History Characters / GameOfThronesTywinLannister

** His betrayal of the Targaryen crown. His Sack of King's Landing was to specifically overthrow them and install Robert as the true King of the Seven Kingdoms, for which he personally ordered Gregor Clegane to kill Rhaegar's children, which he managed to achieve. [[spoiler:But Tywin was unaware of the fact that Rhaegar had his marriage with Elia annulled, removing his kids from the royal line, in favor of Lyanna Stark, his love. This effectively meant the children whose murders sullied the Lannister's name for quite a long time ''were the wrong kids''. The real heir to the Iron Throne was born far away beyond Tywin's reach, as Jon Snow. Ned Stark's BlatantLies along with several unrelated factors made Jon ironically the person Tywin strictly wanted to avoid.]]

** He's also shown as ModestRoyalty, unlike his book counterpart, who would consider personally skinning a deer or fishing for his own supper, as show!Tywin does, to be absolutely beneath him.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: Implied to be a philosophy of his in particular, and the Lannisters in general.

* TooCleverByHalf: Downplayed. Tywin is far from stupid and he is smart enough to know his limitations but he's also obsessed with being feared even at the expense of practical considerations and has a bad habit of getting in over his head as a result of his ego, refusing to consider any kind of ceasefire with Robb Stark despite Robb's superior battle skills and knowing House Lannister is broke and can't afford a massive war and preferring instead to make a deal with the Freys and Boltons that will cause even worse problems down the line. Tywin is cunning and devious but his ruthlessness and ego cause more problems than they solve for the Lannisters.

** Regardless of how Tywin treated him and how Tywin treated Tyrion and Cersei, Jaime loved Tywin, at least enough that he promises to kill Tyrion for murdering Tywin the next time he sees him. He doesn't keep that promise, but still.

** As much as he justifiably despises Tywin for...well, take your pick, there are hints that Tyrion still has some love for him simply due to being his father and seems sincerely sad at how toxic their relationship has been, his declaration in their final conversation that Tywin has always wanted him dead being less anger and more a lament at being hated so much by his own father.

** He regarded Ned Stark's execution as a moronically stupid move on the part of Cersei and Joffrey, and specifically sent Tyrion to the capital to do crisis management. Likewise, he dresses down Cersei for her constant backbiting against the Tyrells and criticized her decision to fire Ser Barristan Selmy saying it was "as insulting as it was stupid" pointing out that despite his age, it was not on his watch that Joffrey died.

-->'''Tywin''': Madness, madness, and stupidity.

** In the book, he doesn't like his father Tytos much for being very weak. In the show, while Tywin does still consider him weak and an unfit leader, he overall considered Tytos a good man and enjoyed his company.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: When Arya poses as his cup-bearer, she brings out a softer and paternal side to him that's absent in the books. Although ultimately he's still willing to leave her to the mercy of [[SerialRapist Gregor Clegane]].

** Tywin may be cold, ruthless and callous towards anyone whose name doesn't end with "Lannister", but [[MoralMyopia while he has no qualms hiring rapists, pedophiles, psychopathic killers or just outright assholes to do his dirty work,]] Tywin himself is ''not'' a {{Sadist}} or a psychopath and doesn't derive any pleasure from senseless killing and torture. Oberyn Martell's assertion that he ordered The Mountain to kill Elia in the horrific way he did genuinely offended and discomforted him.

** While his hatred and contempt for Tyrion is very evident, he still (ever so grudgingly) is aware of his son's intelligence, perception, and cunning, which is why he was willing to name him Hand in his stead and give him power during crucial times.

* DitzyGenius: He's a cunning grand strategist, shrewd businessman, very well read, effective politician and is as pragmatic as they come regarding everything, ''except'' how to be a remotely loving father. His tactical abilities on the battlefield are also substandard when compared to his son or Robb Stark.

