I also don't see it as having shock value. It makes perfect sense. His wife is dead, his Hand is dead, many of his subjects are dead, his faith is shattered and his mother is to blame. There's no point in turning to her anymore, and there's no one else to turn to. He saw no way out but death.

I didn't see it coming until the very last second, but even if I had, I still would have been moved by the way it was shot and acted. Taking off his crown and walking away - for a second I thought he was about to go confront Cersei - and then that determined stride across the room, the framing in the window and then a…