The small council has never been so lacking in sharp minds. They've had Tywin, Varys, Tyrion, even Littlefinger. All people who know how the game is played, and even with those brilliant minds, they faced challenges.

Now you've got checker playing Cersei who's so dumb she GAVE the high sparrow this power he's running with. Pycelle who is only about himself, uncle Kev who we haven't seen much of anything from, and fucking Mace Tyrell who is about as clueless as a human being can get. crazy doctor might be skilled in his own way but he's no war time consigliere.

The Lannisters once boasted Tywin who was the most powerful fucker in the world, Jamie who was the baddest fighter around... even Joffrey might have even been more effective than his wussy brother who's strategy is to lock himself in his room. Yeah Joffrey probably would have handled this poorly left to his own temper, but even he wouldn't have been dumb enough to cede power to these people in the first place.