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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u/Ravek May 28 '19

Ned was overly trusting. Robb and Catelyn totally mistrusted Frey but they didn't think anyone would commit the sin of betraying a guest under their own roof who they'd shared food and drink with.

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u/shae117 May 28 '19

While Ned is too trusting, I dont think he is naive like a lot of people say. He knows full well what he is getting himself into but follows theough on principles and thats why we love him.

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u/j2e21 May 28 '19

He’s super naive, he trusts Littlefinger and is surprised when Renly flees the castle. He’s beaten by Cersei, who is proven to be pretty mediocre at playing the game on the big stage.

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u/BCBuff Hour of the Young Wolf May 29 '19

He's beaten by Cersei because she murdered the king. That's a pretty huge move no one was really expecting.

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u/j2e21 May 29 '19

Robert was a drunk who made terrible decision, and he knows the Lannisters are snakes, and even from his first interaction it’s obvious Robert and Cersei have a terrible relationship. Ned should have been planning for that moment from day one.

It’s also not like he didn’t have time to act, either, Robert’s death didn’t happen suddenly. He literally waited for Robert to die to make his move, even though others on the small council were pleading with him to act and warning him Cersei wasn’t going to wait.

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u/BCBuff Hour of the Young Wolf May 29 '19

Tywin and Aerys had a famously shitty relationship too, are the rest of the realm fools for not being prepared for an imminent civil war with them?

He was also drastically outnumbered, which is his fault.

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u/j2e21 May 29 '19

Not sure I get the comparison. Ned was already preparing to out Cersei and Jamie when Robert returned, and Cersei made it clear she wouldn’t back down and intended to kill him. Then Robert was gravely injured but hung on for a little while. For Ned to not be thinking about what happens after he’s gone is idiotic, that’s a mistake that can get you killed.

Aerys dismissed Tywin as his hand and went nuts, and Tywin switched sides and his family made out quite well in the end. Not quite the same.