Long, long ago, Tyrion earned Jon’s trust when neither of them wielded anything close to the power they now wield, and Tyrion hasn’t let that personal relationship fall away. That’s where Samwell Tarly-described by Jon, significantly, as 'a man I trust as much as anyone in this world'-says he can find all the dragonglass he needs.īut the clincher for Jon's journey to Dragonstone is the letter he receives from Tyrion himself, who invites Jon to come meet Daenerys Targaryen. Jon, seeking dragonglass to fight the White Walkers, already had his eye on Dragonstone.

It’s an opinion shared by Jon Snow, who formed an unlikely bond with Tyrion all the way back in the first season, when he was a fresh recruit at the Wall. The truly lasting alliances have been formed on real, human connections. Even Sansa, who has openly advocating for letting the sins of the father pass on to the child, is forced to concede that Tyrion was always good to her, and can’t be painted with the same brush as the rest of the Lannisters.Īll the elaborate schemes in Game of Thrones-massive battles, political marriages, et al.-have ultimately failed. Since then, he has been (falsely) slandered by his sister, who happens to be the queen correctly labeled a drunk and a lech for most of his adult life and essentially exiled after murdering his own father, which happens to be one of the most inviolate taboos in Westeros.īut Tyrion’s innate goodness is yielding unexpected benefits when he needs it most. It started at birth, when he was rejected by both his family and by society as a whole for his stature.

That is, with one unlikely exception: Tyrion Lannister, who has personally overcome tremendous odds to rise to his position as Queen’s Hand to Daenerys. He even gets in a separate dig about the Lannisters’ role in the Red Wedding: 'We don’t stab our rivals in the back or cut their throats at weddings.' Tywin Lannister may have defeated Robb Stark in the moment, but that story will haunt the Lannisters forever. When Jaime asks Randyll Tarly to sign on as a general in the upcoming war, Randyll replies by citing his own extended history with Olenna Tyrell, whom he’s reluctant to betray. By killing Margaery and Loras Tyrell, Cersei hasn’t just lost her greatest army she’s driven it into the hands of her own greatest rival for the throne. (I’m loath to be one of those annoying writers who draws parallels Game of Thrones and modern politics, but damn, does this episode seem to be inviting the comparison.)īut having grabbed power via ruthlessness, the Lannisters are belatedly learning the cost of it. Westeros is governed by tradition and insularity, and this 'foreign queen' with a 'foreign army' makes an easy scapegoat for the realm's problems. And under different circumstances, that might be enough.

Game of thrones season 2 episode 2