“Mother’s Mercy” won the 2015 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
The season 5 finale was written by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. At the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, held in September 2015, they received the writing award for the episode, which competed against entries from The Americans, Better Call Saul and Mad Men.
“Mother’s Mercy” is a major turning point in the series. Jon Snow is stabbed by members of the Night’s Watch, Cersei Lannister completes her humiliating walk of atonement in King’s Landing, Stannis Baratheon’s campaign collapses, and Daenerys Targaryen is surrounded by a Dothraki khalasar. The episode’s title refers to the mercy Cersei seeks from the Faith.
The mix-up often comes from other acclaimed Game of Thrones episodes. “The Children” won the same writing category in 2014, while “The Watchers on the Wall” and “Hardhome” were celebrated for direction, action and suspense but did not win this 2015 writing prize.