The second major wedding in HBO’s Game of Thrones occurred going on two weeks ago, and this time, fans aren’t weeping with sadness at the latest death. If you aren’t caught up, stop reading (seriously, spoilers ahead), while the rest of us continue celebrating the death of young King Joffrey Baratheon. It’s true, celebration is in order, since Joffrey, played by Jack Gleeson, is possibly the most hated television character from a major network show in the past decade. Game of Thrones fans have not only watched as Joffrey proved to be a spoiled, selfish and naive king, they also watched him slay women for sport, and mercilessly torture anyone in his path.
There isn’t anyone (outside of his parents) heartbroken to see Joffrey pass on – not even the actor, who has announced his retirement in order to finish college and choose a different career path. George R. R. Martin might have been sad to see him go, if he found it fun to write such a terrible character, but the author has had fourteen years to move on from Joffrey’s death, and readers of his book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, have been waiting in some cases just as long to uncover the mystery of Joffrey’s death.
For viewers who expected to uncover this mystery of Joffrey’s death in the following episode (as if George R.R. Martin would allow that), as of this moment, you have nothing to fear from your book reading Thrones friends, since they simply don’t know who did it either. However, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been multiple theories floating around. After all, readers have more of an opportunity to dissect Martin’s most minute details, some of which would be impossible to note on the show – at least not without appearing too obvious. Some of these conclusions have led to the widespread belief that it was Olenna Tyrell, grandmother to Margaery Tyrell, acting Lord of Highgarden, also known as the Queen of Thorns for her cutting barbs and witty remarks.
Martin has already discussed that he wishes readers and viewers alike to debate the possibility of the Queen of Thorns taking such action. On one hand, she’s a quick lady, and she would have realized that Joffrey would eventually tire, then torment, her only granddaughter. If she thought there was any possibility of retaining the crown without further endangering Margaery, could she have done it? On the other hand, the Queen of Thorns is more than sympathetic with many characters; she takes Sansa into her confidence almost immediately. Could this woman be the same woman that murders a 13 year old boy?
Readers note that within the novels, shortly after the wedding, Sansa notices a piece of her hair net is missing —a necklace on the show— which is believed to have been the poison’s carrier, especially after a description of the poison used to kill Joffrey matches that of the jewels. If, then, anyone did determine the exact method of Joffrey’s death, Sansa would be wrongfully (or rightfully?) blamed. Martin has agreed that the careful reader would come to this conclusion, but that admittance is hardly evidence of the theory’s correct nature. After all, Martin’s special talent is distracting his audience from the truth of the matter.
In addition, more than a few are unsatisfied with the plausibility of the Queen of Thorns taking such action. And, Sansa herself had good reason to murder Joffrey, if not the expected amount of courage. Joffrey killed her father, was responsible for the death of her brother, and gave her no rest from his torturous hobbies.Then again, Tyrion or Tywin Lannister were well past their wits end with Joffrey, as well as Margaery herself. Tywin was quickly realizing Joffrey’s inability to sit by and let the large men rule, and wasn’t ignorant of the availability of a younger, more malleable prince (Joffrey’s brother, Tommen). Tyrion was more than tired of being taunted for being a small man, and as a newlywed, might have begun to feel more than a little protective of his new wife, and one of Joffrey’s favorite playthings, Sansa. Margaery, rightfully, likely had little desire to marry a psychotic murderer, no matter her feelings on gaining a crown. Finally, we can’t forget there was a Dornish prince, Oberyn Martell, with a long history of anger toward the Lannisters also in attendance!
At the end of the day, however, it’s likely Thrones fans are just glad to be rid of the young king. No matter your feelings on the more gruesome scenes, it’s unlikely anyone wanted to see a slew of victims, slayed Joffrey-style. HBO airs the show Sunday evenings (but it can also be streamed through Hulu or on demand if you have Direct-Ticket), and the producers have chosen to only minimally censor the worst of Joffrey’s bloody games. We can only take so much. Plus, Joffrey’s role as the epitome of evil, necessary when examining the scale of undefinable, morally grey characters Martin is fond of creating, has been unceremoniously replaced by the appearance of Ramsay Snow, whose taste for casual cruelty is perhaps even greater than Joffrey’s. So, farewell Joffrey, good luck to actor-no-longer Jack Gleeson, and many thanks to whichever character may eventually claim responsibility…
______________
Author Bio: Elizabeth Eckhart was born in raised in Chi City, Illinois. She studied Creative Writing at Loyola University. These days, she puts her English degree to good use by writing about science fiction and fantasy.
Find her on Twitter at @elizeckhart
Guest Editor: Chila Woychik writes & edits in Iowa, land of tall corn and literary excellence. Her small press, Port Yonder, produces some pretty fine books from some pretty fine authors. She and her husband live rurally.
Subscribe to Adventures in SciFi Publishing podcast on: iTunes | Stitcher Radio (Android users) | RSS | Website RSS | Newsletter
When I read the books long ago there was never any doubt in my mind that Lady Olenna Tyrell murdered him.