25 reasons we love Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones

The destruction of the Sept of Baelor

Cersei has to wait for quite some time (about a whole season, in fact) to make the High Sparrow pay for what he did to her. But she gets more than just payback for that. In one fell swoop, she wipes out most of the clergy of the Faith of the Seven concentrated in King’s Landing. She manages to get rid of Margaery Tyrell, her rival for the queendom and influence over Tommen. Of course, that point will soon be moot, but Cersei does get the Iron Throne out of it.

How does she do it? She happens to use the same method that her brother used four seasons before to stop the invasion of King’s Landing: wildfire. Qyburn works with her, using his own little birds to lead Lancel Lannister down to the tunnels beneath the Sept of Baelor. (Qyburn also is involved in the murder of Grand Maester Pycelle, who is stabbed to death by still more little birds.)

It isn’t just a masterstroke of planning. It’s one of the best scenes Game of Thrones has produced — ever. Perhaps there will be some scenes that are better in season 8, but we doubt it. The first 10 minutes or so are television at its very finest and in its most cinematic form.

And, at least in the world of Westeros, we have Cersei Lannister to thank.