In Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister spends much of the show as one of the most despised people in Westeros. Being a Lannister with dwarfism in a continent where most people are prejudiced against the disabled, and half of them hate Lannisters, people tend to think the worst of him, even before they meet him.
Nonetheless, Tyrion is able to win over some of Game of Thrones' key players in the world of politics, and once he grows close to people, his witticisms and competence often win them over. As a result, despite contempt from many of the people in his life, he also has a number of friends of varying closeness.
9 Davos & Tyrion Work Well, But Keep A Distance
As the closest advisors to Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, Tyrion and Davos Seaworth spend a fair portion of Seasons 7 and 8 together, whether they're advising their respective leaders, or discussing together the prospects of their alliance. They even fall into each other's company the night before the Battle of Winterfell, sharing a drink.
Despite respect for each other, and even taking time to crack jokes, there is nonetheless a distance between the two, primarily as a result of the Battle of the Blackwater. They led opposite sides in that battle, with Tyrion laying the wildfire trap that killed Davos' son.
8 Jeor Mormont Pays Tyrion Immense Respect, Briefly
Tyrion's very first plotline in the series sees him join Jon Snow and Benjen Stark's journey to the Wall, not to take the Black, but simply to see the greatest structure in the world. When they arrive, Tyrion is treated as a Watch's honored guest, taking his meals with the senior leadership, including Lord Commander Jeor Mormont.
Used to leading those overlooked in society, Mormont is able to recognize Tyrion's genius and is one of the first characters in the series to pay him respect. Although they know each other briefly, they continue to hold each other in regard, and Tyrion is sad to hear of Mormont's violent death.
7 Tyrion & Sansa Bond Under Terrible Circumstances
Tyrion is one of the few allies that Sansa Stark has at court once he arrives, with him forcibly reining in her fiancée and his nephew's worst behavior towards her, and insisting that her safety is a priority. Whilst this is partly out of compassion, it is also because he knows Jaime's survival depends on Sansa's when his brother is a prisoner of the Starks.
Sansa is unable to trust Tyrion due to his Lannister allegiance and the culture of mistrust and spying in King's Landing, and the lowest moments of the two come when they are forcibly married. Despite the lack of love in their marriage, some fondness develops, and the two clearly mean a bit to each other when they are reunited in Winterfell.
6 Podrick Payne Is A Loyal Squire
Although his best-known attachment in the series is as the squire to Brienne of Tarth, Podrick Payne enters Game of Thrones' narrative when he is given to Tyrion Lannister as a squire, and the two spend the better part of three seasons together.
Although Tyrion sometimes expresses irritation with Podrick and initially views the boy as a liability, they come to have affection and respect, with Podrick notably saving Tyrion's life on the Blackwater. When Tyrion is arrested, Jaime has Podrick taken from the city as a favor to his brother, knowing of their closeness.
5 Bronn Is More Than A Bodyguard, Less Than An Ally
Tyrion's most notable retainer during his time in King's Landing is Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, a sellsword who attaches himself to Tyrion by defending him in a trial by combat, before coming to be his chief bodyguard and most dependable henchman.
Although their relationship is professional, and Bronn makes it clear that he will leave Tyrion if he gets a better offer, their mutually witty personalities lead to them enjoying one another's company. They admit their regard before the Blackwater, and Bronn sincerely regrets refusing to defend Tyrion a second time against the Mountain. However, Bronn makes good on his lack of loyalty when he accepts an offer to kill Tyrion, and uses it as blackmail for Highgarden.
4 Jon Snow & Tyrion Have An Odd Friendship
A notable trait of Tyrion's is a lack of prejudice in who he forms friendships with. Despite the decades-long emnity between Lannisters and Starks, and the initially frosty treatment Jon Snow gives more or less everyone, Tyrion nonetheless grows close to him over the course of their travels to the Wall.
Although they initially only spend a few weeks together, Tyrion manages to impart many points of wisdom to Jon, and helps him fit in with his brothers in the Watch. They later resume their friendship as Daenerys' allies, continuing to work together well. They're close enough that Jon is who Tyrion turns to when he is imprisoned, and knows Daenerys needs to die.
3 Tyrion & Varys Were Close, But Not Enough To Save Him
Tyrion and Varys are another odd friendship in Game of Thrones, coming to warily respect one another with their largely-complementary machinations in King's Landing, while admitting openly that they cannot trust one another and might need the other killed.
Nonetheless, they are often found in one another's company, offer each other help, and Varys is one of Tyrion's few allies after he is accused of killing Joffrey, spiriting him out of King's Landing to safety. Despite this, Tyrion still reveals Varys's treachery to Daenerys, having him executed, although he clearly struggles to do so.
2 Tyrion Openly Loves Daenerys
Tyrion arrives in the court of Daenerys Targaryen a prisoner, shackled and facing likely execution as a member of the family who overthrew Daenerys' family and had her relatives killed. By the end of a short conversation, he has earned his freedom and earned Daenerys' regard, with her later making him Hand of the Queen.
The two develop a very close friendship, with Tyrion becoming one of her most trusted advisors and someone who amuses her. He also falls in love with her, although never admitting his feelings. As a result, it breaks Tyrion's heart to tell Jon that Daenerys is planning a brutal conquest of the world, and needs to be stopped.
1 Jaime Is Tyrion's Brother & Oldest Friend
Before the events of Game of Thrones, Tyrion had one single friend, who was similarly despised by most in Westeros: his brother, Ser Jaime Lannister. Of all of his relatives, Jaime is the only one who is ever genuinely affectionate towards Tyrion, and the two have one of the closest relationships in the series—in contrast to the books, where revelations and Tywin's death drive them to hate one another.
Aside from constant care towards the other, and both of them trying to keep the other alive, one of Tyrion's most openly emotional moments in the series comes when he talks with Jaime before letting his brother infiltrate King's Landing, sobbing and telling Jaime that his brother is the only reason he survived his childhood.
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