History YMMV / GameOfThronesS5E10MothersMercy

** Is Brienne a true KnightInShiningArmor or a selfish, revenge-obsessed brute who abandoned her duty to Sansa for a petty grudge against Stannis? Stannis' dying words, "Go, do your duty" gains a lot of {{Irony}} in that light. Bear in mind that Renly was ''never'' the "rightful" king Brienne makes him out to be, and despite her anger at Stannis killing Renly, Stannis was also killing a traitor who would have most likely killed ''him'' if he'd had the chance. Also, killing Stannis shows a case of DidntThinkThisThrough as with Stannis dead the Boltons will remain in control of the North, meaning Sansa remains in danger (although doing anything about this was likely beyond Stannis' ability at this point).

* IdiotPlot: Once again, Dorne. Reconciled or not, the vengeful kin of a known poisoner are allowed physical contact with the girl they've sought to kill all season and use a poison easily traced back to them after Tyene's antics, which starts to take effect before the victim is even out of sight. The "Inside The Episode" featurette also speaks of the reaction awaiting Jaime in King's Landing, implying he and Trystane won't simply return to Prince Doran that afternoon to demand the heads of Ellaria and the Sand Snakes.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: The showrunners clearly intended Stannis' downfall to be major LaserGuidedKarma after crossing the MoralEventHorizon in the previous episode, yet the [[UpToEleven overwhelming]] [[FromBadToWorse misfortune]] heaped upon him this episode and Brienne selfishly abandoning Sansa in favour of vengeance for Renly (who definitely wasn't "the ''rightful'' king") that consists of attacking Stannis after he's [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown wounded and alone]] can actually make Stannis [[JerkassWoobie the more sympathetic]] of the two despite his crimes, along with the fact Stannis was trying to liberate Winterfell from the monstrous Boltons.

** Sam's desire to protect Gilly is meant to be a cogent, heartwarming reason for him to leave the Wall, but it can come across as extremely selfish since he's essentially using friendship to manipulate Jon into allowing him to run off south with his lover for a few years, which is precisely the reason the Night's Watch are sworn to celibacy. Remember, "Love is the death of duty." Especially since in the books, Sam wanted to stay at the Wall, and it was Jon's own order that he become a Maester.
* WhatAnIdiot:
** Okay, Night's Watch conspirators, you have totally betrayed your Lord Commander ''after'' allowing nearly 5,000 wildlings and a giant who owe him their lives through the Wall; you are only a dozen strong, and you don't even have the Wall to protect yourselves now. Good luck.
** Ellaria and the Sand Snakes smugly acting like they got away with Myrcella's assassination despite their laughably obvious guilt as known poisoners with motive and opportunity, and the fact that they even revealed this particular type of poison to Bronn earlier in the season. Furthermore, Jaime still has ''Trystane Martell'', the heir to Dorne, who genuinely loved Myrcella and will certainly want his own vengeance ''against'' the Sand Snakes. Alternatively, Myrcella's death will result in harm to Trystane, in which case Prince Doran is very unlikely to ''thank'' the Sand Snakes even if he blames the Lannisters.
** Stannis knew he was outnumbered well before he marched on Winterfell, meaning he was either TooDumbToLive or, after murdering his daughter, seeing his lover/guru and half his men abandon him, and finding that his wife has killed herself, he choose to commit [[SuicideByCop an elaborate form of suicide]]. Even that doesn't really excuse getting [[HollywoodTactics ambushed in an open field]] though.
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** Is Brienne a true KnightInShiningArmor or a selfish, revenge-obsessed brute who abandoned her duty to Sansa for a petty grudge against Stannis? Stannis' FamousLastWords, "Go, do your duty" gains a lot of {{Irony}} in that light. Bear in mind that Renly was ''never'' the "rightful" king Brienne makes him out to be, and despite her anger at Stannis killing Renly, Stannis was also killing a traitor who would have most likely killed ''him'' if he'd had the chance. Also, killing Stannis shows a case of DidntThinkThisThrough as with Stannis dead the Boltons will remain in control of the North, meaning Sansa remains in danger (although doing anything about this was likely beyond Stannis' ability at this point).

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: With the exception of Sam and Tyrion, all the plots of the main characters end tragically on this season finale. In particular, the deaths of Stannis (who even after Shireen's sacrifice, was still trying to save the North from the Boltons) and Jon (one of the few characters aware of the real threat from the White Walkers) may make the viewer wonder why is still watching this series.

