Tyrion Lannister’s trial inGame of Thronesseason 4 is among the tensest storylines of the entire series, and for a while, it really seems like Tywin is willing to let his youngest son be executed. He doesn’t intervene when Cersei tells the Kingsguard toarrest Tyrion for Joffrey’s murder. He also offers no assurances to Tyrion as he sits in a prison cell; in fact, he doesn’t visit him at all. Tywin makes no secret of his hostile feelings towards Tyrion throughoutGame of Thrones,but he also places practicality and the family reputation above all else.
This makes it incredibly hard to tell what Tywin is thinking during and after Joffrey’s death, and he walks a very fine line when it comes to the entire situation. He’s clearly relieved to have an easier king to work with, but he can’t let the death of his grandson go unpunished. There’s no confirmation about whether he believes Tyrion killed Joffrey, but he’s willing to let his son take the fall for the crime.Whether he would actually see Tyrion killed remains unclear, as nothing aboutTyrion’s trial and sentencegoes as intended.
Tywin’s Original Plan Was To Send Tyrion To The Wall, Not To Actually Kill Him
This Likely Would Have Killed Him Anyway, But Without Directly Involving Tywin
Although Tywin barely reacts to Tyrion’s arrest inGame of Thronesseason 4,he insists that he never planned for him to be executed— and this seems to be the truth, at least initially. Hedoesagree to Jaime’s arrangement while Tyrion is on trial, and it’s possible that Tywin knew he could manipulate Jaime in this way. He’s clever when it comes to maneuvering other people, and he likely suspected Jaime would plead for Tyrion’s life, giving him the leverage to force Jaime out of the Kingsguard and back to Casterly Rock.
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This could be why he made no move to give Tyrion an easier sentence beforehand, though it’s possible he’d still have spared Tyrion’s life after the trial. He certainly seems to want Tyrion declared guilty — the thorough and brutal questioning throughout the trial proves as much — but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s committed to executing him. He’s quick to agree to send Tyrion to the Night’s Watch when Jaime bargains with him, hinting that he’d planned to do something like this all along. And it makes sense, asthis outcome still gives Tywin everything he wants.
Why Tywin Wants Tyrion To Go To The Night’s Watch In Game Of Thrones Season 4
He Doesn’t Want His Youngest Son To Inherit Or Represent The Lannister Family
Tyrion going to the Night’s Watch is the ideal scenario for Tywin Lannister, as it allows him to get rid of the son he detests and prop Jaime up as his heir. He’d do anything to achieve the latter, so he certainly would have kept his word after striking a deal with Jaime. But even without Jaime’s plea, having Tyrion executed would tarnish the Lannister legacy further. While the failure to prevent Joffrey’s poisoning is already a blemish on the family, continuing the in-fighting and killing one of their own would prove another failure.
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Sending Tyrion to the Wall gives Tywin the chance to preserve the Lannister reputation while ensuring that Tyrion can no longer benefit from the family name.Tyrion becoming a sworn brother of the Night’s Watch means he can’t inherit land— barring him from ever coming for Casterly Rock — and that he isn’t entitled to other inheritances, marriage, or children. As Tywin views Tyrion as lesser than the other Lannisters and is humiliated by him, he’s eager to have him out of the picture. He just doesn’t want to publicly get his hands dirty or embarass the family further.
And going to the Wall would likely kill Tyrion anyway, but the other Lannisters wouldn’t be directly involved.
And going to the Wall would likely kill Tyrion anyway, but the other Lannisters wouldn’t be directly involved.Tywin’s reasons for not wanting Tyrion dead come down to public image and pride, not genuine affection. They’re the same reasons he didn’t kill Tyrion as a baby or allow Catelyn Stark to imprison him without fanfare. However, that doesn’t mean Tywin wouldn’t let Tyrion naturally meet his end. He seemed relieved by Joffrey’s death, and he’d likely be fine with the convenience of Tyrion’s as well.
Tyrion’s Trial By Combat Messed Up Tywin’s Plan & Forced His Hand
Tyrion’s Demand Complicated Things
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what Tywin’s original plan for Tyrion was, ashis demand for a trial by combat threw a wrench into any behind-the-scenes maneuvering. Even when Tyrion found out that Tywin was planning to send him to the Wall, the pain and humiliation of his trial proved too overwhelming to go along with it. Tyrion clearly didn’t trust that his father would keep up his end of the bargain either, as he notedafter Shae’s betrayal, “I know I’ll get no justice here, so I will let the gods decide.”
Perhaps this should be a hint that Tywin would have allowed Tyrion’s execution, but I don’t think he would have risked losing Jaime as his heir.
Perhaps this should be a hint that Tywin would have allowed Tyrion’s execution, but I don’t think he would have risked losing Jaime as his heir. Had Tyrion gone along with his initial trial and sentencing, it would have made far more sense for Tywin to send him to the Night’s Watch, regardless of Cersei’s inevitable protests.And if Tywin’s words can be taken at face value, he might have still let Tyrion live, even after Oberyn lost to the Mountain. But Tyrion escapes a life at the Wall and execution by killing his father and fleeing.
What Would Have Happened If Tyrion Hadn’t Killed His Father & Escaped King’s Landing
He Might Have Gone To The Wall & Game Of Thrones Would Play Out Differently
It’s hard to say what would have happened to Tyrion if he hadn’t killed Tywin and escaped King’s Landing at the end ofGame of Thronesseason 4 — though many of the series' storylines would have played out very differently. When Tyrion confronts Tywin, his father tells him that he didn’t need to worry about being executed. While this could be chalked up to having a crossbow aimed at him, Tywin never actually seems concerned that Tyrion will use it, and he’s shocked when he actually does. So, once again, it appears he’s being honest.
Tyrion Lannister Burned Down Winterfell In George R.R. Martin’s Original Game Of Thrones Plan, Then Killed Joffrey & Joined The Starks
Tyrion Lannister is one of Game of Thrones' best and most popular characters, but the original A Song of Ice and Fire plan for him was very different.
If Tyrion had taken him up on his offer to talk, it’s possible he could have negotiated himself out of a death sentence. But he still probably would have ended up at the Wall, and as Tyrion isn’t much of a fighter, that could have had the same result. Meanwhile, the Lannisters wouldn’t have fallen apart as easily in the later seasons ofGame of Thrones, and Daenerys might not have made it to Westeros. Tyrion killing Tywin is a huge turning point of the story, and sending him North and leaving the Lannister patriach alive totally changes its shape.
