No, there's definitely celibacy also in the mix, though it seems to be as well-observed as many real-world vows of celibacy are. :-)

When Sir Barristan Selmy gets 'fired' last season that's unprecedented, and is probably under Tywin Lannister's orders to Cersei (and hence to Joffrey) so that Jaime can unwillingly be promoted to head of the Kingsguard.

I'm finding Joffrey distractingly prickish. Like, he's taking me out of the story, because I see him, and scenarios of him getting a violent and humiliating beatdown dance across my vision. He's *too* annoying for the story. Out of scale.

Again in comparison to the books--well, first I should ask--does anyone else find him that annoying? Or do you find him enjoyably irritating? I don't like the sensation. It's pretty unpleasant to experience, and takes me out of the fiction.

I suppose there are so many characters in the books that I want to see come to a horrible bloody end that he doesn't stand out particularly.* (But then Cersei seems to be significantly humanized for the adaptation.)

* And so many of them do, thank you George. My prediction is at the end of the 7 (8, 9... whatever) books, Westeros will be a burned over wasteland with only Tyrion, Arya, and Dolorous Edd alive.

(Though, I wouldn't put it past Martin to pull a Hamlet and kill off ALL the viewpoint characters except Horatio.)

I know this is fiction and all, but could a world like this have really existed hundreds of years ago with this many odious people?

It seems likely to me.

I suppose there are so many characters in the books that I want to see come to a horrible bloody end

By the point the series has reached, or later on? Because, right now, I don't hate anyone near as much as I hate him. He's spit on-stamp on his face-get dogs to shit on him-and then vultures to pick through the faeces for their dinner sort of irritating to me.

I find him horrible, but appropriately horrible for a villain, I guess.

The actor who plays Joffrey looks a lot like my nephew did at that age from certain angles, so I find that distracting and pretty creepy.

speaking of Joffrey, i came across this on tumblr a few days ago. [link]

that cracked my shit up.

Just wait, ita, just wait. If they're faithfully adapting from the books, you'll look back at young Joffrey as early and carefree days.

Mind you, I'd say that you'd be wise to avoid spoilers, because the HSQ I've experienced with the books is worth the extra effort. Really totally slamming the book down, walking around the room saying out loud "Holy SHIT!" and then having to call your best friend to say it yet again.

Joffrey does seem to twirl his mustache a little more blatantly than anyone else, but I think it's not throwing me because of his age. He's a child, essentially, who just got a huge hit of Power, and he's wielding it all over the place. He's spoiled and vicious at heart anyway, so it's really over the top.

Which is not to say I don't want to see him die in a really slow fire, but his behavior doesn't seem completely out of place to me.