If I had been to ask anybody who the worst character in Sport of Thrones was, I’d wager that not less than two-thirds of individuals would instantly identify King Joffrey I Baratheon. I’d additionally wager that should you requested the identical query about Home of the Dragon, Ser Criston Cole could be prime of the record – particularly after final week’s episode.
Upon reflection, I realise I’ve the identical uncontrollable raging eye twitch when each seem onscreen. Maybe that’s as a result of they share lots of related character traits and plot arcs that make me need to pull my hair out and yell on the TV (I can’t deny not really doing the latter).
I commend Fabien Frankel and Jack Gleeson, whose stellar performances really acquired beneath my pores and skin. It’s a disgrace that audiences have seen this purpose to offer the actors hate on social media – in any case, they’re doing a superb job convincing us of how hideous their characters are.
With out additional ado, listed here are the highest 5 causes Criston Cole and Joffrey Baratheon’s tales make me despise them a lot.
Spoilers for Sport of Thrones and Home of the Dragon as much as the most recent episode, season 2 episode 3.
Each Criston and Joffrey fail upwards
There’s nothing extra aggravating than watching somebody terrible and incompetent be rewarded, and each these plots are integral to the trajectories of Joffrey and Criston.
Episode 2 confirmed Criston being awarded the function of Hand of the King by man-child King Aegon II, who fired the competent (if ruthless and cold-hearted) strategist Otto Hightower based mostly on a petty remark he made.
This new promotion got here after Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Criston primarily allowed an toddler royal to be decapitated, as he was too busy getting it on with Alicent Hightower – the King’s mom – in secret.
Followers of the unique present will recognise an identical path with Joffrey, who was instantly topped King after his father, Robert Baratheon, handed away. That is regardless of mendacity about beginning (and shedding) a battle with Arya Stark after which suggesting invading Winterfell simply because he was humiliated.
The brat of a King then goes on to commit some heinous acts and doesn’t see retribution for a very long time, which leads me properly on to…
Neither take accountability for his or her actions
Each characters commit some terrible acts and errors, and in typical George R.R. Martin fashion, get away with them scot-free for some time.
In episode three, Criston has the audacity to giggle when Alicent brings up Ser Arryk Cargyll’s dying on the council assembly – which he was straight answerable for as a result of he needed somebody responsible for the homicide of the long run King. The opening shot of his brooding look might indicate some degree of guilt, however he by no means outwardly expresses that.
In season 1, he brutally beat Ser Joffrey Lonmouth to dying at Rhaenyra and Laenor’s marriage ceremony and fatally smashed Lord Lyman Beesbury’s head right into a desk when he misplaced his mood. Once more, he confronted zero repercussions.
As for Joffrey, nicely, the place do I start? He induced unrest within the metropolis twice when he noticed match to government quite a few civilians. He stored Sansa Stark beneath terrible situations, psychologically torturing her by forcing her to take a look at Ned Stark’s head on a spike.
That’s not even mentioning his vicious and disgusting language and insults, with hardly anybody ever placing him in his place – with the exceptions of Tywin and Tyrion.
The pair are horrible to ladies
Misogyny and sexism are commonplace in each these exhibits, however Criston and Joffrey are among the worst offenders.
Criston’s entire loyalty to Group Inexperienced stems from him being romantically rejected by the then-teenage Rhaenyra Targaryen. Even since, he’s taken pettiness to a different degree, hell-bent on a long-term quest for revenge. Even his affair with Alicent feels private, as they sleep in Rhaenyra’s outdated bed room in A Son for a Son.
Joffrey is in fact on one other degree right here. His torment of Sansa consists of ordering Ser Meryn to beat and strip her in entrance of the Iron Throne, threatening to assault her throughout her marriage ceremony to Tyrion, and murdering her Direwolf, Girl.
He additionally orders two prostitutes to harm one another on his birthday by threatening them with a crossbow. What a charmer.
Profitable battle strategising? Neglect about it
Whereas I could dislike each Tywin Lannister and Otto Hightower, I can admire their tenacity in the case of battle. These qualities are absent in my fictional nemeses.
Criston’s choice to have Ser Arryk pose as his equivalent twin was a cartoonishly dangerous plan, leading to two pointless deaths and additional gasoline within the battle. In episode 3 (the place he debutes his dumb new haircut), he brushes off Alicent’s considerations about travelling in a small group, and as such practically meets his demise.
Equally, Joffrey foolishly tries to position himself on the front-line throughout Stannis Baratheon’s tried invasion of King’s Touchdown. He claims that he’ll kill Stannis himself, however later cowardly flees the battle, which damages the morale of the military. Tyrion simply manages to get them to carry on till the cavalry arrives.
Ollie Upton/HBO
Ollie Upton/HBO
Ollie Upton/HBO
They simply carry on surviving the bloodshed
Maybe essentially the most annoying factor about Criston and Joffrey is that they only received’t die.
Within the newest episode, Criston comes so near being burned to a crisp by Baela Targaryen and Moondancer, who chase the Hand and Ser Gwayne Hightower throughout an open subject. It might have been candy justice for the earlier episode, however alas the Hand survived to battle one other unbearable day.
Joffrey usually prevented battle, together with his life solely coming into hazard throughout riots and the Stannis assault. He managed to make all of it the way in which to season 4. Nonetheless, that did make the Purple Wedding ceremony one of the satisfying moments within the present.
This second was solely bested by his assassin, Olenna Tyrell, later delivering the stone-cold line to Jaime Lannister “Inform Cersei, I would like her to understand it was me”. It nonetheless will get a fist pump from me each time I hear it.
I can solely pray that we see the eventual demise of Cole, which is able to little question depart me yelling on the TV… however this time, in pleasure.
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