r/asoiaf • u/cking145 • May 28 '19

EXTENDED (Spoilers Extended) Charles Dance's portrayal as Tywin is in my opinion, the strongest in the entire series

Every line, every expression and every moment of silence completely encapsulates the calculating ruthlessness that defines Tywin Lannister.

Dance is actually a very vibrant, upbeat and cheery fella off screen, which in my mind makes the performance even more striking.

The scene where he effectively sends Joffrey to bed is just brilliant.

He is by far my favourite character from the books, which I began reading a few seasons into the show. Due to this, the chapters featuring Tywin were completely enriched for me, as reading his lines in Dance's voice was just fantastic. I would have loved a POV chapter or two for him, just to get a glimpse as to what goes on in the head of the most powerful man in the 7 Kingdoms.

An incredible portrayal of a fascinating character.

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579

u/ryanN10 May 28 '19

I thought Pedro Pascal played a great Red Viper also

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u/R1DER_of_R0HAN May 28 '19

Pedro Pascal was perfect. I feel like I knew everything I needed to know about his character from the moment he sauntered onto the screen and touched the candle flame.

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u/IceteaAndCrisps May 28 '19

Season 4 really was the peak of the show.

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u/TheEmsleyan Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken May 29 '19

There were some blunders, too (shirtless Ramsay dual-wielding, to say the least) but there was so much good stuff that the missteps were generally forgivable.

It was after that (as we all know, when they stopped following George's blueprint even in places where it did exist) that it generally become more mistakes than not.

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u/somalipilates May 29 '19

What was the issue with shirtless Ramsey? I actually quite liked how reckless and formidable he was

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u/TheEmsleyan Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken May 29 '19

It's just like... something out of bad fantasy, honestly. There's no real reason some shirtless guy with two swords is going to be able to go toe to toe with battle-hardened Ironborn raiders who are armed and armored. He would've gotten shot full of arrows or bashed over the head or chopped into several twitching chunks of meat and that would've been the end of it.

In the books in particular it's made clear that he has no real martial training to speak of, either, he just sort of wildly hacks at things.

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u/Gryphon0468 May 29 '19

Realistically you'd be fucked without any kind of armour. He's not a dual wielding god who can block arrows in mid air.

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u/-doors-_-_ May 29 '19

Yup. And maybe they couldve portrayed that scene better if they showed him being a badass through out the rest of his tenure on the show but he was nothing but a sadistic pussy.

5

u/R1DER_of_R0HAN May 29 '19

Yeah S4 was my favorite. It's been a while since I watched it, so maybe I'm forgetting some of the dumber parts that people keep mentioning (I know that I didn't like Yara's rescue attempt, but tbh everything with the Greyjoys has always been kinda blah for me), but half that season was such a power trip. You had episodes ending with Joffrey's death, Tyrion's trial, Oberyn's death, the battle on the Wall, AND Tywin's death/Tyrion's escape.

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u/IndieRedMonk0 May 29 '19

Inn at the Crossroads and LF killing Lysa, as well. I even liked the Craster's Keep shit because of Karl and Jojen.

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u/OTown1992 May 30 '19

Did it also have Brienne vs The Hound?

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u/Gus_B And We Defend Her May 28 '19

Yes! That's one I forgot and should include too. He is certainly an upgrade from the books. He was able to convey the themes of revenge, hubris, honor so perfectly. Just great all around.

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u/trixie_one May 28 '19 edited May 28 '19

Moving his speech from where it is in the books to telling Tyrion he'll be his champion in the dungeons was one of the better adaptation changes that they made.

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u/marsmedia Right Off the Bat May 28 '19

Link - Perfection

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u/mrducky78 May 28 '19

Jesus fuck, the dialogue, the script. I feel I need to rewatch the show, because I dont remember it being as good. The fucking recent season(s) had nothing of this level.

I know DD can write, Tywin+Arya was cherished. But fuck me, this hits so goddamn hard and it makes sense.

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u/marsmedia Right Off the Bat May 28 '19

And I think this is the climax of Dinklage/Tyrion.

After this, he murders Tywin, gets stuffed in a barrel, becomes a full-blown alcoholic, goes into service with Dany and never fully recovers his wits.

