Game of Thrones‘ Peter Dinklage Muses How the HBO Series Will End for Tyrion: ‘Death Can Be a Great Way Out’
Let’s get one thing clearer than a glass goblet of Arbor Gold: Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage isn’t necessarily saying that Tyrion Lannister does die in the HBO drama’s upcoming eighth and final season. He’s just saying that there are worse ways to wrap an epic television adventure.
In a detailed Q&A with Vulture‘s David Marchese that covers many topics, including Dinklage’s HBO movie My Dinner With Hervé, the actor is asked how he feels about where the Hand of the Queen winds up by the end of Thrones‘ series’ finale.
“I feel very, very — I’m trying to find the right word. I think he was given a very good conclusion,” Dinklage tells the site. “No matter what that is — death can be a great way out.” (For what it’s worth, Marchese notes that he did not feel that the actor’s comments were meant to suggest that Tyrion dies by the show’s end, “but rather his attempt to leave open the possibility that the character might meet that fate.”)
Dinklage also reflects on his alter ego’s growth since the series’ premiere. Longtime viewers will remember that when we met Tyrion, he was a drinking, whoring layabout. Whereas heading into Season 8 — which won’t air until 2019 — he’s a drinking, sage-advice-giving member of Daenerys’ inner circle.
“He certainly developed a deeper sense of responsibility over the course of the show. He was a pretty irresponsible character to begin with. He used his position as the outcast of his family like an adolescent would,” Dinklage says. “The beauty of Tyrion is that he grew out of that mode in a couple of seasons and developed a strong sense of responsibility. Not morality, because he always had that, but what to do with his intelligence.”
In September, Dinklage’s on-screen brother Nikolaj Coster-Waldau hailed the fact that their characters — along with fictional sibling Cersei (played by Lena Hedey) — had survived at least to the start of the fantasy epic’s final run.
“God, every time we got a new script I thought, ‘OK, this is probably going to be the one.’ But no,” Coster-Waldau said at the time. “The Lannister kids made it to the end.”
I had a feeling about this. I have three mini-figurines on my office desk of Tyrion, Dany, and Jon, and for some reason Tyrion keeps falling over. I’ve taken it as a sign that his days are numbered.
Jon falls over sometimes, but not a lot. He can go either way. Dany is safe for sure according to these figurines.
I know this is a great joke, but it reminds me how I am deeply concerned with how Dany will react to learning she’s not the Targaryen heir to the throne, after all. She may be good, but she has always been good knowing she is the queen. She’s still a Targaryen who didn’t have Ned’s influence to guide her, but rather her awful brother. Would Tyrion try to get in the way of her attempt at righting the world as she has seen it since s1, and die protecting John?
My bet is that Tyrion will be save. Just like Jon Snow. I think Dany will sacrifice herself in the end (aswell as her dragons!). Bran will also be a goner (besides being unmasked as being the The Night King), just like Cersei. There are several players I’m expecting to survive and most of them will team up in the end to create some sort of council. Sansa (for the Starks), Jon Snow (for the Targaryen), Jaimie (for the Lannisters), Tyrion (for….uhm…being important in general – not just one family?), and maybe 1-2 more. There won’t be just one king or queen on the Iron Throne imo. Arya will most likely survive, but I don’t think she wants to be included in the politics.
I’ve always felt Tyrion would be the one of the main three to live. Dany’s had her prophecy of seeing Drogo again following her since the beginning. She is supposed to see him after her womb “quickens” again. So spec has =been she dies in childbirth. Jon dies taking out the night king. Bringing an end to a song of ice and fire. Of course Dany will have a wee little one who will be raised not just by one house but it would make all of westeros have interest in the well being of the child.
I’m going to cry so hard once this is over