* TheScrappy:
** Olly wasn't exactly popular before this episode, but his participation in Jon's assassination has made him far more hated by fans than he was already.
** Brienne has become this to a lot of viewers for her apparently killing Stannis, when he was wounded, something which is portrayed badly when [[ProtagonistCentredMorality Ramsay does it]], and for abandoning her duty to Sansa over a petty grudge, along with calling Renly the rightful King, which just seemed spiteful.

* HarsherInHindsight: The scenes in which Meryn Trant abuses Sansa on Joffrey's orders are made even more dire now that we know Trant may have been ''literally getting off on it.''

* FridgeLogic: Stannis is told that the last of his horses have been taken by the deserters and even he himself is forced to march on foot... and yet Melisandre arrives at Castle Black '''on horseback.''' What, did she just happen to find a random horse wandering the frozen countryside, complete with saddle and reins?
** Perhaps this random horse was Stannis' personal horse, which was under guard. Though it's odd that the guards didn't think to ask Mel.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: The showrunners clearly intended Stannis' downfall to be major LaserGuidedKarma after crossing the MoralEventHorizon in the previous episode, yet the [[UpToEleven overwhelming]] [[FromBadToWorse misfortune]] heaped upon him this episode and Brienne selfishly abandoning of Sansa in favour of vengeance for Renly (who definitely wasn't "the ''rightful'' king") that consists of attacking Stannis after he's [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown wounded and alone]] can actually make Stannis [[JerkassWoobie the more sympathetic]] of the two despite his crimes, along with the fact Stannis was trying to liberate Winterfell from the monstrous Boltons.

** Brienne's actions. While her killing Stannis is clearly meant to be cathartic LaserGuidedKarma, not only is Stannis UnintentionallySympathetic for some viewers, but the fact that Brienne abandons her duty to Sansa for revenge, spites Stannis by erroneously calling Renly "the rightful King", and essentially [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown murders a wounded man]] just like Ramsay, can make her come off as selfish, petty, and vindictive instead.

** Stannis knew he was outnumbered well before he marched on Winterfell meaning he was either TooDumbToLive or, after murdering his daughter, seeing his lover/guru and half his men abandon him, and finding that his wife has killed herself, he choose to commit [[SuicideByCop an elaborate form of suicide]]. Even that doesn't really excuse getting [[HollywoodTactics ambushed in an open field]] though.

* TheScrappy: Olly wasn't exactly popular before this episode, but his participation in Jon's assassination has made him far more hated by fans than he was already.

* BrokenBase:
** After a season's worth of build-up, the battle of Winterfell is the ''pinnacle'' of AntiClimax. Stannis' entire army is slaughtered with ease ''off screen''. As to fans' reactions, due to the residual hate toward Stannis from the last episode, some considered this LaserGuidedKarma while others thought it made Shireen's sacrifice meaningless. On the other hand, it did present the opportunity of Stannis having a few moments of "quality time" with Brienne, resolving a four-season-old plot point in the process. There's also a group of fans who are past caring by this point -- much like Stannis himself -- because they feel that the real Stannis had already died in the previous episode as a character. Others fans were upset as they feel the writers derailed the whole Northern storyline so they could get Stannis out of the way. More ire has been earned considering the way Stannis looks set to defeat the Bolton's forces in the books[[note]]Though not confirmed yet, it is almost certain Stannis will trick a Frey force into charging onto a frozen lake[[/note]] many fans were really looking forward too.
** The death of Jon Snow has caused a split between fans of the books and fans of the TV series similar to Ned and Robb's deaths earlier: even though they are major events in the original novels, some feel the TV series could have skipped over or delayed these events on screen to spare the audience.
*** The show's rendition of the revolt in itself is one. While some consider it an accurate and effective retelling of the revolt, others claim that, because the show omitted [[spoiler:Jon outright betraying his oaths by loudly declaring his intentions to abandon the Wall and march on Winterfell with Stannis]], the catalyst of the revolt appears to be Jon's alliance with the Wildlings. In which case, why did Thorne and his co-conspirators even allow Jon and the Wildlings into Castle Black in the first place? Another point of contention is the fact that here, Alliser Thorne is the mastermind of the revolt, which some see as going completely against his established character traits of MyMasterRightOrWrong.

