After arriving back at court in King’s Landing, Cersei is checking Prince Joffrey’s wounds. She tells him they can say what they like about the incident, that Joffrey fought off a direwolf  bravely. Cersei even suggests spreading the story that he killed the beast and only spared Arya  Stark because of the love his father bore for hers. Cersei says that the truth is malleable for a king, that once Aerys Targaryen sat on the Iron Throne and Robert was a rebel and traitor. When Joffrey sits on the Throne, the truth will be what he makes it. Joffrey asks if he has to marry Sansa and Cersei confirms this is so, but that he only has to sleep with her when he wants. She suggests doing something nice for Sansa Stark to try to repair their rift, but Joffrey is reluctant. Instead, he argues that they are allowing the Northerners too much power and they consider themselves the equals of the Lannisters and Baratheons. Cersei asks him how he would handle them and he suggests doubling their taxes and contributing ten-thousand men to a standing Royal Army. Joffrey thinks that each lord controlling his own force is primitive. If the Northerners were to rebel over this matter, Joffrey would seize Winterfell and install someone loyal – perhaps Cersei’s uncle Kevan Lannister – as Warden of the North. Cersei tells her son his plan is foolish: the North is too big and too wild to be invaded and occupied. Any occupying army would be annihilated when winter comes. A good king knows when to save his strength and destroy his enemies. Joffrey notes this and asks his mother if the Starks are their enemies. Cersei replies that, "Anyone who isn't us is an enemy."

Some days later, Prince Joffrey attends the first day of the tournament honoring Lord Eddard as the new Hand. A drunken King Robert annoys Cersei to the point of her exiting the tourney before it’s even began. Sitting in the stands, Sansa Stark tries to catch Joffrey's eye, but he avoids looking at her. Noting the exchange, Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish, a member of King Robert’s small council, asks if they are having a lover’s quarrel. He introduces himself as a friend of Sansa and Arya's mother. Arya then asks why is he called Littlefinger and he explains that he was born on the smallest of the Fingers, the peninsulas that extend into the Narrow Sea on the east coast, and was very small as a boy, so it was a clever joke. The first tilt is then held and the first of the combatants is Ser Gregor 'the Mountain' Clegane, a gigantic man over seven feet in height and the elder brother of Joffrey’s bodyguard, Sandor Clegane. His opponent is Ser Hugh of the Vale. On their second pass of the joust, Gregor's lance takes Ser Hugh in the throat, killing him instantly. Baelish notes this was an unfortunate accident and then asks Sansa if she has ever heard the tale of the Mountain and the Hound. When they were children, Gregor found his little brother playing with a toy knight by the fire, one of Gregor’s toys. Gregor never said a word; he just took Sandor by the neck and held his face in the fire until his skin burned. That is how Sandor got his scarred appearance. Littlefinger suggests not repeating this story to the Hound.

As the tourney continues, Ser Gregor combats Ser Loras Tyrell, the youngest son of the powerful House Tyrell and already a famed tournament knight. The joust begins and Loras unseats Gregor, whose horse falls to the ground. Renly cackles in delight while Littlefinger then puts his hand on Sansa's shoulder, then removing it at a look from Eddard, and tells her it was clever of Loras to ride a mare in heat, as it threw Gregor’s stallion into confusion. Ser Gregor finally gets up. Furious, he summons his squire with his sword and then decapitates his horse in a rage. He smashes Ser Loras off his horse and attacks him with his sword. Loras is barely able to raise his shield in time. Before he can be overwhelmed the Mountain's brother Sandor jumps in the way and the two exchange blows for several moments before the king orders them to stop. Sandor immediately kneels and the Mountain storms off the field in anger. Ser Loras thanks Sandor and holds his arm aloft to be cheered by the commons over their shared victory.

Some days later, Prince Joffrey enters Sansa’s chambers and apologizes for his recent behavior, gifting her with a Lion of Lannister necklace, which he asks permission to put around her neck. Sansa is overjoyed, the necklace is the same as the one Queen Cersei wears, which Joffrey believes is only right since Sansa will be queen someday. He asks her to forgive him, swearing to never be cruel nor disrespect her again, "from this day unto my last day.” Joffrey seems to be sincere, but he had been instructed by Cersei to make things right with Sansa. When Joffrey kisses her, Sansa is completely in love. However, Septa Mordane, who is watching the scene, is not convinced by his act of generosity and affection. She purses her lips and looks away. The prospect of Sansa marrying Joffrey doesn't find favor with the septa any longer. Later on, as Sansa’s father Eddard has been investigating the late Jon Arryn’s mysterious death, he has been given a book that the former Hand was researching which details the lineages of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms. He suddenly realizes that Cersei’s three children, Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen, are not King Robert’s and are a product of incest with her brother Jaime Lannister. The following day, he confronts Cersei with his discovery and she coolly confirms this as fact, asserting that the Targaryens practiced incest for centuries in order to keep their bloodline pure. Eddard then threatens to inform Robert when he returns from his hunting trip.

