Again in its heyday, Sport of Thrones looooooved killing off characters. Whether or not they have been unhappy, hilarious, or sort of dumb, these ends have been memorable in their very own methods, the mark of a superb present crammed with nice actors. And who can neglect 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 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 Crimson Hold. All the pieces appears to be going effectively—relative to the present’s final wedding ceremony, I suppose—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, minimize to black, the viewers cheers.
In actual life, “Lion and the Rose” acquired important acclaim on the time of its airing, with many calling it one of many sequence’ greatest episodes ever. Come awards season, it acquired 5 Emmy nominations, with two within the performing classes for Lena Heady (Supporting Actress in a Drama) and Diana Rigg (Visitor Actress, Drama), and profitable one for greatest 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 precipitated 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 number of the present’s massive moments afterward and different members of his household to get some wins of their very own. (Effectively, till they died.)
With Joffrey useless, Gleason used his character’s exit to take a break from skilled performing, which he’d been doing since he was 8 years outdated.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 couple of episodes of Intercourse Schooling and Out of Her Thoughts. Alongside along with his look in final 12 months’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 if you happen to didn’t watch Sport of Thrones again then, you in all probability knew who Joffrey was and the way a lot people needed him to get acquired. “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 at the very least you went out on such a pleasant day.
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