With a show like Game of Thrones, it’s always a little difficult to pinpoint which characters are the most beloved by fans, since everyone has their opinions and perspectives about what makes a good character. It’s pretty universally agreed, however, that Tyrion Lannister is one of the better people in the show, in large part because he seems to have an actual moral compass that directs his actions.
While he’s a great character and a fan favorite, however, there are some things that definitely wouldn’t pass muster if the show were to be made today, while there are things that would be best left alone.
Would: His Compassion
One of the most noteworthy aspects of Tyrion’s character is his compassion. From the very first episode, he made it clear that beneath that bitter and sarcastic exterior there was a heart that really wanted to do the best for everyone. It’s precisely this compassion that made him such a good Hand and that might have even made him a good husband for Sansa. It’s definitely one of those things that would have to stay the same if his character were to be in any way relatable.
Wouldn’t: His Being Sidelined In The Later Seasons
Of all of the poor writing choices that the creators made in the later seasons, sidelining Tyrion was definitely one of the worst. It truly makes no sense why they would take this character that had already become quite beloved of fans and then give him almost nothing important to do once he got to the continent of Essos. Some of this can certainly be laid at Martin’s door since the books do the same thing, but surely the show’s writers could have found something better to do with his development.
Would: His Relationship With Jaime
It’s no secret that Tyrion has a very difficult time with most of his family. Both his father and his sister blame him for the death of his mother. Jaime, however, is something different, and he really does seem to care deeply about his younger brother and his physical and emotional welfare.
This relationship is truly one of those things that remind viewers that beneath all of the world-weary cynicism of the show there are occasional moments of genuine warmth.
Wouldn’t: His Ridiculous Speech At The Council To Decide The King
Look, it’s pretty clear that by the end of the show the creators were flying blind. They’d run out of material from the books, and they were struggling to bring all of the various plot threads to some sort of satisfactory conclusion. Unfortunately, they did so in the clumsiest manner imaginable, and that includes Tyrion’s speech to the gathered notables, a speech that leads to them electing Bran as the new king. It was no doubt meant to be an inspiring speech, but it ultimately felt leaden. Any rewrite of the series would have to make that speech better.
Would: His Skillful Handling Of The Small Council
Many fans of the show probably remember that, at some crucial points, Tyrion became a powerful player in the affairs of the Seven Kingdoms, and that included taking a seat on the Small Council, that group of advisers so essential to the good running of the kingdom. While on that council, he showed that he has a shrewd political mind and that he knows how to manipulate people into doing what he wants them to do. It’s precisely this success that makes his later sidelining so incredibly frustrating.
Wouldn’t: Being Stupid Enough To Get With Shae
It’s made clear on a number of occasions that Tyrion has a bit of an issue with falling in love with women that he shouldn’t, particularly prostitutes. One would think that a person as intelligent and clever as Tyrion would realize that such a relationship could and would never work, particularly not in a culture like that of the Seven Kingdoms. Nevertheless, he manages to get himself into some serious trouble with Shae, and to the surprise of no one she ends up betraying him. One would hope that a new writer for the show would find a way to address this problem.
Would: His Almost Blind Trust Of Daenarys For Far Too Long
Likewise, one would think that Tyrion, being a shrewd student of human nature, would have recognized right away that there was something not quite right about Dany. This was a woman, after all, who was known for moments of great cruelty (though she always claimed to have a good reason for doing so). What really wouldn’t fly today, however, would be Tyrion’s continued belief that he could manage her, even though all of the evidence was pointing to the contrary.
Wouldn’t: His Trust Of Bronn
Poor Tyrion just didn’t seem able to help himself. Time and time again, he trusted people that he knew he shouldn’t, and he always ended up getting burned. That was definitely the case with his supposed friendship with the sellsword Bronn, who seems to be the embodiment of all of the cynicism that the show has to offer (even if he is lovable at times).
Tyrion’s not an idiot, so it really does sort of beggar belief that he would delude himself into believing that Bronn would ever even think about being loyal to him.
Would: His Tolerance For His Family Until Later Seasons
Despite the fact that his family is pretty terrible to him, Tyrion shows quite a bit of restraint in the earlier seasons, largely putting up with their nonsense far more than he should. This is something that would probably need to be changed in today’s climate, particularly since viewers would probably begin to wonder why he didn’t take matters into his own hands far earlier rather than continuing to take the moral high road.
Wouldn’t: His Complete Political Ineptitude In The Last Couple Of Seasons
As if it weren’t enough that Tyrion was sidelined in the later seasons, he was also shown to be something of a political dunce. Somehow, in between the time that he murdered his father and the time he came to Dany’s court, he seemed to lose all of the skills that had allowed him to survive the terrible world of the Seven Kingdoms. This is definitely one of those things that would have to change if the show were to be made today.