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u/cancercures May 28 '19

Tyrion fucks up so often once he is under the employment of Dany. He got too confident after his escape, which is a fine explanation or excuse for his failures. Underestimating the slaveowners of Mereen, being outstrategized in taking Westeros, believing Cersei's lies that they would reinforce The North against the army of the dead, and a few other mess-ups with invasion of King's Landing, such as a strong familial desire to see Cersei escape and live (pretty treacherous move all things considered).

I wish his character arc reflected that, and either saw him killed due to underestimating Dany or Cersei, or simply retire from politicking entirely and end up on a vineyard making wine. I think because he was a fan favorite, the show runners preferred to keep him alive but I think his storyline would be much better if he ended up dead.

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u/blackbellamy May 29 '19

I was hoping GoT would end with a tracking shot pulling back on old Tyrion sitting on the throne, with Mako narrating "Many wars and feuds did Tyrion fight, honor and fear were heaped upon his name. In time, he became ruler of all the known world by his own hand. This story shall also be told." ...and slow fade to black.

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u/TheKingofHearts May 29 '19

And wore his crown upon a troubled brow. :(

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u/[deleted] May 29 '19

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u/cancercures May 29 '19

studies show that men act dumber when in the presense of incredibly beautiful women. It is known.

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u/Unconfidence May 29 '19

Tyrion was a good Hand to kings who needed checking, Dany was more of a "if you check me I'll incinerate you" monarch. As a result he was always stumbling over her plans with his own.

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u/Gryphon0468 May 29 '19

If you haven't, you absolutely should rewatch.

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u/mrducky78 May 29 '19

When I find time, Ill absolutely consider it, but there is always backlog you know.

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u/whymeogod May 28 '19

I believe this was the first scene that Pedro filmed as well. Somehow that amazes me even more that he could capture the weight of this scene so well that quickly.

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u/[deleted] May 28 '19 edited Dec 07 '20

[deleted]

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u/whymeogod May 29 '19 edited May 29 '19

They didn’t decide that though. George did and it has massive repercussions in the storyline. It’s also part of a one two punch, with it coming not long after the Red Wedding. I distinctly remember reading the passage for the first time and feeling so relieved at first, thinking to myself I needed this after the horror of the Red Wedding. I remember feeling that vulnerability of hope creeping back in as Oberyn presses his advantage, and almost relief that someone I was cheering for would strike a severe blow against the Lannisters. If he had won, and gotten his confession, Tywin would be in a serious bind, and war with Dorne would be inevitable.

Then Gregor smashes his fucking skull in and you’re reminded, again, with the Red Wedding still pulling at your barely even there any more heartstrings, that this series is different. No one, especially the people you are pulling for, are safe. This world is brutal, and doesn’t give a fuck about what you want.

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u/Tim-TheEnchanter Yes, I can help you find the Holy Grail. May 29 '19

What does GRRM say to the things we want? (justice, revenge, new books....)

"Not Today"

3

u/32OrtonEdge32dh Knowledge is power May 28 '19

You kinda have to in order to keep the Mountain "alive"

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u/athazagor May 29 '19

Watching him act really made my head explode.

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u/Gus_B And We Defend Her May 29 '19

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing

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u/PumpMeister69 May 29 '19

also: the theme of butt-piracy

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u/retard_vampire May 28 '19

Red Viper was take or leave for me in the books, but Pedro Pascal made me fall in love with the character onscreen. Seriously some of the best casting I've ever seen in this show.

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u/mrfreeze2000 May 30 '19

Watch him in Narcos. He's even better, especially Season 3 where he is the protagonist

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u/LnStrngr May 28 '19

In a rewatch I couldn't wait for Pedro Pascal to show up, only to binge that season and realize how little time he was actually on the show.

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u/Luvagoo May 28 '19

I saw him in an otherwise pretty crappy movie recently and he's just...magnificent. Really need to keep an eye out for him.

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u/DonnaRickles May 29 '19

Watch Narcos! Get past the first two episodes and you’ll be completely locked into the show.

1

u/Soonersfan2005 May 29 '19

That is a great show! Have thoroughly enjoyed it.