There's just something about this character that causes a visceral reaction among viewers. People don't just dislike him because he's the bad guy, they have this totally irrational loathing of him, to the point where they struggle to separate Joffrey from the young actor who plays him (which is a shame, because he's a sweet guy who doesn't deserve to get berated on the street for the way that he killed Ned). He somehow manages to combine the monstrous actions of a psychopath given carte blanche to do whatever he wants with the annoyingness of a teenager who has what the Germans call backpfeifengesicht, or a face badly in need of a fist. Quite frankly, Joffrey is a shell of a person. He is empty inside. There's no remorse, just cruelty, arrogance, and sadism. In other words, exactly the sort of person you want to be running a kingdom. Was there ever a death scene on television more celebrated than the Purple Wedding? It seems unlikely.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
