Tyrion & Varys Discuss Power [HD]

After Tyrion's deception of the Small Council, he sits down with Varys who poses a riddle.

The dialogue in this scene is brilliant and the acting superb.

"It's a trick. A shadow on the wall..."

From Season 2 Episode 3 "What Is Dead May Never Die"

[floofyan]

Season 3: "A very small man can cast a very large shadow"
Season 8: "YoU dOn'T hAVe a CokC"

[dagdamor]

In the wider context, I love how Petyr Baelish was quite salty with being used in Tyrion's ploy, but Varys was appreciative and amused. Quite a good sport.

[some_metalhead]

God, Varys was so fucking awesome, Conelth Hill portrayed him perfectly, right down to the voice. The actor has even said he hates the ending and wishes Varys’s story ended better, to no one’s surprise.

[DrDress]

"Power resides where men believes it resides."

This is my favorite quote in the entire series and that's saying alot. Not only does it sounds cool, it has some serious philosophical merrit.

[TheGutsyEmpire]

Their conversations are the best. One of my main enjoyments in this show.

[willherondale]

Tyrion is right, it depends on the sellsword... Bronn would fight for the rich man, Barristan Selmy would fight for the king and Jaqen H'ghar would fight for the priest. This fits with Varys' own answer- "power resides where people think it resides." Bronn believes power lies only in gold and material wealth, Selmy believes it resides in rulers, kings and honour, and The Faceless Assassin believes it resides in the many-faced god. Therefore the only factor that determines which of the great men lives and which die is the sellsword's (and by extension the common people's) perception of power.

[elevate]

Tyrion gave an interesting answer: "depends on the sellsword." He knows that everyone is different and everyone is motivated by different things. His first instinct isn't to bank on his gold, his creed, or his family name but to find out what that specific person wants before moving forward. It's an understated answer but one I think sums him up very well.

[razakhan]

The difference in Tyrion's answer "it depends on the sellsword" and Varys's answer "Power resides where men believe it resides" is that Tyrion is saying the decision is up to the sellsword, while Varys is saying whoever can successfully make the sellsword believe it is with that person, will control their fate.

[kalaong]

"When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king."

[DaKo]

Varys is utterly thrilled about revealing that riddle to Tyrion. It's like he's been eagerly awaiting the perfect moment to share it for his whole life.

[jayhawkdave]

I love the line "Well played, my Lord Hand."

[lezard]

S1-S5 Varys: "Power resides where man believe it resides"
S8 Varys "hEy jOn sNuH LeT'S bEtRaY KeLLy C"

[guykruger]

"I've decided I don't like riddles."
One of my favourite quotes ever!

[MrBleuBeard]

love how in the books Shae is present for the conversation and claims the rich man lives. So simple yet gives great insight of her character and foreshadows her future actions beautifully.

[atholpembroke]

"Who was truly responsible for Ned Stark's death...A very small man can cast a very large shadow."
This conversation is about Littlefinger.

[sasperthehomosexual]

Then: "A very small man can cast a very large shadow"
Now: "A fInGeR iN tHe BuM?

[parkerdixon-word]

I love the poetic effort Varys put in here to pay Tyrion a compliment. You can almost see it the moment that Varys changes the subject- the statement that prompts it all is "The council has a reputation for serving past hands poorly", and Varys takes his sweet time saying it, but when you see the scene as a whole, you can tell that Varys is *very happy* with Tyrion's work, and the whole conversation is just how Varys expresses that- he likes making you think for your compliments, playing games and riddles, weaving conversations into a puzzle. It emphasizes these two's weird, trustless friendship, how they know the game they're playing, they know they cannot trust eachother, and they know any alliance or aide they give eachother is always because it serves the other's ends, and they cannot help but like eachother despite that. "I wish we could converse as two honest intelligent men" indeed.

[rahul-qmfi]

*I've decided I dont like season 8*

[tywinlannister]

Came here to wash my eyes after season 8.

[raoulhery]

High Sparrow, Tommen and Lady Tyrell sit in a room....