** This also plays into the Red Wedding. Tywin believes that it was enough to crush the Northern Rebellion once and for all and that they will see Robb as a cautionary tale of why they shouldn't march against the crown, believing that [[{{Pride}} because he says it's finished, it's finished]]. Tyrion however can see how the act will just embolden them further and increase their rage towards the crown and desire for independence. As we see later on, Tyrion was right that they wouldn't go down so easily and [[DontCreateAMartyr Robb ends up being seen as a martyr]].
** He tends to dismiss the Starks as weak due in part to their noble nature. It's clear that HonorBeforeReason is a completely foreign principle to Tywin. House Lannister ends up paying dearly for this miscalculation in Season 6.

* TheSociopath: Downplayed. Tywin certainly has the attributes of a sociopath: he lies as easily as he breathes, he has no regard for anyone who isn't Tywin Lannister or his favourite son, has a high opinion of himself, he's exceedingly cruel, he lacks empathy towards others, and isn't afraid to use violence to get what he wants. That said, he is capable of genuine feelings, such as his love for his wife Joanna. Whilst his cruelest actions aren't done for sadism, he shows no remorse in performing them all the same.

* TragicMistake: Only tragic from the viewpoint of his own family, mind you, but his having Shae testify at Tyrion's trial ends up setting off a chain of DisasterDominoes that all but destroys the Lannisters. Had he not done that, then odds are Tyrion would have taken the plea bargain that Jaime brokered and pleaded guilty in exchange for being ReassignedToAntarctica instead of executed, leaving Tywin free to mould Tommen into a capable monarch, while keeping Cersei's worst aspects in check. Instead, having Shae offer up a testimony filled with BlatantLies causes Tyrion to demand trial by combat in an effort to win a full acquittal, which goes horribly wrong when his champion, Oberyn Martell experiences a lethal case of the IdiotBall during the ensuing duel with Gregor Clegane, causing Tyrion to be found guilty. Tyrion then murders both Shae and Tywin himself during the course of his subsequent escape, leaving Cersei to turn Tommen into a puppet ruler, which results in him being DrivenToSuicide and leads to Cersei's own, even more disastrous reign on the Iron Throne. By the end of the show, [[spoiler:the only prominent Lannister remaining is Tyrion himself]].

** Tywin's life-long hared of Tyrion in general was perhaps his biggest failing - Tyrion is every bit as clever and manipulative as Tywin, and in many ways is the heir that Tywin really wanted. Instead, Tywin favored Jaime, a vain gloryhound and member of an organization that isn't allowed to carry or inherit titles.

* MachiavelliWasWrong: Tywin's character arc serves as a closer examination of the trope (and TruerToTheText of Machiavelli's political theory, too). While Tywin ticks nearly all stereotypical fictional boxes of the trope (preferring fear over any overt affection--[[FreudianExcuse seeing as shallow shows of it is what ruined his father Tytos's rule]]), he falls fatally short of an important aspect: Avoiding being ''hated'', mainly as Tywin couldn't care less if anyone likes him. With House Lannister running roughshod of nearly every significant major and minor player in the Seven Kingdoms, there was no shortage of people to band together against them--leaving the future of his House in terminal decline once he's gone and they no longer have his savvy and reputation to save them. Of course, even if he had lived, the fact that the Lannisters had long since gone broke meant it was only a matter of time before they fell.
* MakeAnExampleOfThem: One of his primary philosophies when dealing with those in his way. If ever another family, be it a vassal or a rival, defies or insults House Lannister, Tywin will brutally, and thoroughly crush them, often in visible ways. He explains this to Jaime that if other groups are allowed to slight their house without response, then it sets a precedence which they can't afford.

* ManlyMan: While not burly or brawny, Tywin makes up for it with his intensely foreboding, patriarchal presence, his powerful social status and his pursuit of traditionally manly hobbies like hunting and fishing.

* OldSoldier: Tywin has fought in at least two country-wide wars and the annihilation of rebel bannermen before that:

** He also mentions that when Jaime was young, he couldn't read because of being dyslexic, so he sat down with his son for four hours every night and struggled through the arduous process of teaching his son how to read:

** In "The Lion and the Rose", Tywin immediately rushes to shield Tommen from having to watch Joffrey's nightmarish death. In the next episode, he gives Tommen a lecture on how to be a good king. Granted that his advice is clearly self-serving (the central message being that he should listen to his advisers, which really means Tywin), the substance of his advice is good, and he delivers it in an uncharacteristically kindly, supportive, and even affectionate manner and seems genuinely proud of Tommen for understanding his teachings and his sincere desire to be a good king. In contrast to his dealings with most other people, he uses gentle guidance rather than intimidation, and reassures Tommen that he'll be a good king. Outside of his moments with Arya, it's about the only time we've seen Tywin actually act in a paternal manner.

