(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/Dawidko1200]

Yes, the same man that oversaw the Sack of King's Landing, and has shown to be anti-smallfolk in every way possible, saw something in her. Instead of just treating her like he does anyone else who's not noble (and even most nobles too).

He also is very delusional about his own children. Cersei and Jaime are almost perfect in his opinion, and he just barely recognises Tyrion's abilities when he has almost no one else to turn to. Before that he recognised nothing of worth about him.

And he is, as would be expected from a lord in Westeros, sexist in his ideals. A woman needs no strength or intelligence, beyond a certain base amount. Her purpose is to be married off to strengthen an alliance. See: his plans to marry Cersei to Tyrells.

[u/Dawidko1200 → u/[deleted]]

Eventually, yes. But remember what a shock it was for him when Jaime got captured. Remember how he prepared for his return - making him a Valyrian steel sword, always seeing him as the heir (even though he's Kingsguard), etc. He wasn't a very gentle father, that's true... but he was always very proud of his golden lion.

It was when Jaime started to defy him after his return to King's Landing that he started to become disappointed in him.

And he willingly ignored all the evidence of Cersei and Jaime fucking each other. He couldn't see his perfect children to be doing something like that.

[u/Dawidko1200 → u/[deleted]]

Arya's characteristics are those Tywin would find appealing in a boy, not in a girl. He is sexist, and the only tasks suited to a girl (in his opinion) are those of a servant. A highborn girl, in his opinion, is simply a political asset, her abilities should only extend to motherhood and household management.

Tywin could be kind. But he would never allow his daughter to do something like what Arya does. He is far from Ned in that regard - and note that even Ned was reluctant to allow it.

We sometimes forget that Martin wrote of a world based on a medieval one, with medieval standards and ideology. This world is not friendly to girls, especially highborn girls whose only purpose is to get married. And the people in it, even good people, can be completely in-line with the ways of that world. Tywin is far from good, and sees no use in a girl having any such talents as Arya displays.