superdeluxe

People really seem tolike his Q&A's and book signings/conventions where he can talk to fans.

MoviePage

Yep, I went to a panel with Martin at WorldCon a few years ago, and he was very entertaining and seemed quite nice.

Josh-da-man

Because the only questions anyone in the audience will be asking will be he's going finish books six and seven?

superdeluxe

Kind of a Off topic question, but are we going to create a new thread for Season 2 info? (Not book spoilers), but stuff about dvds, casting info, random news and bits? Where would that discussion live?

pinata242

I'd just continue to use the original 4-year-old thread that we used before the series started.

superdeluxe

Oh yeah.

argh923

Sorry for the old bump...just finished Season 1 and the first two episodes of Season 2. Haven't started the books yet, but plan to start Game of Thrones this week.

My question...originally I thought Joffrey was just flexing his kingly muscles by having Ned Stark executed after the confession. But the more I think about it - and book readers, feel free to put in spoiler tags if I'm on point with this - isn't it more likely that he actually manipulated Stark? By having him confess, he gains the favor of the crowd for the execution - and thus gains support? Before this, I'm sure people thought "No way would Ned Stark be the type to commit treason" - except now, they heard his actual confession.

Am I off base here?

Cusm

Joffery had nothing to do with Ned's arrest or confession. It was Cerssi that got the upper hand on him - thanks to his snot nose daugter telling her his plans, and getting him before he got her. The execution was all about him being a dumbass kid that had no idea of his father being held captive and the trade his mother arranged.

Josh-da-man

Joffrey isn't that clever.

argh923

I know he had nothing to do with the arrest. But he also told the daughter that he would show mercy if Stark confessed. Stark confessed in front of everyone - that's why I thought that maybe he agreed to do that to gain support from the crowd who would obviously want his head upon hearing his confession.

wishbone

"He isn't right in the head."

Josh-da-man

Joffrey is an asshole, and he's really fucking stupid, too.

Having the support of the people isn't really a concern to him. In his mind, he sits on the Iron Throne. He is the king. He does whatever he wants to anyone he wants to do it to. And he will destroy anyone who gets in his way or stands up to him. The finer points of politics and leadership elude him.

pinata242

The scene with Cersei and Joffrey in, I think, the third episode about how he'd control the North proves that. He thinks that subjects are meant to bend the knee without question and there's no risk of backlash. As if a man can be made to fight against his own homeland and brothers.

argh923

OK, so I'm giving Joffrey WAY too much credit. Got it.

Dr. DVD

Joffrey's just power hungry, and I predict will become the new "mad king" in place or Aerys Targaeryn, if he isn't already.

dhmac

Joffrey is a self-absorbed asshole who will abuse any power he has, with no thought at all to any possible consequences to anything he does.

He deserves to be slapped, and slapped often.

fujishig

He did have the people's support, though, at least in that scene. I don't think he cared about the crowd, he cared about himself and killing off someone who disrespected him.

spoiler tagged just in case:
Are they going to come back to this Sansa thing later (ie: is it revealed later in the books in a flashback or something?)

pinata242

Remind me about how that differed in the book.

They make it clear in this show that the common people are stupid as shit. I think they just wanted blood and weren't really involved in all the politics nor thinking about the consequences like Joffrey obviously did. He was just showing power without thinking about what he was doing.

Like Viserys talking to Jorah saying he wouldn't be punished for selling slaves who poached on his lands under Viserys' rule. That's just something you say at the bar without being held to it.

Rob V

Joffrey is inbred... could be his reason for being stupid.

Josh-da-man

There's also the idea that, in medieval societies, the riff-raff loved to see nobles being executed.

EctoCooler

Is it just the way the battle was depicted that people have a problem with? I don't think the actual portrayal of Tyrion and his state of mind is that different from what i recall in the book. Anyway, like others have said this was heatbreaking and i'm looking forward to seeing the fallout. The season simply flew by.


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