Shortly afterwards, Renly Baratheon, King Robert’s younger brother, tears into the Red Keep ato inform him that Robert has been badly mauled by a boar and is not expected to survive. In Robert’s chambers the king informs a devastated Joffrey that he wishes he could have been a better father to him. Once Eddard and Renly arrive, Robert tells Joffrey to leave so he does not witness his death, to which Joffrey obeys as he frustratedly exits the chambers. As Eddard glances at Robert’s fatal wound, the king states that he blames himself, as he was drunk during the hunt and missed the thrust upon the wild boar. As he killed the boar in the end, Robert orders the funeral to host the biggest feast the kingdom has ever seen and wants everyone in attendance to taste the boar that killed him. After this statement, he commands Cersei, Renly, as well as Grand Maester Pycelle and Ser Barristan Selmy from the Kingsguard, to leave him in private to speak with Eddard. After Cersei protests, he shouts at her one last time as they all exit his chambers. Joffrey eventually learns that Eddard was ordered to write a letter for Robert naming him as the new Lord Protector of the Realm until Joffrey comes of age. However, knowing Cersei’s secret, Eddard has altered the letter stating “until the rightful heir comes of age” instead of naming Joffrey himself. Eddard leaves Robert on his deathbed and chooses not to inform a dying man of his wife’s deception with regards to their “children”.

Later on, Eddard is summoned to the throne room by "King Joffrey," confirming Robert’s death and further Lannister control. Outside he arrives to find Littlefinger and Lord Varys waiting for him, along with Commander Janos Slynt and a detachment of the City Watch. Varys tells him that Renly Baratheon has fled the city, along with Ser Loras Tyrell and a number of retainers. They were last seen heading south. The party then enters the throne room, where Joffrey smugly sits on the Iron Throne. He immediately demands oaths of fealty from his councilors and subjects. However instead, Eddard gives Ser Barristan Selmy the proclamation naming him as Lord Protector of the Realm. To Barristan's shock, Cersei takes the "paper shield" and tears it up. Instead, she suggests that Eddard bend the knee and swear allegiance and in return he will be allowed to safely return to Winterfell and stay out of their affairs. Eddard responds that Joffrey has no claim to the Iron Throne and commands Slynt to take the queen and her son into custody. Instead, the City Watch immediately kill Eddard's bodyguards and Littlefinger sneaks up behind Eddard and holds a knife to his throat, saying, "I did warn you not to trust me".

Some time later, after Eddard’s arrest, King Joffrey holds court and Janos Slynt of the City Watch is to be made Lord of Harrenhal as a reward for his loyal service. Cersei then dismisses Ser  Barristan Selmy as head of the Kingsguard, noting that the time has come for an honorable retirement. Selmy is confused, pointing out that Kingsguards serve for life, but Joffrey angrily asserts that Selmy is too old, and wasn't able to protect his “father” during the boar hunt, King Robert. Selmy's disgrace is only compounded when he learns his post as Lord Commander is to be given to Jaime Lannister, much to his disgust. Lord Varys then announces that Selmy is to be given a castle and land in recognition of his years of service, but the old knight, insulted by what he sees as being offered "a hall to die in and men to bury me," takes off his armor, throws his sword at Joffrey's feet and storms out, stating that he could still kill all five of the other Kingsguard present with ease. Sansa then enters the throne room and begs King Joffrey for her father's life, claiming that the medicine he was taking for his injured leg was responsible for his treasonous talk. Joffrey says that her sweet words have moved him and he will spare Eddard, if he bends the knee to him and acknowledges him as king. Sansa insists that her father will.

Some time later, a starving Arya Stark, who has evaded capture by the City Watch, notices a commotion of smallfolk hurrying along and follows the crowd to the Great Sept of Baelor. Unable to see the steps of the Sept, she climbs onto the pedestal of a statue of Baelor Targaryen and sees her father Eddard being brought in chains to the steps of the temple. Amidst the commotion, Eddard spots Arya in the crowd, and then, as he is taken past Yoren, a trusted Night's Watch recruiter, he manages to signal in Arya's direction saying "Baelor,” hoping that Yoren can find Arya at the statue and take her to safety. On the steps, Eddard is then given a chance to confess his "crimes." He declares in front of the crowd that Joffrey is the true king, appeasing him. Joffrey then informs that he could be merciful and send Eddard to the Night's Watch, but instead commands Ser Ilyn to bring him the traitor's head. The crowd goes into an uproar. Distraught, Sansa is screaming and forcibly restrained while Arya tries to make her way through the crowd, drawing her sword to save her father. Yoren, however, grabs her and shields her view from Eddard’s beheading. A visibly horrified Cersei frantically tries to persuade her son Joffrey to reconsider, as does Lord Varys, but there is no time. Ser Ilyn draws Eddard's own sword and cuts his head off with a single blow.

Some time following the execution, King Joffrey is holding court and a singer named Marillion is brought before him, charged with making up an amusing but offensive song about his “father” and Cersei’s relationship. The song says that the boar might have killed Robert, but the lion in his bed had previously castrated him. Joffrey commands Ser Ilyn to cut out his tongue. Joffrey then takes Sansa up to the walls to see her father Eddard’s head mounted on a spike and makes her look at it. To her horror she also witnesses Septa Mordane’s severed head impaled on a spike amongst the several Stark guards and staff that have also been slaughtered. He cruelly mocks her, promising he will give her brother Robb Stark's head next, as with Eddard’s death Robb has now been appointed the King in the North. Sansa quietly retorts that Robb might give her Joffrey's instead. Infuriated, Joffrey orders Ser Meryn Trant to beat her, as Cersei has told him that a king himself should not hit his queen. With his back turned, Sansa moves up behind Joffrey, apparently preparing to shove the young king off the walkway to his death, but unexpectedly Sandor Clegane quietly stops her and dabs the blood off her lip. After Joffrey leaves, tells her to give the king what he wants. As Sansa remains a prisoner of King’s Landing, without her father or knowing the whereabouts of her sister, her brother Robb and mother Catelyn, who are waging war in the North, are now her only hope of survival.

