Was it All Tyrion's Fault? GoT's Most Heartbreaking Betrayal Had a Good Reason
Tyrion Lannister has always been one of the most beloved characters in Game of Thrones, and even though the fans' love warmed the actor's soul, there has never been someone to do the same for his character. Almost never, that is.
Tyrion's always been dependent on hookers to keep him company as he didn't believe he'd be able to find true love. Ironically, the one time he was in love, it was also with a hooker.
We're talking about Shae, of course. Many fans consider her final acts to be a betrayal or proof that she never loved Tyrion, but that wasn't true.
To understand why she acted like this, we need to share her perspective and see that while we as the audience knew the build-up to Tyrion's decision to send Shae away, she didn't — and Trion handled it poorly, to say the least.
Shae is always there for Tyrion. She wants to get him out of the King's Landing, colludes with him to help Sansa, keeps his secrets, never takes Varys' offer, and provides all the support he needs.
At many points, she can betray or use him, and she never does it, sticking by his side and defending him instead.
Out of nowhere — remember, she never learns the reason! — Tyrion comes at her, insulting her, claiming she's a nasty hooker who can't bear his children and he doesn't want to ever see her again.
She is then sent away, still without any explanation.
Tyrion's best buddy Bronn tells him that Shae is sent off to never be seen again, but as we know, the Lannisters' people snag her.
They make her speak — most likely, she says exactly what Tywin and Cercei want her to for two reasons: death threats and her own desire for revenge which is understandable after Tyrion's last actions.
At this point, a few things should be obvious: Shae cared about Tyrion and maybe even loved him; she lied to the court because of the Lannisters' threats and because she was really hurt by what Tyrion said and did to her.
"But she still slept with Tywin!" we hear some of you exclaim. This is, of course, true.
Shae is no one in King's Landing, alone and abandoned by the man she loved, and she's firmly in the Lannisters' grasp.
Is she in any position to say no to Tywin Lannister, who wants to further feel his domination by taking everything his son cares about?
Shae would've acted completely differently if it wasn't for Tyrion's selfish and cowardly behavior.
Instead of speaking to her, he insulted her, broke her heart, and sent her away — and then, after she's only gotten her petty revenge while still being borderline a prisoner to Tywin, he killed her.
By no means it was Shae who betrayed Tyrion; it was he who betrayed her.