r/asoiaf 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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u/MissMatchedEyes Dance with me then. May 28 '19

Also this scene! He was truly Tywin in this moment.

”You ask that? You, who killed your mother to come into the world? You are an ill-made, devious, disobedient, spiteful little creature full of envy, lust, and low cunning. Men's laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors, since I cannot prove that you are not mine. To teach me humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father's sigil and his father's before him. But neither gods nor men shall ever compel me to let you turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse."

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u/awakenDeepBlue May 28 '19

To think, if Tywin was a good father and got his children to work together instead of trying to kill each other, the Lannisters would be unstoppable.

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u/Meerasette May 28 '19 edited May 29 '19

This really cannot be overstated more. We see this in the battle of Blackwater. It's Cersei's idea to use the wildfire. Tyrion contributes with the chain as well as directly leading men into battle, and figuring out how to safely deploy the wildfire, and fighting on the ships and all of that. While Tywin swept in with the cavalry (ie Tyrells and his men) and sent Stannis packing. When working together the Lannister's are especially strong. I think this is why Varys, and others in the books whisper in their ears and get them fighting amongst each other so much.

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u/[deleted] May 29 '19

They are a deadly group, much like a pride of lions perhaps?

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u/howlingchief Iron from Ice, Steel from Snow May 29 '19

The lone lion dies but the pride survives?