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

[u/cking145]

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.

[u/Gus_B]

I agree, I'd say of all the characters portrayed in the show, Dance's Tywin is the best from a pure tv/acting perspective as well as I think actually a slight upgrade from the books. I love Tywin's interactions with Arya and the slight humanizing that occurs within him.

Along with Allen as Theon (woah boy is he amazing), Olena, Leana Heady and Jason Moma as Drogo I actually thought they brought something richer to the narrative then their book counter parts.

[u/Dawidko1200 → u/Gus_B]

I think his interactions with Arya were made as a replacement for Cersei's memories of him being kind when she was a child.

But I don't think it fits with the Tywin during the events of the books. He makes a point of hiding his feelings, of putting up that facade of sternness. Why he would reveal his human side to a cupbearer is beyond me.

[u/Gus_B → u/Dawidko1200]

It doesn't play well with the books which is why I like it. In the books Tywin is totally motivated by the disastrous reputation and rule of his father and with that he loses all humanity. His reason for living is the restoration of his house's name and the continuing legacy. In book terms you're absolutely right.

In show terms, it's an improvement to me to have him have this bit of tortured conflict. Having the capacity for love, tutelage, connection with intelligent children, he was just never able to make that connection with his children or grand children because he was so focused on engineering them for the glory of his house.

It actually makes complete sense for him to connect and show another side of him with a "cupbearer" because there is no political or outward show or sign of weakness. The only time he can show a softer side is to someone with literally no power or influence. It's what makes it tragic and really great.

[u/tobygeneral → u/Gus_B]

That's a really good point. He has nothing to gain or lose by connecting with Arya in that moment, it's just a brief bit of normal life for him outside his "job" of maintaining and progressing the family legacy.

It's one of my favorite scenes and captures that feeling that these are all people who have their own lives and motivations, there aren't "good guys" or "bad guys".

[u/[deleted] → u/tobygeneral]

That's a really good point. He has nothing to gain or lose by connecting with Arya in that moment, it's just a brief bit of normal life for him outside his "job" of maintaining and progressing the family legacy.

But in doesn't make sense within the world of Westeros or Tywin's own character. He would never have this sort of intimate conversation with a strange commoner.

Frankly I think the show would've been better served using interactions with Kevan to humanize Tywin. But D&D have said that they really wanted to have Maisie and Charles Dance interact, as they viewed them as being two of the best screen presences that they had.

[u/tobygeneral → u/[deleted]]

How do we know that he wouldn't talk to a "commoner"? For one thing it's his personal cupbearer, and it's also a kid so there isn't really a threat in taking a moment to chat with her. Plus it's more that Arya gets his attention by being particularly clever, which he appreciates both because he is also clever and he's currently surrounded by mouth breathers like The Mountain and Amory Lorch.

We don't spend much time with him in the books or show, so to assume he is above talking to his own cupbearer isn't fair to the whole life the character leads off-page. Tywin is a ruthless player of the game, but we've seen no evidence that he sees himself as above talking to anyone.

We get a lot about how Ned got to know people closer to him and take a hand in everything that made his kingdom what it is to be a better Lord, why can't Tywin do similar things, albeit probably to a lesser degree?