Since the release of 'Game of Thrones,' Cersei Lannister Baratheon has been one of the most hated women on television. The former Queen of the Seven Kingdoms is known for her incestuous relationship with her twin brother Jaime and her single-minded desire to keep her children on the throne.
[Beware, this article is dark and filled with spoilers]
The fifth season of the show sees Cersei gradually getting her comeuppance, as she is thrown in jail and is forced to admit her wrongdoings by the High Sparrow. The season finale finds Cersei finally giving in and having to take the walk of shame back to the Red Keep.
The scene is decidedly painful to watch, as Cersei's long golden hair is chopped off and she is stripped naked before being pushed out the door.
Lena Headey, the actress who has portrayed Cersei since the first season, has spoken to EW about the walk of shame.
"Cersei has done wrong, but she doesn't really deserve this," the Emmy nominee said in defense of her character. "I don't think anyone deserves that treatment."
According to Headey, Cersei has already been starved, beaten and humiliated and thinks that her confession will finally buy her freedom. What Cersei doesn't expect is the further humiliation she needs to endure before reaching her home.
Despite everything Cersei has already done, Twitter users symphatized with the character.
The walk of shame. I can not breathe. Lord I can not breathe. They have stripped her. Lord. Cersei. My girl. #gameofthrones
— D (@wukster) June 15, 2015
Cersei has done some of the worst things imaginable, but not even she deserves this. #WalkOfShame #GameOfThrones — Jon Snow (@LordSnow) June 15, 2015
And #Cersei has done despicable things & u want her to get her comeuppance but this Walk of Shame was painful to watch. #gameofthrones
— Leslie Laurence (@leslielaurence) June 15, 2015
Some were even taking her side. #TeamCersei
Cersei Lannister's walk of shame: pic.twitter.com/TUGWIdlgF9 — Imperator Louise (@loucifre) June 15, 2015
And man. That Cersei walk of shame hurt. Even if you despise her, you have to admire her refusal to never be broken. She broke tonight.
— Larry Beyince (@DragonflyJonez) June 15, 2015
Cersei's walk of shame ends with a spark of hope. Just as the humiliated queen reaches King's Landing, she collapses and is picked up by her revived champion, The Mountain.
The Mountain was dead too... #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/ZKHxjN4Ulu — The Horror Club (@TheHorrorClub) June 15, 2015
The walk of shame was not the only shocking thing about 'Mother's Mercy.' The season finale marked the end for Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) at the hand of Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). Jon Snow (Kit Harington), one of the show's most beloved characters, was stabbed to death by fellow Men of the Night's Watch.
The sixth season of 'Game of Thrones' will air in 2016.
