In "The Taking of Dick McWilliams" (S2.10 ) we hear a good friend of TM's refer to him as "Tom." TM met him ten years prior in Oahu. They are rather good friends how TM talks about him. This instance is particularly interesting because this friend does not come from TM's early life but well into TM's adulthood and in the Navy during peacetime.
At the same time and before, Rick & TC are using "Thomas." We see the three of them as "blood brothers." The name thing screams out, "Then why isn't "Tom" used? Y'know if you revisit S2.10, see how TM remembers that good friend very warmly and intimately. And later the same guy, Dick, refers to TM as an old Navy buddy. If Rick & TC were true buds to TM, then they surely would be calling him Tom, too.
It may be that not only Rick & TC like TM a bit more than what he likes them, but also to TM the relation is largely professional or instrumental to put it kindly. Without Rick and TC, TM would not be a very successful PI. They are indispensable to him. Is he ever seen doing special things for them? No, he’s always on the receiving end. As much as we like to think of them as “blood brothers,” they are less so in the mind of TM.
It’s maybe a matter of military mindset—whereas the show implies Dick was once an officer in intelligence with TM, Rick & TC were not officers. That division TM maintains to his benefit. His previous role in the war as their CO continues by which he extracts their services for his business. Rick & TC do so gladly but sadly they might not ever be close to TM as Dick was. Theirs is a pragmatic relation and to that extent a bit disappointing. This disappointment is less on TM than it is on being a fan. We fans might exalt the trio’s relation higher than they themselves would. Thus it becomes difficult to see the imperfection or warts of the hero.
![Magnum! :magnum:](./images/smilies/icon_magnum.gif)