* AffablyEvil: Shows traces of this towards Arya when she was a [[KingIncognito noble fugitive incognito]], where he drops his guard in a rare moment, and without abandoning his statesman persona, he's grandfatherly towards Tommen. Averted otherwise, as he puts on a cold, unsmiling, and stern front when dealing with everyone else, or FauxAffablyEvil to Lady Olenna and becomes openly cruel in front of his son Tyrion.

* FauxAffablyEvil: Has shades of this in his negotiations with Olenna, he puts on a polite facade but it's not enough to hide his fury over how the Tyrells tried to marry Sansa behind his back (from his perspective).

* TheSociopath: PlayedWith. Tywin certainly has the attributes of a sociopath: he lies as easily as he breathes, he has no regard for anyone who isn't Tywin Lannister, has a high opinion of himself, he's exceedingly cruel, he lacks empathy towards others, and isn't afraid to use violence to get what he wants. That said, he is capable of genuine feelings, such as his love for his wife Joanna.

* KnightTemplar: Believes anything is justified it means House Lannister can keep on top.

* LackOfEmpathy: If you wondered where Cersei and Joffrey got it from, it's Tywin. He will let the North and Riverlands be ruled by psychotic monsters if it means his family can win the war. But to be fair, the Starks started it by capturing Tyrion.

** He's also shown as HumbleRoyalty unlike his book counterpart, who would consider personally skinning a deer or fishing for his own supper, as show!Tywin does, to be be absolutely beneath him.

* AdaptationalSympathy: The scene in which Cersei angrily boasts of Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen being Jaime's children and his legacy being a lie is an invention of the show. Book!Tywin has deliberately blinded himself to any rumor or hint that his golden children are anything but that.

* AdaptationalHeroism: Tywin is given some PetTheDog moments to show a softer side whereas in the books, he never lets his guard down and considers that LoveIsWeakness:

* AdaptationalHeroism: Tywin is given some PetTheDog moments to show a softer side whereas in the books, he never lets his guard down:

* OddFriendship: With Arya Stark. The two quickly recognize each other as being the two smartest people in Harrenhal, and have personal and intellectual conversations that neither can have with anyone else at the castle. Tywin respects Arya for her fearlessness and cleverness, while Arya appreciates Tywin's intelligence and respects his dedicated to his family. Tywin even says that he enjoys Arya's company. However, this does not stop Arya from trying to assassinate Tywin, nor from Tywin leaving Arya in the care of Gregor Clegane - a notorious child rapist.

* OddFriendship: With Arya Stark. The two quickly recognize each other as being the two smartest people in Harrenhal, and have personal and intellectual conversations that neither can have with anyone else at the castle. Tywin respects Arya for her fearlessness and cleverness, while Arya appreciates Tywin's intelligence. Tywin even says that he enjoys Arya's company. However, this does not stop Arya from trying to assassinate Tywin, nor from Tywin leaving Arya in the care of Gregor Clegane - a notorious child rapist.

** In the books, Tywin (and Kevan) come up with the plan to send Tyrion to the Wall on their own, while here it takes Jaime begging for his brother's life. It is possible that this was Tywin's plan all along, and he simply seized upon the opportunity to blackmail Jaime.

** Tyrion's trial for regicide is another one. He decides to use Jaime's BigBrotherInstinct at seeing Tyrion humiliated before the court to force him to bargain leaving the Kingsguard for Casterly Rock, and at the same time force a FalseConfession from Tyrion and use that to send him to the Wall. It ''almost'' works.

!!!'''Dubbed By:''' Jorge Santos (Latin American Spanish/Season 1), Carlos del Campo (Latin American Spanish/Seasons 2-4), Tetsuo Kanao (Japanese)