in the house by season two.
50	----
51	* WildCard: Sometimes Uncle Bill is able to help and support Tom, but he often drags Tom into trouble as well.
52	[[/folder]]
53	[[folder:Tom's Grandma]]
54	* ADayInTheLimelight: She gets a lot of screen-time in "Bingo With Grandma".
55	[[/folder]]
56	!School
57	!!Students
58	[[folder:Nelson]]
59	Tom's best friend. Unlike Tom, Nelson is considerably more confident, smart, and cool, but is still usually willing to help out Tom with whatever bizarre situation he finds himself in.
60	----
61	* BlackBestFriend: Is this to Tom.
62	* TheFriendsWhoNeverHang: Outside of proximity or with Tom, Nelson and Dakota don’t really interact with each other. In “Filthy Tom”, both Dakota and Nelson are relieved when Tom finally shows up for his pool party, as they can only muster small talk to each other. Ditto for the bus driver who outright states that without Tom, they have literally nothing to discuss about.
63	-->'''Nelson (once Tom arrives):''' It's about time. I can only make so much small talk with Dakota.
64	-->'''Dakota:''' Yeah, we have very little in common.
65	* SourSupporter: Nelson is not afraid to criticize how bad Tom is at practically ''everything''. Yet he still tries to help him and never expects anything back.
66	* ToxicFriendInfluence: An entirely unintentional example. The advice and help he gives Tom often sound good in paper, but they often have holes that will drag the two of them into awkward situation or can be easily misconstrued by Tom into something bad.
67	* TrueCompanions: Mostly PlayedStraight. Nelson always tries his best to help Tom with whatever strange situation he is in and is usually the sole consistent person Tom can rely on for support. However there are instances where he leaves Tom to the wolves, but are mainly in specific instances where it is clear [[DoomedProtagonist that being associated with Tom in this particular event]] will only end badly for himself also.
68	** Later episodes do show that he values Tom as a friend. They often play video games and whiffle ball together, gets distressed at the idea of Tom making new friends and ignoring him, and flat out admits that he does not really see himself making any additional friends outside of Tom.
69	* VirtuousCharacterCopy: Downplayed, while not without his flaws, Nelson is effectively a more supportive and mostly innocent version of [[WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim Stu]].
70	[[/folder]]
71	[[folder:Dakota]]
72	Tom's other friend, although she would rather keep it a secret. While she does consider him a genuine friend, she is usually unreceptive to the antics he gets in.
73	----
74	* BerserkButton: Don't tell her to shut up. When Tom said it in frustration he quickly and sheepishly apologizes while Dakota [[TranquilFury calmly]] states that she will let it pass before warning him to never do it again.
75	* OnlySaneWoman: She is one of the few characters without any glaring flaws and is usually the first one to comment on whatever insanity Tom has gotten himself in.
76	* TwoGuysAndAGirl: She is the girl with Tom and Nelson as the guys.
77	* VitriolicBestBuds: Especially in season two. She is often the first person to call out Tom on his actions and admits that she gets fed up with him a lot. Yet she still considers him a "secret" friend.
78	* WhatTheHellHero: Out of everyone, Dakota is the one to call out Tom on his actions the most.
79	[[/folder]]
80	[[folder:Yasmine]]
81	* TheGenericGuy: While all of Tom's classmates have their fair share of unique traits, Yasmine is mostly shown as a completely normal kid who only serves to judge Tom whenever he does something bad.
82	[[/folder]]
83	[[folder:Hector]]
84	* LaserGuidedKarma: He put Tom and a grocery store in a FrivolousLawsuit while pretending to be handicapped over a bunch of fruit falling over him. Ultimately, while he did presumably get the money (from the store only as Tom's family is utterly broke), Tom accidentally smashes his eye with a cork and collapses on the floor -- where the grocery store's automatic doors begin to smack him repeatedly.
85	[[/folder]]
86	[[folder:Randy]]
87	* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: His dad clearly treats him terribly. Once shutting him inside a cabinet or dragging him around the floor.
88	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: When Tom found himself cancelled with all his friends distancing from him, Randy (and the school janitor) were the few who stuck with him.
89	[[/folder]]
90	!!Faculty
91	[[folder:Bus Driver]]
92	The school's only bus driver. A rather immature adult who regularly converses with Tom and Nelson on the bus.
93	----
94	* {{Manchild}}: He has the mentality of irresponsible teenage slacker, regularly hangs out with kids, and apparently still eats in the school cafeteria.
95	* NiceGuy: While being far from a role-model to the kids, he has a friendly relationship with Tom and Nelson and he regularly gives the former advice (that usually backfire, but the thought counts).
