Was Tyrion a good hand?

[greensleeves]

He was a good hand for house Lannister, but really the best thing he could have done was leave Cersei, Joffrey, and Stannis to their games while making sure Myrcella and Tommen were safe. He should have stopped seeking the approval of certain members of his family (particularly his father) a long time ago.

[LordBloodraven]

Probably because he sneakily arranged Mycella's marriage without telling her?

It wasn't "sneakily arranged". Cersei was told and she flipped out.

[danm_999]

Probably because he sneakily arranged Mycella's marriage without telling her?

Tyrion told Cersei about that though.

The only point at which he held the information from here was when he wanted to find out who was informing her.

[David Selig]

Because he didn't trust Gyles Rosby to defend Tommen if worst came to worst and Stannis took King's Landing, so he sent Jacelyn Bywater considering him a more reliable and courageous man.

Except that Bywater fought at the Blackwater battle, which means Tommen was under the control of random goldcloacks who were more likely to sell him out to Stannis than Lord Rosby.

No, the reason Tyrion did it was simply to spite Cersei and have a hostage to use against her.

[Winter's Knight]

It wasn't "sneakily arranged". Cersei was told and she flipped out.

Tyrion told Cersei about that though.

The only point at which he held the information from here was when he wanted to find out who was informing her.

He didn't tell her. She found out from Pycelle and confronted him.

Really his actions were downright petty at times-such as his keeping the chain a secret or consigning Pycelle to the Black Cells.

[Evamitchelle]

It wasn't "sneakily arranged". Cersei was told and she flipped out.

Yes she was told, but only after Tyrion had already sent the proposal to Doran, thus making her powerless to stop it if she wished to (she did).

[LordBloodraven]

He didn't tell her. She found out from Pycelle and confronted him.

Really his actions were downright petty at times-such as his keeping the chain a secret or consigning Pycelle to the Black Cells.

When Pycelle told Cersei, the negociations weren't even started. Tywin wanted to know which one was ratting to Cersei and it was Pycelle. Those he trusted were informed about the battle preparations

[danm_999]

Except that Bywater fought at the Blackwater battle, which means Tommen was under the control of random goldcloacks who were more likely to sell him out to Stannis than Lord Rosby.

No, the reason Tyrion did it was simply to spite Cersei and have a hostage to use against her.

That's not Tyrion's estimation though, nor does spite come across as his motive. Here's his POV:

At Rosby, Tommen would be safe from the mob, and keeping him apart from his brother also made things more difficult for Stannis; even if he took King’s Landing and executed Joffrey, he’d still have a Lannister claimant to contend with. “Lord Gyles is too sickly to run and too craven to fight. He’ll command his castellan to open the gates. Once inside the walls, Bywater is to expel the garrison and hold Tommen there safe.

Ask him how he likes the sound of Lord Bywater.”

“Lord Bronn would sound better. I could grab the boy for you just as well. I’ll dandle him on my knee and sing him nursery songs if there’s

a lordship in it.”

“I need you here,” said Tyrion. And I don’t trust you with my nephew. Should any ill befall Joffrey, the Lannister claim to the Iron Throne would rest on Tommen’s young shoulders. Ser Jacelyn’s gold cloaks would defend the boy; Bronn’s sellswords were more apt to sell him to his enemies.

Maybe the Gold Cloaks would have betrayed Tommen, but that's not what Tyrion thought. Notice how he also doesn't think about sticking it to Cersei.

[Lady Hodor]

He was a good Hand in the sense he was wise and cunning and knew what was right,

But in context of helping the King and Queen and court, he didn't really obey or give a damn for them.

Which you can't condemn, Joffrey was an ass.

[danm_999]

He didn't tell her. She found out from Pycelle and confronted him.

He wanted her to find out. That was the whole point of his plan.

He had to find out who was feeding her information, and then proceed with that plan as though it was his only plan all along.

Really his actions were downright petty at times-such as his keeping the chain a secret or consigning Pycelle to the Black Cells.

His father directly commanded him to put the heads of anybody who defied him on spikes, and named Pycelle as one such he might have to. The fact he didn't have him killed is a credit.

As to the chain, why is it petty he kept that hidden? It's a military secret; why does he have to share it with someone not involved in the planning for the battle?

[Batman]

Well I guess he could. But Why? Baelish has diplomatic skills and a honeyed tongue and proved himself useful to House Lannister. I don't see why he should kill Varys at the start of ACOK except having served Aerys. But the threat was still there.

Why? Because they are untrustworthy and threats to him and house Lannister. As hand you should eliminate threats to your power. Tyrion saw them as threats and did nothing. Is there no one else with the diplomatic skill to bring the Tyrells to the Lannisters cause? How hard a sell is it when you are offering council positions, kingsguard spot and marriage alliance to the king? A retarded monkey should be able to make that sell.

[Winter's Knight]

He wanted her to find out. That was the whole point of his plan.

He had to find out who was feeding her information, and then proceed with that plan as though it was his only plan all along.

His father directly commanded him to put the heads of anybody who defied him on spikes, and named Pycelle as one such he might have to. The fact he didn't have him killed is a credit.

