Game of Thrones ended six years ago. The HBO fantasy gave us some of the most memorable characters and moments, and a finale that we would all like to forget.
However, among the many unforgettable performances that lodged into your brain like a stray arrow, Jack Gleeson’s Joffrey struck a very specific emotion.
Joffrey Lannister, ahem, King Joffrey Baratheon, was one of the earliest villains on Game of Thrones. None of the viewers could fathom how a teenage boy could be so cruel and evil. And Gleeson brought the most out of Joffrey’s terrifying unpredictability.
He played the character so well that the Thrones’ fans loved to hate him. But believe me when I say this: it wasn’t even his final form. Jack Gleeson was just getting started!
After Game of Thrones, Gleeson went on his own personal training arc, quietly building up his skills away from public attention.
And it shows, in all its comeback glory, in Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman, where he played Puck.
The Sandman’s Puck Is Jack Gleeson’s Best Role Yet
The second season of The Sandman arrived amidst a cloud of controversy, mirroring Morpheus’ own gloomy vibes.
The show wrapped up only after two seasons. However, there was no compromise with the quality and execution of the Neil Gaiman classic.
While the main focus stays on Tom Sturridge’s Dream and the Endless, a mischievous little Faerie (or Fairy) comes out of nowhere and steals the show!
On Sandman Season 2 Episode 3, “Chapter 14: More Devils Than Vast Hell Can Hold,” we see a flashback sequence from 16th-century England. Dream invites Queen Titania and King Auberon of the Faerie to witness a play. And Robin Goodfellow, aka Puck, is a member of the royal party that arrives with them.
As soon as Puck arrives on-screen, we know things are about to get spicy, as Gleeson channels Joffrey Baratheon to try and rattle the Dream King’s brains. Oneiros humors him, plays it cool, and swiftly brushes off the provocation.
However, we know fairies are playful by nature, but in Puck’s case, the naughty meter dials straight up to eleven.
The play that Morpheus chose for his stage was A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Amusingly, the subplot that was being performed involved the Faeries, including Puck.
While King Auberon and Queen Titania are pleasantly surprised, Puck is a little offended. He slips past the audience, goes backstage, and sprinkles some fairy dust on the actor playing his character, who falls asleep.
What follows next is pure magic, better than what any fairy dust can create. While Puck enters the stage as himself, it is Jack Gleeson who joins the play. And he simply owns it.
The three-minute monologue might be short, but it became the highlight of the episode, and arguably the best entry of the show. Watch the clip below:
Why Is Puck a Better Character Than Joffrey Baratheon?
Notably, Puck is not all bad; he just likes to have fun, preferably at the expense of others. And his favorite target? Humans. That’s definitely a step above the boy king from Westeros!
George R.R. Martin specializes in writing morally grey characters. However, Joffrey had way more darker shades.
He started as an annoying, selfish brat, and went on to become a downright despicable and volatile character with destructive tendencies.
In contrast, Puck is much more complex.
Yes, he would go to any length for a prank or getting his way, but there’s a line he wouldn’t cross. He has a nurturing side to him, as we see the Faerie coddling baby Daniel and trying his best to protect him.
Puck is capable of love, and his feelings are at full display when he demands that Dream (who is Loki in disguise, unbeknownst to him) free Loki from his servitude in exchange for the baby.
On the other hand, the only emotion that Joffrey seemed to love was torture.
When we compare the two characters, Puck has a lot more emotional range, which gave Jack Gleeson access to the best of his acting capabilities.
The stage play was simply a chef’s kiss – something he explored a lot after his time on Game of Thrones.
Do you agree that Puck was the best of Jack Gleeson’s repertoire yet? Or does Joffrey still stand as the epitome of his acting skills? Tell us in the comments below.
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