Is it just me, or does Tywin appear rather lazy between wars?

[Victor Newman]

Tywin had more important things to do.  Mine more gold.  

Robert already chose Jon Arryn to be his hand.  There was no room for Tywin in KL.  Let history blame the economic disaster on Robert and Jon.  He wanted no part of it.  

[Trigger Warning]

He's the former Hand of the King, lurking about King's Landing whilst John Arryn's holds that office would be embarrassing. Not to mention he has his affairs in the West to manage. 

[LucionLannister]

I don't think he was "lazy", more he just lacked opportunity. 

Robert really didn't need, or want, him around. Robert had other men (Jon Arryn, Stannis Baratheon, Eddard Stark) to serve him. Why would he want Tywin? They clearly didn't care for each other, and Robert probably thought he had enough golden haired little shits hanging around.

And it's not like Tywin is sitting in Casterly Rock watching daytime TV. He (like other great lords) is basically running a pseudo-kingdom.

He also probably has plenty of indirect influence over the kingdom from Casterly Rock. We know his daughter, Queen Cersei, is pretty good at hen-pecking Robert into doing what she (i.e., Tywin) wants. Pycelle is also probably working to advance Tywin's national aims. And Tywin is the chief domestic financial backer of the crown, which gives him a lot of leverage.

[FictionIsntReal]

One thing to keep in mind is that Tywin sacked King's Landing after coming in on a banner of peace (rather than requesting the surrender of the city and then giving no quarter on refusal). He's understandably going to be somewhat unpopular there. He made a bold decision to cement his allegiance to the new regime (to which he had previously not been any sort of ally) and wound up with his daughter as queen for it, but I think he knew there would be tradeoffs and was willing to accept them.

[acwill07]

On 11/19/2018 at 12:04 PM, John Suburbs said:

What would you rather he did? Joffrey is in King's Landing with his mother and father while Tywin is occupying his seat some 800 leagues away. How is he supposed to guide Joffrey's upbringing? Robert makes the decision on when, where and whether Joff is to be fostered, and Robert (and probably Cersei as well) chose to keep him in KL. How is the Warden of the West supposed to overrule that decision?

Tywin has no position at Robert's court. In what way is he supposed manage the crown's affairs? 

Also, Sansa's beating were not for Joffrey's entertainment, although he did get some satisfaction out of it. It was a message to the realm, and particularly to houses that might be considering joining Robb's cause, that the crown will prevail in the end despite the recent setbacks in the Riverlands.

Your final paragraph is wrong.  Sansa's beating ABSOLUTELY were for Joffrey's entertainment.  He wasn't trying to send a message to anyone in the realm, he was punishing Sansa for her brother winning battles because he was a pussy and couldn't punish Robb Stark himself.  Joffrey was sadistic, and he definitely enjoyed Sansa's beatings.

[The WolfSpider]

2 hours ago, acwill07 said:

Your final paragraph is wrong.  Sansa's beating ABSOLUTELY were for Joffrey's entertainment.  He wasn't trying to send a message to anyone in the realm, he was punishing Sansa for her brother winning battles because he was a pussy and couldn't punish Robb Stark himself.  Joffrey was sadistic, and he definitely enjoyed Sansa's beatings.

Absolutely. Beating a 13 year old girl, or rather having someone more manly do it for you, intimidates no one.  Quite the opposite.

[John Suburbs]

3 hours ago, acwill07 said:

Your final paragraph is wrong.  Sansa's beating ABSOLUTELY were for Joffrey's entertainment.  He wasn't trying to send a message to anyone in the realm, he was punishing Sansa for her brother winning battles because he was a pussy and couldn't punish Robb Stark himself.  Joffrey was sadistic, and he definitely enjoyed Sansa's beatings.

Sorry, no. Did Joffrey enjoy the spectacle of Sansa stripped and beaten? Absolutely. But the broader intent was to show the realm that the crown will ultimately prevail over the rebels, so any lord who might be thinking about joining their cause should think again. Otherwise he wouldn't have bothered to do it out in public where Tyrion or anyone else could put a stop to it. This was a public show intended to send a message to the realm that the crown is still fully in control of the situation.