Some months later, outside of the Red Keep, King Joffrey holds a tournament to celebrate his nameday. His bodyguard, Sandor Clegane, defeats his opponent, knocking him over the walls of the castle. He shouts congratulations to the Hound and then asks Sansa Stark if she enjoyed the duel. As Joffrey's captive, Sansa, still reeling from Lord Eddard’s execution, is deferential but subdued. Joffrey is then irritated by Ser Dontos Hollard, a knight from House Hollard, who arrives both late and intoxicated for his bout. Joffrey orders his guards to pour an entire barrel of wine down the knight’s throat with a funnel.  Sansa, however, intercedes telling Joffrey that ordering a death on one's nameday is bad luck. The young king dismisses this as a mindless superstition, but the Hound seconds her. Sansa then convinces Joffrey to instead make Dontos his court fool, for which Dontos is grateful. Tyrion Lannister, accompanied by a sellsword named Bronn, then arrives to the tourney, much to Joffrey's disdain, but to the delight of his nephew Tommen and niece Myrcella, who had worried that he was dead with regards to his long absence away from the city. Tyrion mockingly notes Joffrey’s absence from the battlefield and Joffrey indignantly responds that he has been ruling the kingdoms. Tyrion then greets Sansa and offers his condolences to the loss of her father, much to Joffrey’s anger.

Afterwards, Joffrey’s mother Cersei enters the throne room to find it being redecorated. The Queen Regent asks her son what he is doing and Joffrey informs her that he is restoring the proper appearance of the room to match the throne. Cersei tells Joffrey that they need to find the missing Arya in order to exchange both her and Sansa in return for the captured Ser Jaime, whom Joffrey doesn’t believe is his real father. The king asserts his belief that the Starks are weak enough to trade Jaime for Sansa alone, claiming that they overvalue their women. Cersei then suggests they set their armies to search for Arya and ask his grandfather Lord Tywin Lannister for aid. Joffrey insists, however, that a king doesn’t ask but commands his subjects. Cersei urges that her brother Jaime’s life is in danger, as Joffrey counters that while they are at war all of their lives are in danger. He brings up the rumors about Cersei’s incestuous relationship with Jaime and she responds that their enemies will say anything to weaken his claim. Joffrey is annoyed at her calling it a claim, saying that the throne is his. She agrees with him and tells him that no-one believes the gossip. Joffrey then urges that someone believes it, questioning Cersei about the late King Robert’s bastard children. She wonders why he is asking about Robert’s bastards. He coarsely restates his question as Cersei then slaps him. Joffrey warns his mother that her action is punishable by death and tells her never to strike him again.

Some time later, the prostitute Ros is introducing a new girl to the inner-working’s of Littlefinger’s brothel when they are interrupted Lord Janos Slynt who is leading a city-wide massacre of Robert's bastard children. Mhaegen is dragged into the room, holding her raven-haired baby whom Lord Eddard previously had met at the brothel. Janos looks at his prisoner who nods recognition and then signals one of his men who takes the baby from the sobbing Mhaegen, draws his knife and then hesitates. Janos tells his man to kill the baby and then does it himself when his subordinate cannot, horrifying both Ros and Mhaegen. After a handful of other brutal slaughterings across the city, Janos goes to Tobho Mott’s smithy in the slums of Flea Bottom. The blacksmith is being tortured and questioned about his former apprentice Gendry. His face is pushed closer to the coals of his fire until he reveals that Gendry has left to join the Night’s Watch, is on his way to the Wall and can be identified by his bull’s head helmet. Janos orders one of his men to find Gendry. Meanwhile, along the Kingsroad and far from the city, Gendry Baratheon climbs onto the back of a wagon to help Arya Stark up beside him, as they travel north with Yoren’s recruits for the Night’s Watch.

Some days later, Tyrion invites Janos Slynt to his chambers as a dinner guest and asserts that Janos must be getting used to fine dinners since he received his title as Lord of Harrenhal. He then asks about the recent incident in Littlefinger's brothel, as Janos informs that it was a nasty business but had to be done. Tyrion informs that he appreciates Janos' loyalty and then questions him about the murder of Eddard Stark's men. Janos accuses Tyrion of being drunk, angrily stating that he will not let Tyrion impugn his honor. Tyrion says that he is not questioning Janos's honor but denying its existence. Janos threatens Tyrion, calling him a dwarf, but Tyrion nods to Bronn who summons four gold cloaks and informs Janos he is being exiled to the Night’s Watch. Janos insists that the men are under his command but Tyrion explains that Bronn is now commander of the City Watch. Janos is dragged off, still protesting about his connections at court. Afterwards, Cersei rages that he did not have the authority to replace Lord Janos. He warns Cersei that she is losing the people and predicts that the people will turn against her in the winter and then concludes that Joffrey gave the order to murder Robert’s bastards without Cersei's knowledge. She says Joffrey did what he had to and characterizes ruling as “lying on a bed of weeds, ripping them out one by one before they strangle you in your sleep.”

