Tyrion Lannister is a complicated character, and perhaps one of the most profound in Game of Thrones for his various contributions. He is forced into exile to avoid the brunt of his family’s prejudice but proves his intelligence and political acumen while serving under Daenerys as the Hand of the Queen.
As such, it’s not too much of a stretch to claim Tyrion as one of the prime movers of the storyline. That said, there has been an embarrassingly large number of occasions in which he has behaved in an uncharacteristically shortsighted manner. In Tyrion’s defense, he is a human being at the end of the day, but a few of these instances are downright preposterous.
10 Tyrion’s Misplaced Affections For His Family
Despite his maltreatment at the hands of his own flesh and blood, Tyrion bears some amount of goodwill for them, especially his older brother. While Jaime isn’t disloyal to him, per se, Cersei and Tywin constantly revile him for just being who he is, for being born differently than everyone else.
Blood might be thicker than water, but sometimes it’s just better to cast aside family members who do nothing more than generate pain, misery, and a host of lifelong insecurities.
9 He Assassinates His Father In Cold Blood
Tyrion has despised his father, Tywin, for a long time, so it’s not surprising that he ends up murdering the old man on the toilet. In fact, it’s difficult to judge him for patricide given his childhood, but his actions do raise a few questions.
Losing control of his common sense is not a good look for him, given that he’s already blamed for crimes he doesn’t commit. Tywin’s death forces Tyrion to abandon his home continent and leave for Essos, where he’s fortunate enough to get a second chance via Daenerys.
8 Tyrion’s Emotional Explosion At His Trial
When Joffrey is poisoned to death, suspicion primarily falls on Tyrion, the disgraced uncle without much to offer in terms of alibi. Jaime works to get his brother freed, or at least pardoned, but his hard work is wasted when Cersei forces Shae to betray Tyrion.
The fact that his lover turns against him is understandably painful, but that doesn’t mean he should have hinted at treason—Tyrion describes his pleasure at experiencing Joffrey’s assassination firsthand, further declaring his choice for a trial by combat. The consequences of his outburst lead to his champion, Oberyn Martell’s death during his fight with The Mountain.
7 His Trust In The Masters Of Meereen Is Broken Spectacularly
Daenerys’ entourage wants the Meereenese masters to abolish the vile concept of slavery, but they, in turn, assert that slaves are a vital aspect of the area’s economy. Tyrion intercedes, telling them that most Slaver’s Bay cities will be given a gracious period of seven years to permanently get rid of slavery, as well as remunerate any owners for the losses incurred.
Grey Worm and Missandei raise their doubts regarding this offer, as they expect the masters to renege on the agreement. And of course they do, resulting in many more deaths that could have been avoided had Tyrion been a tad more circumspect.
6 Tyrion Enters The Battle Of The Blackwater
Tyrion’s role in the Iron Throne’s victory against Stannis’ armada cannot be forgotten or minimized, given that his practical assessments and use of Wildfire to devastating effect basically save the day.
On the other hand, Tyrion decides to take matters into his own literal hands and travels through King’s Landing, hacking and slashing as best he can—and he would have been killed by Ser Maddon if not for Podrick’s last-minute rescue. Aside from the personal risks he takes, Tyrion is not even given the honor he deserves for his war efforts.
5 He Slaps The Future King In The Face (Multiple Times)
One of the most replayed sequences in Game of Thrones is when Tyrion slaps Joffrey over and over for sassing him, completely oblivious to the fact that his nephew is first in line to the throne.
As the crown prince, however, Joffrey can’t say or do much against his uncle, but it’s only a matter of time before he becomes king. As expected, Tyrion endures incredible humiliation after Robert’s death, something he really should have foreseen.
4 Tyrion Blows The Whistle On Varys’ Misgivings
Varys truly believes in what Daenerys represents for Westeros, perhaps in part due to his prior service under Aerys Targaryen. However, he soon comes to the conclusion that the so-called Queen behaves in a patently undignified manner under stressful situations, such as when she executes the Tarlys against her advisors’ warnings.
Varys unwittingly relates his doubts to Tyrion, who promptly exposes them to Daenerys. The Spider is sentenced to death by Dracarys—this is one thoughtless betrayal that Tyrion will never forget.
3 He Convinces Dany To Capture A Wight Before Talking To Cersei
As the Hand of the Queen, Tyrion mistakenly believes that his sister might be amenable to Daenerys’ requests if there is physical evidence of the oncoming storm of White Walkers. On paper, this suggestion sounds airtight, but anyone who knows Cersei and her bizarre power fantasies is aware that she will never offer help to those who seek to dethrone her.
Tyrion’s idea is temporarily effective: the wight’s existence stuns Cersei and her court, but his plan ultimately goes nowhere. It’s almost like Tyrion doesn’t understand his sister at all; there is no way that Cersei would tolerate something as humiliating as a truce.
2 Tyrion’s Role In The Death Of His Niece, Myrcella
Tyrion convinces Cersei to send her daughter, Myrcella, off to Dorne, where he hopes that her presence would engender a stronger bond with House Martell. This makes sense, given that the relationship between the Iron Throne and Dornish nobility had frayed after the murder of Elia under Tywin’s orders.
Sadly, Oberyn’s death in King’s Landing is far too fresh in Martell memories for them to forgive House Lannister, so Myrcella is naturally assassinated by Ellaria Sand. Tyrion’s tact fails him when he needs it the most.
1 He Remains In Queen Daenerys’ Service For Too Long
Tyrion is aghast when Daenerys flies into a fiery rage and sets an entire city ablaze, but he wastes all his chances at preventing this outcome. His conflicted emotions play a major role in his decisions, of course, but that’s exactly why he should have been more meticulous with his tactics.
That said, Tyrion is indirectly responsible for the thousands of innocent lives lost; he didn’t see it coming not because he couldn’t, but because he blinds himself, perhaps intentionally, to the consequences.
About The Author