Again in its heyday, Sport of Thrones looooooved killing off characters. Whether or not they have been unhappy, hilarious, or kind of dumb, these ends have been memorable in their very own methods, the mark of a very good present full of nice actors. And who can neglect the demise of Jack Gleason’s Joffrey Baratheon, one of many present’s most disliked (in a largely great way) antagonists?
On April 13, 2014, HBO aired the second episode of Sport of Thrones’ fourth season. On the finish of “The Lion and the Rose,” Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell get married and have a good time their new union on the Purple Preserve. Every part appears to be going properly—relative to the present’s last wedding, I assume—after which in the course of insulting Tyrion, Joffrey begins choking earlier than blood runs down his nostril as he seizes up and dies in his mom’s arms, however not earlier than silently accusing Tyrion of poisoning his wine. Cersei places Tyrion below arrest, and the episode lingers on Joffrey’s bloody, colorless face. Musical crescendo, lower to black, the viewers cheers.
In actual life, “Lion and the Rose” obtained essential acclaim on the time of its airing, with many calling it one of many sequence’ greatest episodes ever. Come awards season, it obtained 5 Emmy nominations, with two within the appearing classes for Lena Heady (Supporting Actress in a Drama) and Diana Rigg (Visitor Actress, Drama), and successful one for greatest costuming. Furthermore, this episode arrange some plotlines from the books…a few of which ended up not getting used. Whoops. And inside the present itself, Joffrey’s demise prompted a domino impact for the remainder of the season, leading to much more deaths and Tyrion getting hell out of dodge to keep away from getting his head chopped off. It additionally paved the way in which for a number of the present’s large moments afterward and different members of his household to get some wins of their very own. (Properly, till they died.)
With Joffrey lifeless, Gleason used his character’s exit to take a break from skilled appearing, which he’d been doing since he was 8 years outdated. Regardless of that, he wasn’t gone for too lengthy: after showing within the 2016 brief movie Chat, he’s regularly returned within the final a number of years, showing on a couple of episodes of Intercourse Training and Out of Her Thoughts. Alongside together with his look in final yr’s The Well-known 5 on BBC, he was in 2021’s Rebecca’s Boyfriend and 2023’s Within the Land of Saints & Sinners.
Even when you didn’t watch Sport of Thrones again then, you most likely knew who Joffrey was and the way a lot of us needed him to get bought. “The Lion and the Rose” gave audiences what they needed after which some, and it’s nonetheless one of the vital satisfying moments within the present. RIP Joffrey, however a minimum of you went out on such a pleasant day.
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