Conleth Hill On Varys’ Pledge of Allegiance
One of the major differences this year between Game of Thrones and the A Song of Ice and Fire novels has been the addition of Varys to Tyrion’s story. For those who are unaware, in the books, Varys does not get on the boat to be handed little bundles of poop during Tyrion’s journey across the Narrow Sea. Instead, he shoves Tyrion in a crate and slaps a sticker on it that reads, “To Illyrio Mopatis, Much Love. Yrs, Me.” Also, the big reveal that Varys is a Targaryen loyalist doesn’t come until the very end of the fifth (and currently final) novel, A Dance with Dragons.
All that’s changed now. The Targaryen allegiance is out of the bag right away, and Varys and Tyrion are in a road movie to Meereen. (Can’t ride out the way they rode in.) More interestingly, Varys is sorry for how everything’s gone down in the last few seasons, a change from the books. Making Game of Thrones sat down with Conleth Hill, who plays the former Master of Whispers, to ask how he feels about all this. He calls the choice to get on the boat with Tyrion a “last minute decision.”
Varys and Tyrion got on the boat, and Varys turned around and heard the bells ringing. As we’ve known, Varys hates bells. They’re always filled with omens of bad news: the marriage or death of a king or the Hand. Once he hears those bells, he knows the game’s up, that it’s been realized that Tyrion’s escaped. Varys just goes.
He talks about a fondness and mutual respect when it comes to Tyrion, and although it’s his idea to head for Meereen and find positions on Dany’s Small Council (one just opened up last week!), he seems a little ambivalent on the subject when asked how he’s envisioning his role under the Targaryen queen.
I have no idea. He says he wants to help her to power, but as has been pointed out, he’s capable of switching or changing his mind.
He also apparently has back-up rulers in mind if Dany doesn’t work out.
Either Daenerys, Jon Snow or Sansa. I think [Sansa’s] going to be amazing politician and diplomat by the end of her journey. She’s learning from a master at the moment but she knows a lot anyway.
That’s good, since we all know Jon Snow is rather attached to the Night’s Watch. For the rest of the interview, head over to Making Game of Thrones.
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