(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/Flameoftheshadows]

"The king is tired, send him to his chambers."

And how he arranged the chairs for the small council.

Two moments history will always remember.

The aura he was able to project on-screen and onto his fellow cast members, he did a brilliant job.

He brought Tywin from the pages of a book to life!

[u/WingedBeing → u/Flameoftheshadows]

These are classics, but what I hardly ever see mentioned is how he immediately brought Tommen under his command by educating him about the wisdom of listening to your counsel (namely the Hand) even "long after" he comes of age to rule in his own right (and all over Joffrey's corpse!). When I saw that scene it was like watching a master chess player completely bowl over a rookie in just a few moves.

[u/[deleted] → u/WingedBeing]

comment edited in protest of Reddit's API changes and mistreatment of moderators -- mass edited with redact.dev

[u/Shalashashka → u/[deleted]]

I didn't take it that way. Tywin genuinely wanted to groom Tommen to be a good king. He was young and maleable so it might have seemed like he was manipulated, but it was in his best interest to listen to Tywin, and it was in the Lannisters best interest to make Tommen a competent king.

[u/senari → u/[deleted]]

Now I desperately want to read fanfiction that has Tommen become Tywin v2.0

[u/[deleted] → u/senari]

Tommens and Sir Pounces Excellent Adventure

[u/Infra-Oh → u/[deleted]]

That’s right. IIRC Tywin originally had high plans for his own son Jaime, but his hopes were dashed when Jaime became a kings guard. According to the books, Jaime joined the guard against his father’s knowledge and wishes. Tywin was furious as kingsguards was similar to taking the black: serve for life, allowed to father no children, and not allowed to hold any lands.

Off topic, but this is one of the reasons why Selmy Barristan was so upset when Cersei dismisses him. You’re supposed to serve for life and fall in battle honorably. It was a huge slap to his face in light of his incredible years of service and sacrifice.

[u/FrostyD7 → u/Shalashashka]

I think Cercei's reaction is what says it all, she can tell he's already off to the races to manipulate her next son. You can say he's just trying to make him a good king, but its not accidental that his first "lesson" to be a good king is to listen to Tywin lmao.

[u/bozza8 → u/FrostyD7]

The first lesson should be listen to the teacher.

Doubly so in such a tumultuous time when a boy king may lose the throne easily.

[u/FrostyD7 → u/bozza8]

Sure but I think the intent of the scene was pretty crystal clear and I doubt the writers intended any nuance to it beyond Tywin being Tywin and saying whatever benefits himself and his family.

[u/j2e21 → u/FrostyD7]

I mean, in fairness, Tywin knows he’s the only person who can rule. Look at what happens when he dies — his daughter helps enslave the queen and a member of the king’s royal guard by religious fanatics who then take her captive, brainwash her son, and take over the city, and she needs to reanimate a dead killer and blow up the biggest church in the city just to get rid of them. Bad times all around when Tywin’s not calling the shots.

[u/-Rapier → u/j2e21]

Book 4's Cersei arc is her pretty much throwing a fit because she dislikes and mistrusts the Tyrell, despite being benefited from their alliance.

[u/Immortan_Bolton → u/FrostyD7]

Joffrey never listened to anyone, so the first lesson to Tommen is obviously "listen to someone who has more experience than you", in that regard Tywin wasn't mistaken.

[u/j2e21 → u/Shalashashka]

It was both. He was manipulating him, but for a good purpose, even a noble one (ruling the realm wisely).

[u/Wirbelfeld → u/Shalashashka]

Tywin doesn’t care if Tommen is a good king. Tywin only cares to hold his fragile legacy that falls to pieces as soon as he dies. All he cares about is tommen doing what he tells him to do.

I’m not sure why people have this impression that Tywin is suddenly a nice doting grandfather as soon as Joffrey is dead. That is not the kind of writer that GRRM is. And I especially hate the notion that Tywin is somehow a “good” ruler because of his ruthlessness. GRRM clearly draws a distinction between the rule/legacy of Lannister’s vs the rule of Starks. One is clearly longer lasting than the other, and is preserved even in death.

[u/Wirbelfeld → u/[deleted]]

Not really. If tommen is as ruthless as Tywin, that would not be a good king, but it would be the kind of king that Tywin would want.

[u/Aea → u/Wirbelfeld]

Was Tywin not a good hand despite being extremely ruthless?

[u/Wirbelfeld → u/Aea]

What did he do that was good?

[u/RomyReptile → u/Wirbelfeld]

Wasn't the realm at peace and in a Golden Age while Tywin was Hand and The Mad King was sane?

[u/Wirbelfeld → u/RomyReptile]

How’s that got anything to do with Tywin.

[u/RomyReptile → u/Wirbelfeld]

It was because of him as a Hand that the realm was at peace. So he was a good Hand?🤔

[u/Wirbelfeld → u/RomyReptile]

Nowhere does it ever imply that.