A Big Job for Big Man?
November 23, 2009 by Jon Hunter · 3 Comments
Of all the parts in game of Thrones I think the role of Tyrion Lannister is both the most important and the most difficult.
The most important as he is the most popular character, in my opinion the best written character in ‘A Game of Thrones’ and probably the character who I think sets the tone of the books.
The most difficult as I am not aware of an other mainstream film or TV shows which centers around has heroic or anti heroic character which is played by someone who is ……. How do you say this nicely? A little on the short side, ….. oh stuff it a dwarf.
Now I am not saying it is correct, nice, justified or in any way fair, but the fact of the matter is characters Peter Dinklage’s size have usually been kept as comedy relief in ensemble pieces of work, out and out comedy characters in comedy films or weird freaks placed on screen to make us feel discomfort, and disoriented in horror.
In Tyrion Lannister we have a real three dimensional character, not a caricature. He is the closest thing Game of Thrones has to a central anti hero character, he is the classic ‘good bad guy’, or is that the ‘bad good guy’. We are expected to deal with his sexuality without laughs, guwaffs or titters at the mention of the words ‘dwarf ‘and ‘sex’ in the same sentence. Let’s face in being a dwarf Tyrion Lannister becomes a genre breaking character.
Historically Bigotry has been broken down by bold and brave individuals who have performed, and succeeded in there chosen field. One thinks of Jesse Owens in Munich, demolishing the myth of the master race, not by politics, or politically statements, just by running faster than anyone else. He could run, he ran, he demolished an evil lie and embarrassed the liar.
No I would not assume that the treatment short people get is the equivalent of Nazi Germany, but im sure it’s uncomfortable. I would also assume as a dwarf actor you get sick of the slightly insulting cliché roles you are offered. Peter has a chance in this role to truly humanise dwarf characters, to have them seen as competent and capable people, to have a dwarf as an a hero(anti hero), not a comedy side kick.
Is it a big ask for a big man? Not really Peter is an actor all he has to do is act. If he is good, the role has been written in such a way that it could redefine the way short guys are seen in cinema and TV. If he is bad the role is so genre breaking it could make the whole show tank if done badly.
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Hey Jon.
Let me just say that this is one of the most insightful articles on the Game of Thrones HBO project to date. Those (like me) who have been avid fans of the books for years may have been missing what will be one of the most crucial factors if this series is picked up–and that is what you point out here.
I suspect that Peter Dinklage, around two years from now, will be on every talk-show and late-night show you can imagine as a guest discussing this very dynamic you mention. Because of this remarkable role and Dinklage’s acting chops he may be seen as a “Sindey Portier” kind of ground-breaker.
Of course, the final credit for that will not go merely to Dinklage, but to all those involved in putting it on screen (and putting an ACTUAL little person in the role, rather than using movie magic) and most of all to Martin who started it all by crafting the most 3-dimensional portrait of a little person since JRRTolkein did it with Frodo.
You make a big deal out of Peter Dinklage being a dwarf (even though the role he is playing is that of a dwarf), but it seems obvious you haven’t watched many of his previous performances. He’s a terrifically talented actor, and perfect for the role of Tyrion. When I read the books, I couldn’t see anybody in that character but him, and it has little to do with his size.
@rebeccaH
I think you misunderstood, I have no issue with Peter in the role at all, my comment is that it is a a ground breaking roll within mainstream TV and it needs to be acted well because of that fact. I can’t think of anyone other than Peter better suited to do it.
I also hope that they are making the change to books and will allows Peter to act naturally, not under a large amount of prosthetics the classic apperance of Tyrion would require. I think the role will be hard enough to do without that limitation.