History YMMV / TheKingsMan

* ShockingMoments: Many people were left speechless by [[spoiler:Conrad]]'s death in the second act, because [[spoiler:they expected him to follow in his father's pacifist footsteps after witnessing the horrors of war. Instead, he's quickly and abruptly shot by a fellow British soldier who mistook him for a German spy]].

* FanDislikedExplanation: Critics and audiences were rather underwhelmed by [[spoiler: The Shepherd's - aka Captain Morton's -]] reason for wanting to destroy England: [[spoiler: He's a Scotsman who hates what England did to his country, plus how English aristocrats stole his family mill, and he wants to pay them back.]] While that's not to say that [[spoiler: a vengeful Scot isn't an interesting plot device,]] the manner in which the film addresses it is half-baked and somewhat brushed over, since we never see ''how'' exactly he [[spoiler: assembled an international coalition of supervillains and bent them all to his unquestioned will]].

** [[spoiler:Conrad's death and the depression that Orlando suffers from after it.]]

* ShockingMoments: Many people were left speechless by [[spoiler:Conrad]]'s death in the second act, [[spoiler:they expected him to follow in his father's pacifist footsteps after witnessing the horrors of war. Instead, he's quickly and abruptly shot by a fellow British soldier who mistook him for a German spy]].

* TearJerker: [[spoiler:Conrad's death and the depression that Orlando suffers from after it.]]

* ShockingMoments: Many people were left speechless by [[spoiler:Conrad]]'s death in the second act, [[spoiler:since he had the chance to follow in his father's pacifist footsteps after witnessing the horrors of war. Instead, he's quickly and abruptly shot by a fellow British soldier who mistook him for a German spy]].

* ShockingMoments: With Conrad and Orlando, many compared their father-son relationship to Eggsy and Harry from the previous ''Film/{{Kingsman}}'' films. This is because the father wants their son to be a better man than they ever could. [[spoiler:So, when Conrad experienced the horrors of war and Orlando continued working in the shadows, many believed Orlando would suffer from the MentorOccupationalHazard trope like Harry, while Conrad could finally follow in his father's footsteps of being a pacifist, possibly being like Eggsy. Cue Conrad's quick and undignified death in the second act]].

* ShockingMoments: With Conrad and Orlando, many compared their father-son relationship to Eggsy and Harry from the previous ''Film/{{Kingsman}}'' films. This is because the father wants their son to be a better man than they ever could. [[spoiler:So, when Conrad experienced the horrors of war and Orlando continued working in the shadows, many believed Orlando would suffer from the MentorOccupationalHazard trope, while Conrad could finally follow in his father's footsteps of being a pacifist. Cue Conrad's quick and undignified death in the second act]].

** The shot of charging British troops being machine-gunned in No Man's Land. One guy does die instantly, falling to his knees for a couple of seconds before being finished off with a headshot.
** The scene of brutal melee combat at night in No Man's Land, particular one guy is overwhelmed by two germans and is stabbed over and over reach out to Conrad for help.

* Nightmare Fuel:

* CriticalDissonance: The critical reception of the film is negative, receiving an aggregate score of 42% on Website/RottenTomatoes. The audience reception is much higher at 79%,

** "[[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist The Shepherd]]", really [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Captain Morton]], is the spearhead of the conspirators called "The Flock" that kick-start UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. Wanting to punish England on behalf of Scotland, he uses his co-conspirators spread around the world--who he also horribly mistreats and insists be ready with [[CyanidePill cyanide]] when compromised—-to first have Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated and then coaxes England, Germany, and Russia to start fighting each other. As Morton, the Shepherd also fakes his death by having the ship of his boss William Kitchener blown up with everybody on board. Numerous soldiers on each side end up killed in the war as well, including Duke Orlando Oxford's son Conrad. The Shepherd also wants to arrange for Russia to pull out so Germany will focus all its resources on England instead. The Shepherd also blackmails US President UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson to keep America out of the war and when confronted by Orlando, the Shepherd insists they duel honorably, only to try to kill him with a concealed pistol instead.

* CatharsisFactor: After how horrible the Shepherd/[[spoiler:Morton]] was for all the things he did, specifically starting the war and [[spoiler:in part, causing Conrad's death]], seeing [[spoiler:Orlando [[DisneyVillainDeath drop him off the cliff]] to his death]] is pretty satisfying. Even better is [[spoiler:the same goat that he mistreated earlier impaling him through the leg with its horn. Seeing him crash into the stony ground in a comically large puff of smoke, dirt, and stone is also pretty satisfying.]]

