I would also say that having so many act "out of character" was the point -- for a major focus of this episode was to make all the Lannisters less 2-dimensional and reveal their humanity as well. Not to be to hackneyed, but people are not simply black or white -- there are shades of grey in almost everyone. Makes it more interesting for the viewer as well as the actors in an ongoing series.
Almost nobody in this series is black and white, book or tv incarnation. That's not what I'm saying.
With Jaime in particular, later events make a major shift in his outlook and personality. But even the things he is most villified in his past for become much more understandable when you actually get his reasoning behind what he did (which they hinted at last night). The killing of his cousin, however, does not jibe. I thought that entire scene was great right up to that point - and then that just deflated it, IMO.
Not sure if the Cersei/Tyrion bit was out of character. I'm slowly reading book 2 now, and just read the conversation between them after Cersei finds out about Tyrion wanting to ship Myrcella off and they were very similar. Cersei even cries a bit and Tyrion is unsure about how to go about consoling her. They cut from the scene in the show right at point where she screams at him in the book.
I'll admit that it has been quite a while since I read this book, but as I recall in the book Cersei is upset about Myrcella being shipped off. In the show, she is not only disparaging Joffrey and admitting she has no control over the little monster, but admitting to Tyrion in so many words that the rumors are true (Tyrion would have to be an idiot to think otherwise, of course). Then Jaime admits it flat-out to Catelyn and Brienne later?
Also, how does that scene jibe with Cersei's talk with Sansa about how you should love your children no matter what, to the exclusion of everything else? There's also stuff from later in the books (which is kind of irrelevant to a discussion of *this* point in the series, I guess) where it is made plain why Cersei hates Tyrion, always has, always will, and also fears him b/c of events when she was young (something I think she is misreading, actually). Coming events only solidify that hate even more. I understand that Tyrion at this point in his life would want to mend fences with Cersei if he could, but Cersei would never do so.
Also, unless they change it up real quick, it looks like Catelyn is about to do something she does in the book, but for a completely different reason - and that's just not going to sit well. I'm really hoping they straighten that out before next week.
And Dany's stuff...
I realize I'm lecturing a little, which isn't my intent. I am still very much enjoying the show, don't get me wrong. But I am starting to feel the nitpickiness growing on me the further afield they go, especially after season one was so faithful. I don't mind it so much with things like Amory Lorch's death, but for the personalities of main characters to feel changed is annoying.
I guess I'm starting to understand how my wife feels about True Blood.