** After a season worth of build-up, the battle of Winterfell is the ''pinnacle'' of AntiClimax. Stannis' entire army is slaughtered with ease, ''off screen''. As to fans' reactions, due to the residual hate toward Stannis from the last episode, some considered this LaserGuidedKarma; others thought it made Shireen's sacrifice meaningless. On the other hand, it did present the opportunity of Stannis having a few moments of "quality time" with Brienne, resolving a four-season-old plot point in the process. There's also a group of fans who are past caring by this point -- much like Stannis himself -- because they feel that the real Stannis had already died in the previous episode as a character. Others fans were upset as they feel the writers derailed the whole Northern storyline so they could get Stannis out of the way. More ire has been earned considering the way Stannis looks set to defeat the Bolton's forces in the books[[note]]Though not confirmed yet, it is almost certain Stannis will trick a Frey force into charging onto a frozen lake[[/note]] many fans were really looking forward too.

* FridgeLogic: Stannis is told that the last of his horses have been taken by the deserters and even he himself is forced to march on foot...and yet Melisandre arrives at Castle Black '''on horseback.''' What, did she just happen to find a random horse wandering the frozen countryside, complete with saddle and reins?
** Perhaps that was Stannis' personal horse, which was under guard. Though it's odd that the guards didn't think to ask Mel.

** Stannis knew he was outnumbered well before he marched on Winterfell meaning he was either TooDumbToLive or, after murdering his daughter, seeing his lover/guru and half his men abandon him, and finding his wife has killed herself, he choose to commit [[SuicideByCop an elaborate form of suicide]]. Even that doesn't really excuse getting [[HollywoodTactics ambushed in an open field]] though.

** After a season worth of build-up, the battle of Winterfell is the ''pinnacle'' of AntiClimax. Stannis' entire army is slaughtered with ease, ''offscreen''. As to fans' reactions, due to the residual hate toward Stannis from the last episode, some considered this LaserGuidedKarma; others thought it made Shireen's sacrifice meaningless. On the other hand, it did present the opportunity of Stannis having a few moments of "quality time" with Brienne, resolving a four-season-old plot point in the process. There's also a group of fans who are past caring by this point, much like Stannis himself, because they feel that the real Stannis had already died in the previous episode as a character. Others fans were upset as they feel the writers derailed the whole Northern storyline so they could get Stannis out of the way. More ire has been earned considering the way Stannis looks set to defeat the Bolton's forces in the books[[note]]Though not confirmed yet it is almost certain Stannis will trick a Frey force into charging onto a frozen lake[[/note]] many fans were really looking forward too.

* IdiotPlot: Once again, Dorne. Reconciled or not, the vengeful kin of a known poisoner are allowed physical contact with the girl they've sought to kill all season and use a poison easily traced back to them after Tyene's antics which takes effect before the victim is even out of sight. The "Inside The Episode" featurette also speaks of the reaction awaiting Jaime in King's Landing, implying he and Trystane won't simply return to Prince Doran that afternoon to demand the heads of Ellaria and the Sand Snakes.

** The Night's Watch conspirators. Kit Harrington [[http://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/14/game-thrones-jon-dies-interview has reasoned]] that their mutiny against Jon was justified because Jon was taking them for granted. The problem is that given the events of "[[Recap/GameOfThronesS5E8Hardhome Hardhome]]" and the fact that none of Jon's more egregious actions from the novels were adapted, the brothers end up coming across as petty and shortsighted more than anything else.

** Sam's desire to protect Gilly is meant to be a cogent, heartwarming reason for him to leave the Wall, but it can come across as extremely selfish since he's essentially using friendship to manipulate Jon into allowing him to run off south with his lover for a few years, which is precisely the reason the Night's Watch are sworn to celibacy. Remember, "Love is the death of duty." Especially since in the books Sam wanted to stay at the Wall, and it was Jon's own order that he become a Maester.