Weeks later, King Joffrey is furious when he hears of Robb Stark's victory and has Sansa brought to the throne room. He sadistically menaces Sansa by brandishing a crossbow and threatening to killer her to send a message to Robb. Sansa refuses to give Joffrey the atisfaction of scaring her and continues to firmly pledge her loyalty. Annoyed, he commands  Ser Meryn to beat and strip her as punishment. Then a furious Tyrion marches in and puts a stop to the spectacle. He orders someone to cover Sansa up and Sandor immediately steps forward and wraps his cloak around her. Denouncing his nephew as a "halfwit," Tyrion points out the absurdity of punishing Sansa for her brother's actions miles away in a war that Joffrey himself started. Tyrion comforts the shaken Sansa and personally escorts her out of the hall. Bronn suggests to Tyrion that as an angry young man, maybe what Joffrey needs is to have sex with a woman so Tyrion arranges for two prostitutes, Ros and Daisy, to entertain Joffrey. That evening, Ros and Daisy have arrived in King Joffrey’s chambers as arranged. Unfortunately, however, the attempt to subdue Joffrey through seduction fails horrifically: instead of trying to have sex with the prostitutes, Joffrey readies his crossbow. Pointing it at them, he forces Ros to beat Daisy unconscious, and then to dump her body in Tyrion's chambers, to send his uncle a message warning him not to interfere with his handling of Sansa again.

Some time later, King Joffrey and the court assemble at the shore of Blackwater Bay for the departure of his sister Princess Myrcella, as she sets sail to Dorne to marry Prince Trystane Martell. Cersei remains angry about Tyrion's arrangements for her daughter and urges that she hopes that he will truly love someone one day so that she can inflict the pain of taking them away from him. Tyrion looks pointedly at his sister before walking away. As the royal party walk back towards the Red Keep through the streets of the city, they are confronted by angry crowds of starving smallfolk. Joffrey is hit by thrown excrement and triggers a riot by demanding that his guards kill everyone in the crowd. Tyrion is horrified when the High Septon is then torn to pieces by the famished crowd. He marshals his guards to lead him to safety. Once the royal family find safety, Tyrion confronts Joffrey for triggering the riot and the war that preceded it, calling him “a vicious idiot.” He slaps Joffrey when his nephew refuses to listen to the criticism. When they realize Sansa has been lost in the chaos, Joffrey callously commands that she be left to the mob. Tyrion has to point out that if any harm comes to Sansa then Ser Jaime will be killed in retaliation. Tyrion is eventually relieved when the Hound brings Sansa to safety, who was nearly raped by a handful of men.

Some weeks later, King Joffrey berates Lord Varys in front of Tyrion on his lack of intelligence from the North, and wishes to attack Robb Stark's forces now that Winterfell has fallen to the Ironborn. Tyrion, however, advises against this, due to Stannis Baratheon’s impending attack on the city, who has the legitimate claim to the throne provided that Joffrey isn’t a Baratheon. Unaffected, Joffrey reports hearing it said that his uncle Stannis never smiles and claims that he will give him a red smile for ear to ear, unsheathing his sword to underline his bravado. After Joffrey leaves, Varys commends Tyrion on his ability as Hand, explaining that he is superior to the good and honorable Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark because he enjoys playing the game while they disdained it. Tyrion himself admits that he would like to keep on playing it. He then warns that if Stannis breaches the gates then the game is over. Changing the subject, Varys reveals hearing a rumor from Qarth that the last remaining Targaryen, Daenerys, is still alive and has hatched three dragons. Tyrion is dismissive of the threat given their current circumstances. Varys predicts that it will be years before the dragons are fully grown but warns that eventually they will have nowhere to hide. Tyrion urges him to focus on one game at a time.

Some weeks later, the capital is making preparations as Stannis Baratheon’s fleet is moments away from arrival out on Blackwater Bay. Joffrey, the Hound and three other members of the Kingsguard enter as the king calls out for Sansa, who is speaking with Tyrion. When Sansa approaches Joffrey demands that she should see him off with a kiss and draws his sword from its scabbard. When he orders her to kiss the sword, Sansa hesitantly kneels down to do so. Joffrey claims that Sansa will kiss it again when he returns and will taste his uncle’s blood. Sansa asks if Joffrey will slay Stannis himself, as Joffrey hesitantly states that he will if Stannis is fool enough to come near him. Joffrey’s party then arrive at the Mud Gate as they are met by panicking smallfolk. Looking out into the bay, Joffrey asks Tyrion where their fleet is, as Tyrion insists that they are on their way. An increasingly panicked Joffrey threatens Tyrion, who remains tight-lipped on his plans. In the bay, Stannis’ fleet emerges from the darkness as Tyrion orders his archers to prepare but hold fast. A single ship then emerges from the city docks as Joffrey asks in panic where the rest of their fleet is. Wisdom Hallyne from the Alchemists’ Guild joins and hands Tyrion a flaming torch, who uses it to light a beacon at its base. Meanwhile, Bronn stands on the shore of the bay with a bow in hand and sees the beacon lit. He draws and fires a high arcing shot into the middle of the bay igniting the substance that is leaking from the lone ship. The wildfire filled vessel explodes and Stannis recoils from the massive explosion in the midst of his fleet. Though his ship remains unharmed, the spreading wildfire quickly wipes out the majority of his fleet. Stannis orders his officers to prepare to land, assuring his men that Tyrion can only play his trick once. He shouts to his men “Come with me and take this city”as they cheer and follow him over the side of the ship. When the remainder of Stannis’ fleet row to shore Tyrion orders the archers to rain fire on the attackers. Joffrey cries that there are too many of them as Tyrion orders the Hound to lead a sortie beyond the gate to fend off the Baratheon soldiers. Stannis leads his men through the hail of arrows, sustaining heavy casualties, and orders them to move along the wall to the gate. The Lannister troops are led through the gate by Sandor, who wades into the thick of the fighting. Ser Lancel Lannister is immediately shot in the chest by an archer but manages to keep his feet and then retreat back into the city. As fire surrounds him with fear, Sandor’s life is saved by Bronn. The Hound then calls his men to fall back and follow him inside, as Stannis and his guards climb a ladder as they fight fiercely atop the wall, establishing a small foothold. Still paralyzed from the fire, Sandor walks away from the battle but not before stating: “Fuck the king” at Joffrey and eventually departing from the captial entirely. A panicked Joffrey then exits the battle as well, once informed of his mother’s command to retreat. Tyrion looks around at the abandoned troops and then rallies them with an passionate speech informing them that he’ll lead a new plan of attack, emerging from behind their enemies. Tyrion then leads the Lannister army through the tunnels beneath the city and is able to defeat Stannis' troops manning a battering ram. Tyrion fights off a handful of Baratheon men but amidst the chaos he is suddenly attacked and betrayed by Ser Mandon Moore of the Kingsguard. Mandon attacks Tyrion with the intent of killing him but misjudged the distance and only slashes Tyrion across the face with his sword. Before he can strike Tyrion again, Tyrion's squire Podrick Payne kills Ser Mandon from behind with his spear. Tyrion, barely conscious, watches a lost battle before losing consciousness. Meanwhile, Cersei brings young Tommen into the throne room and readies the poison for her son and herself to drink. Just in time, however, the combined forces of Lord Tywin and his new allies of House Tyrell join the battle and decimate Stannis’ army. The survivors flee to their ships as Stannis is dragged away from battle by his guards. Tywin and Loras Tyrell burst into the throne room as Tywin triumphantly informs his daughter that the battle is over and the Lannisters have won.

