Jezal Dan Luthar: A Character Study | The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie

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  • Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
  • This one is all about Jezal Dan Luthar, one of the most intriguing characters of The First Law trilogy. A deconstruction of the character and his journey across the series from insufferable brat to somewhat less insufferable, sort of decent-ish person. If you enjoy this type of video, let me know in the comments below so I can make more character studies!
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 66

  • @AndileJGumbo
    @AndileJGumbo Рік тому +23

    Am I alone in thinking Jezal was entertaining from start to finish? He was my favourite character throughout the series.

    • @old_manclearwater3438
      @old_manclearwater3438 9 місяців тому

      I loved him. If I had to pick a favorite character from all 9 main books, it'd be Nicomo Cosca.

    • @chaysewhite3109
      @chaysewhite3109 5 місяців тому

      Same brother

  • @JackOfAllSkillige
    @JackOfAllSkillige 3 роки тому +28

    “Gorst seemed like he was pretty nice” oh just wait till the Heroes

  • @Howtragicforyou
    @Howtragicforyou 3 роки тому +46

    His ending is so damn sad. He has to watch his first love Mary one of his worst enemies and his best friend dies of a wasting illness caused by the man who essentially becomes his owner and jail keeper. Really makes you feel for the guy

    • @viriatoos
      @viriatoos 3 роки тому +17

      For me the end of West was the saddest of all,the nice guy who try to be better for her sister,get to the upper position of the army,and then he end up consumed by the disease

    • @rohit_7777
      @rohit_7777 Рік тому +1

      I FUCKING HATE BYASS. BURN HIM

    • @3choblast3r4
      @3choblast3r4 Рік тому +2

      BRO, edit your comment to change Mary to marry, ffs I read the original trilogy and almost didn't watch the video because I read your comment and didn't recognize the name Mary. Figured he was in the follow up books to the trilogy and we got to know about some Mary and his end was even more tragic than before lol.

    • @Bradleyb744
      @Bradleyb744 Рік тому

      ​@viriatoos nice guy? He got mad and throttled a colonel that wouldn't turn on furnaces for him then threw the prince off a cliff

  • @andrewpearson2666
    @andrewpearson2666 4 роки тому +29

    Jezal’s arc was my favorite of the original trilogy. What a great character!

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  4 роки тому +7

      It was so baffling to me how well Abercrombie handled him because I couldn’t stand him for much of the first book, but the third, I was loving it. Such great character work!

    • @dennisrydgren
      @dennisrydgren 3 роки тому

      @@AlexCortright agree, he becomes interesting when he starts to get what he wants. And he does not like it.

  • @kharnthebetrayer8251
    @kharnthebetrayer8251 3 роки тому +16

    I love the scene of the injured West seeing him visit the sick house. And then him going through the rubnle at the end.
    even with Bayaz forcing him to obey him. Luthar wants to do good now. hes not the besy at it. but hes tring. and doing things he wouldnt have even dreamed of before the journey

  • @caveman7608
    @caveman7608 3 роки тому +20

    I loved this character. He was hilarious. The scene at west’s door before see his sister cracked me up.

  • @bloodynine9017
    @bloodynine9017 3 роки тому +16

    I absolutely loved Jezal’s chapters in The blade itself and Before they are hanged, idk why people like him the least

