25 reasons we love Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones

Confession? What confession?

Season 5 does not go well for Cersei overall. When she pays a visit to the High Sparrow, he has had enough of her and puts her in a cell based on Lancel Lannister’s confession of their affair. Then, the Sparrow sends her Septa Unella.

(One wonders how Septa Unella turned confess into such an ominous word. Kudos to Hannah Waddingham.)

Unella demands a confession in return for water after a few days, long enough for Cersei’s hair to lose its luster. But, rather than actually get to talking about her many sins, what does the queen regent do? Resort to threats, of course. “My face will be the last thing you see,” she hisses after Unella cuffs her across the face. (She finally makes good on that, although technically, the last face Unella sees is that of the Mountain.)

Does she lose some pride when she has to lick water off the floor later, when Unella pours it on the floor and then leaves? Yes, but at that point, Cersei had two options: survive and degrade herself, or die with dignity. With Tommen still alive at this point, there’s no way she would do the latter. Even when she does end up confessing, it’s only to what Lancel has already admitted to — their affair.

In other words, even at a low point, Cersei manages to find strength enough to make a play or two.