Following the battle, Joffrey’s uncle Tyrion convalesces from the wound he suffered during the Battle of the Blackwater. His important role in defending the city is not acknowledged and he is stripped of his power and title as Hand. Rumors also circulate that Cersei ordered the attack on Tyrion. Meanwhile, in the throne room, King Joffrey and Cersei then orchestrate a public ceremony rewarding those who aided the city in the battle. Lord Tywin is officially recognized as the new Hand of the King, as well as being named the ‘Savior of the City,’ while Lord Baelish is awarded Harrenhal for brokering the alliance between House Lannister and House Tyrell. The king then offers Ser Loras Tyrell a favor of his choosing. He asks Joffrey to marry his sister, Lady Margaery Tyrell, who was previously betrothed to Renly Baratheon before his mysterious murder. Joffrey asserts, however, that he is constrained by his betrothal to Sansa Stark. Despite this, Cersei intervenes to insist that the treachery of House Stark frees him from any such obligation. The royal court welcome the decision with a round of applause, as House Tyrell replaces House Stark in allegiance with the crown. In private, Sansa is overjoyed to be free from the sadistic king, until Baelish stresses that she is in more danger without protection of her engagement. However, Baelish does assure her that he will help her escape from the capital.

Some weeks later, King Joffrey and his retinue are being carried in sedan chairs through the crowded streets of Flea Bottom. They halt when Lady Margaery Tyrell unexpectedly vacates her chair as she wishes to visit an orphanage. Once inside, Margaery talks to a young boy whose father was a soldier and killed during the battle. Margaery gives him a toy knight and says his father fought to protect the city and its inhabitants. Margaery tells the children they will be cared for and the sacrifice of their fathers will not be forgotten as toys are handed out to the rest of the orphans. Later that evening, Cersei and Joffrey host a private dinner party for Margaery and Loras Tyrell. Maragery remains polite despite a few barbs thrown at her by Cersei with regards to her dress, or lack-there-of. Cersei then makes a few disparaging remarks about Margaery's visit to Flea Bottom as she is surprised that Margaery has been handing out food aid to the smallfolk of the city and visiting orphanages. Margaery deflects such comments, getting unexpected support from Joffrey, much to Cersei's annoyance, who only knows how to rule through fear while Margaery is skilled at winning the hearts of the common people. Margaery is also pleased to hear that hundreds of wagons stuffed with food and supplies are being sent by House Tyrell and arriving daily from the Reach in their support of aiding the capital. After trading veiled insults with both her son and future daughter-in-law, it becomes clear that Cersei doesn't trust Margaery and fears that the younger woman has come to usurp her.

Days later, Joffrey is being fitted for new clothes in his chambers, in preparation for his upcoming wedding to Margery. His mother Cersei begins to criticize Margaery and questions her motivation, citing her previous marriage to the deceased Renly Baratheon. However, Joffrey dismissively tells her off stating that Margaery was doing what she was told to do, as all women should. Afterwards, Margaery is summoned to Joffrey's chambers to see if she needs anything before he leaves on a hunting trip. While Joffrey has previously been easy for Margaery to manipulate, Cersei was apparently able to plant one seed of doubt in his mind; the fact that Margaery was already married and thus, already has laid with another man, whom Cersei described as a "traitor and known degenerate." Margaery insists that she was ordered to marry a traitor as her family duty, but Joffrey implies that this still means he must have had sex with her. Joffrey questions Margaery about the relationship and she delicately placates him by feigning shyness and painting herself as a dutiful, but frustrated, bride. She uses the rumors about Renly's homosexuality to redirect Joffrey's anger, stating that Renly always found excuses to avoid sex, but one time drunkenly suggested "something that sounded very painful and could not possibly result in children." Margaery eventually manages to divert attention to the new custom crossbow and it quickly becomes apparent that Joffrey is excited by violence and sadism, so she flirts with him by musing about killing something herself with the bow. Easily played, Joffrey offers to take her with him to share in the excitement of killing something.

