Again in its heyday, Recreation of Thrones looooooved killing off characters. Whether or not they had been unhappy, hilarious, or kind of dumb, these ends have been memorable in their very own methods, the mark of present stuffed with nice actors. And who can overlook the dying 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 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 Crimson Hold. The whole lot appears to be going nicely—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 underneath 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 crucial acclaim on the time of its airing, with many calling it one of many collection’ finest episodes ever. Come awards season, it acquired 5 Emmy nominations, with two within the appearing classes for Lena Heady (Supporting Actress in a Drama) and Diana Rigg (Visitor Actress, Drama), and profitable 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 way in which for a few of the present’s massive moments afterward and different members of his household to get some wins of their very own. (Nicely, till they died.)
With Joffrey useless, Gleason used his character’s exit to take a break from skilled appearing, which he’d been doing since he was 8 years previous. Regardless of that, he wasn’t gone for too lengthy: after showing within the 2016 quick movie Chat, he’s steadily returned within the final a number of years, showing on just a few 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 Recreation of Thrones again then, you in all probability knew who Joffrey was and the way a lot people wished him to get received. “The Lion and the Rose” gave audiences what they wished 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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