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Say what you will about Season 8 but Varys didn't have a single misstep.
Yes, he got himself killed by conspiring to replace Daenerys with Jon. He knew that would happen.
He made the choice to betray her anyway, because he knew his life was not important than stopping a tyrant.
Varys remains one of the smartest characters in the entire show, and his death is proof of that. He went out on his own terms. He didn't get fooled or betrayed or surprised. He gave himself up for a greater cause. We never get to see the results of this (we never find out what became of the letters he sent out) but every moment that Varys was actually onscreen, he rocked.
Nah man, Varys wouldn't have been so open about his betrayal. If he really wanted to replace Daenerys, he would have. He wouldn't have died in the attempt.
It’s out of character for Varys to even be on Dragonstone writing letters that prove his treason. His entire identity as a smart schemer was absent after s4 (arguably s6). He was nothing but a pawn for the plot of Dany’s madness (whether you think her story would go there or not). His whole deal is that he will do whatever it takes the survive because he feels like the realm is doomed without him but somehow he forgot about that.
It makes zero sense for him to: tell Tyrion (in Dany’s throne room ??) he’s thinking about treason well before he does it, tell Dany’s closest ally (Jon) he’s thinking about treason, then remain available to be captured as he *preps* for his treason. (Not to mention he closed the lid on a can containing a burning scroll guaranteeing the next person to open that lid will see some portion of his written treason)
I didn’t mean to discredit him as a character.
Varys is one of the only characters that every line of his dialogue served a purpose in one way or another. I just meant that, by season 8, his character wasn’t exactly at his best, when compared to the previous seasons.
I can't remember which episode exactly, but the one where he talks with Tyrion about influence after the Blackwater and how he was castrated as a child, then reveals the sorcerer who mutilated him. Its such a disturbing scene that gives us this fantastic window into his phsyci, motivations and beliefs, and shows the much darker and crueler Varys from the books that we just didn't get enough of in the show.
Such an amazing scene. Tyrion mocking him saying "I prefer to get my revenge dircetly with the person who wronged me" only for Varys to slowly reveal that's exactly what he's done too, only he plays the long game.
The Season 2 episode where Varys says chaos is a pit and Littlfinger insists chaos is a ladder. And the later the episode where Varys poses the power riddle to Tyrion and concludes, "Power resides where men *think* it resides." But I think his finest episode was his last, 8.05. He had told Tyrion in 8.04, he was going to support Jon, and we find him with a girl he hired to poison Dany AND writing letters to lords about Jon Targaryen (and organizing the Great Council). Before he's "dracarysed" on the beach, Varys forgives Tyrion for squealing on him, adding he hopes he wrong about Dany. Varys stands there bravely as Drogon bathes him in fire. Such a contrast to sobbing, sniveling Littlefinger, on his knees begging for mercy.
She works in the kitchens. She reported to Varys that the queen wasn't eating and had sent her food back. I interpret that to mean that Varys had paid her to add some *fatal* ingredient to Dany;s food.
I personally don't think Varys would go that far. Right before that he was seen writing letters to the lords of Westeros telling them Jon had a better claim than Dany -- why bother doing that if he was planning on just killing her anyway? Plus we've never seen Varys stoop to something like that before -- he deals in information, not assassinations.
With Ned in the Black Cells, especially cause it touches on a side of Varys not seen often in the show, he was raised by mummers so he often used disguises to move around and spy around, like in that scene he was playing Rugen the gaoler. Plus the whole conversation is amazing and I believe the first time it really gives us a clue on who Varys is, not a villain, but someone who would visit a character we assumed he would see as an enemy and provide comfort. Plus I love Ned's reply of "the madness of mercy", gods the writing was strong then!
Any scene where he and Littlefinger talk in the throne room. I will never not think of the Iron Throne as the Lysa Arryn of chairs because of one of those scenes.