Some weeks later, King Joffrey gives Margaery a tour of the Great Sept of Baelor, where their royal wedding is to be held, as Cersei and Margaery’s grandmother, Lady Olenna Tyrell follow. Joffrey excitedly relates tales of the darker chapters of the Great Sept's history, to Margaery's feigned interest and Cersei's annoyance. When Cersei dismisses the accident that claimed King Robert's life, Olenna laments her son Lord Mace Tyrell’s total lack of military prowess. She then muses on the shortcomings of the men in their lives and the arrangement of patriarchy in general, to which Cersei wistfully says that it is the will of the gods. Thus distracted, Margaery convinces Joffrey to greet the crowd outside. Having been somewhat placated by Margaery's charity, the crowd happily cheers for the pair of them. Cersei realizes she has lost control of Joffrey to the Tyrells.

Some time later, Lord Tywin explains to Cersei and Tyrion that the Tyrells are plotting to wed Sansa to Ser Loras and states that he will not allow them to steal "the key to the North" out from under him. Tyrion questions how Sansa is the key to the North as Tywin explains that Robb Stark’s days are numbered and Theon Greyjoy murdered Robb's younger brothers at Winterfell, which makes Sansa the heir to the North. Tywin asserts that he has no intention of letting the Tyrells get the upper-hand on this arrangement. He also notes that the Tyrells won't go through with their plan until after Joffrey's wedding, which means they need to act first, by finding Sansa another husband. When Tyrion realizes his father is implying that he will marry Sansa, Tyrion protests but Tywin asserts that, as heiress to the North, Sansa is a far better reward for Tyrion’s efforts at the Battle of the Blackwater than he could ever expect. Cersei gloats over the matter, but her smug attitude evaporates when her father commands that she will wed Ser Loras instead of Sansa. Cersei flatly refuses, but Tywin is insistent: the marriages of Cersei and Tyrion will place the North and the Reach firmly in the Lannisters' control. He adds that her marriage to Ser Loras will also put an end to what Tywin calls "the disgusting rumors" being spread about her and Jaime’s incestuous relationship, as well as the parentage of Cersei’s children. Tywin storms out in disgust, raging that the pair have disgraced the Lannister name for far too long.

Days later, Lord Varys finds Lord Petyr Baelish in the throne room. Varys and Littlefinger discuss the Iron Throne and the pageantry and propaganda that creates nations and cements dynasties. Varys asserts that he serves the realm, but Lord Baelish scoffs that "the realm" is an invention of Aegon the Conqueror. Littlefinger then informs Varys that he is aware of the arrangement he had with the prostitute Ros, who has been acting as spy for him against her employer, and that as result he has given her to "a friend" who is eager for a new experience. Baelish maniacally revels in the chaos that he has caused, likening chaos to a ladder for those brave enough to climb, rather than a pit to be lost in, as Varys and everyone else sees it. Meanwhile, the “friend” Littlefinger has implied to Varys is none other than King Joffrey, who coldly sits in his chamber with his crossbow. He stares at Ros’ lifeless and bloodied corpse that has been tied to his bed and is filled with arrows. Elsewhere, looking out on Blackwater Bay, a distraught Sansa heavily weeps as she watches Littlefinger's ship depart without her. She had declined Baelish’s offer to escape the capital, as she was to wed Loras Tyrell. An arrangement that has now been taken away from her in order to wed Tyrion.

Later on, Lord Tywin enters the throne room to answer a summons from Joffrey who requests an update on what the small council has been doing. Tywin informs Joffrey that the king can always attend the meeting should he desire it, which turns into a conversational power play between the two. Joffrey then changes the subject to Daenerys Targaryen as Tywin is surprised that Joffrey even knows about the exiled princess. Tywin admits the reports are apparently true that the last Targaryen is not only alive, but she has successfully hatched the first dragons the world has seen in almost two centuries. Tywin reminds Joffrey that the last Targaryen dragons were stunted inbred creatures who weren't grand weapons of war. Moreover, Tywin says that even if Daenerys' dragons do turn out to be as strong as the dragons of centuries long ago, they are on the far side of the world in Essos and no threat to Joffrey's rule. Tywin also warns his grandson that he should heed his advisor's council on matters he does not comprehend. When Joffrey protests that he hasn't been counseled on anything, Tywin says he is being advised at this very moment and says that he will inform Joffrey should he deem it necessary. Before taking his leave Tywin smiles slightly with an even slighter bow leaving a browbeaten Joffrey squirming on the Iron Throne. Their exchange leaves no doubt as to who is truly ruling the kingdoms.

