7 Huge Mistakes Made By Game Of Thrones Characters

3. Joffrey Killing Ned

A teenage brat with a sadistic streak is a problem. A teenage brat with a sadistic streak and a crown on his head is a BIG problem, especially if your last name is Stark. (Come on, haven€™t there been times when you just wanted to give Sansa a big hug and say €œIt€™s gonna be ok, sweety.€) This is another example that could be filed under €œListen to your mother.€ It€™s true that the war between the Lannisters and the North was already underway, but there was a real opportunity to stop it before it got out of hand. All Joffrey had to do was follow the advice of his small council, Cersei included, and let Ned admit his €œtreason€ and then take the Black and join the Night€™s Watch. It would have shown Robb that the Lannisters were willing to be reasonable and set up an exchange of prisoners, Jaime for Sansa and Arya. At that point, a peace (thought admittedly an uneasy one) could have been struck and both armies would have gone home to lick their wounds. However Joffrey, due to his age and complete lack of humility, can€™t see the bigger picture. He€™s focused strictly on looking like an adult in front of his subjects and only comes off as a kid sitting at the grown-up€™s table. If you look closely, it never seems that Joffrey€™s main concern is that Ned has said Joff is not the true king. It€™s the idea that anyone would dare say anything at all to slight him that's got Joffrey so riled up. Think of how mature and kingly he would have appeared to all if he had taken the high road, listened to those around him, and let Ned live. Alas, that was not to be, and the war dragged on to become a bloody horror. In some real ways, the tone of King Joffrey€™s short reign was decided right here.