** After a season worth of build-up, the battle of Winterfell is the ''pinnacle'' of AntiClimax. Stannis' entire army is slaughtered with ease, ''offscreen''. As to fans' reactions, due to the residual hate toward Stannis from the last episode, some considered this LaserGuidedKarma; others thought it made Shireen's sacrifice meaningless. On the other hand, it did present the opportunity of Stannis having a few moments of "quality time" with Brienne, resolving a four-season-old plot point in the process. There's also a group of fans who are past caring by this point, much like Stannis himself, because they feel that the real Stannis had already died in the previous episode as a character. Others fans were upset as they feel the writers derailed the whole Northern storyline so they could get Stannis out of the way, especially with news that Season 6 will see the Northern Houses fighting against the Boltons, like they do in the books with Stannis.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: The showrunners clearly intended Stannis' downfall to be major LaserGuidedKarma after crossing the MoralEventHorizon in the previous episode, yet the [[UpToEleven overwhelming]] [[FromBadToWorse misfortune]] heaped upon him this episode and Brienne selfishly abandoning of Sansa in favour of vengeance for Renly (who definitely wasn't "the ''rightful'' king") that consists of attacking Stannis after he's [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown wounded and alone]] can actually make Stannis [[JerkassWoobie the more sympathetic]] of the two despite his crimes.

* {{Narm}}:
** [[Creator/LenaHeadey Lena Headey]] was pregnant during filming (and has yet to do a nude scene for the show), so (much like [[Creator/ScarlettJohansson Scarlett]] [[ComicBook/BlackWidow Johansson]] in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'''s action scenes) Cersei's walk of shame is achieved with a combination of close-ups, body double shots where her face is clearly not visible, and occasionally CG-ing her head onto the double. Once you notice, it's impossible to unsee.
*** This also applies to the scene of Cersei being prepared for the walk, where you can clearly see the double struggling to keep her hair in front of her face.
** It's hard to take Septa Unella's threatening demeanor seriously when she sounds like a clerical [[Series/TheBigBangTheory Sheldon Cooper]].
--> '''Unella:''' ''(dingdingding)'' Shame! Shame! Shame! ''(dingdingding)'' Shame! Shame! Shame! ''(dingdingding)''...
** The fact that the walk itself, not counting the preceding and subsequent Cersei scenes, took over 6 minutes puts it somewhere between {{Filler}} and OverlyLongGag
** The fuzzy music that plays when Myrcella tells Jaime she's known all along he's her father, and hugs him. It's only narmy if the fact that a girl going beyond acceptance into actually being ''grateful'' that she is the product of incest doesn't make you crave some BrainBleach.
** Myrcella's death. In a show that frequently goes out of its way to avoid happy endings, her being TooHappyToLive by having a PerfectlyArrangedMarriage and accepting who her father is makes it laughably easy to predict her death. It doesn't help that Ellaria and the Sand Snakes act all smug afterwards as if they got away with something, even though the ship is ''still in sight of the shore'' and could turn around for medical attention, making their actions hair-pullingly obvious, and it's ridiculous that they believe they could get away with it for more than a day.
** The sheer number of DashedPlotLine and {{Cliffhanger}} can be hard to take seriously after a while, which robs any drama from the climactic scenes.
** Although likely in-character given her devotion, Brienne sentencing Stannis to death in the name of King Renly, "''rightful''" king of the Andals, titles, titles, is too solemn and untruthful for some to take [[https://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t31.0-8/s720x720/10485940_697412917071887_1640100858989780483_o.jpg seriously]], as if Stannis needed yet another humiliation before being written off. Renly was many things, but not the rightful king by any law of the Seven Kingdoms.
** Tyene continues to spout the narm, this time with the immortal line, "You want a good girl, but you need the bad pussy," which may be the worst line in the entire series. It's so bad that one could be excused for thinking it's a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1GA4qcbwjI shout-out]] to a masterpiece by the name of ''Film/SharkAttack3Megalodon''.
** The Faceless Men's facechanging technique was almost always shown off-screen, keeping its mysterious allure. This time, however, we're treated to rapid-fire images of Arya pulling off faces, which can undercut the severity of her situation.
*** Plus, her getting more and more freaked out by every face she pulls off, like she hadn't done the same thing herself earlier in this very episode. It's pretty tempting to shout [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 "Yeah, try it eight more times, maybe it'll work!"]]
** The tragedy of Stannis' FromBadToWorse situation can be undercut (or even cross over into farce) by its UpToEleven nature: the second he finishes hearing awful news, even worse news arrives. It feels like an infomercial... "But wait, there's more!"

** Perhaps that was Stannis' personal horse, which was under guard.

* MemeticMutation: Septa Unella's chant of "Shame, Shame" while ringing a bell has become something of a running gag in various circles, and is applied to situations such as people spoiling ''Game of Thrones''.