The royal wedding betwen Tyrion and Sansa has been fast-tracked, as the court mingle inside the Great Sept prior to the ceremony. Lady Margaery tries to ingratiate herself to Cersei, commenting that they will technically be sisters soon. Cersei responds by telling Margaery the story behind the song "The Rains of Castamere," relating how it refers to the destruction of House Reyne after their failed rebellion against House Lannister. This implies the similarities between the ambitions and position of Houses Reyne and House Tyrell, and that the same fate may fall upon the Tyrells if they plot against the Lannisters. Cersei concludes by threatening to have Margaery strangled in her sleep if she ever dares call her sister again. The ceremony is a grim affair; King Joffrey smugly escorts Sansa to the altar in place of her late father and petulantly removes the stool upon which Tyrion was to stand on to cloak Sansa in Lannister colors as part of the ceremony, eliciting snickers from the congregation, though the scowl of Lord Tywin quickly silences them. Tyrion, in the face of humiliation, asks Sansa to kneel and he places the cloak around her shoulders as the High Septon then begins the ceremony. That evening, as man and wife, Tyrion and Sansa have their reception dinner, which also proves a grim and miserable affair. Tyrion spends the wedding feast mostly by getting deeply drunk and making light of his father's insistence that his inebriated state will render him unfit to impregnate his wife. At the same time, King Joffrey is himself drinking too much wine, and losing what few inhibitions he has, his behavior becomes increasingly offensive to both Sansa and Tyrion. Against Cersei's ineffectual protests, Joffrey gets up and, flanked by his Kingsguard, taunts Sansa that she's still found a way to marry a Lannister. Joffrey then reflects that it doesn't matter which Lannister gets her pregnant, and openly says he might want to rape her after Tyrion is done with her, while the Kingsguard hold her down. Cersei then retreats to an upper gallery and stares despondently out over Blackwater Bay. Ser Loras finds her and tries to make small talk, an attempt to break the ice over their impending marriage. Cersei, however, rudely brushes him off. Joffrey then declares it time for the bedding ceremony, which involves the bride and groom stripping off before being carried to their marriage bed. When the drunk Tyrion angrily insists there will be no bedding ceremony and slams his dagger into the table. He threatens that Joffrey will "be fucking [his] own bride with a wooden cock" if he doesn't let it drop. As the court stands in shocked silence, Joffrey seethes with outrage and Tyrion defiantly glares at his nephew with pure hatred. After tensions subside, Tyrion and Sansa leave the feast.

Some weeks later, in Tywin's chambers, Grand Maester Pycelle gives Tyrion a message from Lord Walder Frey informing that Robb and his mother Catelyn Stark are both dead. Tyrion is visibly startled by the news, already foreseeing the long-term problems that the incident, aptly named the Red Wedding, will cause. However, King Joffrey gleefully states that he intends to serve Robb's severed head to Sansa at his wedding feast. Lord Varys points out that Sansa is Joffrey's aunt by marriage now, and it would be unseemly not to give her the basic respect that accords. An embarrassed Cersei insists that Joffrey is only joking. This puzzles Joffrey, who matter-of-factly states to his mother that he did mean it. Tyrion flatly forbids it and tells Joffrey that Sansa isn't his to torment anymore, as Joffrey angrily proclaims that he is the king, and everyone is his to torment. Tywin counters that any man who has to remind his subjects that he is king, is “no true king.” Joffrey then attempts to fight his grandfather, deriding Tywin as a coward who hid under Casterly Rock while Joffrey's "father" King Robert won the real war that overthrew the Targaryens. The entire small council tenses waiting for Tywin to respond to this shocking insult, however, Tywin calmly declares that the king is tired and advises Cersei to see him to bed. Joffrey weakly protests that he is not tired but leaves with his mother, and Tywin also asks Pycelle to give his grandson a sedative to make sure he goes to sleep.

Some time later, Ser Jaime Lannister has safely return to the capital, as he had escaped Robb Stark’s camp before the Northern king’s death. Along his journey back, however, his sword hand was cut off by captors. After settling back into life in the capital and returning to his position in the Kingsguard, Ser Jaime joins King Joffrey and Ser Meryn in the White Sword Tower, home of the Kingsguard. There they discuss security for the upcoming wedding to Lady Margaery. Jaime is clearly irked by his son Joffrey's arrogance, as well as Meryn's sycophantic agreement with the king's bragging that he is the one responsible for keeping the people fed. Jaime notes that this is the doing of House Tyrell. Joffrey then also claims that he single-handedly won the war at Blackwater Bay, though Tyrion was responsible for the victory. Jaime points out that the war is far from won and Stannis Baratheon will endeavour to raise fresh armies. Dismissive of the threat, Joffrey leafs through the Book of Brothers, which details the history of the Kingsguard and those who served in it. He reads Jaime's brief entry and sneers that someone must have forgotten to record all of the Lannister knight’s great deeds. Joffrey then questions the man he refuses to believe is his father and his ability to serve in the Kingsguard with one hand. Jaime defensively quips that using his left hand makes for more of a challenge.

Days later, on the morning of King Joffrey and Lady Margaery’s wedding, a breakfast is held. Margaery’s father, Lord Mace Tyrell, gifts Joffrey a magnificent golden chalice with seven facets, one for each of the major houses in the Seven Kingdoms and wishes him and his daughter Margaery a long and happy marriage. Joffrey graciously accepts the gift. Cersei then spots Sansa’s handmaiden Shae and informs her father Tywin that she is Tyrion's whore, as he then commands for her to be sent to him before the wedding. Tyrion overhears this and looks vexed, but proceeds to approach Joffrey, presenting him with the “Lives of Four Kings,” a book detailing the reigns of four kings by Grand Maester Kaeth. Joffrey accepts the gift rather thankfully, but his sincerity seems questionable to a dubious Tyrion. A member of the Kingsguard then presents a Valyrian steel sword to Joffrey and Tywin informs his grandson that it is one of two swords of its kind in the capital, as Joffrey excitedly rushes to wield it. The greatsword previously belonging the executed Eddard Stark has been melted down into two by Tywin, and the other has been given to Jaime. Joffrey promptly begins to slash at Tyrion's gift despite its rarity, and then asks for suggestions on its name from guests in attendance. He settles on the name “Widow's Wail”.