** [[spoiler:"[[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist The Shepherd]]", really [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Captain Morton]], is the spearhead of the conspirators called "The Flock" that kick-start UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. Wanting to punish England on behalf of Scotland, he uses his co-conspirators spread around the world--who he also horribly mistreats and insists be ready with [[CyanidePill cyanide]] when compromised—-to first have Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated and then coaxes England, Germany, and Russia to start fighting each other. As Morton, the Shepherd also fakes his death by having the ship of his boss Herbert Kitchener blown up with everybody on board. Numerous soldiers on each side end up killed in the war as well, including the Duke of Oxford's son Conrad. The Shepherd also wants to arrange for Russia to pull out so Germany will focus all its resources on England instead. The Shepherd also blackmails US President UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson to keep America out of the war and when confronted by Orlando, the Shepherd insists they duel honorably, only to try to kill him with a concealed pistol instead.]]

* CriticalDissonance: The critical reception of the film is negative, receiving an aggregate score of 42% on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience reception is much higher at 79%,

* HilariousInHindsight: [[spoiler: A Character/DjimonHonsou character takes the title of a wizard, who would later be succeeded by Creator/MarkStrong. These two were magic fighters fighting each other in Shazam.]]

** [[spoiler:"[[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist The Shepherd]]", really [[TheDogWasTheMastermind Captain Morton]], is the spearhead of the conspirators called "The Flock" that kick-start UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. Wanting to punish England on behalf of Scotland, he uses his co-conspirators spread around the world--who he also horribly mistreats and insists be ready with [[CyanidePill cyanide]] when compromised—-to first have Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated and then coaxes England, Germany, and Russia to start fighting each other. As Morton, the Shepherd also fakes his death by having the ship of his boss William Kitchener blown up with everybody on board. Numerous soldiers on each side end up killed in the war as well, including Duke Orlando Oxford's son Conrad. The Shepherd also wants to arrange for Russia to pull out so Germany will focus all its resources on England instead. The Shepherd also blackmails US President UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson to keep America out of the war and when confronted by Orlando, the Shepherd insists they duel honorably, only to try to kill him with a concealed pistol instead.]]

* CatharsisFactor: After how horrible the Shepherd/[[spoiler:Morton]] was for all the things he did, specifically starting the war and [[spoiler:in part, causing Conrad's death]], seeing [[spoiler:Orlando [[DisneyVillainDeath drop him off the cliff]] to his death]] is pretty satisfying. Even better is [[spoiler:the same goat that he mistreated earlier impaling him through the leg with its horn.]]
** [[spoiler: Seeing him crash into the stony ground in a comically large puff of smoke, dirt, and stone is also pretty satisfying.]]

* FanDislikedExplanation: Critics and audiences were rather underwhelmed by [[spoiler: The Shepherd's - aka Captain Morton's -]] reason for wanting to destroy England: [[spoiler: He's a Scotsman who hates what England did to his country, and he wants to pay them back.]] While that's not to say that [[spoiler: a vengeful Scot isn't an interesting plot device,]] the manner in which the film addresses it is half-baked and somewhat brushed over.

* WhatAnIdiot: Conrad finds the British spy alive but missing a leg in No-Man's Land and insists on carrying him back to behind friendly lines.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Since it's not long after midnight, Conrad would carry him back then and there while they still have the cover of darkness.\\
On the other hand, No-Man's Land was notorious for its complete lack of characteristic features, so once a soldier became disoriented, it was hard to for him to get his bearings. Conrad might have waited until the sunrise just to see where he needed to go and not barge into enemy trenches by mistake.
'''Instead:''' He doesn't move out until after sunrise, causing the German army to see them and open fire.\\
'''The Result:''' [[spoiler:The spy is killed by mortar fire.]]
** Conrad gets another moment after the Duke of Oxford's team [[spoiler: successfully kills Rasputin.]]\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Being a part of a super-secret, badass team of spies would satisfy Conrad's desire for adventure, danger, and he would accept being a part of the proto-Kingsmen as his way of earning respect in a gentlemanly fashion.\\
'''Instead:''' He is adamant about going to the frontlines of World War I, despite knowing that the work he is doing is ''more effective'' at fighting evil than being another nameless, faceless grunt who died in western Europe's trenches.\\
'''The Result:''' Conrad gets into another argument with his father, and goes off to the British military, where his pride will be satisfied but his talents are wasted.
** [[RuleOfThree There's another moment]] involving Conrad. Upon making his way back behind friendly lines, he is asked who he is.\\
'''You'd Expect:''' Conrad would reveal his true identity, and use his connections to the Duke of Oxford to quickly present [[spoiler: the original handwriting of the Zimmermann Telegram, which would motivate the US to fight in the war.]]\\
'''Instead:''' Conrad [[spoiler: gives the name of the Scottish soldier he swapped spots with in order to get to the front line in the first place.]]\\
'''The Result:''' [[spoiler: Conrad's deceit ''enrages'' a nearby Scotsman, who [[SpotTheThread personally knew the kid Conrad replaced and is offended by Conrad's "pathetic attempt at a Scottish accent."]] Believing Conrad to be a German spy, he shoots Conrad in the head, killing him instantly.]]