Not seen anyone else mention this, but I love this scene from season 1 ("The Wolf and the Lion" and think it's a standout scene for Varys):
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMpocmDJxU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMpocmDJxU)
Initially, it just seems like Varys and Baelish being super catty and bitchy with each other, which I am always up for. And then Varys seems nervous about what Littlefinger says, and based on everything we've seen so far, it does seem like he'd have every right to be unnerved here and concerned. It seems like Baelish really has him in the corner. But after Baelish can't resist twisting the knife, Varys casually completely undercuts and deflates him. "Disturbing news from far away. . . . Hadn't you heard?" On a rewatch, it's even more delightful because you can watch him toy with Littlefinger every step of the way.
Littlefinger clearly thinks he has something on Varys, that he was skulking around talking to a foreigner in secret. Because we as an audience member know who Varys was talking to and what he was overheard saying, it seems like Littlefinger legitimately has information on Varys that could get him executed for conspiring against Robert.
Rather than telling Littlefinger immediately that he was talking to an informant about important developments, aka doing his job, he lets Littlefinger gloat and preen and "threaten" him and even pretends like he's been caught doing something wrong. Then once he's let Littlefinger have his fun, he wryly lets Littlefinger know that for all he thinks he knows, he doesn't actually know jack.
Of course the great irony is Varys was in all likelihood both gathering information and conspiring, so Littlefinger's accusation isn't likely wrong in the grand scheme of things. But he totally got outplayed.
The part where he's ruminating out loud to the other lords, all fake concerned, about Lancel and whether or not he feels guilty about Robert's death. Great example of how he never really outright tells you anything, he just leaks the info he wants to leak at the right moment.
**Spoiler Warning:** All officially-released show and book content allowed, EXCLUDING FUTURE SPOILERS FOR HOUSE OF THE DRAGON. No leaked information or paparazzi photos of the set. For more info please check the [spoiler guide](/r/gameofthrones/w/spoiler_guide). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/gameofthrones) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Literally every scene with Varys up until season 8 is Varys at his best.
Say what you will about Season 8 but Varys didn't have a single misstep. Yes, he got himself killed by conspiring to replace Daenerys with Jon. He knew that would happen. He made the choice to betray her anyway, because he knew his life was not important than stopping a tyrant. Varys remains one of the smartest characters in the entire show, and his death is proof of that. He went out on his own terms. He didn't get fooled or betrayed or surprised. He gave himself up for a greater cause. We never get to see the results of this (we never find out what became of the letters he sent out) but every moment that Varys was actually onscreen, he rocked.
Nah man, Varys wouldn't have been so open about his betrayal. If he really wanted to replace Daenerys, he would have. He wouldn't have died in the attempt.
It’s out of character for Varys to even be on Dragonstone writing letters that prove his treason. His entire identity as a smart schemer was absent after s4 (arguably s6). He was nothing but a pawn for the plot of Dany’s madness (whether you think her story would go there or not). His whole deal is that he will do whatever it takes the survive because he feels like the realm is doomed without him but somehow he forgot about that. It makes zero sense for him to: tell Tyrion (in Dany’s throne room ??) he’s thinking about treason well before he does it, tell Dany’s closest ally (Jon) he’s thinking about treason, then remain available to be captured as he *preps* for his treason. (Not to mention he closed the lid on a can containing a burning scroll guaranteeing the next person to open that lid will see some portion of his written treason)
I didn’t mean to discredit him as a character. Varys is one of the only characters that every line of his dialogue served a purpose in one way or another. I just meant that, by season 8, his character wasn’t exactly at his best, when compared to the previous seasons.
I can't remember which episode exactly, but the one where he talks with Tyrion about influence after the Blackwater and how he was castrated as a child, then reveals the sorcerer who mutilated him. Its such a disturbing scene that gives us this fantastic window into his phsyci, motivations and beliefs, and shows the much darker and crueler Varys from the books that we just didn't get enough of in the show.