[Lion of the West]

If Tywin had been lazy between the wars he certainly would not have the capacity to fight the War of Five Kings and we would probably have heard or misrule or lacking Lannister control over the West. So for what we can say he kept himself busy with running the West.

[the trees have eyes]

1 hour ago, John Suburbs said:

Sorry, no. Did Joffrey enjoy the spectacle of Sansa stripped and beaten? Absolutely. But the broader intent was to show the realm that the crown will ultimately prevail over the rebels, so any lord who might be thinking about joining their cause should think again. Otherwise he wouldn't have bothered to do it out in public where Tyrion or anyone else could put a stop to it. This was a public show intended to send a message to the realm that the crown is still fully in control of the situation.

Nope.  It was about revenge for her having seen him humiliated on the Trident by Arya and Nymeria and about him enjoying what power he is able to in his minority.  Cersei could put a top to it if she wanted (Tyrion does) but she rather enjoys it too.  It's not a political message, executing Ned was a political message.  Beating Sansa happens for the same reason the kitchen cats get shot by crossbow-wielding Joff or for the same reason he dug his swordpoint into Mycah's cheek: he enjoys power over others.

[John Suburbs]

1 hour ago, the trees have eyes said:

Nope.  It was about revenge for her having seen him humiliated on the Trident by Arya and Nymeria and about him enjoying what power he is able to in his minority.  Cersei could put a top to it if she wanted (Tyrion does) but she rather enjoys it too.  It's not a political message, executing Ned was a political message.  Beating Sansa happens for the same reason the kitchen cats get shot by crossbow-wielding Joff or for the same reason he dug his swordpoint into Mycah's cheek: he enjoys power over others.

Sorry, but no. I understand there is a lot off Joffrey-hate in the fandom, but this beating at least had an ulterior motive:

Quote

"Kneeling won't save you now," the king said. "Stand up. You're here to answer for your brother's latest treasons."

He brings up the Trident a few moments later, but there is no reason to do any of this publicly if all he wants is simple revenge. He's already had her beaten any number of times, so why would this one suddenly be about the Trident and nothing else?

All of this was done out in public, in front of numerous high lords and ladies. That means riders and ravens will fly, the tale will spread and the entire realm will hear about it soon. The message is unmistakable: break faith with the crown and your house will suffer.

[UnFit Finlay]

One thing we know about Tywin is that he was a very very proud man.

He'd have happily served Robert, if Robert had asked. He wasn't going to beg or scheme for a position though. Particularly since only "lesser" positions" were available.

Plus I'm certain he knew what kind of King Robert would be, that Robert would delight in humiliating him at every opportunity and that Tywin would have absolutely no option but to suffer it. I mean, really, what could he do? Robert was the only ally he had at that point, and really the only person keeping House Lannister from being destroyed.

It was far smarter to just keep out of the way.

On 11/29/2018 at 5:25 PM, the trees have eyes said:

Nope.  It was about revenge for her having seen him humiliated on the Trident by Arya and Nymeria and about him enjoying what power he is able to in his minority.  Cersei could put a top to it if she wanted (Tyrion does) but she rather enjoys it too.  It's not a political message, executing Ned was a political message.  Beating Sansa happens for the same reason the kitchen cats get shot by crossbow-wielding Joff or for the same reason he dug his swordpoint into Mycah's cheek: he enjoys power over others.

Cersei didn't know about it at that point. When Boros threatens to go to her during the confrontation, Tyrion calls his bluff and asks Joffrey if they should send for her. Joff flushes and says nothing. He clearly didn't want her to find out. Cersei was also the one who told him not to beat her, which is why he gets his Kingsguard to do it in the first place.

But, yes, I agree. Joffrey was just a bully and an abuser. How can he have wanted to "send a message to the realm" if he didn't even want his Mother to find out? Then there's all the other abuse, most of which was private, and the threats after the war was won. Where was the political message in cheerfully telling her was going to rape her?