  • @3choblast3r4
    @3choblast3r4 Рік тому +3

    I absolutely love Jezal's character arc. He's not even trying to better himself, his fate and experiences change him unrecognizably. And it's kinda funny because Jezal throughout the story constantly tricks you into believing he's changed for the better but then quickly pulls you back to reality by saying something only he would say/think. But by the end he's genuinely changed.
    He actually gets everything that Jezal from book 1 would have wanted and wished for, but he kinda wants a completely different thing now. In the end he's a puppet with zero power, who's wife is a 10/10 attractive angry lesbian chick who suffers sleeping with him so the cripple doesn't have her mass R'd.
    That said one thing that was very very very obvious from early on in the series was that Bayaz was preparing Jezal for the role of a king / leader of rebels / claimant to the throne etc. Constantly telling him to be stoic and trying to teach him about how kings behaved (or whatever he made up and wanted Jezal to believe how those kings behaved, since those were essentially also all puppets)
    The way he created the whole legend around Jezal. Even when he had his face smashed Bayaz is on the background worrying and then says, good he'll live it's fine, the scars will make him look more rugged and manly or something. He talks to jezal as if he's the kind merlin in his story but quickly shows his true self when frustrated. It's very clear that Bayaz has been doing this for a long time, he's done this whole act so far and at this point he's so old he can barely keep up appearances and his evil seeps out constantly. Only thing I don't understand is why Yulwei didn't see through him earlier, but then again I do. We all misjudge people, love people that we thing are like family, that we've know for so long we just can't imagine them betraying us. To a point where sometimes we are in denial about it even after we find out they betrayed us.

  • @caluminnes579
    @caluminnes579 3 роки тому +14

    Never thought I’d say this but the most satisfying moment in his arc was slapping the shit out of the queens friend when she called him a bastard. I couldn’t help but grin. Might be the only time I’ll smile at a guy hitting a girl 😂

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  3 роки тому +2

      Omg yes agreed😂

    • @leslieoliverii9035
      @leslieoliverii9035 3 роки тому +2

      When your mouth writes checks your face cannot cash, the bank doesn't care what sex the person who defrauds them is. xD.

    • @turtle5578
      @turtle5578 3 роки тому +9

      The scene was satisfying until I found out why those two are so close. Then it became tragic.

  • @haakin2262
    @haakin2262 4 роки тому +15

    I also found him insufferable in the beginning. Almost to the point if dropping the book. Glotka kept me going. Best snarky sarcastic character ever. And I agree, his arch is SCARY strong!

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  4 роки тому +2

      Yess! Glokta saved book 1. I was a big Logen Ninefingers fan too but he got kind of sidelined in the first book😢

    • @haakin2262
      @haakin2262 4 роки тому +4

      The Life And Writings Of Alex Cortright , I loved Logen from the start! His voice was so strong! I like that you touch upon that in your vid.

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  4 роки тому

      Yes! I’m working on a character study for him too, I love interesting characters that are worth talking about. Haha 😅

  • @caluminnes579
    @caluminnes579 3 роки тому +6

    He became the most likeable character for me. Started off as a really detestable guy but at the same time I kinda loved how arrogant and cheeky he was getting drunk and insulting everyone but when he got his face bashed in it gave me serious Jaime Lannister getting his hand cut off vibes. All he cares about is his appearance and how others view him and now he’s no better than the brutish ninefingers he looks down on

  • @BrendonPatrickWatts
    @BrendonPatrickWatts 13 днів тому

    I love that jezal becomes a better person, and basically because of that he is punished.
    But he was always my favorite character. A character i couldnt help but love to hate... until i started to love him and then it got sad.

  • @Far_a_mir
    @Far_a_mir 7 місяців тому

    I love character studies! Since Ive only read the first book so far, I'll head back here after the series is complete. But I like Jezel and am looking forward to seeing what happens to him . Logan is my current favorite.

  • @redheadbandanna1973
    @redheadbandanna1973 Рік тому +1

    Thanks for talking about these books. I wish more would

  • @cypher16x75
    @cypher16x75 3 роки тому +2

    Your videos definitely need more exposure man. I love these books and your studies give me an even deeper appreciation for these characters

  • @nicholibaldron8171
    @nicholibaldron8171 4 роки тому +6

    This analysis just made me decide to give this series another chance!

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  4 роки тому +1

      Really?! Did you try it and put it down?

    • @nicholibaldron8171
      @nicholibaldron8171 4 роки тому +3

      Twice

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  4 роки тому +1

      Dang! I guess it depends on what you’re into, but I loved it. It took a little bit to get into but if you like the grimdark vibe and the stark reality takes on morality, I think it’s the best in the genre.