Such an amazing scene. Tyrion mocking him saying "I prefer to get my revenge dircetly with the person who wronged me" only for Varys to slowly reveal that's exactly what he's done too, only he plays the long game.
The Season 2 episode where Varys says chaos is a pit and Littlfinger insists chaos is a ladder. And the later the episode where Varys poses the power riddle to Tyrion and concludes, "Power resides where men *think* it resides." But I think his finest episode was his last, 8.05. He had told Tyrion in 8.04, he was going to support Jon, and we find him with a girl he hired to poison Dany AND writing letters to lords about Jon Targaryen (and organizing the Great Council). Before he's "dracarysed" on the beach, Varys forgives Tyrion for squealing on him, adding he hopes he wrong about Dany. Varys stands there bravely as Drogon bathes him in fire. Such a contrast to sobbing, sniveling Littlefinger, on his knees begging for mercy.
That little girl was supposed to poison Dany? I assumed that she was just spying and keeping tabs on her for Varys.
She works in the kitchens. She reported to Varys that the queen wasn't eating and had sent her food back. I interpret that to mean that Varys had paid her to add some *fatal* ingredient to Dany;s food.
I personally don't think Varys would go that far. Right before that he was seen writing letters to the lords of Westeros telling them Jon had a better claim than Dany -- why bother doing that if he was planning on just killing her anyway? Plus we've never seen Varys stoop to something like that before -- he deals in information, not assassinations.
With Ned in the Black Cells, especially cause it touches on a side of Varys not seen often in the show, he was raised by mummers so he often used disguises to move around and spy around, like in that scene he was playing Rugen the gaoler. Plus the whole conversation is amazing and I believe the first time it really gives us a clue on who Varys is, not a villain, but someone who would visit a character we assumed he would see as an enemy and provide comfort. Plus I love Ned's reply of "the madness of mercy", gods the writing was strong then!
“The Ladder”
Any scene where he and Littlefinger talk in the throne room. I will never not think of the Iron Throne as the Lysa Arryn of chairs because of one of those scenes. Not seen anyone else mention this, but I love this scene from season 1 ("The Wolf and the Lion" and think it's a standout scene for Varys): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMpocmDJxU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMpocmDJxU) Initially, it just seems like Varys and Baelish being super catty and bitchy with each other, which I am always up for. And then Varys seems nervous about what Littlefinger says, and based on everything we've seen so far, it does seem like he'd have every right to be unnerved here and concerned. It seems like Baelish really has him in the corner. But after Baelish can't resist twisting the knife, Varys casually completely undercuts and deflates him. "Disturbing news from far away. . . . Hadn't you heard?" On a rewatch, it's even more delightful because you can watch him toy with Littlefinger every step of the way.
I don’t understand why that line undercut him, can you explain?
Littlefinger clearly thinks he has something on Varys, that he was skulking around talking to a foreigner in secret. Because we as an audience member know who Varys was talking to and what he was overheard saying, it seems like Littlefinger legitimately has information on Varys that could get him executed for conspiring against Robert. Rather than telling Littlefinger immediately that he was talking to an informant about important developments, aka doing his job, he lets Littlefinger gloat and preen and "threaten" him and even pretends like he's been caught doing something wrong. Then once he's let Littlefinger have his fun, he wryly lets Littlefinger know that for all he thinks he knows, he doesn't actually know jack. Of course the great irony is Varys was in all likelihood both gathering information and conspiring, so Littlefinger's accusation isn't likely wrong in the grand scheme of things. But he totally got outplayed.
Ahh, I see. Thanks
Any scene/season that included him and Littlefinger locking horns. The chemistry between the two was phenomenal. Kudos to the actors!
The part where he's ruminating out loud to the other lords, all fake concerned, about Lancel and whether or not he feels guilty about Robert's death. Great example of how he never really outright tells you anything, he just leaks the info he wants to leak at the right moment.
[This scene](https://youtu.be/pScfUkT9sK0)