96	[[/folder]]
97	[[folder:Principal]]
98	The school's principal who often has plans that almost always involve Tom in some manner.
99	----
100	* ButtMonkey: Usually at the hands of Tom. The principal often has bad things happen to him when he drags Tom to help him with whatever he needs. “History Week” being the crowning example, where asking Tom to help him become more well-liked ends with him becoming a pariah and having his office burned down by an angry mob.
101	* DudeWheresMyRespect: Despite being the principal, most people openly treat with him no respect. Hell, he claims that the school crossing guard has been routinely bullying him for over ''twenty years''.
102	* FallGuy: On ''two'' seperate occasions, he asked Tom to be this. In the second time, Tom refuses, after it led to him being outcast the first time.
103	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: For all the ire he causes Tom (along with ire that Tom inflicts on the principal), he still genuinely sees him and all the kids as family. When Tom was reported missing in Mexico, he gathered as much people as he could and flew all the way to the resort to aid in the search.
104	* LaserGuidedKarma: ''Many'' plots of forcing Tom into situations that he does not want to be in takes its toll in "History Week" where his latest scheme involving Tom ends with his reputation thoroughly ruined.
105	* RunningGag: How many times has he singled out Tom for whatever ZanyScheme he has in mind?
106	** Addding onto that, how many times has he called Tom to the principal's office through intercom?
107	* VirtuousCharacterCopy: He is essentially [[WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim Tim's boss]], down to being a sort of boss-like character that regularly ropes Tom into various schemes that inevitably result in humiliation and chaos. However, unlike Tim's boss, the principal comes across as more well-meaning and nice but also [[ButtMonkey much more pathetic and lame]].
108	[[/folder]]
109	[[folder:Coach]]
110	[[/folder]]
111	[[folder:Lunch Lady]]
112	[[/folder]]
113	[[folder:Mr. B]]
114	* BreakTheHaughty: In "A Daffodil For Tererence", his overly pompous and snobby attitude towards acting bites him in the ass when he gets booed by the audience after replacing Tom.
115	* {{Jerkass}}: He tends to be one of the more nastier adults Tom has to interact with.
116	[[/folder]]
117	[[folder:Nurse]]
118	[[/folder]]
119	[[folder:Janitor]]
120	[[/folder]]
121	!Other
122	[[folder:Dakota's Mom]]
123	* ATasteOfDefeat: The season two finale has Tom utterly ruining her vacation and (mostly) getting away unscathed.
124	* HatedByAll: Ironic. Despite probably being the biggest factor for why everyone thinks Tom is a loser, she is viewed by everyone in a much more negative light. To the point that Tom's Mom, her husband, and the school nurse all conspired to get her ''sedated'' with medication in order to quell her attitude.
125	* {{Jerkass}}: She's obnoxious as all hell and goes out of her way to particularly target Tom and his family for being poor.
126	* KarmaHoudini: Much of her harassment and berating to Tom and his family, along with virtually everyone in Shady Oaks (including her husband) goes unpunished.
127	* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: In the season two finale, Tom ruins her vacation by just showing up, gets her banned from any drinks, and uses her money to buy a scam timeshare that destroys her credit.
128	[[/folder]]
129	[[folder:Dakota's Father]]
130	* ButtMonkey: In the span of two seasons, he loses the few people that barely consider him a friend, has his cabin burned down, gets beaten up by his own wife in public, has his songs infringed in a Super Bowl commercial, and eventually gets fired from his job. All of these problems involve [[DoomMagnet Tom in some fashion]].
131	* TheDogBitesBack: PlayedForLaughs and downplayed. He finds financially supporting Tom's family a small victory for him, since his wife hates all of them.
132	* DreadfulMusician: He plays a guitar and sings his own songs to cope with his AwfulWeddedLife, and they are all awful.
133	* TheFriendNobodyLikes: None of the other adults in Shady Oaks are fond of him. Likely due to how basically all conversations with him involves him venting his frustrations about his wife through terrible songs.
134	* HenpeckedHusband: The only person Dakota's Mom harasses more than Tom is her own husband.
135	[[/folder]]
136	[[folder:Doug]]
137	* ApatheticClerk: He clearly does not like the fact that he is stuck in a dead-end job as the ice cream man. He was more than happy to give Tom his business and eventually sink the van into the lake.
138	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite his rough exterior, apathetic nature, and willingness to leave the school nurse during their wedding, he has a suprisingly positive relationship with Tom. Often offering advice that are well-meaning but not usually the best, seemingly forgave him for previously sinking his ice cream van, and when Tom appeared to be in danger inside a hot air balloon, he immediately told Tom to jump off so he can catch him.
139	[[/folder]]
140	[[folder:Rick]]

Context Characters / TenYearOldTom