Again in its heyday, Recreation 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 great present crammed with nice actors. And who can overlook the dying of Jack Gleason’s Joffrey Baratheon, one of many present’s most disliked (in a principally great way) antagonists?
On April 13, 2014, HBO aired the second episode of Recreation of Thrones’ fourth season. On the finish of “The Lion and the Rose,” Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell get married and have fun their new union on the Pink Hold. The whole lot appears to be going effectively—relative to the present’s last wedding, I suppose—after which in the midst 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 beneath arrest, and the episode lingers on Joffrey’s bloody, colorless face. Musical crescendo, minimize 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’ finest episodes ever. Come awards season, it obtained 5 Emmy nominations, with two within the performing classes for Lena Heady (Supporting Actress in a Drama) and Diana Rigg (Visitor Actress, Drama), and successful one for finest costuming. Furthermore, this episode arrange some plotlines from the books…a few of which ended up not getting used. Whoops. And throughout the present itself, Joffrey’s dying brought about 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 best way for a few of the present’s huge moments afterward and different members of his household to get some wins of their very own. (Nicely, till they died.)
With Joffrey lifeless, Gleason used his character’s exit to take a break from skilled performing, which he’d been doing since he was 8 years outdated.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 quick movie Chat, he’s progressively returned within the final a number of years, showing on a number of episodes of Intercourse Schooling and Out of Her Thoughts. Alongside along 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 Recreation of Thrones again then, you in all probability knew who Joffrey was and the way a lot people 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 crucial satisfying moments within the present. RIP Joffrey, however not less than you went out on such a pleasant day.
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