* CatharsisFactor: After how horrible the Shepherd/[[spoiler:Morton]] was for all the things he did, specifically starting the war and [[spoiler:in part, causing Conrad's death]], seeing [[spoiler:Orlando [[DisneyVillainDeath drop him off the cliff]] to his death]] is pretty satisfying.

** On the other hand, No-Man's Land was notorious for its complete lack of characteristic features, so once a soldier became disoriented, it was hard to for him to get his bearings. Conrad might have waited until the sunrise just to see where he needed to go and not barge into enemy trenches by mistake.

** [[UsefulNotes/RasputinTheMadMonk Grigori Rasputin]], aka the Tortoise, is a Russian mystic with an ill and unpleasant temper who's deeply involved in the UsefulNotes/WorldWarI conspiracy as well. Unlike the others in the Flock, he even shows clear disrespect to the Shepherd, only falling in line under the threat of death. Using his influence on Tzar Nicholas, Rasputin regularly warns of hexes and curses that will befall the latter's family if he doesn't submit to his whims, and on one particular occasion, fulfills a specific part of the plan by [[WouldHurtAChild poisoning the Tzar's young son]] in order to manipulate Russia out of the war. When confronted and nearly assassinated by Orlando, Conrad, and Shola, Rasputin nearly succeeds in killing them all.

** [[UsefulNotes/RasputinTheMadMonk Grigori Rasputin]], aka the Tortoise, is a Russian mystic with an ill and unpleasant temper who's deeply involved in the World War I conspiracy as well. Unlike the others in the Flock, he even shows clear disrespect to the Shepherd, only falling in line under the threat of death. Using his influence on Tzar Nicholas, Rasputin regularly warns of hexes and curses that will befall the latter's family if he doesn't submit to his whims, and on one particular occasion, fulfills a specific part of the plan by [[WouldHurtAChild poisoning the Tzar's young son]] in order to manipulate Russia out of the war. When confronted and nearly assassinated by Orlando, Conrad, and Shola, Rasputin nearly succeeds in killing them all.

** [[UsefulNotes/RasputinTheMadMonk Grigori Rasputin]], aka the Tortoise, is a Russian mystic with an ill and unpleasant temper who's deeply involved in the World War I conspiracy as well. Unlike the others in the Flock, he even shows clear disrespect to the Shepherd, only falling in line under the threat of death. Using his influence on Tzar Nicholas, Rasputin regularly warns of hexes and curses that'll befall his family if he doesn't submit to his whims, and on one particular occasion, fulfills a specific part of the plan by [[WouldHurtAChild poisoning the Tzar's young son]] in order to manipulate Russia out of the war. When confronted and nearly assassinated by Orlando, Conrad, and Shola, Rasputin nearly succeeds in killing them all.

** [[UsefulNotes/RasputinTheMadMonk Grigori Rasputin]], aka the Tortoise, is a Russian mystic with an ill and unpleasant temper who's deeply involved in the World War I conspiracy as well. Unlike the others in the Flock, he even shows clear disrespect to the Shepherd, only falling in line under the threat of death. Using his influence on Tzar Nicholas, Rasputin regularly warns of hexes and cursed that'll befall his family if he doesn't submit to his whims, and on one particular occasion, fulfills a specific part of the plan by [[WouldHurtAChild poisoning the Tzar's young son]] in order to manipulate Russia out of the war. When confronted and nearly assassinated by Orlando, Conrad, and Shola, Rasputin nearly succeeds in killing them all.