    • @nicholibaldron8171
      @nicholibaldron8171 4 роки тому +3

      @@AlexCortright Have you read Scott Lynch? Gentleman Bastards series?
      I think he's the best fantasy writer of his generation! He's grim dark with fuck tons of humor.

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  4 роки тому

      I’ve heard of it but no, I’ve never read!

  • @phaymphantom256
    @phaymphantom256 3 роки тому +1

    Excellent view on Jezal, ty.

  • @Airehcaz
    @Airehcaz 3 роки тому +8

    good job with this video! I seem to be one of the few people that enjoyed reading Jezal’s parts even in the first book haha
    Not that I liked him yet

    • @AlexCortright
      @AlexCortright  3 роки тому +1

      I could not STAND his chapters in book 1 😂

    • @mrhayzeus
      @mrhayzeus 3 роки тому

      I loved his parts from the very beginning. I thought he was hilarious!

  • @phaymphantom256
    @phaymphantom256 3 роки тому +5

    Listen to the audio book, the names are easy when you here the reader say it a thousand times 😂

    • @densmorde4520
      @densmorde4520 Рік тому

      It seems important to distort the spelling of names a bit in fantasy, "Logen" "Neddard" "Petyr" "Luthar"

  • @croutendo2050
    @croutendo2050 Рік тому

    It's characters like Jazel who make me feel like I'm only pretending to have imposter syndrome.

  • @thefrogfather5492
    @thefrogfather5492 2 роки тому +2

    From narcissistic noble, to hopeful hero, to clown king

  • @tannermckinley4248
    @tannermckinley4248 2 роки тому

    Great video!

  • @connoriquada5429
    @connoriquada5429 4 місяці тому

    I have always quite liked Jezal. He was an arrogant ass but he was also a POV character so I was willing and wanted to see where Abercrombie wanted to take him. I liked where he ended up. Even when he’s unlikable he at least to me was funny. Like when he was checking out his own chin I was like bruh this fuckin guy 😂 I kinda loved it ngl. You don’t see many characters like that. And when you do they’re a side character like Draco malfoy or someshit

  • @old_manclearwater3438
    @old_manclearwater3438 9 місяців тому

    I actually liked him right off the bat.

  • @godofchaoskhorne5043
    @godofchaoskhorne5043 2 роки тому

    I have a question! I'm not watching the video because I don't spoilers. So I kept pronouncing Jezal as you do. Then suddenly it dawned on me that it's probably pronounced as Jezel. And not Jezal. But I'm not certain and it annoys me.
    How do you pronounce his name.

  • @mattheModest
    @mattheModest 2 роки тому

    Jezal, like Jez plus the name Al. Jezal*

  • @buddyduddyful
    @buddyduddyful 2 роки тому +1

    What I disliked most about the First Law series, and where I believe Abercrombie fell short, was his lack of scrutiny toward his female protagonists, particularly so with Ardy and Ferro. He put all of his female characters, undeservingly so, (minus the queen and her lover) up on a pedestal, while treating the men, the warrior's, like simps and drooling idiots have the time.
    Jezal, a nobleman by birth, was simping

  • @ClayInvictus
    @ClayInvictus 3 роки тому +2

    This character made me stop reading The Blade Itself. There's a difference between hating a character and hating to read about a character.

    • @mrhayzeus
      @mrhayzeus 3 роки тому +6

      But he was so hilarious!

    • @ClayInvictus
      @ClayInvictus 3 роки тому

      @@mrhayzeus So is Donald Trump. I still don't want to read a book from his PoV.

    • @Caesar_Himself
      @Caesar_Himself 3 роки тому +8

      What a precious, sad individual you seem

    • @ClayInvictus
      @ClayInvictus 3 роки тому +1

      @@Caesar_Himself What a precious, sad ad hominem that seems.

    • @sanin3213
      @sanin3213 3 роки тому +2

      @@Caesar_Himself jesus dude