According to Erik Kain on forbes,
Spoilers through HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 4 follow.
Finally we’ve come to the trial of Tyrion Lannister, a gloriously rigged occasion expertly manipulated by Cersei Lannister, and served up nice and hot for the Lannister patriarch, Tywin himself.
We’ve known for a long time just how much Tywin hates his son. In spite of the fact that of all his children, only Tyrion matches Tywin’s intellect and ability to scheme, the head of House Lannister despises his son—partly because he’s a dwarf, but mostly because his wife died giving birth to Tyrion. And—in the books at least—there’s some question of his parentage.
So Tyrion stands trial for being a dwarf, for being born in the first place, for being the only decent man in King’s Landing for much of this show. And, facing the lies of everyone from Grand Maester Pycelle to the spurned Shae—whose betrayal seems well beyond harsh at this point—Tyrion forgoes Jaime’s plan to simply plead for mercy and be sent to the Wall (where he would serve a crucial role, no doubt) and demands a trial by combat, just like he did at the Eyrie.
GoT S4E6 Jaime and Tyrion
It’s good to have Tyrion back. The past few episodes have seen him locked in chains, awaiting his trial in the confines of the tower. Here, back on-stage where he’s always at his finest, the Imp let’s his fury burn through. “I wish I was the monster you all think I am,” he tells the assembled lords and ladies. Then something to the effect that he’d gladly trade his life to see each and every one of them poisoned. He may not have killed Joffrey, but he wished he had.
