While the death of Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones led to a slew of horrifying events, it also saved Westeros from suffering even more senseless violence and brutality. Indeed, had Robert not died, he would have lived to be an old king with Ned as his Hand, and relative peace would have ruled the realm until Robert was taken by fate. However, this would mean there is no reason for anyone to assassinate Joffrey Baratheon at a young age, and his reign of terror would then only begin and be exponentially worse as an adult.
One of the reasons Game of Thrones is such a hit during its early seasons is because of the indulgent, unpredictable, and violent antics of King Joffrey, who only ascends to the throne as a child because his father dies unexpectedly due to a boar attack. Out of the kings and queens of Westeros, Joffrey is the most hated and certainly among the most sadistic – and that is when he is only a child. With the mind of an adult, Joffrey would have been a much more creatively cruel and needlessly vicious king.
Why Adult Joffrey Would’ve Been So Much Worse
The true extent of Joffrey’s evil is only prevented because he is so young. Technically, as King, Joffrey is the highest official in the land. However, this doesn’t reflect his standing in his family, who try to temper Joffrey’s worst impulses. As the Queen Regent, Cersei’s presence helps at least stalls Joffrey’s violent streak. Meanwhile, Tywin allows Joffrey to wield his power carelessly for as long as it keeps the Iron Throne under Lannister control.
None of the Lannisters would be able to control Joffrey had he taken the Iron Throne as a full-grown man, especially since Tywin likely wouldn’t be around. There’s even a theory that Tywin allows Joffrey’s assassination to take place because Joffrey is becoming too dangerous for House Lannister’s own good, as Joffrey only becomes even more sadistic as he grows older. If there is anyone who realizes that Joffrey can only get worse, it’s Tywin.
Joffrey’s Rule With No Tywin Limit Would’ve Been Warmongering
Indeed, as selfish as Tywin Lannister is, he personally oversees the realm’s day-to-day activities while Joffrey languishes in his limited newfound power. Integral to Tywin’s range of responsibilities is keeping Joffrey from going nuclear. A notable example is when Joffrey calls Tywin to the throne room to insist that they should be concerned with taking out Daenerys Targaryen, even though she’s still in Essos and nowhere near her goal of taking the Iron Throne back. Though Joffrey’s instincts prove correct, Tywin rightly sees through Joffrey’s bloodlust and shuts down the idea, knowing it’s pointless to wage war against the Dothraki on their territory.
Tywin Lannister is Game of Thrones‘ worst father, and the way he raises his children greatly contributes to Joffrey’s sadistic streak, as highlighted by Cersei’s own viciousness. Yet without Tywin to keep Joffrey on a short leash, Joffrey would have been able to aspire towards becoming Westeros’ worst King. Even with the best intentions, Joffrey’s first instinct is to wage war. Had his grandfather and Lord Hand not been there to stop him, Joffrey would have ordered assassinations and declared wars whenever he felt the urge to exercise his duties, endangering the realm and himself in the process.
Games Of Thrones’ Adult Joffrey Would’ve Repeated The Mad King’s Story
An adult Joffrey sitting on the Iron Throne would repeat Westeros’ worst nightmare, the previous rule of King Aerys II Targaryen, also known as Game of Thrones‘ Mad King. Even Cersei is powerless to stop Joffrey from becoming even crueler, just as Aerys’ own family is unable to stop him from burning his subjects. As a child, Joffrey is already on his way to building a similar reputation as Aerys, and though Joffrey doesn’t have dragons, he has direct access to House Lannister’s endless coffers of gold. An adult Joffrey’s cruel imagination, without Tywin to restrain his terrible impulses, would challenge even the Mad King’s atrocities.
Based on both Kings’ respective backstories, Joffrey might become even worse than Aerys. Before being known as the Mad King, Aerys was a charismatic and decorated war hero whose cruel madness is largely attributed to being raised in the tragic aftermath of the horrific Dance of the Dragons. In contrast, Joffrey never really has to fight for anything in his life but has nonetheless been cruel from the outset. Undoubtedly, Joffrey taking the Iron Throne as an adult would force historians to reconsider which monarch actually deserves to be called the Mad King of Westeros.
Joffrey Would’ve Still Been Assassinated (Just Later On)
One thing that would not change between a young and adult King Joffrey is that the assassination attempts would still come shortly after he comes to power, as the nobles and common folk alike would quickly realize his true nature as soon as he sits on the Iron Throne. Tyrion might decide to have Joffrey killed, and not just be framed as he is in Game of Thrones, if only to prevent the needless and devastating slaughter of innocent lives he would cause.
Considering how Game of Thrones‘ winter in Westeros arrives around the time Joffrey have come of age had he not been killed, it would quickly become clear that Joffrey is useless in uniting the continent against the White Walkers, making him the target of various factions. If Joffrey is an adult, Stannis Baratheon and Melisandre would not have wasted any time orchestrating Joffrey’s assassination. Game of Thrones could even use adult King Joffrey as Jamie’s chance for redemption. Depending on how much an adult Joffrey would embody the Mad King, Jamie Lannister could once again revisit his role as history’s Kingslayer and be forced to put an end to his own son’s life.
Though it would be an interesting departure from the source material had Robert lived longer and allowed Joffrey to ascend the Iron Throne as an adult, King Joffrey’s rule would likely be similarly short-lived. In lieu of adult King Joffrey’s reign of terror, audiences can instead look forward to House of the Dragon season 2, in which King Aegon II Targaryen will walk a similar path as Game of Thrones‘ Joffrey Baratheon.