That afternoon, Joffrey and Margaery's wedding ceremony takes place in the Great Sept where they are wed in front of gods and men. After the ceremony, the royals gather for a lavish wedding feast in celebration of the union of houses. Walking towards the feast, Tywin and Olenna Tyrell discuss the extravagance of the union between their grandchildren. Along the royal banquet table, King Joffrey and Queen Margaery watch a group of minstrels play a melancholic version of “The Rains of Castamere,” the song which was played at the Red Wedding as the signal for the massacre to begin. Joffrey throws money at them and tells them to go away. Olenna then speaks to Sansa Stark and offers condolences over the Red Wedding. During the exchange, in a grandmotherly fashion, Olenna toys with Sansa's hair and a necklace that the knight-turned-fool Dontos Hollard gifted Sansa for saving his life during Joffrey’s nameday tourney. Margaery then rises to announce the leftovers of the large feast are to be given to the poorest in the city, which is applauded by the court. Cersei, playing her part through gritted teeth, informs Margaery that she is an example to them all. Renly Baratheon’s former Kingsguard, Brienne of Tarth, then formally congratulates the king and queen. Joffrey mistakes Brienne for the one who assassinated Renly, which Margaery quickly corrects.

King Joffrey then speaks to the court about contemplating history and out of a large golden lion, five dwarves ride out, representing Joffrey, Stannis Baratheon, Balon Greyjoy and the deceased kings Robb Stark and Renly Baratheon, each of the five kings in the War of the Five Kings. The dwarves put on a jousting performance littered with crude sexual acts. Joffrey and Cersei laugh at the spectacle as the larger part of the wedding party find it unsurprisingly distasteful. The Tyrells, however, as well as Tyrion, make little effort to hide their disgust. Ser Loras leaves in anger after watching the crude depiction of his deceased lover Renly riding a mount resembling himself, and Sansa looks on in obvious grief when the dwarf playing her brother Robb is killed after having his wolf's head knocked off. At the conclusion of the show, Joffrey suggests Tyrion fight the former's dwarf counterpart. Tyrion politely declines and sarcastically voices awe at Joffrey's skill and bravery at the Battle of the Blackwater, cautioning his nephew to be careful as the champion dwarf is "clearly mad with lust" and it would be a tragedy for the king to lose his virtue hours before his wedding night. This draws a few stifled chuckles from their guests. Enraged and humiliated that his uncle outwitted him in front of all his wedding guests, Joffrey petulantly pours wine over Tyrion's head and orders him to serve him wine as his cupbearer. He then instructs Tyrion to act as his cupbearer, before kicking the goblet under a table, forcing Tyrion to handle it several times. He finally orders him to kneel and Tyrion, obviously possessing no intention to do so, is saved by the arrival of the pigeon pie. Joffrey draws his new sword, cuts the pie, and several white doves fly out. Sansa and Tyrion attempt to leave the feast, while Margaery serves Joffrey a piece of pie. Joffrey commands Tyrion to serve him wine to wash down the pie. Tyrion hands the goblet to Joffrey and he quickly drinks all of it. Joffrey tries to speak, but begins coughing. He grabs his throat, and Margaery and Olenna exclaim that he is choking and needs help. Joffrey collapses face down and begins vomiting and convulsing and is visibly in excruciating pain. Jaime and Cersei rush in and turn Joffrey over on his back. Joffrey points an accusatory finger in Tyrion's direction, as he examines the wine goblet, though it is not made clear if Joffrey is accusing Tyrion or merely the wine. Joffrey's eyes turn red, blood runs from his nose, he stops convulsing, and dies in his mother’s arms. Cersei sobs with grief and orders the Kingsguard to seize Tyrion for the poisoning of her son. In the middle of the chaos, Ser Dontos suddenly approaches Sansa from behind and says she must come with him quickly, and she does as they then flee from the city together. Cersei quickly notices her disappearance and Tywin commands the Kingsguard to bar the city gates and seize any ships attempting to leave the capital.

Some time later, after Joffrey’s funeral in the Great Sept, Cersei is mourning over her son’s body. Lord Tywin arrives and wastes no time in prepping young Tommen for the inevitability of his coronation as the new king. After informing his grandson that he has the right temperament for a ruler, Tywin immediately begins instructing Tommen on the qualities of a good king, much to Cersei’s annoyance. Perhaps all-too-insensitively, over his dead body, Tywin explains to Tommen that Joffrey was not a wise king. After the two leave, Jaime arrives to comfort Cersei. She breaks down into tears and asks Jaime to avenge their son by killing Tyrion. Jaime is not convinced that Tyrion was behind the murder and tells Cersei that there will be a trial. He tries to comfort her through his affections. Cersei refuses initially, but Jaime is aggressive. Cersei insists that the sept during a private viewing of their son's corpse is a highly inappropriate place for sex, and asks Jaime to stop, insisting that "It isn't right." Jaime, however, refuses to stop, and Cersei eventually gives in and the pair engage in angry sex on the floor next to Joffrey's corpse.

*In the aftermath of Joffrey’s death, follow Cersei, Tywin, Jaime or Tyrion’s journey throughout the rest of the series.