As to the chain, why is it petty he kept that hidden? It's a military secret; why does he have to share it with someone not involved in the planning for the battle?

Like the Queen Regent?

All he discovered about Pycelle was that he was working for Cerse and thus under Lannister influence. His father sent him to find out who on the Council was acting against their interest.

[danm_999]

Like the Queen Regent?

The Queen Regent is not involved in planning for the battle though. Just like Tyrion wasn't told about the Red Wedding because he had no part to play in it.

All he discovered about Pycelle was that he was working for Cerse and thus under Lannister influence. His father sent him to find out who on the Council was acting against their interest.

Cersei's influence was exactly what Tywin sent him to combat, because obviously under Cersei things were being run poorly. Under Cersei Ned Stark was killed, and Barristan Selmy was dismissed. Under Cersei, Joffrey was reigning mad, and Lannisters were in danger. Tywin charged Tyrion to rule in King's Landing and minimise Cersei's influence, which means removing her cronies.

[LordBloodraven]

Why? Because they are untrustworthy and threats to him and house Lannister. As hand you should eliminate threats to your power. Tyrion saw them as threats and did nothing. Is there no one else with the diplomatic skill to bring the Tyrells to the Lannisters cause? How hard a sell is it when you are offering council positions, kingsguard spot and marriage alliance to the king? A retarded monkey should be able to make that sell.

At that moment, they weren't threats to House Lannister. It's only after ASOS that we knew how much dangerous they were. They helped House Lannister kill Ned Stark; Tyrion saw them as untrustworthy and sly but not threats

[Lord Damian]

Tyrion was a good hand for an unjust cause. People forget Tyrion was a conspirator to treason because he knew/knows about Cersie's kids being bastards. He knows that Stannis is the legit king but fights against him to keep his bastard nephew on the thone. I do like Tyrion in some ways but that should not wipe away the fact of his Lannister usurpation conspiring.

[LordBloodraven]

Like the Queen Regent?

All he discovered about Pycelle was that he was working for Cerse and thus under Lannister influence. His father sent him to find out who on the Council was acting against their interest.

His father sent him because thought that Cersei and the Small Council were making blunders, such as Ned Stark's decapitation. Head, spikes, Wall, for all those that he suspected of treachery. Pycelle was working for Cersei, not House Lannister. And the interests of House Lannister was to ally with Dorne and the the Reach, not to flip out because you didn't want your daughter--a medieval princess-- to be sold as a cow to a stranger

[Batman]

At that moment, they weren't threats to House Lannister. It's only after ASOS that we knew how much dangerous they were. They helped House Lannister kill Ned Stark; Tyrion saw them as untrustworthy and sly but not threats

They were always threats, Baelish had no problem helping the Starks as long as he prospered. Baelish does whatever it takes to make sure he suceeds. If that means working for or against the Lannisters it makes no difference.

Varys has been working towards something for a long time. It is not clear what it is but it sure as hell isnt in the best interest of house Lannister. Even if Tyrion has no idea what he is really working towards, he should not have allowed a spider who served three different houses to live.

[StoneBastard]

I think Tyrion is one of the most capable men in the series. He knows his limitations and does not try to do everything himself. He finds malleable individuals to help out. His downfall was his sister and nephew. He gave them too much leeway, although he was in a difficult situation. As Hand, he did have a major role in the Battle of the Blackwater. The chain was genius, the wildfire was risky and eventually cost more than was wanted in the end, but it did the trick nevertheless. Maybe I am biased because Tyrion is one of my favorite characters?

[David Selig]

His father directly commanded him to put the heads of anybody who defied him on spikes, and named Pycelle as one such he might have to. The fact he didn't have him killed is a credit.

No, his father told Tyrion " And if these councillors are playing us false …"

Pycelle was a Lannister man through and through. Yes, he told Cersei about Tyrion, as he was supposed to do, since she was the Queen Regent and a Lannister. Not to mention that Tyrion never told him it's supposed to keep it secret from her.

[Winter's Knight]

The Queen Regent is not involved in planning for the battle though. Just like Tyrion wasn't told about the Red Wedding because he had no part to play in it.

Cersei was involved in planning for the war:

“She is taking steps to restore the king’s peace,” Vylarr assured him. “Lord Slynt has tripled the size of the City Watch, and the queen has put a thousand craftsmen to work on our defenses. The stonemasons are strengthening the walls, carpenters are building scorpions and catapults by the hundred, fletchers are making arrows, the smiths are forging blades, and the Alchemists’ Guild has pledged ten thousand jars of wildfire.”

Cersei's influence was exactly what Tywin sent him to combat, because obviously under Cersei things were being run poorly. Under Cersei Ned Stark was killed, and Barristan Selmy was dismissed. Under Cersei, Joffrey was reigning mad, and Lannisters were in danger. Tywin charged Tyrion to rule in King's Landing and minimise Cersei's influence, which means removing her cronies.

And Joff was so much better under Tyrion, yes?

Antagonising her was the worst possible way to control any damage she may have caused, especially when she straight out told Tyrion at their first meeting that she couldn't control Joff and agreed to him trying.